IES86110B2 - System and method for management and control of rights for disposal of rental areas dedicated for parking vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for administering and control of rights for disposal of rental areas allocated as parking spaces for vehicles. The system comprises a machine-readable admission ticket (4), a control unit (6) configured for checking the validity of the admission ticket against a database (2) substantially in real-time, and authentication means configured for allowing an end user access to update information in the database (2) if and only if the end user has been authenticated and authorized to update the information. Preferably, the admission ticket 4 is a RFID tag, and the control unit 6 may be portable or stationery. By allowing an end user to update the database (2) substantially in real-time the administration of rights of disposal is simplified, and the time from when information is registered until the admission ticket is valid is reduced. New functions are enabled and disclosed. Possible applications include the administration of car parking spaces, boat mooring/storage spaces, and the like.

Description

Description SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF RIGHTS FOR DISPOSAL OF RENTAL AREAS DEDICATED FOR PARKING VEHICLES Technical Field [0001] The present invention discloses a system and method for administering and controlling access to a precisely defined area. In the interest of clarity, the invention will be described with reference and examples relating to the rental of car parking spaces. Specifically the invention relates to a system and method for administration and control of rights for disposal of rental areas dedicated for parking vehicles.

Background Art [0002] As used this specification and in the appended patent claims, the terms 'a site, 'a parking site or area,' and 'a parking provision' denote a defined, bounded physical area or property including one or more spaces. Each such 'space' is an area accommodating one and only one vehicle, a single boat, etc. A 'client' refers to a person or another legal entity that disposes of one or more sites and wishes to allocate rights of disposal of each individual space. The client may also assign a group of spaces to a mediator, referred to herein as a lessee, which may again allocate the spaces to one or more subscribers. An operator - typically a parking company - may administer and/or maintain the right(s) of disposal on behalf of the client or lessee.

[0003] Contract parking is a right to dispose of at least one parking space within a defined site or area according to an agreed contract. The agreement is made between a client, who owns or disposes of the defined site, and a lessee. Exemplary clients are property companies, enterprises, institutions, housing co-operatives, municipals having parking spaces for commercial rental or for use only by persons having a parking dispensation, etc. Alternatively, the client could be a public port authority or a private property owner wishing to allocate rights of disposal for a number of boat mooring spaces or the like. An example of a lessee is a 2/17 private individual or a company that rents or is given the right to dispose of one or more spaces directly from the client and that may allocate or sublet the spaces to subscribers. In the following, a 'lessee' is understood to mean a legal person having an agreement with the client to administer a group of spaces. The agreement may, but does not have to, involve an economic compensation. The group of spaces may comprise any subset of the spaces available at the site of the client, i.e. from one to all the spaces at the site. Exemplary lessees includes, but are not limited to, a company or shopping mail that hires out or freely allocates a number of parking spaces to its employees, or a boat club that hires out a number of boat mooring spaces at a site to its members.

[0004] As used this specification and in the following patent claims, the term 'subscriber' refers to the legal entity, i.e. a company or a natural person, entitled to use a single space at the site, and the term lessee refers to the party that has made an agreement with the client to hire one or more such spaces. Hence, the lessee and the subscriber may be a same legal entity serving different roles as a lessee and a subscriber, such as a private individual who has made an agreement directly with the client and is entitled to use a space at a defined site. The lessee and the subscriber may also be different legal entities, such as in the case of a company that rents a group of spaces from the client and mediates rights of disposal of individual spaces to its employees or subscribers. The right of disposal transferred to the subscriber may include a particular space or any space within a group of spaces operated by the lessee or client.

[0005] It must be understood that the subscription does not necessary involve an economical compensation, but could be a part of an employment condition or social relation, such as handicap parking, for example, through which the subscriber is given the right to park in one space of a group of spaces administered by an employer, a municipal, etc, [0006] Further, as used in the following, the term 'operator1 refers to the company maintaining the rights at the defined site. The operator may provide signposts, control the parking, etc. The operator may also administer the 3/17 entire arrangement or parts thereof for a client or lessee. Exemplary operators are private or municipal parking companies.

[0007] A first type of parking system is based on a printed paper or plastic parking pass. Examples of such systems are found at sites for which the operator issues a parking pass that is valid between two dates. In such systems the parking pass is visibly disposed behind a front shield, and street parking inspectors visually verifies that the parking pass has not expired, that the parking pass is for the correct site, and that the parking pass is otherwise valid. This type of solution offers many possibilities to evade the system, e.g. by using a valid parking pass in a space in which the user no longer is entitled to park, or by falsifying and manipulating the parking pass. In order to minimize the possibility of evading such systems it is necessary to physically replace all the parking passes issued for a site or property at least two times per year - preferably more often. This is both time consuming and costly, and also inconvenient for each party involved.

[0008] Parking passes exist having bar codes that can be scanned in order to check the validity thereof. Bar coded parking passes are not very easily controllable, however, because it is difficult to read the bar code through the front shield using a portable bar code reader. Snow and ice further complicates the inspection. Also, no commercially available system exists for administering the validity of the parking passes for the client.

[0009] The current parking passes are typically valid for one particular parking area. When changes Occur, new parking passes must be ordered and/or distributed. For example, the lessee may order new parking passes from the client, which is the contracting party, which, in turn, orders new parking passes from the operator. The parking passes are distributed from the operator to the client when ordered, or with regular intervals. The client then distributes the parking passes to the lessee, which, in turn, may distribute the parking passes to the individual subscribers or users.

[0010] it is known from the patent literature examples where users may place reservations for parking spaces within sudden areas. In particular US 2004/0254840 A1 discloses a reservation system which updates a central database which holds an overview of free and occupied parking spaces. 4/17 According to this invention it is disclosed that reservations made by a particular user or users shall be stored in said data base. However no authorisation or authentication means for the users are disclosed neither any updating of the data base directly initialized by the users.

Example:

[0011] A client sends 5 parking passes to a company having 5 parking spaces at their disposal, if one employee of the company quits before the validity of the parking permit expires and does not return the parking pass, this (or another) person may still use the parking space. The new employee is given a new parking pass, and consequently 6 valid parking passes have been issued for a group of 5 parking spaces.

[0012] Additionally to the parking passes for the parking spaces, systems are needed for administering the rental process and rights to dispose of the spaces. Time-consuming solutions for this exists which involves manual and resource intensive operations for registering customer information, handling customer communication, creating and sending out of contract documents and permissions, controlling permissions, invoicing, and following-up of rent payment.

[0013] A second type of prior art parking systems uses machine-readable parking passes which must be validated when entering and/or before exiting the parking area. Such systems may include a gate bar at the entrance to the site which is only opened if a valid admission ticket is read by a reader. In charged parking systems, entering is registered in that a parking pass must be printed out or a debit card must be read before an entrance gate is opened. On exit, a paid and validated parking pass must be read, or alternatively the debit card must be read again and debited, before an exit gate is opened, allowing exit from the site.

[0014] Above, parking has been used as an example even though the invention relates to the management of sites and spaces in general, in the following and in the patent claims, therefore, the term 'admission ticket1 is used instead of 'parking pass.' Thus, an 'admission ticket1 allows a subscriber the right to dispose of a space within a predefined group of spaces. The /17 group of spaces may include any subset of spaces located at one or more sites.

[0015] It is further recognized that an end user of a system could be authorized to administer one or more spaces. Hence, an end user having the proper authorization thereby assumes one or more of the roles of client, operator, lessee, and subscriber in the above examples, and possibly other roles.

For example, a first end user assigned to a subscriber may be authorized to administer one subscription, whereas a second end user representing a lessee is allowed to administer a group of spaces (ranging from one to all spaces) at a site. A third end user may represent an operator or client, and be given the right to administer the entire site containing one or more groups of spaces, with each group containing one or more spaces.

[0016] An administration system also should be kept as updated as possible so that a space may be hired out again, e.g. be put out for sale or rental on a web site or in a classified ad, as soon as possible after it has become vacant. Also, the validity of a parking pass should be verifiable as soon as possible after its issue.

[0017] Hence, there is a need for a secure, efficient, and robust system that simplifies and automates all the processes associated with issuance of permissions, rental administration, and management of spaces for parking, zone parking, boat mooring/storage spaces and inspection thereof, as well as payment and marketing of available capacity to the public.

Disclosure of Invention [0018] According to the invention, this is achieved by providing a system for administering and control of rights of disposal of rental areas dedicated for parking vehicles, where the rights for disposal is given to subscribers in accordance with a concluded agreement, wherein a machine-readable admission ticket, a control unit configured for checking the validity of the admission ticket against a database substantially in real-time, and authentication means configured for allowing an end user access to update information in the database if, and only if, the end user has been authenticated and authorized to update the information. 6/17 [0019] In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for administering and controlling of rights of disposal of rental areas allocated for parking vehicles, specified by the steps of authorizing an end user to administer rights of disposal of one or more spaces within the area, authenticating an authorized end user, distributing a number of machine-readable admission tickets to authorized end users, each admission ticket being provided with a unique identity, associating a right of disposal with the unique identity of the admission ticket in a database, allowing the authenticated and authorized end user to update the database with information on the space(s) and admission ticket(s) for which the end user is authorized, reading the identity of the admission ticket using a control unit, and checking the identity of the admission ticket against a valid right of disposal in the database substantially in real-time.

[0020] The administration of the system is simplified in that the end users themselves administer information on themselves and/or the space(s) for which they are authorized, and may be further simplified in that the system sends admission tickets directly to the end users on request.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the machine-readable admission ticket is an RFID tag or chip which can be read by means of a control unit at a distance from the tag. The control unit may be a portable, hand-held device or a stationary control unit of a control system which is capable of preventing access to an area by way of gate bars or other physical barriers. A portable control unit allows for an efficient regulation also at sites at which no physical barriers are provided at the entrance(s) and/or exit(s).

[0022] In the preferred embodiments the authorized end user updates information on admission tickets associated with one or more spaces. The information is registered in a central database in real-time or substantially in real-time. The central database allows a subscriber, lessee, operator, or client to administer access to one or more spaces, e.g. allocate or withdraw permissions, register information on a subscriber, etc., depending on the role and authorization of the end user. Updating information substantially in real-time reduces the time from when a space becomes vacant until it 7/17 may be offered to a new subscriber, as well as the time from when a subscription is registered until an admission ticket has been allocated, validated, and is verifiable.

[0023] Any known authentication means may be used, tn some cases a password may be sufficient to authenticate the end user, in other cases it may be desirable to use a system-generated one-time code sent on SMS or e-mail and/or a card and associated PIN code, possibly in addition to a personal password. For example, a one-time code may be used for authenticating a subscriber when handing out a first admission ticket, i.e. before a password has been established, and a more secure authentication than merely a password may be required if the end user is authorized to administer more than one space. It is also possible (and common) to demand a more secure authorization of a subscriber if the administration involves payment, for example.

[0024] Additional features and advantages of the invention will appear from the dependent claims.

Brief Description of Drawings [0025] The present invention will be described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system, [0027] Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to the invention,, [0028] Fig. 3 illustrates inspection by way of a portable control unit, and [0029] Fig. 4 shows a site provided with a stationary control unit and physical barriers at the entrance and exit.

Detailed Description of the Invention [0030] According to one aspect of the invention the system is specified by the fact that certain areas are allocated in accordance with contract terms of parking for a defined group of users. Users may be employees of a company that has a lease on a given number of parking spaces or a specific area for parking for example, staff-parking, or individuals who directly rent one or more parking spaces. 8/17 [0031] The system requires users to register personal details and registration number of the vehicle to be used and become a subscriber to access the system and get a right to rent a parking space.

Once completed, the user is a Subscriber.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a system according to the invention. A central administration server 1 is connected to a database 2. The administration server 1 communicates with other terminals, such as mobile phones and other computers 5, for example, via a network 3, such as the internet Typically, the administration server will offer a number of services falling outside the scope of the invention disclosed, such as functionality for extracting transaction vouchers, invoicing, connections to economy systems, etc. Such services will not be discussed in more detail herein.

[6033] A user may find available spaces from information in the database 2, e.g. by way of a web interface presented on a user terminal 5. The user terminal may be a PC, mobile phone, or another terminal unit of a known type, for example. The term web interface, as used herein, includes htmlbased display screens of a web browser on a computer as well as appurtenant protocols, e.g. server-generated PHP, ASP, or JavaScript code, WAP interfaces for mobile phones, and the like. The subscriber may register in the database through the same or a similar interface.

[0034] if a vacant space of the desired type is available, the subscriber may be sent an admission ticket 4 which provides physical access to the space. Alternatively, a new space may be added to an admission ticket already received by the subscriber.

[0035] The admission ticket 4 is given a unique identity that can be read mechanically by a control unit 6, containing a reader adapted for admission ticket 4. in a preferred embodiment, the admission ticket is a passive RFID tag. A passive RFiD tag utilizes the energy of an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal to emit a response signal containing stored information, such as a unique ID. Hence, such devices only need an incoming RF signal in order to function and do not need any batteries or other energy sources. Passive RFID tags are commercially available from numerous suppliers, and a person with skills in the art will be able to 9/17 choose a type having suitable range and other properties for the intended location of use. For example, it may be necessary with a larger distance between the reader and tag in the case of a boat mooring space than in a car parking garage. The tag and reader must be adapted accordingly.

[0036] The admission ticket must be positioned so as to be readable in a parking scenario, and the unique ID is read by the control unit 6. The validity of the admission ticket is verified against the database 2, and entry is dented or sanctions may be imposed if the admission ticket is invalid or withdrawn, the subscription has not been paid, or the like.

[0037] In a first embodiment, admission ticket 4 is a passive RFID tag and the control unit 6 is a portable, hand-held device. This embodiment is suited for sites not provided with physical barriers at the entrance(s) and/or exit(s). The RFID tags can be read one after another by moving the control unit 6 along a series of vehicles containing passive RFID tags. An alarm, such as a warning light and/or an audible signal, is set off if an invalid admission ticket is encountered. The manner of operation is described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3 below.

[0038] in a second embodiment, the site is provided with physical barriers which only open if the vehicle carries a valid admission ticket 4 when entering and/or exiting the site. In this variant the control unit 6 is a stationary apparatus positioned at the entrance or exit, and the admission ticket 4 may be an RFID tag, smart card, credit card, or any other machinereadable admission ticket.

[0039] In both the above embodiments a user, e.g. a subscriber or a representative for the operator or lessee, himself or herself may administer one or more subscriptions in the database 2, provided that it is established that the user has the rights required.

[0040] in some applications it is sufficient for the user to provide a password to gain access to a, preferably web-based, administration interface to the administration server 1. In other applications, it may be desirable to have a more secure authentication. Any known authentication mechanism could be used. Secure authentication mechanisms commonly combine something the user possesses with something the user knows. /17 [0041] A first example of a more secure authentication involves one-time codes, in which case the user first enters a persona! password in a web interface on a first user terminal 5 and sends the information to administration server 1. The administration server then generates the one-time code and sends it to a second user terminal, e.g. a registered mobile phone or PC. The one-time code must then be entered into the interface at the first the user terminal before the user is considered authenticated and thereby allowed to administer his or her rights and setups. The one-time code may have a limited time period of validity, so that the user is only allowed a limited period of time to enter the correct code.

[0042] In another example of prior art authentication mechanisms the user possesses a smart card, credit card, or another type of card, as well as knowledge of a Persona! identification Number (PIN). The card may be connected to the user terminal 5 through a card reader connected through a USB port, for example.

[0043] In applications involving payment, a bank or card company may have its own authentication means, such as a one-time code from a code calculator or a mailed list that must be disclosed, in addition to a persona! password.

[0044] If desired, the authentication of the user terminal may additionally include verification of the user terminal, e.g. MAC address of the network interface card, so that administration may only be performed from certain user terminals 5.

[0045] Different types of authentication may be used in different connections. For example, one-time codes may be used for the first logon, i.e, before the user has registered a password. For subsequent logons, a password, onetime code, card, or another means of authentication may be used, it is also possible to demand different authentication mechanisms for users representing a subscriber, a lessee, an operator, or a client.

[0046] When the user has been authenticated, he or she is allowed to administer one or more spaces or admission tickets. Which rights of disposal can be administered depends on the authorization level of the user. For example, one user may be authorized to administer information on himself or herself 11/17 and one admission ticket, whereas another end user may represent a lessee and be authorized to update information on a group of spaces, e.g. assign a parking right or annul the validity of an admission ticket assigned to an employee who has quitted and therefore no longer is entitled to administer the group of spaces of the lessee. A third end user may represent an operator or client which, possibly in addition to the above, is allowed to grant and withdraw rights of disposal of a group of spaces.

[0047] Further exemplary administrative functions may include, but is not limited to, initiating a subscription, registering as a contracting party, paying according to an entered agreement by way of credit card or invoice through the payment solution 7, administering his or her customer relationship (e.g. print out temporary permissions) from the user terminal δ, offering a vacant space for rent, etc.

[0048] The communication between administration server 1 and an authenticated user terminal 5 should be checked for integrity at a level sufficient to prevent intruders from allocating spaces to themselves. This also includes organizational routines which are not discussed in more detail herein. Integrity checking prevents a third party from being able to alter information in transit, and usually involves the use of a cryptographic checksum (such as a hash) that must be received correctly at the recipient in order for the information to be accepted. In the case of a web-based administration interface, https is assumed to be a suitable communication protocol for transferring data between the user terminal 5 and administration server 1.

[0049] Preferable, database 2 and/or administration server 1 is/are updated from the administration interface substantially in real-time. This makes it possible to verify an admission ticket 4, such as an RFID tag, for example, once the registration(s) is/are completed. With the phrase substantially in real-time, as used herein, is understood that information is updated or verified within a few seconds, e.g. in less than 15 seconds.

[0050] The system allows the lessee to effect full or partial payment from employees (subscribers) for having access to a parking space at the workplace. 12/17 [0051] The system provides the client with a summary of economical transactions, available capacity where applicable, as well as agreements entered and status for agreements.

[0052] Fig. 2 shows parts of a method 200 according to the invention.

[0053] in step 210 an end user is authorized, e.g. in that an operator or client allocates spaces to a lessee or directly to a subscriber, and that the lessee and/or subscriber is given the right to administer the space(s) of which he or she has been given right(s) of disposal. In this step it may also be determined which spaces are to be hired out/administered and at which charge.

[0054] In step 220 a right of disposal is associated with a physical admission ticket 4 via a unique identity in a database 2. This step may include mailing a new physical admission ticket 4 to the subscriber. Alternatively, an authorization or right of disposal from step 210 may be associated with an admission ticket which has been sent to the subscriber at an earlier point.

[0055] In step 230 a user is authenticated. The user may be an operator, lessee, or subscriber having been authorized in step 210. The authentication may be accomplished using any known authentication mechanism, such as a password, one-time code, or card, for example.

[0056] In step 240, the user administers the right of disposal for which the user has been authorized, such as a single space, a group of spaces, and/or one or more sites containing one or more groups of spaces, for example.

[0057] Decision 250 illustrates that the administration of a subscription may be carried out several times, e.g. in that an account is checked and money is transferred if the balance is low. Arrow 260 in the loop points to a point forward of steps 230 to illustrate that authentication is mandatory before a right of disposal may be administrated.

[0058] The machine-readable admission ticket 4 proves the right of disposal of a space and is placed in a vehicle, boat or similar object. The admission ticket is read by a reader communicating with a central database, preferably in real-time, so that the valid right of the object to occupy the space can be verified at location. 13/17 [0059] The database also simplifies the marketing of a vacant space. Such marketing could be, for example, a web site generated by administration server 1 and/or an advertisement in another medium, such as a classified ad in a newspaper.

[0060] A more rapid announcement of vacant spaces is expected to increase the utilization of and earnings from the bounded area, e.g. a parking site or a marina.

[0061] Also, the administration cost of the present system is expected to be significantly lower than for similar systems as the users administrate their right(s) of disposal by themselves. With suitable authorization and authentication means in piace the end users may themselves request, and be mailed, a valid admission ticket with no intruders being able to get an admission ticket for themselves.

[0062] Fig. 3 is a principle drawing showing how RFID tags can be checked using a portable control unit 6. A first vehicle 30 is provided with an RFID tag (not shown) which emits a signal 301. The effective range of signal 801 is shown by a dotted circle around vehicle 80. Similarly, a second vehicle 81 is provided with an RFID tag (not shown) which emits a signal 811. The effective range of signal 811 is shown by a dotted circle around vehicle 81.

[0063] A control unit 6 is moved along a row of vehicles 80, 81 in the direction shown by arrow 61. The control unit 6 emits a radio signal supplying an RFID tag with sufficient energy for the RFID tag to emit a radio signal.

[0064] When the control unit was located in position A in Fig. 3 it received an ID signal 801 from vehicle 80, whereas an ID signal 811 was not received or at least significantly weaker than signal 801. The identity represented by signal 801 was then checked against database 2, and an alarm would have been set off if signal 801 did not correspond to a valid ID registered in database 2.

[0065] When the control unit 6 is located in the position shown by a solid fine around reference number 6 in Fig. 3, it receives approximately equally strong signals from the RFID tags in vehicles 80 and 81. In this position crosstalk between the two signals 801 and 811 may render it difficult to distinguish the identity of vehicle 80 from the identity of vehicle 81. This 14/17 problem is overcome in that the system has registered the license plate number (registration number) along with the identifier of the tag identifying from which vehicle the signal originates so that the attendant may physically check whether there is a match between the validity of the identifier and the registration number of the vehicle. It will be natural that the control unit receives registration number data when an alarm is set off in order to avoid problems related to crosstalk.

[0066] As control unit 6 is moved to the right in Fig. 3, however, it will arrive at position B, in which signal 811 dominates over signal 801, and the identity of vehicle 81 may be checked against the database 2. Again, an alarm is set off if it is not verified that vehicle 81 has valid access to the site or space in which the vehicle is parked.

[0067] From the above it will be understood that as the effective range of signals 801 and 811 increases, i.e. if the radius of the dotted two circles increases, the crosstalk problems also aggravates. This consideration makes it advantageous for the RFID tags to have the shortest range possible. However, the shortest range possible in practice is determined by the need for being able to receive signals 801 and 811 by a hand-held control unit 6 at a certain distance from vehicles 80, 81, as in Fig. 3, and/or by a stationary control unit 6 at a certain distance from vehicles 80, 81, as in Fig. 4.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment the range of the RFID tags is reduced to a few meters, and the control unit 6 only sends a request to the database 2 when one signal 801,811 is sufficiently dominant over other signals for an ID to be unambiguously read from the signal. Hence, identities are read one by one. If desired, control unit 6 could maintain a list of identities read during a time period, so that lookups in the database 2 are not unnecessary duplicated. This reduces the traffic between the control unit 6 and database 2.

[0069] Fig. 4a shows a vehicle 80 provided with a machine-readable admission ticket as it enters a site. Entrance to the site may be regulated by an entrance gate or another physical barrier 410 connected to a control system comprising a stationary control unit 6 capable of reading the /17 admission ticket, and communication with a database 2. The machinereadable the admission ticket might be an RFID tag having an effective range as indicated with a dotted circle in Fig. 3. The admission ticket could also be a card, such as a debit card, credit card, or the like. As opposed to the parking systems described in the introductory section, which may also use a machine-readable debit card, the system of Fig. 4a includes a database 2 with preregistered information on the admission ticket. The information in database 2 makes it possible to restrict the access to the site by way of an entrance gate which is only opened if the RFID tag or card is registered as a valid admission ticket in database 2. Alternatively, the system may allow anyone to enter, as in prior art systems, and give a discount or collect no charge at all if an admission ticket registered in database 2 is detected. Such a system could be used, for example, for commute parking in which commuters having paid a monthly pass are given a discounted price at a charged parking site. Although the system could be based on a machine-readable debit card and a control unit 6 with a card reader, an admission ticket with an RFID tag and a corresponding control unit 6 is preferred because reading an RFID tag does not require a car driver to locate and bring forward a registered debit card, insert the card into a reader and then extract the card. In other words, the entering time per vehicle is shorter for a machine-readable RFID tag than for a debit card. This is especially advantageous when numerous vehicles are to enter a site during a limited time period, such as at the start and end of the working day, for example.

[0070] in Fig. 4b, a system having an exit gate 411 at the exit thereof is shown. The exit gate is a physical barrier connected to a control system comprising a stationary control unit 6 capable of reading an admission ticket as described above, and communication with a database 2. The vehicle 80 may be prevented from leaving the site before a charge has been paid as in the prior art systems discussed introductorily. Again, the system differs from these prior art systems in that information on the admission ticket, which also in this case may be a debit card, is stored in the database 2. This makes it possible, for example, to bill registered 16/17 users of the system instead of preventing them from leaving the site, whereas unregistered users have to pay and validate a parking pass before they are allowed to leave the site, as in the parking systems discussed in the introduction. Of course, a site may be provided with physical barriers 410, 411 at both the entrance(s) and exit(s). in this case, the database 2 enables functionality as described above with reference to Figs. 4a and 4b.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A system for administering and controlling rights of disposal of rental areas allocated for parking vehicles, where the rights for disposal is given to subscribers in accordance with a concluded contract, characterized by a machine-readable admission ticket {4), a control unit {6) configured for checking the validity of the admission ticket against a database (2) substantially in real-time, and authentication means configured for allowing an end user access to update information in the database (2) if and only if the end user has been authenticated and authorized to update the information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable admission ticket (4) is an RFID tag.

3. The system of claims 1-2, wherein the control unit (6) is a portable unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication means is configured for inserting a one-time code and an address in a message.

5. A method for administering rights of disposal of an area, characterized by the steps of: - authorizing an end user for administering a right of disposal of one or more spaces within the area, - authenticating an authorized end user, - allocating a number of machine-readable admission tickets (4) to authorized end users, each admission ticket (4) being provided with a unique identity, - associating a right of disposal with the unique identity of the admission ticket in a central database {2), - allowing the authenticated and authorized end user to update the central database (2) with information on the space(s) and admission ticket(s) (4) for which the end user is authorized, - reading the identity of the admission ticket (4) using a control unit (6), and - checking the identity of the admission ticket (4) against a valid right of disposal in the database (2) substantially in real-time.