LT6445B - Equipment to pay for cars at parkings and payment method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for determining the amount of payment and to accept payment for parking. The device fully automates the payment process, in some cases the recipient of the service does not need to take any action at any time using the site. In this facility, at places of entry and exit to the site, in place of passage-restricting barriers there are signaling devices that mechanically allow the passage of the recipient of the service even if the amount charged is not paid. Also, when entering or leaving the site, there is no need to stop, as the identification of the car can to be carried out also while driving, in this way there is no congestion on the entrance or exit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is in the field of parking equipment, more particularly, a device for determining the amount of parking payment and accepting payment.

TECHNICAL LEVEL

This description describes a device for arranging a parking charge in a paid parking lot, which reads the vehicle identification features that determine the amount of the service charge when leaving. Unlike present devices, the present invention uses a message device that does not restrict passage, instead of a barrier that restricts passage. The whole process is automated to minimize the cost of parking for a car driver.

Patent application US4603390A (published July 29, 1986) provides a solution for scanning and digitizing vehicle license plates. In a similar application, entry and exit are restricted by barriers, which can result in queues at higher vehicle traffic; it also states that the cashier can pay, which means that the system is not fully automated.

Patent application EP2835788A1 (published April 2, 2015) provides a fully automated system, but there is no possibility of entering or exiting a parking lot, i.e. entry or exit is restricted by barriers.

The prior art documentation presented has the following main shortcomings:

- the system is not automated, requires the driver and / or payer of the car to take appropriate action each time they enter or leave the parking lot;

- There are passage barriers at the entrance or exit of the site which can lead to traffic jams. Another downside to restrictive barriers is that, from a psychological point of view, people do not like restrictive barriers and may or may not be reluctant to drive to or avoid such yards.

This description provides a technical solution for parking your vehicle, without the drawbacks of the solutions in the above documents.

THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INVENTION

This description provides a device to determine the payment amount and accept payment for parking. The machine fully automates the payment process, and in certain implementations the recipient of the service does not need to take any action each time the site is used. This device shall include, on the points of entry and exit, instead of obstructions which obstruct the passage, message devices which inform the recipient, but not restrict his action. Also, there is no need to stop when entering or exiting the car park, as car identification can also be performed while driving, thus preventing congestion at the entry or exit and making the driver psychologically more comfortable when there are no barriers at the car park. Also, with a wider machine, where a single barrier is not sufficient and a double barrier is required, the invention solves the problem automatically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figure below is a schematic drawing illustrating the general structure / scheme of the device. Some embodiments of the device may differ from the drawing in the figure.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In this description, the term barrier (may also be a firewall, barrier, etc.) is an obstacle that mechanically impedes entry or exit from the parking area.

Parking lots that pay for parking are not news. The most common sites are those that do not require the permanent presence of an employee, i.e. having an automated charging system. In this case, when entering the parking area, it is necessary to approach the entrance control unit, which in one way or another records the time of entry (eg by printing a ticket containing information on the time of entry). When the entry time is recorded, a barrier opens allowing you to enter and leave the car. When leaving the site, parking fees must be paid, or, if the parking time is within a certain time limit, driving towards the exit control device. When approaching an exit control device, you must record the exit time or communicate the parking fee paid. After this procedure, the barrier opens and you can exit the parking area. With the advancement of computer technology, parking payment systems are increasingly being introduced, where the entry and exit times of a car are recorded by the registration number of the car, i.e. when entering, the number of the car and the time of entry are recorded; on exit - the vehicle's number and departure time are recorded, which is compared to the time of entry and the difference in parking time. With such a system, the car's identification and time recording is done automatically and does not require driver action.

it is common in such systems that entry and exit are restricted, regulated by a barrier, i.e., obstruction, impediment, denial of entry or exit by the use of site rules. Some drivers avoid driving to areas where traffic is obstructed, which gives them a sense of uncertainty and discomfort. Barriers on entry and exit also limit the car's throughput, which can also cause discomfort to drivers, as they can create queues at the entry and especially at the exit.

This description describes a parking payment system. This system allows for full automation of payment for parking at the site, instead of barriers for entry and / or exit barriers, which provide limitations to the users of the site, and other means not having the disadvantages listed above.

The description includes a parking pay system comprising the following components: a walk-in device (1), a walk-out device (6), an information processing device (4), a parking device (5), and so on.

The access device (1) comprises a video capture device (2), a time measuring and recording device, a message (signaling) device (3), and means for analyzing, processing, storing and transmitting data, information.

The image-capturing device (2) may be any means for capturing image information (eg, camera, camera, etc.) capable of capturing an image, converting light into electrical signals, which can be transmitted, recorded, processed, etc. The image-capturing device (2) shall be capable of capturing the identifying, distinguishing features of a vehicle in motion. The video capture device (2) captures the vehicle registration number or other distinguishing features of the vehicle, such as color, manufacturer's mark, and / or other. The captured distinctive features of the car must be unique and specific to the particular car. The captured distinctive features are used to identify the car. A set of identifiers (eg car license plate number and color) may be recorded. In one embodiment, the vehicle registration number is retrieved from the image formed by the image capture device (2), and the visual information is converted into textual information. Captured data with vehicle characteristics includes information on the time of vehicle entry; such information shall be obtained from a time measuring and recording device. The vehicle identification data, together with the entry time information, are stored in a data processing unit or data processing unit (4).

The exit device (6) comprises an image capture device (7), a time measurement and capture device, a message device (8), and means for analyzing, processing, storing and transmitting data, information.

As the car exits the parking lot, the identification of the vehicle identification features described above by means of a video capture device (7) takes place and is associated with the departure time. After the identification of the vehicle has been recorded, a search for identical features is carried out in the data processing unit (4) which stores (or receives data from the storage device) the data of vehicles entering the site, i.e. searching for an outgoing car between the entrants. The identity of the vehicle entering the car shall be accompanied by the time of entry of the vehicle.

The image captured by the image capture devices (2), (7) may be further processed not only to scan the vehicle number. The image can be processed to distinguish other vehicle identification features by appropriate image processing to compare with the outgoing vehicle image.

The information processing unit (4) determines the duration of the car park by comparing entry and exit times. The fixed parking charge rate determines the amount to be paid for parking the vehicle. In one embodiment, car registration data is used, which includes car owner (or user) data that can be used to bill and pay for parking the vehicle. In another embodiment, mobile devices with communication devices such as a cell phone, tablet, laptop, or others may be used to pay the bill. In this case, most of the time, the system requires pre-registration, before the system provides the user with the data needed to pay for parking. In the next case of parking payment implementation, especially if the parking lot is only for the visitor of a specific object, parking fee may be charged only in case of non-compliance with the established free parking rules. For example, parking at a grocery store, supermarket: in this case, parking may be free of charge in the case of a certain good or for a certain amount, or free parking for a certain period of time. Such buyers are exempt and must pay according to the established procedure if they do not fulfill the terms of free parking.

The message (signaling) device (3), (8) is connected to the information processing device (4). One of the functions of the access control device (3) is to inform the vehicle of the scanned identification of the vehicle, so that information about the payment for parking can be displayed. One of the functions of the Exit Notification Device (8) is to inform passers-by of the need to pay for parking. The signaling device (3), (8) may be a source of light of different colors, for example: green light means that there is a charge or no charge; red - pay for standing. In another embodiment, the signaling device (3), (8) may be a visual information display device, a display that displays payment status information in visual form. In this case, the signaling device (3) (8) can indicate how the car can be paid for. In another embodiment, the message device may be said mobile device with communication means. In this case, the mobile device screen may consistently display parking time, cost, and / or other information; on exit - parking payment information, additional payment information; a reference to software linked to an electronic banking system that can be used to pay for parking.

Information processing unit (4) for receiving, processing, storing, sending information. "Information processing machine" (4) means an electronic computing device which performs different operations with information having a minimum of processors, a cache, a long-term memory, internal channels of communication, communications with external devices. In certain embodiments, it may be a computer, a specialized computer, or another set of electronic data processing tools. The information processing device (4) obtains visual information about the entering car, retrieves identification information in the received information, assigns entry time, stores information in long-term memory, receives visual information about the outgoing car, distinguishes identification signs, assigns an exit time Finds the car's entry time, calculates parking time, and the price to pay for parking.

In other embodiments, the various information processes may be performed on other devices connected to the information processing unit (4).

In another embodiment, the system may include a parking payment device (5) located in or near the parking lot. The payment device (5) is used to receive money (cash or from payment cards) for parking the vehicle. Payment can be made by entering the vehicle number in the information input device of the payment device (5) or by selecting the vehicle according to other identification features. The payment device (5) may also have a visual information reading device which reads the store's check (s) provided that there are rules for free parking. In another embodiment, the fact of shopping that results in a free on-site parking may be recorded at the checkout desk. In this case, it is necessary to associate with the check the vehicle identification features by which the exit device will recognize the outgoing vehicle, and the associated data must reach the toll station exit device.

In other embodiments, some of the aforementioned devices or devices may be software that performs the described function of a device.

The functions described above are not necessarily performed by the devices provided in the description. Some of the features that are provided for one device may be performed for another device. Some of the features provided as separate devices may be performed on a single device.

Among all the devices, devices, etc. of the device. communication links are in place for all devices, devices, etc. integration into a seamless dissemination system.

In another embodiment, the access device may be connected to a central system (which may be remote, receiving and transmitting information over various communication networks) which analyzes, stores and transmits data, in which case the access device itself does not require data processing.

In order to illustrate and describe the present invention, the following is a description of the most preferred embodiments. It is not a detailed or restrictive description intended to determine the exact form or embodiment. The description above should be viewed as an illustration rather than a limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and an embodiment has been selected and described to best explain the principles of the present invention and their best practical application for different embodiments with different modifications suitable for a particular application or embodiment. for customization. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended definition and its equivalents, in which all the foregoing terms have the widest possible meaning, unless otherwise stated.

Embodiments described by those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following definition.

Claims (5)

DEFINITION OF INVENTION 1. A parking lot payment device having: imaging devices for capturing the unique identification of vehicles entering and exiting the site; means for collecting, processing, storing and sending information, an information processing device (4); a parking lot payment device (5); characterized in that, instead of obstructions which mechanically obstruct and restrict the passage through the entrance (1), exit (6) devices, there are signaling devices (3), (8) that allow the passage mechanically even if the sum due is not paid. A parking lot payment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling device (3), (8) is a light source of different colors. 3. The car park payment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling device (3), (8) is a display capable of displaying visual information. 4. The parking fee payment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling device (3), (8) is a mobile communication device. 5. The method of payment for parking, which includes: scanning of entering car identification signs and recording entry time; scanning of outbound car identification signs and exit time recording; finding the exit time of an outbound car in information storage media and determining parking time; displaying and accepting payment for parking, comprising the use of a signaling device (3), (8) according to claims 1 to 4, wherein said device, upon departure, alerts the vehicle driver of its payment status associated with payment for time spent parking. on the site.