MONITORING AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM This invention refers to a monitoring and identification system. In particular, it relates to a system for monitoring and identifying vehicles in a plurality of parking zones and to a device for use in the system. It also refers to a method to monitor and identify a vehicle in a parking area. WO 98 30982A and EP 193 320A describe, respectively, the so-called parking control units, that is, portable devices for monitoring or verifying whether the vehicles are legally parked or not. The devices are intended for use in parking systems of the kind in which a user is required to enter, inter alia, a vehicle registration number in a remote database in order to register the vehicle as a legally parked vehicle. . The devices are able to communicate with the remote database in order to obtain the registration numbers of vehicles that are legally parked. The devices do not work as parking meters. US 5 745 052 describes a parking control system for a parking lot of a departmental warehouse. He
system comprises an input device at the parking lot entrance, device issuing a parking ticket and an exit device at the exit of the parking lot that is able to read the parking ticket and determine if a fee is payable. The output device includes an input means for inputting a vehicle registration number in the vehicle and a communication means for communication with a remote station where a check is made to identify if the vehicle has been stolen. The US 5 745
052 does not describe a portable parking meter. WO 99 10844 describes a system for billing, collecting and distributing parking fees using a cellular or mobile telephone. In this system, a mobile phone is used to register a vehicle as a validly parked vehicle, and a parking verification is performed by a parking attendant who has access to the database containing the registration numbers of all These registered vehicles. The database is accessed remotely using an internet browser combined with a mobile phone. WO 99 10844 does not disclose a portable parking meter.
According to the invention, a device is provided for monitoring and identifying a vehicle in at least one parking area, the device includes. A housing formed and sized to be portable within which it is housed: an input means for feeding the entry identification details of a vehicle in a parking area in the device; a means of communication to receive the identification details of vehicle reference, communicated from a remote station to the device; a storage means for storing the reference identification details; a means of synchronization to ~ synchronize the duration during which the vehicle is parked in the parking area; a processor means connected to the input means and to the storage means, the processor means includes a comparator means for comparing the input identification details with the reference identification details, the processor means that can be operated to calculate a quantity quota monetary for parking during
the duration in the parking area so that the device functions as a parking meter; a signal generating means for selectively generating a warning signal in response to the comparison; a means of display to display the monetary amount quota; and a means of monetary reception to receive the monetary amount quota. Furthermore, according to the invention a device for monitoring and identifying a vehicle in at least one parking area is provided, the device includes a housing formed and sized to be portable within which it is housed: an input means for feeding details identification of a vehicle's entrance in a parking area in the device; t a means of communication for sending the identification details of entry to a remote station and for receiving the result of a comparison made at the remote station between the entry identification details and the details of
identification of reference in order to identify the vehicle; a signal generating means for selectively generating a warning signal in response to the result; a synchronization means for synchronizing the duration during which the vehicle is parked in the parking area; a processing means to calculate a monetary amount for parking during the duration in the parking area; a means of display to display the monetary amount quota; and a means of monetary reception to receive the monetary amount quota. The monetary receiving means may include a card reading means for reading the information stored on a card and feeding it to the processing means for electronically processing the payment. The processor means can define the synchronization means. Identification details can be displayed on the display medium. In the case of the corresponding details, the observed details can be verified before generating the signal of
warning. The storage medium can thus include data defining a rate payable by the driver, for example, a rate per hour during the day, during the night and so on. The device may include a printer to print a printed copy of the selected data. The input means may include a keyboard via which the identification details of the vehicle and the parking area are entered manually. In addition or in contrast, the input means may include a reader capable of wirelessly reading a tag device in or on the vehicle, the tag device stopping the vehicle identification details. The identification details are typically details observed by a supervisor and fed into the vehicle. The communication medium is typically a wireless communication link. In other embodiments, the communication channel may be a wire link, an RF link, or any other conventional communication link. In certain modalities, the device
includes an enabling means for selectively enabling the device. The enabling means can be defined by the processor means and the input means in such a way that upon entering a correct PIN number, the device is enabled. The PIN code can be communicated between the base station and the remote unit. The reference identification details are typically reference identification details of stolen vehicles. Accordingly, the reference details may be the make, color, registration number or the like of the vehicle. The housing is preferably waterproof. In addition, according to the invention, a system for monitoring and identifying vehicles in a plurality of parking zones is provided, the system includes: a remote station in which vehicle reference identification details are stored; and at least one device for identifying a vehicle parked in one of a plurality of parking zones with which the vehicle is associated, the device includes a formed housing and
sized to be portable within which it is housed: an input means for feeding entry identification details of a vehicle parked in a parking area in the device; a means of communication for sending the entry identification details to the remote station for comparison with the reference identification details and receiving the result of the comparison; a signal generating means for selectively generating a warning signal in response to the result; a synchronization means for synchronizing the duration during which the vehicle is parked in the parking area; a processing means to calculate a monetary amount for parking during the duration in the parking area; a means of display to display the monetary amount quota; and a means of monetary reception to receive the monetary amount quota. In addition in accordance with the invention, a system for monitoring and identifying is provided
vehicles in a plurality of parking zones, the system includes: a remote station in which vehicle reference identification details are stored; at least one device for identifying a vehicle parked in a plurality of parking areas with which the vehicle is associated, the device includes a housing formed and sized to be portable within which is accommodated: an input means for feeding details of identification of the entry of a vehicle parked in a parking area in the device; a communication means for receiving the reference identification details of the remote station; a storage means for storing the reference identification details; a synchronization means for synchronizing the duration during which the vehicle is parked in the parking area; a processor means connected to the input means and the storage means, the processor means including a comparator means for
compare the entry identification details with the reference identification details, the processor means which is operable to calculate a monetary amount fee for parking during the duration in the parking area so that the device functions as a parking meter; the signal generating means for selectively generating a warning signal in response to the comparison; a means of exhibition to receive the monetary amount quota; and a means of monetary reception to receive the monetary amount quota. The means of communication can be a means of wireless communication. The monetary receiving means may include a card reading means for reading information stored in a card and feeding it to the processing means for electronically processing the payment. The input means may include a reader capable of reading a tag device hidden in or on the vehicle in a wireless manner, the tag device having the vehicle identification details.
In certain embodiments the system includes a control center and a plurality of remote stations in remote locations associated with the parking zones, each remote station that is in communication with the control center and a telecommunication network to receive reference identification details. that is in wireless communication with an associated remote station. The telecommunication network is typically a cell phone network. Accordingly, the reference identification details can be downloaded by means of transmission of SMS messages. In certain modalities, the telecommunications network is the internet. The remote station may include an alternative means of communication to communicate with other databases. For example, the base station may include an additional communication interface arranged to interconnect with the NATIS (National Traffic Information Service). The interface can be configured to communicate via the Internet to NATIS, law enforcement authorities, or similar. A plurality of regional base stations can be provided which are each linked via a network of
communication, for example, the internet, to a national control center. Still further in accordance with the invention, a method for monitoring and identifying a vehicle in a parking area is provided, the method includes: details of a vehicle's power identification in a parking area in a portable device; transmit identification details to a remote station; compare the identification details of the vehicle in the parking area with the reference identification details at the remote station; selectively generate a warning signal in response to the comparison; synchronize the duration during which the vehicle is parked in the parking area, calculate a monetary amount quota during the duration; and receive the monetary amount fee. The reference identification details are typically the identification details of stolen vehicles. A database can be provided in the
device for storing vehicle reference identification details and the method may include updating the database periodically with reference identification details of the remote station. The method may include communicating the identification details in a wireless manner of the device to the remote station in which the database is located. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. In the drawings. Figure 1 shows a system or installation, according to the invention, for monitoring the use of parking zones or bays; Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a device or remote unit, also according to the invention, of the installation of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the remote unit of Figure 2, Figure 4 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the remote unit of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a schematic flow chart of information in the system or installation; Y
Figure 6 shows the device or remote unit installed in a parking area that includes a priority of parking areas or bays. With reference to the drawings, the reference number 10 indicates in general an installation or system, according to the invention, for monitoring the use of a priority of parking zones or bays 12 (only a few of which are shown and references in the drawings). The installation 10 includes a national control center 13 which is connected via a communication link 14, for example, the internet, to a plurality of base stations 16 (only a few of which are shown in the drawings) which are located in several parts of the country, for example, in various suburbs, shopping centers, or similar. Each base station 16 is remotely connected to a plurality of portable remote units 18 via a conventional cellular telephone network 20. The parking bays 12 are arranged in groups, each group that is associated with a specific portable remote unit 18 that is assigned to a supervisor (not shown) who, with the help of the portable remote unit 18, monitors the use of the bays 12 parking as described in more
detail later. In other embodiments of the invention, remote units 18 communicate with base stations 16 using conventional RF transceivers (not shown). The national control center 13 is linked to
NATIS via a digital communication link, for example, the internet, so that the reference identification details such as the model, make, color or vehicle registration details, for example stolen vehicles, can be fed into your internal storage. The national control center 13 thus includes comprehensive details on the vehicles such as stolen vehicles which can then be communicated via the communication link 14 to each base station 16 where the details are stored in its internal memory. Each remote unit 18 includes a memory 22 (see Figures 2 and 3) in which a database of vehicle reference identification details is stored. The reference identification details are downloaded from the base station 16 via the conventional cellular telephone network 20 in the form of SMS messages
(Short Message System). During the course of the day, if additional details of reference identification are required, for example, details that
have been stolen during the course of the day, these details can be downloaded instantaneously into memory 22 via network 20. Portable remote units 18 include a housing that is waterproof and that is formed and sized to define a portable unit that It includes its various components. The remote unit 18 includes an exhibit screen 24 (see figures 2 to 4) to display and give information to the supervisor, as described in more detail later. The remote unit 18 further includes an input means in the form of a keypad 26, a warning LED 30, a reception printer 32, a power supply unit 34 that includes a rechargeable lithium battery for energizing the remote unit, a cellular interface 36 that is operable to receive and transmit data via the conventional cellular telephone network 20, and a reading means for reading the monetary value of a smart card, a similar credit card. When a driver of a vehicle that requires the use of a particular parking area or bay has parked his car, the supervisor of the group of parking bays in which the specific bay is located approaches the
vehicle and via the keypad 26 of its remote unit 18, enter the observed identification details of the vehicle in the remote unit 18. The identification details observed are typically the registration number of the vehicle and the processing unit 28 then has access to the memory. 22 in which a database of vehicle details is stored. The reference details corresponding to the registration number are then retrieved from the memory 22 and displayed on the display 24. The reference details typically include the make, color, model, etc., of the vehicle and the supervisor then visually compare these Details with the vehicle parked in the parking bay. In the event that there is a disagreement between the reference details and the observed details, the supervisor can then alert the relevant authorities by communicating a warning signal to the base station 16 associated with the particular remote unit 18. Additionally, the memory 22 includes comprehensive details on vehicles that are being used illegally, for example, stolen vehicles or the like. The processing unit 28 compares in this way the registration number that was fed via the keyboard 26 to a vehicle database
stolen in the memory 22 and if the comparison is positive, the processing unit 28 activates the warning LED 30 to alert the supervisor in this way. The supervisor can then double check that the registration number of the vehicle he has powered via the keyboard 26 is correct by comparing the observed registration number of the vehicle with the details entered via the keyboard 26 and displayed on the screen 24. If the The correct registration number has actually been entered, the warning signal can be either automatically or in response to a supervisor action, it is transmitted via the cellular interface 36 to the associated base station 16. The base station 16 then associated It can alert the relevant authorities, for example, the police or similar. However, it will be appreciated that, instead of the cellular communication link 20, a radio link or wire link via a conventional wire telephone system, an internet link or the like can be used to communicate between the base station 16 and the remote unit 18 or is used to communicate between the stations 16 and the control center 13. In addition to entering the vehicle registration number in the remote unit 18, each bay 12 of
parking associated with the specific remote unit 18 is numbered and also an identification number of the specific parking bay of the remote unit 18 is entered via the keypad 26. Once the parking of the vehicle in the specific parking bay has been authorized. , a synchronization means defined by the processing unit 28 for synchronizing the duration of the vehicle in the parking bay is then initialized. The processing unit 28 retrieves the reference data from the memory 22 that can be selectively downloaded into the memory 22 from the base station 16. The processing unit 28 then calculates the charge rate depending on the time of day, day of the week, class of the parking area or similar. The display screen 24 is typically a 30-digit LSD display of ten lines, which under the control of the processing unit 28, displays the vehicle registration number, the number of the parking bay in which the vehicle was parked. , the time and date, the hourly rate for the use of the parking bay or similar. Once the supervisor has received the payment for the use of the parking bay and entered the payment details
On the remote unit 18 via the keypad 26, the screen can confirm the payment by displaying "Thank you, payment made before departure, pay only the amount on the screen". It is to be appreciated, however, that any other message may be displayed on the display screen 24. The processing unit 28 in this manner may maintain financial records of the financial transactions that take place during the course of the day and may then transmit comprehensive details to its associated base station 16. Base station 16 also includes half processor to generate statistics in the use of several parking bays, run accounts in the total amount of cash received or similar. In the case of a user who does not pay the supervisor the required amount, the remote unit 18 can communicate the reference details on the vehicle at the base station 16 which can then identify the relevant local authorities in order to take legal action. In order to facilitate payment to the supervisor, the reading means 38 is provided to receive smart cards, credit cards or the like. Typically, an installation is provided in the remote unit 18 to provide benefits for regular or monthly parking users.
In certain embodiments, the remote unit 18 includes a transponder interrogator to interrogate an electronic tag provided on the vehicle. The electronic tag includes the vehicle identification details. In other embodiments, the electronic tag may be provided in a form of a keychain. The remote unit 18 is arranged so that the user can prepare by the use of the bay for a specific period of time to pay the supervisor upon return to pick up the vehicle. In the event that the user pre-pays the supervisor, the printer 32 can print the appropriate receipt in advance. However, in the event that the user only pays the supervisor upon the return of the vehicle, the identification number of the parking bay is entered in the portable unit 18 which then displays the registration number of the vehicle currently parked in the bay. The processing unit 28 then calculates the quantity fee and the screen 24 then indicates that this amount must be paid directly to the attendant. It should be appreciated that the screen 24 may then display additionally several other messages such as "You have not paid yet" "If you do not pay, you will follow legal action by the local authority" or similar.
In order to prevent unauthorized use of each remote unit 18, each supervisor is provided with a unique identification code or PIN number which is fed into the processing unit 28 via the keypad 26. If the PIN number corresponds to a PIN number of reference in memory 22, remote unit 18 is activated or enabled. The reference PIN number can be downloaded from the base station 16 via the network 20. In Figure 3 of the drawings, it shows a modality of the electronic circuitry of the remote unit 18. The unit 18 includes a conventional cellular telephone antenna 40 which it is connected via line 42 to a normal cell phone receiver including a conventional pre-amplifier, local oscillator, mixers, IF amplifiers and detectors. The receiver 44 is coupled to a detector / decoder 46 which in turn is connected to the memory 22 and the display 24 and a logic amplifier and digital interface. The unit 18 includes a PC compatible interface 48 for connection to computing facilities in the base station 16. In addition, a transmission array 50 and a normal cell phone transmitter 52 are provided to communicate with the base station 16. A diagram Typical circuit of the device or remote unit 18 is shown in Figure 4.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the reference identification details are downloaded and stored in the remote unit 18. however, in other embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figure 5 , the reference identification details are stored in the remote or base station 16. In this mode, the vehicle identification details are fed into the remote device or unit 18 either manually or remotely by means of an electronic tag as it is shown in block 80 in Figure 5. Device 18 then communicates identification details via its transmitter array 50 to an associated base station 16 that is part of a local area computer as shown in block 82. In the base station, the reference identification details are compared to the identification details fed into the vehicle 18 and if the vehicle details correspond to that s of a stolen vehicle, as shown in block 84, a link is provided to the relevant authorities as shown in block 86. The base station 16 can then retrieve the details of the reference vehicle such as the color, the marking or the model of the vehicle and communicates them back to
device or remote unit 18 after which the data is displayed on its screen 24. As shown in block 88, the supervisor can then compare the identification details received from the base station 16 in order to find out if data have been entered erroneous or not in the remote unit 18. If there is a bad correspondence of the data, the remote unit 18 can communicate a warning signal to the relevant authorities as shown by line 90. Once the pertinent identification details have been entered by the supervisor in the remote unit 18, the motorist can then go to buy while the car is being supervised by the supervisor. At the entry of the vehicle identification details in the remote unit 18, a timer is set to synchronize the duration during which the vehicle will be parked in the parking zone 12 so that an appropriate charge can be calculated upon the motorist's return . As shown in block 92, once the motorist returns to the bay or parking zone 12, the data is entered into the relevant parking bay in the remote unit 18 which then calculates a monetary amount fee for the use of the parking bay. As shown in block 94,
all payments received are communicated to remote stations 16 for accounting purposes. Summaries of all financial transactions can then be communicated to control center 13 as generally indicated by block 96. With particular reference to Figure 6 of the drawings, the reference number 100 generally indicates the arrangement of the parking zones 12 near a road 102. As mentioned above, each vehicle may include an electronic tag containing the details of vehicle identification. Accordingly, a remote interrogator 104 can be located next to the parking zone 12 to read the electronic tag provided on the vehicle. In addition or in exchange, a device for receiving the monetary, automated, conventional value is provided. The installation or system 10 provides an installation in the national control center 13 to monitor the use of a legal vehicle registration number in different locations or areas throughout the country. In particular, records of similar vehicles are monitored and time durations between the monitoring of the same record number are determined to see if the instance appealed by the vehicle is
feasible. If it appears that duplicate registration numbers exist, the appropriate authorities can be contacted for legal action. The inventor believes that the invention, as illustrated, provides an improved installation 10 for monitoring the use and identification of stolen vehicles. As the vehicle registration number requiring the use of the parking bays is entered into the remote unit 18, each time a vehicle is parked the registration details can be compared to a reference database to identify the use of the vehicle. illegal of vehicles.