SI24487A - System and method for obtaining and displaying real time information on a vacant parking space - Google Patents

Abstract

The system and method according to the invention determine the method of individualizing and identifying a single parking space with alphanumeric characters that are registered in a common database where "unpaid" is set as default status. Once an individual occupies a parking space marked with an individual ID, it is entered into a park that is equipped with an alphanumeric keypad, or alternatively via a smartphone smartphone application that allows graphic and list display of the display of collected and processed information, and pays the parking fee . A database that has default settings for all parking places is set to the "unpaid" status, receives information about the payment of a particular parking space and the leased time for it, processes the data, and changes the status of a parking space with this ID to "Paid". This data is used analogously as busy parking information. After the expiration of the leased time for this parking spot, the database automatically changes the status back to "unpaid", which is used analogously to information about a free parking place or information about the alleged violation.

Description

The subject of the invention is a system and method of obtaining the display of information on free parking space by obtaining information on paid and unpaid parking spaces in real time. The system enables quick and accurate search and location of a free parking space and allows remote payment of parking fees. All data is stored in a database accessible to the end user through a dedicated mobile smartphone application and through a website.

A technical problem

Finding a parking space is a global problem facing every driver. Aside from finding a free parking spot, the big problem is also the precise identification of whether or not the parking fee has been paid. Over time, several parking systems and complex facilities were created to alleviate these problems. Initially, parking was collected by people, but later the volume of cars increased so that the need for an automated system for issuing and controlling parking tickets arose. Over time, more and more modern and user-friendly ATMs were developed, especially in public parking lots. All known systems so far are conditioned by the installation of different types of sensors, cameras, car license plate readers, on the basis of which the database obtains information with the purpose of communicating it, usually via a mobile phone, to the end user. These systems are very expensive and economically unprofitable because they require the purchase and installation of a very large number of individual mechanical units, such as cameras, sensors, etc., which can break down and be the target of vandalism.

There was a need to develop a simple and economical system that could accurately control paid and unpaid and, consequently, vacant and occupied parking spaces for end users, who may be parking seekers or security guards.

The state of the art

In the patent application W02012077086, the search for free parking spaces is linked to an individual user who learns about the available parking space and reports its location as accurately as possible in the parking report. It also has a dedicated application that lets you send information about an individual's current geographic location, the processor processes that information, and announces in a parking report that there should be a free parking spot near this point. In order to motivate and encourage the publication of free parking spaces and the credibility of their data, a system of rewarding or crediting users is envisaged. This system is very unreliable in practice because it is tied to the goodwill and time of individuals to report a more or less accurate location of a free parking space, and no one notifies when that place is occupied, unless the occupied user does so. this place. Parking locations are entered into the parking report by each individual on their own when they wish to rent to others. This is a major drawback, as there is no exact control over the number of vacant and occupied parking spaces, nor the exact location, nor the payment status and parking time precisely because the whole system depends on the interaction and activity of individuals. Although the system focuses more on private parking, * · it should also operate in paid, public parking lots. The registration of the vehicle in the database with license plate number and vehicle model information is provided here. The user pays the parking fee through the app and leaves the vehicle in a public parking space. When a police officer arrives at his vehicle, he must enter the vehicle's license plate and return a report to the system as to whether the vehicle has been paid parking and if it is still valid. The problem with this solution is that the security officer must carry a special application with him and enter every vehicle that does not have a parking ticket into the system and check if such a vehicle is registered at all, if it has paid parking and if it is still valid, it is very time-consuming as it significantly increases the control time of proper parking.

US8374910 describes a system that requires the personal data of an individual, his or her credit card or other payment method, and parking information, which he or she constantly compares to detect an offense. It requires the individual to check in to a parking space when parking their vehicle and to check out when leaving the vehicle. In the event of late check-out, the system immediately reports an alarm to a security officer who has not checked out with a view to fining it as an offense. To identify the free parking space, however, the system provides dedicated sensors that detect the presence of a vehicle. This system is therefore intended to detect and punish offending vehicles, and provides information on free parking spaces as an additional option through the installation of sensors.

In US6750786, the system provides for the exchange of information on vacant and occupied parking spaces in closed parking lots through dedicated sensors such as cameras, motion sensors, presence sensors, etc. This system is impractical because it is limited to closed units that require a large number of dedicated vehicle presence sensors to obtain relevant information.

Other systems offer the possibility of non-mechanically retrieving information by registering the user with their vehicle in a mobile application with a vehicle registration number and, if necessary, with other personal information identifying them in traffic and, consequently, in a parking space. Then he pays the parking fee by mobile phone and when the guards, supervisors or the competent authorities, who check the correct parking, come to the vehicle, check in the records that the parking fee for that vehicle has been paid and if it is still valid. This system is very time consuming and impractical for a large number of vehicles, as the security officer or supervisor must manually enter and check the registration number of each individual vehicle in the database.

In patent application EP2136346, even a dedicated dedicated vehicle is provided for the search for vacant parking spaces, which scans the road while occupying the occupied parking spaces when driving, and reports the location to the database. This system is also very expensive and impractical because it requires a lot of mechanical equipment, a driver and a specially modified dedicated vehicle.

Those systems and procedures are therefore limited to either the means of collecting parking or the physical presence of a vehicle at a generically designated parking space, and the use of cameras, sensors, license plate readers, etc. to identify and individualize the vehicle. or request a dedicated mobile application where they register their vehicle with a license plate and other necessary driver and vehicle information.

The solution to a technical problem

Said technical problem is solved by the system and method of the invention. The subject of the invention is a system and method of obtaining real-time paid and unpaid parking information stored in a database and accessible to an end user, who may be a parking user or a security officer, through a dedicated mobile application for smartphones and the web pages.

The system and method of the invention are based on a system of alpha-numeric combinations of letters and numbers that individually identify each parking space individually, thus uniquely defining a unique ID for each parking space. These unique IDs are then entered or registered in the database. The unique ID defines additional information or data that is entered into the database and processed in the database, namely the size of each parking space, depending on whether it is intended for buses, trucks, cars or engines, the price of each parking space, which may vary for each of these vehicles, the lease time of the individual parking space, the location of the individual parking space, the price list, the operating time of the parking space, as each parking machine can operate at different paid hours and when the parking is free.

The database has a default status of "default" for each parking space. When an individual or user occupies a parking space marked with a unique ID, he / she enters a unique ID, either through a parking machine equipped with an alpha-numeric keypad, or alternatively through a mobile smartphone application, or other electronic device with Internet access. via a browser and has Internet payment enabled, and at the same time, by paying a unique ID, it pays parking fees. Unique ID and leased parking time information is provided to the database. The database accepts the data provided by the user on the unique ID, payment of the designated parking space and on the leased time for it, processes the entered data together with additional data related to the unique parking place ID or defined by the unique ID, and changes the status for a parking space with this ID in "Paid". This information is analogously used as information on a busy parking space. Thus, the occupied parking space has the status "paid" and the vacant parking space has the status "unpaid". After the leased time for this parking space, the database automatically changes the status back to "unpaid", and this data is used analogously as information on the available parking space or information on the alleged offense, assuming proper parking, ie that the vehicle is parked outdoors parking space and parking for the desired time paid, or that the parking space is released at the latest when the leased amount of time expires. The information is accessible in a list format and in graphical form through a mobile application or through a website.

The system according to the invention includes:

parking spaces with unique alpha-numeric IDs;

a database with all registered parking spaces having the status of "paid" or "unpaid" and with additional data defined by a unique ID, the database being connected via an internet connection to the Internet and the database has a default setting for individual parking space status "unpaid". The default status, set as the default setting, allows for semi-automatic system operation by: • · manually entering a unique parking placeholder ID to occupy it, providing authentic information when a place is occupied, the status changes v "paid", and then the system automatically changes the status back to "unpaid" after the leased time has expired;

an ATM with an integrated alpha-numeric keypad and connected to a database of registered parking spaces via an Internet connection;

a mobile application for smartphones and / or other electronic device having Internet access and enabled payment via the Internet through one of the available options that support public mobile telephony networks, e.g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or other data network, e.g. WI-FI;

a web site that is updated on a regular basis, showing the status of individual parking spaces as "paid" / "unpaid" and thus occupied / vacant parking places via the map and the list.

The method of the invention includes:

identification with unique alpha-numeric ID codes of each individual parking space included in the system;

registration and entry into the database of unique IDs of all registered parking spaces and additional data defined by the unique ID, and determination of the default status "unpaid";

by entering a unique occupied parking space ID and payment of the parking fee into the database by the users via an ATM or mobile app for smartphones or other electronic device having access to the Internet through one of the available options supporting public mobile telephony networks, e.g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or other data network, e.g. WI-FI;

processing of data in the database bound to this unique parking place ID, namely the payment of a specific parking space, the leased time for it and additional data defined by the unique parking space, and the status change in the database for the parking space thereby I go to "paid";

monitoring the use of leased parking space;

after the leased time for a parking space with this ID is followed by an automatic change of status in the database back to "unpaid";

prompt updating of the database according to user input; display of data in the form of a list or in a graphical format of the status "paid" / "unpaid" and thus occupied / vacant parking spaces on the website or via the mobile application.

• ·

The invention will be described by way of drawings and embodiments.

Figure 1 represents the system of the invention

Each parking spot 1 is identified by unique and individual alpha-numeric ID codes 6, hereinafter unique ID 6, and as such is entered and registered in the database 10. The marking system enables the registration, identification and individualization of a specific parking space 1 in database 10 with unique ID 6. The ATM 7 has an alphanumeric keypad 8, which can be physical or programmed, through which the user enters the unique ID 6 of the parking space 1 at which he parked his vehicle and for the desired parking time. insert the required amount of money. ATM 7, as payment receipt 41, issues a parking ticket 4. The data is transferred from the ATM 7 via Internet connection 14 to the database 10.

Alternatively, the user has the option of using the mobile application 3 via smartphone 5, where he also enters the unique ID 6 of the parking space 1 at which he parked his vehicle and, for the desired parking time, pays the amount through the non-monetary prepaid system provided by the mobile application 3 , such as an account. The proper functioning of mobile application 3 requires a functioning internet connection 14 and a functioning mobile number 15, through which the user registers in the user base 11 at first startup when downloading the mobile application 3. When using the mobile application 3, the payment certificate 41 is issued in the form digital certificate 42 stored in the payment history through the mobile application 3.

Alternatively, the user has the option of using the phone, it can be a smart or ordinary phone that allows the use of short text messages or SMS 16 by entering keyword 17, unique parking space ID 6, and the amount of rented parking time for which wants to pay the parking fee and sends to a specific phone number associated with the database 10. The mobile operator issues a payment receipt 41 with relevant leased time information and a unique parking space ID 6 in the form of a return SMS 43.

In the described ways, the individual user reports to the database 10 for exactly which parking spot 1 of all registered parking fees was paid and for how long. In the event of a dispute, this Payment Certificate 41 shall be shown or submitted in writing as evidence to the Clerk 21, the Supervisor or other relevant authority.

Database 10 has the default status for all registered parking spaces 1 as "unpaid", which is shown graphically or in color on the map 19 in the mobile application 3 and on website 52, such as green. When a user manually signs in to ATM 7, to a mobile application 3, via SMS 16 or to other devices with Internet access, unique ID 6 of the parking space 1 and pays for it parking, the database 10 for that individual parking space 1 changes the status in "paid", on map 19 and on web page 52 changes the graphic or color, for example red, and consequently the countdown of the leased time begins. For a certain period of time, for example, 10 minutes before the leased parking time expires 1, the map 19 and web page 52 will display again a modified graphic or color, such as orange, for that parking space 1, which

informs the user that parking status 1 will soon change to "unpaid." As soon as the entire leased amount of time expires, the status for that parking space 1 is automatically changed to "unpaid" in database 10, and the corresponding graphic or color, such as green, is displayed again on map 19 and website 52. In addition to showing on map 19, parking status information is also displayed in list format 20.

The system therefore records which parking space is paid and which is not paid. Ideally, the user should pay for parking space 1 for the amount of time occupied and, after the expired time, withdraw the vehicle to free up parking space 1 or purchase a new amount of time. Thus, the system records and indicates in red which parking spot is paid, which means a very high probability that a vehicle is parked there and which spot is not paid, which means a very high probability that this parking space is vacant, which is indicated by green. If individual parking space 1 is occupied but unpaid, the user may, via the mobile application 3, inform the security guards 21 or supervisors of the unique parking space ID 6 occupied but unpaid, which means that the vehicle is likely to be in violation. However, if parking space 1 is marked as paid but not occupied, it means that the user can park the vehicle on it until the remaining amount of time has already been paid, and then he must lease a new amount of time, otherwise it will only be in violation or to remove the vehicle . To purchase new, additional amounts of time, the process must be repeated or via ATM 7 in person, and the mobile application 3, SMS 16 and other devices with Internet access allow remote purchase.

The mobile application 3 exchanges data with the database 10 of the registered parking places through the Internet connection 14. This enables the real-time and updated display of the list 20 and the map of 19 paid and unpaid parking spaces 1 with their unique alphanumeric ID 6 codes, location and leased time for individual parking space 1, valid price list for individual parking space 1 or. parking zone, possibility of setting an alarm before the expired time, prepaid payment system through which the parking fee is paid, digital certificate of 42 paid parking fees and a history of paid parking fees from mobile number 15 through which an individual user has registered in the user base 11.

Furthermore, the system allows the security guards 21 or supervisors to control, through the mobile application 3, which parking spaces 1 are paid and which are not paid, thus immediately identifying the vehicles or users in the offense.

The system gives users the ability to view paid and unpaid and, consequently, vacant and occupied parking spaces 1, which are instantly and easily located via Map 19 and List 20 in the mobile application 3 for smartphones 5, thus saving time to find the appropriate parking space 1 and the remote payment of parking for him.

Depending on the requirements and needs, the system is suitable for both anonymous and personal data of registered users and for parking regimes where parking prices are both fixed and dynamic. The system is intended for both paid open public parking lots equipped with parking machines, paid closed public parking lots equipped with parking machines and locks, open and closed private parking lots and garages.

Performance examples:

For starters, individual alpha-numeric characters must be individually labeled for the desired parking spaces where the system and method would be used. This gives parking spaces unique IDs that are entered into the database. Paid parking spaces are usually equipped with parking meters, which must be equipped with an alpha-numeric keypad. In this way, each parking space can have in itself a number of information in the database on the status of payment, location, time of lease, payer, price list, ...

Example 1:

The user is brought to the parking place 1 marked with a unique ID 6, goes to the parking lot 7 and then enters a unique ID 6 through the alphanumeric keypad 8 and pays the parking fee for the desired parking time. The ATM 7 then issues a parking ticket 4 as a confirmation of the payment of the parking fee 41. The data on the unique ID 6 of the parking space and the lease time are entered via the ATM 7 into a database 10 connected to the Internet, which is thus continuously updated and made available via of the 52 free real-time website information is displayed.

Example 2:

The user uses the mobile application 3, which shows on the map 19 paid and unpaid parking places in the database 10. This information is used by the application as a basis for displaying data on vacant and occupied parking spaces. When the user locates the desired parking space 1 and parks his vehicle on it, he enters into the mobile application 3 a unique ID 6 of the parking space 1 on which his vehicle stands and, through the mobile application 3, makes the payment of the parking fee for the desired parking time. The mobile application 3 then issues a digital certificate 42 as a payment receipt 41. The unique ID 6 of the parking space and the lease time are entered into the database 10 via the mobile application 3 via the internet connection 14, which is thus continuously updated and made available via web pages 52 and map 19 show real time free parking information.

Example 3:

The user parks his vehicle in parking space 1 marked with unique ID 6 and makes a payment for the parking fee via SMS 16 by entering in the predefined keyword 17, a unique parking space ID 6, the amount of money in the equivalent of the leased time and sending an SMS . The phone receives a return SMS 43 as a confirmation of the payment of the parking fee 41. The data sent via SMS 16 to the number associated with the database 10 is processed accordingly and changes the status of the relevant parking space, for the leased time, from "unpaid". v "Paid", which is visible to users on page 52 and on map 19 and list 20 for users who have a smartphone 5.

Claims (9)

Patent claims 1. A real-time system for obtaining and displaying free parking space information, comprising: parking spaces (1) with unique and individual alpha-numeric IDs (6); a database (10) with all registered parking spaces (1) having the status of "paid" or "unpaid" and with additional data defined by a unique ID (6), wherein the database (10) is via an internet connection (14) connected to the Internet; a parking machine (7) with an integrated alpha-numeric keypad (8) and connected to a database (10) of registered parking spaces (1) via an internet connection (14); - a mobile application (3) for smartphones and / or other electronic devices having Internet access and making payments via the Internet through one of the available options that support public mobile telephony networks, e.g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or other data network, e.g. WI-FI; a web site (52) which is kept up-to-date and shows the status of individual parking spaces as "paid" / "unpaid" and thus occupied / vacant parking spaces via the map (19) and the list (20). System according to claim 1, characterized in that the unique ID (6) defines additional data in the database (10), namely the size of each parking space, the price of each parking space, the lease time, the location of each parking space, the price list, the operating parking time. System according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the mobile application (3) exchanges data with a database (10) of registered parking spaces (1) via an internet connection (14), updating the list (20) display on an ongoing basis. and a map (19) of paid and unpaid parking spaces (1) with their unique IDs (6), the location and leased time for each parking space (1), the applicable price list for each parking space (1), or. the parking zone and further the mobile application (3) comprises the possibility of setting an alarm before the expired time, a prepaid payment system through which the parking fee is paid, the issuance of a digital certificate (42) of the paid parking fee and the display of the history of paid parking fees from the mobile number (15) through which has been registered by the individual user in the user database (11). System according to Claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the database (10) has a default status of all registered parking spaces (1). 5. A system according to claim 1, 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that the corresponding status of the parking space (1) is "unpaid" and "paid" and a certain time before the expired parking time (1) on the map (19) and displayed graphically or in color on the list (20) in the mobile application (3) and on the website (52). 6. A method of obtaining and displaying information about a free parking space in real time, characterized in that it includes: identification with unique and individual alpha-numeric ID codes (6) of each individual parking space (1) included in the system; registration and entry into the database (10) of the unique ID (6) of all registered parking spaces (1) and additional data defined by the unique ID and determination of the default status "unpaid"; user input of unique ID (6) occupied parking space (1) and payment of parking fee (41) in the database (10) via an ATM (7) with built-in alpha-numeric keypad (8) or via mobile application (3) for smart telephones or via another electronic device that has Internet access through one of the available options that support public mobile telephony networks, e.g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or other data network, e.g. WI-FI or via short text messages or SMS (16) by entering a keyword (17) on a specific telephone number; processing of data in the database (10) on payment of parking fee (41) for a certain parking space (1) and on the leased time for it and additional data defined by a unique ID (6) and change of status in the database (10) for parking a place with this ID in "Paid" monitoring the use of leased parking time (1); after the leased time for a parking space with this ID is followed by an automatic change of status in the database (10) back to "unpaid"; on-going updating of the database (10) according to user input; display and monitoring of list (20) or map (19), graphic and / or color, paid / unpaid status, and thus occupied / vacant parking spaces on the website (52) or via the mobile application (3). Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the marking of each individual parking space (1) is based on a system of alpha-numeric combination of letters and numbers by which the floor is individually designated for each individual parking space (1). Method according to claim 6 and 7, characterized in that the unique ID (6) defines additional data that is entered into the database (10) and processed in the database (10), namely the size of the individual parking space, price of individual parking space, lease time of individual parking space, location of individual parking space, price list, operating hours of parking space. Method according to claim 6, 7 and 8, characterized in that the status information "paid" / "unpaid" is used for information on occupied / vacant parking spaces (1).