WO2006046233A2

WO2006046233A2 - System and method for monitoring parking payment

Info

Publication number: WO2006046233A2
Application number: PCT/IL2005/001107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arie Ben Harush
Original assignee: Quick Park Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-10-25
Filing date: 2005-10-23
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Also published as: WO2006046233A3

Abstract

A system and method for parking payment and monitoring in real-time is disclosed. A user transmits a first status signal to a control center (540), which includes user and payment information as well as parking status data for each of a plurality of vehicles, for initiating commencement of a parking period and transmits a second status signal to the control center (540) upon termination of the parking period. A parking attendant device (530) reads a unique identification reference (560) for a parked vehicle (300) and transmits a verification signal based on the read identification reference to the control center (540) in order to determine whether said parked vehicle is in a parking state. The control center (540) transmits a reply signal being indicative of the status data of the parked vehicle from the control center (540) to the parking attendant signal.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARKING PAYMENT AND MONITORING IN REAL-TIME

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of vehicle parking fees. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for paying and monitoring parking payment in real-time.

Background of the invention

Most cities impose a parking fee for parking a vehicle at a given parking space. Due to the relatively large staff needed to determine whether the parking fees have been properly paid, municipal parking administrators seek simple, efficient and speedy methods for both collecting a parking fee from a parking vehicle and fining the vehicle owner if the parking fee was not paid.

A commonly found parking payment method includes the insertion of coins within a parking meter which is positioned adjacent to a parking space, and the amount of money that is inserted therein depends on the desired parking time. One of the drawbacks of this method is that the driver is required to carry a correct amount of coins for a desired parking time, to avoid the risk of a parking fine if the correct amount of coins was not inserted into the meter and the parking time expired. Another drawback of this method is that the driver will lose money if he leaves the parking space before the parking time has expired since the overpayment will not be refunded. Another drawback concerns the initial investment in purchasing the meters and deploying them at corresponding parking spaces, in addition to the maintenance costs thereof. Furthermore, a large number of parking attendants need to be employed so that each meter may be inspected to determine whether the parking time has expired, whether the meter is properly functioning, and whether a ticket needs to be issued.

US 6,513,711 discloses a vehicle parking system wherein a telephone or a mobile phone is used to commence and terminate parking of a vehicle. A vehicle attendant causes a control unit to read and store a vehicle reference, and also to store the date and time. The stored information is transferred to a receiving computer at a later time for comparison with information received by telephone relating to vehicle parking information. This method does not allow the parking attendant to know in real-time the parking status of the vehicle, and therefore a ticket cannot be issued when the vehicle is being inspected.

PCT/SE99/00420 discloses a parking system similar to that of US 6,513,711. After the parking attendant enters a given parking zone number, the portable control unit fetches from the server a list of vehicles for which the commencement of a parking period has been announced. The control unit compares the registration number of the vehicle being inspected with the list of parked vehicles. The parking attendant issues a fine when a commenced parking period has not been announced. The procedure for determining whether a ticket needs to be issued is lengthy, and is further prone to error as the inspector may incorrectly enter a vehicle registration number or parking zone number. Also, the control unit needs a considerable amount of memory to retain the transmitted list of parked vehicles. A further drawback of this system is that the air time for transmitting the list of parked vehicles is relatively lengthy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking fee payment method which does not require the insertion of coins into a meter. It is another object of the present invention to provide a parking fee payment method by which the exact parking fee according to the parking time and parking place is paid without any overpayment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a parking monitoring system and method which are not prone to inspector error.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a speedy parking monitoring method.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for determining in real-time whether a vehicle paid the parking fee.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a parking monitoring system and method by which an inspector held control unit of relative small memory is sufficient to determine whether a ticket needs to be issued.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for parking payment and monitoring in real-time comprising: a) A control center provided with a database which includes user and payment information for each of a plurality of vehicles; b) Status data in said database which indicates in real-time whether a given vehicle in a paid parking area is in a parking state; c) Communication means for communicating with said database which is accessible by a user associated with a corresponding vehicle, for setting said status data when commencing a parking period and for unsetting said status data at the termination of said parking period; d) Unique identification reference for each vehicle, accessible electronically or visually to a parking attendant from outside the vehicle; and e) A parking attendant device for: i. Reading said unique identification reference from outside the vehicle; ii. Communicating with said database for verifying whether the status data is in parking state or not in parking state.

As referred to herein, a "parking attendant" is a person who is responsible for determining whether a given parked vehicle is in a paid parking space (hereinafter is in a "parking state"). The parking attendant may be an employee of a private parking area, and is authorized to penalize a system user associated with the read unique identification reference or to tow the vehicle at the expense of said user if it is not in a parking state. If the parking attendant is a municipal inspector, he is authorized to issue a ticket if the vehicle parked in a municipality administered parking area is not in a parking state.

As referred to herein, a "user" is one that has registered with the parking payment system of the present invention and has submitted suitable information concerning a desired method of payment as well as a unique identification reference for his vehicle. A parking attendant may issue a ticket to a user if his vehicle which is in a "paid parking area," a term interchangeable with a "charge incurring parking area," is not in a parking state. If the vehicle being inspected is not associated with a user, the parking attendant may nevertheless issue a ticket if the vehicle is in a paid parking area and a parking fee has not been paid by any known parking payment method.

In one embodiment, the unique identification reference is a license plate.

The parking attendant device comprises an integral digital camera and is loaded with an optical character recognition system, for converting the alphanumeric identification of a license plate captured by said digital camera into verifiable digital information which is transmittable to the control center.

Preferably, the communication means is a cellular phone using a wireless communication system.

Preferably, the communication means is a portable computer using a wireless communication system.

Preferably, the communication means is a handheld device using a wireless communication system.

Preferably, the wireless communication system is WLAN.

Preferably, the wireless communication system is a cellular net.

Preferably, the payment information is received by Internet.

Preferably, the payment information is received by phone.

Preferably, the payment is a credit card account. Preferably, the payment is a cellular bill account.

Preferably, the payment is a bank account.

Preferably, the unique identifier reference is an RF sticker or any electrical reference.

Preferably, the unique identifier reference is a barcode sticker or any other optical reference.

Preferably, the parking attendant device for reading the unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is an RF reader or any other electrical reader.

Preferably, the parking attendant device for reading the unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is a barcode reader or any other optical reader.

Preferably, the parking attendant device for communicating with the database is a cellular phone.

Preferably, the parking attendant device for communicating with the database is a portable computer.

Preferably, the parking attendant device for communicating with the database is a handheld device.

Preferably, the communicating is done by WLAN. Preferably, the communicating is done by cellular net.

Preferably, the communication means is used to determine the place of the parking vehicle.

In one aspect, the control center is suitable for determining the location of a parked vehicle.

The present invention is also related to a method for parking payment and monitoring in real-time, comprising the steps of: a) providing a control center with a database which includes user and payment information for each of a plurality of vehicles, and status data which indicates in real-time whether a given vehicle in a paid parking area is in a parking state; b) providing a unique identification reference for each vehicle which is accessible to a parking attendant from outside the vehicle; c) providing a parking attendant device for reading said unique identification reference from outside of a vehicle; d) upon parking a vehicle at a charge incurring parking area, transmitting a first status signal by a user to said control center, for initiating commencement of a parking period; e) upon receiving said first status signal, setting the status data to indicate that the vehicle is in a parking state; f) upon terminating said parking period, transmitting a second status signal by said user to said control center; g) upon receiving said second status signal, setting the status data to indicate that the vehicle is not in a parking state; h) reading said unique identification reference for said parked vehicle by means of said parking attendant device; i) transmitting a verification signal based on said read identification reference by said parking attendant device to said control center in order to determine whether said parked vehicle is in a parking state; and j) transmitting a reply signal from said control center to said parking attendant signal which is indicative of the status data of said parked vehicle .

Preferably the first and second status signals are initiated by a cellular phone using a wireless communication system.

Preferably first and second status signals are initiated by a portable computer using a wireless communication system.

Preferably first and second status signals are initiated by a handheld device using a wireless communication system.

In one embodiment, the unique identification reference is a license plate. The parking attendant device comprises an integral digital camera which is loaded with an optical character recognition system, the alphanumeric identification of a license plate being captured by said digital camera and being converted into digital information which is transmitted to the control center by the verification signal.

Preferably the wireless communication system is WLAN.

Preferably the wireless communication system is a cellular net.

Preferably the payment information is received by Internet. Preferably the payment information is received by phone.

Preferably the payment is a credit card account.

Preferably the payment is a cellular bill account.

Preferably the payment is a bank account.

Preferably the unique identifier reference is an RF sticker or any electrical reference.

Preferably the unique identifier reference is a barcode sticker or any other optical reference.

Preferably the parking attendant device for reading the unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is an RF reader or any other electrical reader.

Preferably the parking attendant device for reading the unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is a barcode reader or any other optical reader.

Preferably the parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a cellular phone using a wireless communication system.

Preferably the parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a portable computer using a wireless communication system.

Preferably the parking attendant device for communicating with the database is a handheld device using a wireless communication system. Preferably the communication system is WLAN.

Preferably the communication system is a cellular net.

Preferably the communicating is used to determine the place of the parking vehicle.

The control center preferably determines the location of a parked vehicle.

In one aspect the location of a parked vehicle is determined by a cellular network provider in communication with the control center.

In another aspect, the location of a parked vehicle is determined by specifying the location thereof by a voice command or by means of a keypad in response to an inquiry signal transmitted by the control center to a user following transmission of a first status signal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a parking payment and monitoring system, according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a parking payment and monitoring system, according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of a parking payment and monitoring system, according another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of a parking monitoring system.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a parking payment system according to one embodiment of the invention. Information concerning the users of the system who are required to submit their personal information upon registration is stored in data base 100. The data base 100 includes user information, including his cellular phone number, his credit card number, the RFID (radio frequency identification) reference number of a sticker applied to his vehicle by which a parking attendant identifies the user vehicle, an indication of his parking status, and other personal or useful information concerning the user. When a user, or a representative thereof, is desirous to commence a parking period, he is required to call a predetermined number that connects to the data base by means of the user cellular phone 200, causing the parking status in the data base to change from "no" to "yes" and setting an appropriate flag in the database. After said predetermined number has been called, the user will receive a message transmitted to his cellular phone 200 concerning the hourly parking rate. The same phone number may be used by the user for terminating a parking period, in order to change the parking status once again from "yes" to "no" in the database 100. The flag is consequently unset in the database, resulting in a message being transmitted to the user cellular phone of the total parking fee. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the database is configured such that the parking status is automatically changed from "yes" to "no" after a predetermined time, such as three hours, if the user has forgotten to change the status himself. After terminating a parking period, the control center of the parking payment system (not shown) calculates the parking time and debits the user credit card account, or any other selected source of payment, in accordance with the hourly parking fee. As may be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the parking fee may be calculated in a variety of ways, for example by charging a larger fee during business hours, or charging the parking fee per hour and not per minute. The parking fee may also be calculated in accordance with the location of parking space. According to this embodiment, the control center receives the instantaneous location of the user phone 200 from a cellular network provider. Based on the instantaneous location of the user phone 200, the control center determines the hourly parking fee and debits the user credit card number. Alternatively, the parking space location is transmitted to the control center by means of user cellular phone 200. According to this embodiment, the user enters a number or code which is indicative of the location of the parked vehicle, in order to determine the hourly payment and debits the user credit card account.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user registration is carried out via the Internet, and the user is required to enter his credit card number and his cellular phone number together with other personal information into the database 100. After registration, an RF sticker 310 containing an RFID having a unique number is sent to the user to be affixed to the window of the vehicle 300. The RFID of the sticker is stored in the database 100 together with information concerning the registered user.

As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments are possible in addition to the ones described above such as registration of more than one cellular phone per sticker, or debiting the cellular phone account instead of a credit card account, or registration via phone instead of via the Internet.

Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a system according to an embodiment of the invention for monitoring parking payment. When a parking attendant monitors a parked vehicle to determine if it is in a parking state, an RF reader 420 attached to the cellular phone 400 of the parking attendant is used. The RF reader 420 is attached to the cellular phone 400 for communication purposes and for power supply purposes. The RF reader 420 is able to produce an electromagnetic field upon request in proximity of a few centimeters, depending on the power supply and the predetermined specifications. The RF reader 420 is able to power the RF sticker 310 in close proximity by applying an electromagnetic field to the sticker 310, thus enabling the sticker 310 to transmit its RFID back to the RF reader 420. At this point the reader 420 is able to transmit the RFID to the data base 100 via cellular phone 400 through the cellular network 410 and to receive an indication from database 100 of whether the vehicle is in parking status by determining whether the flag is set. If the flag is unset, meaning that the vehicle is not in parking state, the parking attendant will issue a ticket for the vehicle.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates another embodiment of a parking monitoring system, which is generally designated by numeral 500. Parking monitoring system 500 comprises hand-held parking attendant device 530 for optically reading license plate number 560 of parked vehicle 300 and control center 540 in communication with a plurality of parking attendant devices. In this embodiment, parking attendant device 530 has an integral digital camera 538 and is loaded with an optical character recognition (OCR) system. When a parking attendant, e.g. a municipal inspector, is desirous of determining whether a parked vehicle is in a parking state, he positions device 530 such that license plate 560 is captured by the lens of digital camera 538. The alphanumeric identification of license plate 560 captured by digital camera 538 is read by the OCR system and is thereby converted into digital information. Device 530 transmits this digital information via bi-directional transceiver 535 as a verification signal V to control center 540 by means of a cellular network. Control center 540 associates the alphanumeric identification of license plate 560 with a user name stored in the database of control center 540. Control center 540 thereinafter determines whether the vehicle associated with the user is in a parking state and transmits the parking status of the parked vehicle as a reply signal R to parking attendant device 530. If reply signal R is indicative that the parked vehicle is not in a parking state, the municipal inspector may issue a ticket 545 from device 530 for the parked vehicle.

The vehicle of a user is indicated as being in a parking state if a status signal S has been transmitted to control center 540 by the user for commencing the parking state and a status signal S has not been transmitted to control center 540 by the user for terminating the parking state. A status signal S is preferably transmitted by means of a cellular phone of the driver of the parked vehicle, but also may be transmitted by a cellular phone or any other suitable wireless device distant from the parked vehicle, when instructed by the driver. If so desired, the status signal S may also be transmitted by means of the Internet.

When status signal S is transmitted by the cellular phone of the driver of the parked vehicle, the cellular network provider may easily determine the location of the parked vehicle, as well known to those skilled in the art. The cellular network provider subsequently informs the parking monitoring system provider as to the location of the parked vehicle, so that the appropriate parking administrator, e.g. a municipality, will be credited for the parking charges incurred by the parked vehicle.

In order to avoid the charges incurred by the communication between the cellular network provider and the parking monitoring system provider, the user may suppress the location detector of the cellular network provider by inputting a predetermined code when transmitting a status signal S to commence a parking state. When the location detector of the cellular network provider is suppressed, or when a user is registered as being distant to the parked vehicle, an inquiry signal (not shown) is transmitted from control center 540 to the user. The user is then asked to specify the location of the parked vehicle. The user may input the parked vehicle location by means of an input device such as a keypad or by means of a voice command.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates another embodiment of a parking monitoring system, which is generally designated by numeral 600. Parking monitoring system 600, which is intended for use by a municipal inspector, comprises multi-component parking attendant device 630 and control center 640, which is preferably a server, in communication with a plurality of parking attendant devices. In this embodiment, the location of a parked vehicle is determined by means of a Global Positioning System (GPS) well known to those skilled in the art. In order to increase the mobility of a parking attendant during the monitoring of parked vehicles, parking attendant device 630 comprises a plurality of hand held units, each of which may be stored in a separate pouch and communicates with a communication unit by means of a short-range transceiver, such as a Bluetooth transceiver. As shown, parking attendant device 630 comprises communication unit 650 having a long-range transceiver 651 for communicating with transceiver 641 of control center 640 and a short-range transceiver 654 for communicating with the other components of the parking attendant device described hereinafter, reader unit 660 for reading the unique identification reference of each parked vehicle, whether optically or by means of a RFID, and having short-range transceiver 664, location detector unit 670 (e.g., GPS) having a short-range transceiver 674, and printer unit 680 having short-range transceiver 684. Communication unit 650, reader unit 660, location detector unit 670, and printer unit 680 are operable when the four units are mechanically coupled together or when one or more of the units are separated one from the other. If so desired, parking attendant device may be configured as a unitary device with integral communication, reader, location detector, and printer units, such that the reader, location detector, and printer units are electrically connected with the communication unit.

When a municipal inspector is desirous of determining whether a parked vehicle located in a charge incurring parking area is in a parking state, he positions reader unit 660 in such a way so as to read the unique identification reference of the parked vehicle. Reader unit 660 converts the read identification information into digital information and transmits the converted digital information to communication unit 650 for temporary storage. After communication unit 650 receives the read information, location detector unit 670 is commanded to transmit its GPS-determined instantaneous location to communication unit 650. Verification signal V including vehicle identification and location data is transmitted to control center 640 by means of a cellular network. Control center 640 associates the transmitted vehicle identification data with user information previously stored in the database of control center 640, and determines whether the parked vehicle is in a parking state. Control center 640 also compares the transmitted vehicle location data with the vehicle location supplied by the user. A reply signal R being indicative of whether a ticket should be issued, i.e. when the parked vehicle is not in a parking state or the vehicle location supplied by the user is incorrect, is transmitted from control center 640 to parking attendant device 630. When reply signal R is indicative that a ticket is to be issued, communication unit 650 commands printer unit 680 to issue a ticket 685.

Reply signal R may also be indicative that a parked vehicle is not associated with a user. When the parked vehicle is determined to be not associated with a user, the municipal inspector visually determines whether a parking fee has been paid by any known parking payment method. If it is determined that a parking fee has not been paid, the inspector manually inputs the license plate number of the parked vehicle by means of keypad 657 of communication unit 650 or by means of a voice command upon depressing button 658 of communication unit 650. A ticket is then issued by means of printing unit 680 after the inspector depresses button 659 of communication unit 650, whereupon a ticket signal T is transmitted from communication unit to control center 640. Communication center 640 transmits ticket signal T to the municipality so that owner of the parked vehicle will be ticketed for illegally parking at the given parking space.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A system for parking payment and monitoring in real-time comprising: a) A control center provided with a database which includes user and payment information for each of a plurality of vehicles; b) Status data in said database which indicates in real-time whether a given vehicle in a paid parking area is in a parking state; c) Communication means for communicating with said database which is accessible by a user associated with a corresponding vehicle, for setting said status data when commencing a parking period and for unsetting said status data at the termination of said parking period; d) Unique identification reference for each vehicle, accessible electronically or visually to a parking attendant from outside the vehicle; and e) A parking attendant device for: i. Reading said unique identification reference from outside the vehicle; ii. Communicating with said database for verifying whether the status data is in parking state or not in parking state.

2. A system according to claim 1, where said communication means is a cellular phone using a wireless communication system.

3. A system according to claim 1, where said communication means is a portable computer using a wireless communication system.

4. A system according to claim 1, where said communication means is a handheld device using a wireless communication system.

5. A system according to claims 2 to 4 where the wireless communication system is WLAN.

6. A system according to claims 2 to 4 where the wireless communication system is a cellular network.

7. A system according to claim 1, where said payment information is received by the Internet.

8. A system according to claim 1, where said payment information is received by phone.

9. A system according to claim 1, where said payment is a credit card account.

10. A system according to claim 1, where said payment is a cellular bill account.

11. A system according to claim 1, where said payment is a bank account.

12. A system according to claim 1, where said unique identifier reference is an RF sticker or any electrical reference.

13. A system according to claim 1, where said unique identifier reference is a barcode sticker or any other optical reference.

14. A system according to claim 1, where said parking attendant device for reading the said unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is an RF reader or any other electrical reader.

15. A system according to claim 1, where said parking attendant device for reading the said unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is a barcode reader or any other optical reader.

16. A system according to claim 1, where said parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a cellular phone.

17. A system according to claim 1, where said parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a portable computer.

18. A system according to claim 1, where said parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a handheld device.

19. A system according to claims 16 to 18 where the communicating is done by WLAN.

20. A system according to claims 16 to 18 where the communicating is done by cellular network.

21. A system according to claim 1, where said communication means is used to determine the location of the parking vehicle.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein the unique identification reference is a license plate.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the parking attendant device comprises an integral digital camera and is loaded with an optical character recognition system, for converting the alphanumeric identification of a license plate captured by said digital camera into verifiable digital information which is transmittable to the control center.

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control center is suitable for determining the location of a parked vehicle.

25. A system according to claim 1, wherein the parking attendant device comprises a communication unit, a reader unit, a location detector unit, and a printer unit that can be hand held, said communication unit being in wireless communication with the control center for transmitting thereto vehicle identification data as read by said reader unit and vehicle location data as determined by said location detector unit.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the communication unit is suitable for receiving a suitable signal from the control center which is indicative that a parked vehicle is to be ticketed, the printer unit being adapted to issue a ticket in response to said received signal.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the reader unit, location detector unit and printer unit are in short-range wireless communication with the communication unit.

28. A system according to claim 26, wherein the reader unit, location detector unit and printer unit are in electrical communication with the communication unit.

29. A method for parking payment and monitoring in real-time, comprising the steps of: a) providing a control center with a database which includes user and payment information for each of a plurality of vehicles, and status data which indicates in real-time whether a given vehicle in a paid parking area is in a parking state; b) providing a unique identification reference for each vehicle which is accessible to a parking attendant from outside the vehicle; c) providing a parking attendant device for reading said unique identification reference from outside of a vehicle; d) upon parking a vehicle at a charge incurring parking area, transmitting a first status signal by a user to said control center, for initiating commencement of a parking period; e) upon receiving said first status signal, setting the status data to indicate that the vehicle is in a parking state; f) upon terminating said parking period, transmitting a second status signal by said user to said control center; g) upon receiving said second status signal, setting the status data to indicate that the vehicle is not in a parking state; h) reading said unique identification reference for said parked vehicle by means of said parking attendant device; i) transmitting a verification signal based on said read identification reference by said parking attendant device to said control center in order to determine whether said parked vehicle is in a parking state; and j) transmitting a reply signal from said control center to said parking attendant signal which is indicative of the status data of said parked vehicle .

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein said first and second status signals are initiated by a cellular phone using a wireless communication system.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein said first and second status signals are initiated by a portable computer using a wireless communication system.

32. A method according to claim 29, wherein said first and second status signals are initiated by a handheld device using a wireless communication system.

33. A method according to claims 30 to 32 where the wireless communication system is WLAN.

34. A method according to claims 30 to 32 where the wireless communication system is a cellular net.

35. A method according to claim 29, where said payment information is received by the Internet.

36. A method according to claim 29, where said payment information is received by phone.

37. A method according to claim 29, where said payment is a credit card account.

38. A method according to claim 29, where said payment is a cellular bill account.

39. A method according to claim 29, where said payment is a bank account.

40. A method according to claim 29, where said unique identifier reference is an RF sticker or any electrical reference.

41. A method according to claim 29, where said unique identifier reference is a barcode sticker or any other optical reference.

42. A method according to claim 29, where said parking attendant device for reading the said unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is an RF reader or any other electrical reader.

43. A method according to claim 29, where said parking attendant device for reading the said unique identification reference from outside of the vehicle is a barcode reader or any other optical reader.

44. A method according to claim 29, where said parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a cellular phone using a wireless communication system.

45. A method according to claim 29, where said parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a portable computer using a wireless communication system.

46. A method according to claim 29, where said parking attendant device for communicating with said database is a handheld device using a wireless communication system.

47. A method according to claims 44 to 46 where the communication system is WLAN.

48. A method according to claims 44 to 46 where the communication system is a cellular network.

49. A method according to claim 29, where said communicating is used to determine the place of the parking vehicle.

50. A method according to claim 29, wherein the unique identification reference is a license plate.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein the parking attendant device comprises an integral digital camera which is loaded with an optical character recognition system, the alphanumeric identification of a license plate being captured by said digital camera and being converted into digital information which is transmitted to the control center by the verification signal.

52. A method according to claim 29, wherein the control center determines the location of a parked vehicle.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein the location of a parked vehicle is determined by a cellular network provider in communication with the control center.

54. A method according to claim 52, wherein the location of a parked vehicle is determined by specifying the location thereof in response to an inquiry signal transmitted by the control center to a user following transmission of a first status signal.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein the location of a parked vehicle is specified by a voice command.

56. A method according to claim 54, wherein the location of a parked vehicle is specified by a means of a keypad.

57. A method according to claim 29, wherein a parking attendant visually inspects a parked vehicle as to whether a parking fee has been paid when the repfy signal is indicative that the parked vehicle is not associated with a user and issues a ticket after determining that a parking fee has not been paid.

58. A method according to claim 57, wherein the parking attendant device comprises a communication unit, a reader unit, a location detector unit, and a printer unit that can be hand held, a ticket is issued by said printing unit after the parking attendant inputs vehicle identification data of the parked vehicle by means of the communication unit and depresses a suitable button of the communication unit.