WO2008019449A1

WO2008019449A1 - An electronic system for providing location information to a user of a parking space

Info

Publication number: WO2008019449A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Morgan Drew
Original assignee: Abuzz Technologies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-18
Filing date: 2007-08-17
Publication date: 2008-02-21

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic system (10) for use in an environment (11) in which there are a number of parking spaces (12), for providing a user that has parked a vehicle in a particular parking space with information relating to the location of that particular space. The system comprises a recording means (14) and an information providing means (16). The recording means is for recording information relating to the location of the particular space, and the information providing means is for providing information for directing the user towards the particular space.

Description

AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING LOCATION INFORMATION

TO A USER OF A PARKING SPACE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to an electronic system for use in an environment in which there are a number of parking spaces, for providing a user that has parked a vehicle in a particular parking space with information relating to the location of that particular space.

BACKGROUND ART

The increased number of vehicles on the roads in recent years has created the problem of providing a corresponding increase in the number of parking spaces. Large parking lots, often spreading over many levels, have been built to accommodate the parking needs of venues such as sports or shopping centres, train stations, airports etc. However, the sheer size of such parking lots makes it difficult for users to remember the exact locations of the parking spaces that they have used within the parking lots. Thus, users often have to wander around the parking lots for substantial lengths of time before they can locate their parked cars. This can cause users serious discomfort and inconvenience, especially if the users are elderly people or are accompanied by young children.

There are known electronic systems for interacting with the users of parking lots. One well established system includes issuing a parking ticket to a user at the entrance of a parking lot. However, only limited information, such as the time of issuance of the ticket, is usually recorded on a magnetic stripe that forms part of the tickets. This type of information can later be used by the relevant electronic systems for calculating the lengths of time spent that cars have been parked and appropriate parking fees. Such systems do not include any provisions for assisting users with locating their parked cars.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate disadvantages of the prior art or to provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an electronic system for use in a predetermined environment in which there is a plurality of parking spaces, for providing a user that has parked a vehicle in a particular said parking space with information relating to the location of said particular space, the system comprising: recording means for recording location information relating to the location of said particular space; and information providing means for providing directing information, based on said location information, for directing said user towards said particular space.

In a preferred embodiment, said recording means is in proximity to said particular space.

In a preferred embodiment, said information providing means is remote from said particular space.

In a preferred embodiment, said recording means is adapted to interact with an interface to record said location information, and said information providing means is adapted to interact with an interface to ascertain said recorded location information in order to provide said directing information to said user.

Preferably, the or each interface includes a ticket interface adapted for reading or recording ticket information from or on a parking ticket, respectively.

In this case, preferably, each ticket interface is adapted for reading or recording said ticket information from or on a parking ticket, respectively, with the ticket being remote from the ticket interface.

Also, preferably, said ticket interface is adapted for reading or recording said ticket information from or on, respectively, a memory storage means on the ticket, in the form of at least one of a magnetic strip, electronic storage, and electronic chip on the ticket. Preferably, said ticket interface is adapted for reading or writing said ticket information which includes at least a portion of said location information.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic system comprises a processing system connected to said information providing means, wherein said processing system is adapted for storing at least a portion of said location information.

Preferably, said processing system is connected to said recording means.

Preferably, also, said processing system is adapted for generating said directing information.

In a preferred embodiment, said portion of said location information includes identification information unique to said particular space.

In a preferred embodiment, said information providing means is an electronic information kiosk adapted to provide, to the user, at least one of a display of visual information on at least one of a screen and a printout, and audio information, where such provided information includes said directing information.

Preferably, said visual information includes a map of at least part of said environment, including an indicia representing said particular space.

Preferably also, said provided information includes instructions for directing said user from said information providing means to said recording means.

Preferably, said location information includes the location of said particular space, and said provided information includes instructions for directing said user from said information providing means to said particular space.

In a preferred embodiment, said recording means is adapted to provide recording means information to said user. In a preferred embodiment, said information providing means is adapted to provide directing information for directing the user to said recording means, and said recording means is adapted to provide recording means information for directing the user to said particular space.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of said recording means and said information providing means is adapted to provide said user with environment information including promotional information relating to products or services offered in said environment.

In a preferred embodiment, said recording means is adapted to store the time of the recording of location information.

Preferably, said information providing means is adapted to store the time of the providing of the directing information.

In a preferred embodiment, said recording means is adapted to issue parking tickets.

Then, preferably, said recording means is an integral part of a parking meter.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic system comprises: a plurality of predetermined zones within said environment, each zone being associated with at least one of said plurality of parking spaces; and a plurality of verification means each being located at a said zone, each verification means being adapted to determine said location information relating to a particular user visiting that zone and to determine, from that location information, whether the particular parking space used by that user, as reflected by that location information, is a parking space with which that zone is associated.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic system comprises: a plurality of predetermined zones within said environment, each zone being associated with at least one of said plurality of parking spaces; a plurality of verification means each being located at a said zone, each verification means including a reader adapted for reading ticket information stored on a said parking ticket and for thereby determining said portion of said location information and to determine, from that portion of the location information, whether the particular parking space used by a user as reflected by that portion of the location information is a parking space with which that zone is associated.

Preferably, at least one of said zones is a retail outlet having a cash register, and the verification means at the at least one zone is connected to the cash register at that zone.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic system is adapted to record information about purchases made by users, and to grant a reward to a user based on the monetary amount of one or more purchases made by that user over a predetermined time or at one or more predetermined retail outlet zones.

Preferably, the electronic system is adapted to record said information on a said parking ticket presented by that user.

Preferably, said reward is in the form of at least one of a discount for a purchase made at a particular retail outlet zone, and free parking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of an environment and electronic system according to an embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to one preferred embodiment, the electronic system 10 of the present invention is for use in a predetermined environment 11, for example a shopping centre, which has a plurality of parking spaces 12. The electronic system 10 is for providing users, who have parked their vehicles in particular parking spaces, with information relating to the location of the particular spaces. In one preferred embodiment, the electronic system 10 is adapted to provide location information to users of parking spaces by way of registration means in the form of parking tickets. The tickets may be provided to the users at the boom gates of the parking lots where the parking spaces are located. Typically, such tickets may have magnetic strips for recording data.

The system 10 further includes recording devices 14 which have card readers or bar code scanners or both, for reading information on the parking tickets. The recording devices 14 are preferably located in the vicinity of the parking spaces.

When a user inserts a parking ticket into the recording device 14, the card reader or bar code scanner, as the case may be, reads the data on the parking ticket. The recording device 14 creates an interaction record in which information such as the ticket identification, the recording device identification, the time of recording, etc, is stored.

While it is possible to provide a separate recording device 14 for each parking space 12, this is preferably not done as it involves a relatively inefficient use of resources. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, each recording device 14 services a number of parking spaces.

It is preferred that all parking spaces serviced by a particular recording device 14 be in the vicinity of the device. Thus, once user locates the recording device 14, the user should be able to locate his parking space relatively easily.

Once the recording device 14 has read the data from the ticket, in one embodiment the interaction record is created on the ticket itself while in another embodiment, it is created on a computer processing system forming part of the electronic system 10. The processing system can receive, store and process information from the recording device 14 and various other devices such as cash registers connected to the electronic system 10.

The electronic system 10 also includes at least one information providing device in the form of an information kiosk 16 located at a particular venue in the environment 11. The kiosk 16 includes a card reader or bar code scanner or both, for reading information stored on parking tickets. Thus, when a user wishes to be directed to his parking space, he can present his ticket to the information kiosk 16. The electronic system 10 then checks the information on the ticket, or on the processing system as required, to determine whether there is an interaction record stored in relation to that ticket. If there is such a record, electronic system 10 determines which particular recording device 14 created the record. Once that recording device 14 has been identified, the information kiosk 16 provides the user with information related to the location of that recording device 14, thus directing the user to his parking space.

The information provided to the user may be in the form of an audio recording or may be in the form of visual information presented on a screen, or both. The visual information may include maps of the environment 11 and instructions for directing the user to the relevant recording device 14. The kiosk 16 is preferably able to print the maps and instructions, which may be then taken away by the user, thus assisting the user in locating the respective parking space.

While the above description relates to a relatively simple preferred embodiment of the invention, other embodiments may include other features for rendering it suitable to the varying requirements of different parking venues.

For example, as was mentioned before, in this preferred embodiment a single recording device 14 may service a plurality of parking spaces. To accommodate a large number of spaces, the electronic system can be configured so that the user receives directional instructions related not only to the recording device 14, but also to the specific parking space 12 that the user has occupied. For this purposes, when a parking ticket is first presented by a user to the recording device 14, the user may further provide the recording device with information related to the specific parking space occupied.

One way to do this, in parking lots where the parking spaces 12 are numbered, is to enter, in the recording device 14, for example by way of a key pad forming part of the device, is to enter the number of the particular parking space 12 in which the user's car is parked.

In this case, the electronic system 10 obtains and stores information about both the particular recording device 14 and the number of the particular parking space 12 associated with the respective parking ticket.

As was mentioned before, the information is stored either on the parking ticket or on the associated computer processing system of the electronic system 10. When the same parking ticket is later presented to one of the informational kiosks 16, the electronic system 10 retrieves this information and presents the user with information related to the location of both the recording device 14 and the occupied parking space 12.

The system 10, in one preferred embodiment, is also adapted to provide location information to the user by means of the recording device 14. In this case, after the user has swiped or scanned the parking ticket at the information kiosk 16, the kiosk directs the user to the recording device 14, where the user again swipes or scans the ticket. The system 10 then retrieves information related to the number of the parking space 12 in which the user parked the car and the recording device 14 presents the user with information related to its exact location.

The electronic system 10 may be configured to provide users with information pertaining to the environment 11 including promotional information relating to products or services offered in the environment. For example, such promotional information may direct users to a retail outlets or shops that provide discount or free parking if the users make purchases there.

As was mentioned earlier, according to a preferred embodiment, a parking ticket 12 can be issued at a boom gate of the parking lot. Alternatively, the recording device 14 itself may issue the parking ticket. For example, in areas where parking spaces 12 are serviced by parking meters, the recording device 14 may be an integral part of the parking meter associated with the parking space. In this case, swiping of the ticket may not be required since the record of the interaction of the user with the recording device 14 can be automatically recorded in the system 10 as the ticket is issued. Of course, in an alternative arrangement, the user may still need to swipe or scan the ticket after the recording device 14 has issued it. In addition, even if the recording device 14 forms part of the ticket issuing facility, the user still needs to enter the number of the particular parking space 12, in an embodiment where the number of the parking space is to be provided.

The environment 11, especially when constituted by a shopping centre, in a preferred embodiment, has a number of predetermined zones 18, such as a spaces owned or used by businesses, retail outlets or service providers within the environment. Each zone 18 has a plurality of dedicated parking spaces allocated to it, these spaces being designated

22.

Accordingly, according to a preferred embodiment, only users visiting a particular zone 18 are permitted to park in the parking spaces 22 associated with that zone. In this case, the electronic system 10 provides verification devices 20, as discussed further below, for verifying that a person, who has parked his car in such a parking space 22, is permitted to park in that space.

Is it to this end that the system 10, according to this embodiment, includes the verification devices 20, which are located at the such zones 18. When a user presents his parking ticket to such a verification device 20, the electronic system 10 checks if the recording device 12 at which the user first presented the ticket, or the particular space 22 used by the user, are associated with that particular zone If this is the case, the electronic system 10 may provide a suitable form of verification.

The nature of the above embodiment itself may reduce the risk of certain types of misuse by users. For example, where the ticket is issued at the entrance of the parking area, it is possible for a user to misuse the system by presenting his parking ticket with a different recording device 14 to that which is associated with the parking space 22 in which the user parks. This enables the user to take advantage of the benefits associated with a zone 18 other than the zone associated with the particular parking space used. However, such misuse of the system would result in the user being directed by the information kiosk 16 to the actual recording device 14 that the user has used for registering his ticket, instead of the recording device related to the parking space 22 where his car is actually parked.

While the verification devices 20 can be set up as a stand-alone devices, it is preferable if they are integral with or connected to cash registers, EFTPOS terminals, ATMs or other transaction-related electronic devices located in the respective zones 18. This would enable the verification process to be carried out automatically when transactions are recorded without requiring additional steps to be taken.

The above mentioned devices such as the recording devices 14, information providing devices and verification device 20 may be adapted to record the time when they are used Such time-related information may allow estimates to be provided on the length of time the visitors of particular venues spent at the venues, the length of time for which their cars are parked at the associated parking spaces and so on.

When the verification devices are connected to cash registers, , in a preferred embodiment the electronic system 10 is able to collect information about the amounts spent by users when carrying out transactions. Again, this information is recorded either on the parking ticket or on the computer processing system of the electronic system 10. The amounts spent in a particular venue or in other associated venues may then be used as a basis for allocating rewards to users. The rewards are usually in the form of discounts or free parking in the parking spaces 22 associated with the particular venue. Such rewards can be allocated either on the basis of a single purchase or on the basis of the accumulated amount spent during a series of purchases in one or more venues.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the electronic system 10, even according to its most basic embodiment, offers a relatively simple way of assisting a user of a parking space to locate the parking space when returning to the vehicle. In addition, a variety of features can be added to the system to customise it to the specific needs of different parking venues. However, it should be appreciated that the electronic system 10 is not limited to the particular features described above, may be embodied in other forms. For example, the system 10 may be adapted to address a situation in which a user forgets to use a recording device 14 as required. This may be done by introducing reminder signs in the parking lot.

In addition, the system 10 may be configured to enable at least some of the interactions with the above-mentioned devices such as recording devices 14, information providing devices and verification devices 20, to occur remotely by wireless communications based on RF, infrared radiation or other communication means. Such embodiments, may facilitate the determination that users have failed to uses such devices as required. In this case, the system 10 may be configured to remind the user to present his ticket to a recording device 14, while he is still in the vicinity of the device by sending out a suitable notification messages to the user, for example by way of an audio or video signal.

In addition, some embodiments can provide for automation of the interactions between the users (for example their parking tickets) and the recording devices 14. This may make the system 10 even more practical and user-friendly, since no specific action on behalf of the user would be required for at least some of the interactions. Such embodiments, instead of using, say, magnetic tickets, could use other suitable forms of registration means, which are more suitable for the particular methods of communications with the recording devices 14. One of the such registration means may, for example, be a mobile telephone.

In another embodiment, the system 10, in addition to, or instead of, being adapted for processing parking tickets, may be adapted to the recording devices to obtain biometrics information input by users. Such biometrics information might include fingerprints, voice recognition, eye scans or other suitable forms of information.

Part or all of the biometrics information received by the recording devices 14 could be stored either in the electronic system 10 itself, or in extern storage means. The records of such information could be kept for a predetermined length of time, for example, a day, a month or other suitable. The information kiosks 16, in the embodiment being considered, would also be adapted to accept biometrics information from users. Accordingly, biometrics information could be taken from a user and compared with such information made at the recording devices 14. Indeed, a particular type of biometrics information taken obtained at an information kiosk 16 would only be compared with the same type of biometrics information obtained previously.

Such data comparisons could be limited to the data collected over a predetermined length of time. The data obtained could indicate, for example, the identity of the first recording device 14 used by the user within the predetermined time period, the actual time that the user used that recording device, and so on. The information could also be used to provide the user information pertaining, not just to the location of the user's parking space, but also,, for allocating a reward to the user or for other purposes associated with the system 10, as discussed above.

In addition, other than single-use tickets as mentioned above, some embodiments may provide for the use of cards of a more permanent nature such as smartcards, chip cards or magnetic cards , such as plastic cards similar to credit cards, which may be issued to regular users of the environment 11.

Claims

1. An electronic system for use in a predetermined environment in which there is a plurality of parking spaces, for providing a user that has parked a vehicle in a particular said parking space with information relating to the location of said particular space, the system comprising: recording means for recording location information relating to the location of said particular space; and information providing means for providing directing information, based on said location information, for directing said user towards said particular space.

2. An electronic system according to claim 1 wherein said recording means is in proximity to said particular space.

3. An electronic system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said information providing means is remote from said particular space.

4. An electronic system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said recording means is adapted to interact with an interface to record said location information, and said information providing means is adapted to interact with an interface to ascertain said recorded location information in order to provide said directing information to said user.

5. An electronic system according to claim 4, wherein the or each interface includes a ticket interface adapted for reading or recording ticket information from or on a parking ticket, respectively.

6. An electronic system according to claim 5, each ticket interface is adapted for reading or recording said ticket information from or on a parking ticket, respectively, with the ticket being remote from the ticket interface.

7. An electronic system according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said ticket interface is adapted for reading or recording said ticket information from or on, respectively, a memory storage means on the ticket, in the form of at least one of a magnetic strip, electronic storage, and electronic chip on the ticket.

8. An electronic system according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said ticket interface is adapted for reading or writing said ticket information which includes at least a portion of said location information.

9 An electronic system according to claims 5 to 7, comprising a processing system connected to said information providing means, wherein said processing system is adapted for storing at least a portion of said location information.

10. An electronic system according to claim 9 wherein said processing system is connected to said recording means.

11. An electronic system according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said processing system is adapted for generating said directing information.

12. An electronic system according to any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein said portion of said location information includes identification information unique to said particular space.

13. An electronic system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said information providing means is an electronic information kiosk adapted to provide, to the user, at least one of a display of visual information on at least one of a screen and a printout, and audio information, where such provided information includes said directing information..

14. An electronic system according to claim 13 wherein said visual information includes a map of at least part of said environment, including an indicia representing said particular space.

15 An electronic system according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein said provided information includes instructions for directing said user from said information providing means to said recording means.

16. An electronic system according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein said location information includes the location of said particular space, and said provided information includes instructions for directing said user from said information providing means to said particular space.

17. An electronic system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said recording means is adapted to provide recording means information to said user.

18. An electronic system according to 17, wherein said information providing means is adapted to provide directing information for directing the user to said recording means, and said recording means is adapted to provide recording means information for directing the user to said particular space.

19. An electronic system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said recording means and said information providing means is adapted to provide said user with environment information including promotional information relating to products or services offered in said environment.

20. An electronic system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said recording means is adapted to store the time of the recording of location information.

21. An electronic system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said information providing means is adapted to store the time of the providing of the directing information.

22. An electronic system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said recording means is adapted to issue parking tickets.

23. An electronic system according to claim 21, wherein said recording means is an integral part of a parking meter.

24. An electronic system according to any one of the preceding claims comprising: a plurality of predetermined zones within said environment, each zone being associated with at least one of said plurality of parking spaces; and a plurality of verification means each being located at a said zone, each verification means being adapted to determine said location information relating to a particular user visiting that zone and to determine, from that location information, whether the particular parking space used by that user, as reflected by that location information, is a parking space with which that zone is associated.

25. An electronic system according to any one of claims 8 to 11 comprising: a plurality of predetermined zones within said environment, each zone being associated with at least one of said plurality of parking spaces; a plurality of verification means each being located at a said zone, each verification means including a reader adapted for reading ticket information stored on a said parking ticket and for thereby determining said portion of said location information and to determine, from that portion of the location information, whether the particular parking space used by a user as reflected by that portion of the location information is a parking space with which that zone is associated.

26. An electronic system according to claim 24 or claim 25 wherein at least one of said zones is a retail outlet having a cash register, and wherein the verification means at the at least one zone is connected to the cash register at that zone.

27. An electronic system according to claim 24 or claim 25, adapted to record information about purchases made by users, and to grant a reward to a user based on the monetary amount of one or more purchases made by that user over a predetermined time or at one or more predetermined retail outlet zones.

28. An electronic system according to claim 27, adapted to record said information on a said parking ticket presented by that user.

29. An electronic system according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein said reward is in the form of at least one of a discount for a purchase made at a particular retail outlet zone, and free parking.