WO2008058489A1

WO2008058489A1 - Method of controlling vehicles on parking spaces subject to fee payment and parking data scanner for performing this method

Info

Publication number: WO2008058489A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2007/000099
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tomás JURIK
Original assignee: Cross, Zlin, S.R.O.
Priority date: 2006-11-14
Filing date: 2007-11-06
Publication date: 2008-05-22
Also published as: CZ2006711A3

Abstract

Method of controlling vehicles on parking spaces subject to fee payment consisting in that the scanned parking space (10) is cyclically scanned in time by means of the scanning aerial (5) which will connect, after arrival of a vehicle, with its on-board computer unit (9) located in the vehicle in recording so the initial period of the vehicle parking, this remote control of the presence of vehicle within the scanned parking space (10) is cyclically performed in time until the moment, when the vehicle will leave the scanned parking space (10), in which the vehicle parking period in the scanned parking space (10) will be delineated, the time-date proof on vehicle parking in the parking space (10) produced in this way, will be transmitted into the control system (8) for subsequent parking fee payment. The parking data scanner (100) for performing the control of vehicles consists of a mutually communication line of the processor unit (2) interconnected with the transmitter and receiver (1) module and with the communication unit (3), the transmitter and receiver module (1) is connected, by means of a communication line, with the scanning aerial (5) for scanning the allocated space (10), the scanning aerial (5) is interactively connected with the on-board computer unit (9) located in automobile, the communication unit (3) is interactively connected with the communication aerial (6) by means of a communication line, this aerial is interactively connected with the hand-held computer (7).

Description

Method of controlling vehicles on parking spaces subject to fee payment and parking data scanner for performing this method

Technical Field of the invention

[0001] The invention concerns a method of controllling vehicles on parking spaces subject to fee payment and a parking data scanner.

Background Art

[0002] For the time being, on the free parking spaces subject to fee payment and in the streets of towns, parking meters for parking fee cash or non cash payment are being used, but which need, after having parked the vehicle, the access of the driver to the parking meter for proceeding the necessary payment, and placement of the parking ticket behind the windscreen of the vehiicle when cash paying. As an alternative, payments are being done non cash using a credit card or a mobile phone. All these methods however are demanding some activity from the part of the driver and mean therefore a certain degree of molestation.

[0003] Within the scope of fee imposition on selected road and motorway network in Europe (electronic toll), microwave on-board units in vehicles are being used, which are autonomous, without any external feeeding, which are placed behind the windscreen of the vehicle. The use of these on-board units for parking purposes on free parking spaces or in the town screets is not possible for the time being, because these on-board units communicate on the basis of a radio high-frequency microwave link (in Europe, usually 5,8 Ghz), so that only communication within a limited distance in a relatively small communication zone is possible. For this reason, these on-board units are used for parking only in closed parking systems with a clearly defined entry and way out from the parking space, where it is possible to pay the fee for the vehicle parking at the entry and the way out when passing along a fixed radio microwave communication aerial across a limited communication zone. Brief Description of the Invention

[0004] The known drawbacks of the existing devices and systems are removed to a certain extent when using the method of vehicle control on parking spaces subject to parking fee payment according to this invention, the principle of which consists in that the scanned parking space is cyclically scanned in time by a scanning aerial which will be connected, at the entrance of a vehicle into the scanned parking zone, with the on-board computer unit situated in the vehicle, which will record the initial period of the vehicle parking. This remote control of the vehicle presence within the scanned parking zone is being cyclically done in time until the time, when the vehicle will leave the parking zone scanned, which will delineate in time the period of the vehicle parking within the scanned parking zone. The time- date document on the vehicle parking in the parking zone scanned produced in this way will be transferred, by means of a data- communication server, into the control system for the next parking fee imposition.

[0005] The parking data scanner for performing the given method contains a feeding module, which is interconnected by means of a processor unit with the transmitter and receiver module and with a communication unit. The transmitter and receiver module is connected with a scaning aerial for scanning the parking space alloted. This scanning aerial is interactively connected with the on-board computer unit placed in automobile. The communication unit is interactively connected through a telecommunication line with the communication aerial, which is interactively conected with a hand-held computer. [0006] According to an advantageous version of this invention, the hand-held computer is interactively connected with a control system which collects the data details on parking. The control system performs also the calculation of payments of parking fees, the registration of customers and of their payment methods - e.g. payments in advance and monthly payments in arrear etc. Furthermore, it keeps records on bad payers and ensures remote technical and administrative control of the system of parking scanners distributed on parking spaces subject to fee payment.

[0007] The scanning aerial has a fixed radiating characteristic and is located on a head positionable by means of a motor. [0008] The scanning aerial has got an electronically convertible radiating characteristic and is located on a fixed head.

[0009] The merit of this invention consists in automating the process of the parking fee payment using a board unit in vehicle and a parking scanner . After having concluded a contractual relation of the vehicle user with the operator of parking systems provided with a parking scanner, the driver is only asked to have the respective board unit in his or her vehicle when parking.. After having parked the vehicle, there is no more necessary to go to a standard parking meter, to pay in advance the parking fee and to place the payment proof on a visible spot behind the windscreen. Even in the event of payment by mobile phone, some activity in attending the mobile phone from the part of the driver for payment the parking fee is necesary. When using a parking scanner in combination with a board unit, all these activities become superfluous and the process of parking fee payment is fully automated. Another merit there consists in that the driver pays an exactly used period of parking and it is possible to pay in arrear once in a month using a transfer order according to an account and invoice presented. There is then question of a markedly qualitative improvement of the parking service for drivers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The invention presented will be explained in more detail according to the following technical description which is elaborated with regard to the drawings enclosed, where the individual figures represent

[0011] Fig. 1 represents a block circuit diagram of a parking scanner with representation of the parking space scanned using a high-frequency aerial.

[0012] Fig. 2 represents the location of a parking scanner on corner of an object, e.g. on a pole of public lighting

[0013] Fig. 3 represents the location of a parking scanner on an object, e.g. on a pole of public lighting for scanning automobiles in oblique position

[0014] Fig. 4 represents the location of a parking scanner on an object, e.g . on a pole of public lighting for scanning automobiles in longitudinal position [0015] Fig. 5 represents the method of performing control of payment discipline by individual parked vehicles within the sphere scanned by a high-frequency aerial.

[0016] Fig. 6 represents a version of a scanner provided with a high-frequency aerial which disposes of a fixed radiating characteristic located on a head positionable by means of a motor.

[0017] Fig. 7 represents a version of a scanner provided with a high-frequency aerial which disposes of an electronically convertible radiating characteristic and is located on a fixed holder.

Detailed Description of Preffered Embodiments

[0018] The Fig. 1 through 5 represent in a characteristic way the method of performing control of vehicles on parking spaces subject to fee payment..

[0019] The Fig. 1 represents a block circuit of the parking date scanner 100 for performing the method of control of vehicles on a parking space subject to fee payment. The scanning aerial 5 of the parking date scanner 100 cyclically scans the parking space 10, in which vehicles 12 are coming, it scans the period of staying vehicles Xλ in the parking space 10 and scans also the departure time of the vehicles 12 out from the parking space 10. After the arrival of a vehicle 12 into the parking space 10 scanned, the scanning aerial 5 will be connected with the on-board computer unit 9 located in the vehicle 12 for recording the initial period of parking of the vehicle 12. This remote control of the presence of a vehicle in the scanned parking space IQ is cyclically being done by the scanning aerial in time until the moment, when the vehicle will leave the parking space 10 scanned, which will delineate in time the period of parking of the vehicle 12 in the parking space 10 scanned. The date proof produced in time on parking of the vehicle 12 in the parking space 10 will be transferred by means of the date- communication server H into the control system 8 for subsequent imposition of a parking fee.

[0020] The control system 8 is located within the spaces of the parking operator. This is a system based on computer technique which performs the functions of technical and administrative supervision of the system of parking scanners, and, thereafter, of the given parking spaces subject to fee payment. It enables so a remote administration with a minimum of requirements concerning the local attendance of the parking scanners which is reduced, in principle, to a current maintenance in the terms prescribed or in case of a technical failure. The operator of the parking service subject to fee payment then carries out only a control of the drivers^' payment discipline - which means the control of a suitable location of the board unit with an effective contractual relation to the operator of the parking service. But this controlling activity may be transferred to other subjects suitably provided with the necessary technique - e.g. to the municipal police etc.

[0021] The on-board computer unit 9_ is usually located behind the windscreen of the vehicle 12. It is entirely autonomous with its own feeding and, in principle, it does not need any attendance from the part of the driver. During the whole time of installation in vehicle, it remains in the dormant module awaiting an initiating signal of the parking scanner 100 for starting mutual communication for the purpose of transferring unambiguous indetifiers of the on-board computer unit 9 which are assigned in the given organization for the given concrete vehicle using the given parking service subject to fee payment.

[0022] The parking date scanner 100 consists of the processor unit 2 interconnected by a mutually commnucating line with the module of transmitter and receiver 1 and the communication unit 3. The module of transmitter and receiver 1 is connected by means of a communicating line with the scanning aerial 5_for scanning the parking space IQ assigned. The scanning aerial 5 is interactively connected with the on-board computer unit 9 located in the vehicle 12. The communication unit 3 is interactively connected by means of a communicating line with the communication aerial 6 which is interactively connected with the hand-held computer 7. The module of transmitter and receiver 1 contains a high-frequency electronics for transmitting and receiving on the respective radio frequency for the communication with the on-board computer unit 9 The processor unit 2 performs control programme functions for the whole control of the parking scanner technology and for the control of the digital communication with the on-board computer unit 9, with the hand-held computer 7 and with the control system 8_^_The communication aerial 6 ensures the data connection with the hand-held computer 7 and with the control system 8 in such a way, so that all information both of technical nature and information of parking situation within the space assigned to this parking scanner 100 would be transmitted. The hand-held computer 7 serves the person which performs the local supervision of the payment discipline of drivers as a displaying interface with the list of correctly paying vehicles on the space subject to fee payment in indicating their vehicle registration number in such a way, so that this person would be able to perform a visual control of the payment discipline.

[0023] Fig. 2 through 4 show a characteristic representation of the location of the parking data scanner 100 on various objects for ensuring the scanning control of the presence of vehicles on parking spaces subject to fee payment, where the Fig. 2 represents the location of the parking data scanner 100 on the corner of a pole of public lighting for scanning a rectangular parking space 10, the Fig. 3 represents the location of the parking data scanner 100 on a pole of public lighting for scanning obliquely parked vehicles 12 in the parking space 10, the Fig. 4 represents the location of the parking data scanner 100 on a pole of public lighting for scanning longitudinally parked vehicles 12 in the parking space ICλ

[0024] Fig. 5 represents the method of performing the control of the payment discipline. The parking scanner 100 transfers, in the hand-held computer 7 owned by the person performing the control of the payment discipline, a list of actually obtained unambiguous indicators of all on-board computer units 9 in the respective parking space which are unambiguously assigned to the registration numbers of individual vehicles IZ The controlling person performs then a visual control of all vehicles 12 and their registration numbers, if they correctly pay for the service of parking subject to fee payment, or if they are not recorded in the list of bad payers, or if they do not use an alienated on-board computer unit 9 , or if they do not otherwise incorrectly use the service of the parking subject to fee payment etc. These incorrect vehicles are then subjected to legal recourse within the meaning of the decrees and acts being in force.

[0025] Fig. 6 represents a parking scanner 100 with mechanical positioning of the scanning aerial 5 with a fixed radiation and controlled motion of the positioning head 51 , which rotates the scanning aerial 5 or its components on a predefined trajectory in fully scanning the respective parking space 10. The merit thereof consists in a simpler design, but there is a certain drawback in movable electro-mechanical components which are more prone to service break-downs and wear.

[0026] Fig. 7 represents a parking scanner 100 with electronic positioning, where the scanning aerial 5 is situated on the fixed holder 52_which makes use of switching over or of variable excitation by electronic elements into the scanning aerial or into a system of scanning aerials 5 in order to change the radiating characteristic for a full scaning of the respective parking space 10. The merit thereof consists in a design without movable components but at the expense of a more complex electronics used.

[0027] Both versions of the parking scanner with mechanical or electronic positioning are full-valued and interchangeable as well and the use of any of these methods is determined by technical or financial claims of the given design in a mutual combination.

Claims

C L A I M S

1 Method of controlling vehicles on parking spaces subject to fee payment characterized in that the scanned parking space (10) is cyclically scanned using a scanning aerial (5) which connects, after the arrival of a vehicle into the parking space scanned (10), with the on-board computer unit (9) situated in the vehicle, by means of which the initial time of vehicle parking is recorded, this remote control of the presence of a vehicle in the parking space (10) scanned is cyclically being done in time until the moment, when the vehiucle leaves the parking space (10) scanned, which will delineate in time the period of the vehicle parking in the parking space (10 scanned, the time-date proof produced in this way on parking vehicle in the parking space (10) scanned is transmitted, using a data-communication server (11), into the control system (8) for subsequent parking fee payment.

2. Parking data scanner (100) for performing the method according to the point 1. containing a feeding module (4) characterized in that it consists of a processor unit (2) mutually interconnected by means of a communicating line with the transmitter and receiver module (1) and with the communication unit (3), the scanning aerial (5) for scanning the assigned space (10) is connected to the module of transmitter and receiver (1) by means of a communicating line, the scanning aerial (5) is interactively connected with the on-board computer unit (9) located in automobile, the communicating unit (3) is interactively connected by means of a communicating line with the communicating aerial (6), which is interactively connected with the hand-held computer (7).

3. Parking data scanner according to the claim 2, characterized in that the hand-held computer (7) is interactively connected with the control system (8)

4. Parking data scanner according to the claims 2 and 3 characterized in that the scanning aerial (5) has got a fixed radiating characteristic and is located on a holder (51) positionable by means of a motor.

5. Parking data scanner according to the claims 2 through 4 characterized in that the scanning aerial (5) has got an electronically variable radiating characteristic and is located on a fixed holder (52).