Parking management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9460623-B2
Application number	US-95154810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2010
Priority date	Nov 22, 2010
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A parking management approach includes associating a payment source with a vehicle identifier. The approach also includes receiving a message indicating initiation of a parking event at a parking location, and updating a parking database to indicate that a vehicle having the vehicle identifier is parked at the parking location. The message includes an identification of at least one of the payment source and the vehicle identifier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A parking management method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to:
associate a payment source with a vehicle identifier;
receive a message indicating initiation of a parking event at a parking location, wherein the message includes an identification of at least one of the payment source and the vehicle identifier;
update a parking database to indicate that a vehicle having the vehicle identifier is parked at the parking location;
further comprising:
determining, by a sensor at the parking location, the vehicle has left the parking location;
updating the parking database to reflect that the vehicle is no longer parked at the parking location;
determining when the vehicle left the parking location;
comparing an actual time parked at the parking location to a paid-for parking time, based on when the vehicle left the parking location; and
performing one of: refunding the payment source when the paid-for parking time exceeds the actual parking time, and charging the payment source when the actual parking time exceeds the paid for parking time

wherein the vehicle identifier comprises a license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle;
the payment source comprises one of: a credit card, a debit card, and a prepaid funds card; and
the receiving the message comprises receiving the message from a parking location computing device,
further comprising the parking location computing device obtaining information associated with one of the payment source and the vehicle identifier during the initiation of the parking event, wherein the obtaining the information comprises one of: reading a magnetic strip of a payment card; reading a radio frequency identification tag; and reading a bar code.

Assignees

• Baughman Aaron K
• Graham Barry M
• Hamilton Ii Rick A
• O'Connell Brian M
• IBM

Inventors

• Baughman Aaron K
• Graham Barry M
• Hamilton Ii Rick A
• O'Connell Brian M

Classifications

• G08G1/146 Primary

  where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space · CPC title

• G07F17/246

  provided with vehicle proximity-detectors (detecting hidden masses, e.g. metal detectors, G01V, e.g. G01V3/00; proximity switches per se H03K17/00; traffic control systems G08G1/00) · CPC title

• G07B15/02

  taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems (G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24) · CPC title

• G06Q2240/00

  Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking · CPC title