Patent ID: 9692256
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: G07F,H02J

Claim:
1. A method for controlling the supply of power to a parking meter comprising: a) monitoring, by a control unit, the status of a main battery which is rechargeable and a back-up battery which is replaceable and non-rechargeable; b) charging at least partially, by the control unit, the main battery via one or more charging sources; c) supplying power, by the control unit, to the parking meter primarily from the main battery; d) switching the supply of power, by the control unit, to come from the back-up battery when the voltage across the main battery falls below a predetermined level; and e) signaling, by the control unit, a wireless communication device to communicate a status message to a control system external to the parking meter regarding the state of the main battery, the back-up battery, or the one or more charging sources; wherein the main battery, the back-up battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit are received within the parking meter.