Abstract:
A wireless network covering a large local geographic area is used to link a large number of payment terminals provided in the same area. Each payment terminal is located near a plurality of parking spaces, either at the curbside or in municipal lots. Parking data is gathered from motorists at the payment terminals, the parking data including vehicle identification data or parking space identification data. The parking data is sent from the payment terminals to the wireless network in response to payment made at the payment terminals. A plurality of portable terminals are provided for use by parking wardens inspecting the parking spaces of the local geographic area. The wireless network is used to transmit the parking data substantially upon receipt from the payment terminals to the portable terminals in the local geographic area.

Description:
This application is a continuation of PCT/CA97/00206 filed Apr. 1, 1997 designating the United States and claiming priority of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/014,531 filed Apr. 2, 1996. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an urban parking system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an urban parking system in which a wireless network is utilized to communicate vehicle parking status information from a payment terminal to portable checking terminals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the present urban parking systems in use in North America, parking is paid for on most urban streets and many city lots by inserting coins into a parking meter assigned to each parking space. A parking warden or checker periodically checks each parking meter and each corresponding parking space to determine if a citation should be written up. 
     For the motorist, the convenience of being able to pay at the curb and then be on one&#39;s way is of great importance. 
     It is known in the art from U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,805 to LaChat et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,540 to Berthon et al. to provide portable terminals which receive vehicle parking status data pairs (i.e. vehicle ID number and expiration time) from curbside payment terminals, and to provide a low energy consumption data communication system among the payment terminals. Such an electronic urban parking system is able to comply with the basic requirements for an efficient system, namely, the motorists may pay at a curbside payment terminal and may then be free to go without returning to their vehicle to place a proof of payment instrument, and the portable terminals may be provided with sufficiently accurate data to determine with reasonable accuracy whether a vehicle&#39;s parking is paid for. 
     However, in larger urban areas, Applicants have determined that a large number of payment terminals are required for motorists&#39; convenience, especially when harsh climate conditions of cold, heat and precipitation are common. Motorists may, for convenience, wish to pay for parking indoors or at a payment terminal not immediately associated with the parking space occupied. Since payment may take place far away from the parking space, it is no longer sufficient for a parking warden to acquire local information from neighboring curbside payment terminals. For these reasons, it is desirable to make large areas, such as entire business districts, into individual parking zones and permit payment of parking from any terminal in the zone, or even from outside the zone. To accommodate such marketing, a large number of payment terminals needs to provide data to a large number of portable terminals and at longer distances. 
     Under such circumstances, the amount of vehicle data received from the payment terminals and transferred to portable checking terminals requires special consideration for efficient handling. It has been determined that the known handling of parking data, i.e. either transmission from the payment terminal periodically to an individual portable terminal or transmission from the payment terminal upon request to the requesting portable terminal, cannot efficiently handle the required large amount of data transfer when a large number of payment terminals are used and when parking zones encompass a number of payment terminals. In addition, data transferred locally from a payment terminal to portable terminals periodically and upon request is neither complete nor up to date when motorists are allowed to park anywhere within a zone including many payment terminals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an urban parking system of the type having curbside payment terminals and portable electronic wireless terminals in which data relating to parking payment is efficiently handled. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to make use of a public wireless network in such an urban parking system. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an urban parking system of the type having curbside payment terminals and portable electronic wireless terminals in which, in response payment made at one of the payment terminals, data is automatically transmitted concerning the payment made to all portable terminals by wireless means. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an urban parking system of the type having curbside payment terminals, a central control system connected to a wireless transmitter and portable electronic wireless terminals, which cooperate in unison to handle data relating to parking payment efficiently. 
     According to the invention, there is provided an urban parking system comprising: a wireless network covering a large local geographic area; a large number of payment terminals provided in the geographic area each located near a plurality of parking spaces, each payment terminal comprising data collection means for gathering parking data from a motorist, the parking data including at least one of vehicle identification data and parking space identification data; communication means for transferring the parking data from the data collection means to the wireless network in response to payment made at the payment terminals; a plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting the parking spaces of the geographic area, the portable terminals including wireless communication means, a memory for storing the parking data, and a user interface means; and broadcast means associated with the wireless network for transmitting the parking data substantially upon receipt from the communication means to the portable terminals in the geographic area. 
     The invention also provides a method of communicating vehicle parking data in an urban parking system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a wireless network covering a large local geographic area; providing a large number of payment terminals provided in the local geographic area each located near a plurality of parking spaces; gathering parking data from motorists at the payment terminals, the parking data including at least one of vehicle identification data and parking space identification data; transferring the parking data from the payment terminals to the wireless network in response to payment made at the payment terminals; providing a plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting the parking spaces of the local geographic area; and using the wireless network to transmit the parking data substantially upon receipt from the payment terminals to the portable terminals in the local geographic area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by way of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of the urban parking system according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a basic flow chart illustrating the steps carried out during a parking payment in the system according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the parking payment terminal according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the parking payment terminal according to the preferred embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the portable terminal according to the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the urban parking system  10  according to the preferred embodiment has a large number of payment terminals  12  schematically illustrated as being numbered from  1  through N. The payment terminals  12  include wireless communication means for communicating bidirectionally with a public wireless transmitter  14  of a public wireless network. The wireless network in the preferred embodiment is a packet data wireless network, and in particular in North America this may be an ARDIS network. 
     The parking system  10  has a central control computer  16 , which in the preferred embodiment is a network of computers, for recording parking data in a database  17 . The parking data is broadcast from transmitter  14  to a number of mobile terminals  18  used by parking wardens. The terminals  18  are illustrated as being numbered from  1  through N. In the preferred embodiment, a payment terminal  12  sends parking data for each vehicle parked to all mobile terminals by sending a packet to a group address shared by the mobile terminals  18  as well as the central computer  16 . In this way, the payment terminal  12  controls the flow of data to the mobile terminals  18  and the central computer has no control over directing data transmission. For security purposes, the parking data is encrypted before transmission. 
     The central computer  16  also processes other transactions, such as credit card and bank card purchases handled via a bank link or gateway  20 . The public can inquire about parking status and citation status by a public access computer equipped with Internet capability and/or with DTMF responsive automated voice communications. The mobile terminals  18  have docking stations  28  for recharging batteries and for providing a continued wired link between the parking data being received by computer  16  and the mobile terminals  18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the method according to the preferred embodiment can be described as follows. For each payment for parking, a motorist goes to a payment terminal and enters vehicle identification data and either (a) a desired parking duration, (b) a desired parking end time, or (c) a desired amount of money to be paid. The vehicle identification data may be stored on a motorist&#39;s smart card or on a magnetic stripe card accepted by the terminal, in which case entering of the data each time a motorist parks is not required. The payment terminal accepts the data and the funds either by use of a coin or bill acceptor or by electronic payment. Electronic payment may be in the form of a credit or debit transaction, or electronic funds recorded on the smart card or the mag stripe card. In the case of a credit or debit transaction, the payment terminal may communicate with a financial institution transaction processing host to confirm the availability and transfer of funds. Such additional communication is shown in the steps of  FIG. 2 . The payment terminal then sends a data packet including the parking data with a group address so that the central computer and all portable terminals receive the parking data. This is shown in  FIG. 2  as two separate transmissions because, in the preferred embodiment, the payment terminal first transmits the parking data to the public wireless transmitter, which in turn relays the packet data to the central computer by land network for recording the vehicle status data in the central database and to all mobile terminals over the air waves. At this point, all mobiles and the central database have received the parking data created by the parking time purchase carried out at the parking payment terminal. If a mobile terminal does not acknowledge receipt of a packet, the packet is resent automatically by the public wireless transmitter. In the preferred embodiment, resent packets are sent by individual addressing instead of a group address. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , details of the payment terminal  12  according to the preferred embodiment will now be described. Terminal  12  has a vandalism resistant composite shell housing  40  including an upper access panel  30 , a touch screen  31 , a coin acceptor slot  32 , a smart card acceptor/dispenser slot  33 , a coin return/printer output slot  34 , and a lower service door  35 . Internally, there is provided a coin container  37 , an electrical entry  38 , and wireless communications electronics  41 . The base is equipped with an anchor  39  for securing the terminal  12  to the sidewalk. The access door  35  is key locked, and the escrow box  43  requires a separate key. For additional security, an identity smart card for identifying the service personnel must be inserted into the reader  33 ′ before opening the door  35  otherwise a wireless alarm message is sent. The service personnel will also be required to enter a personal security password. The system may also require authorization from the central computer  16  before access to the escrow coin box is permitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the payment terminal  12  has the following basic operating components. A computer controller  42  communicates by data connection to the touch video screen  31 , a smart card dispenser  33 , a smart card reader  33 ′, a printer  34 , a wireless modem  41 , and a coin acceptor  37 . The coins collected by the acceptor  37  are delivered into a coin escrow unit  43 . 
     As can be appreciated, in the case that a payment terminal works only with smart cards already programmed with license plate data and loaded with funds, a much smaller payment terminal may be provided which could be mounted to a building wall, a lamp post or to a former parking meter post. Such a compact terminal would contain the wireless modem  41 , the smart card reader  33 ′ and a much simpler display screen and key pad entry device. Such a terminal could be battery powered and powered up only during use. The only input required from the motorist would be parking time. Of course, if a motorist needed to load more funds onto a card, the full featured payment terminal  12  as illustrated would be used. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , each portable terminal  18  according to the preferred embodiment has an LCD touch sensitive keypad/display  51 , a wireless data modem  52 , a smart card reader  53 , a citation or ticket printer  54 , and a magnetic stripe card reader  55 . As can be appreciated, the terminal  18  is small, portable and hand held. External input/output devices are also provided, namely an audio headset  59  for receiving voice commands/data and relaying audio signals to the parking warden. A CCD video camera (not shown) may be connected at  56  for taking images of license plates, which can be analyzed to obtain license plate number data by OCR methods in the computer inside the terminal  18 . A bar code reader (not shown) may be connected at  57  for reading bar code stickers placed on the inside of windshields. A replaceable, rechargeable battery  58  provides the terminal  18  with sufficient power for operation during a normal inspection run. 
     For security purposes, the user interface of terminal  18  will only operate in the preferred embodiment when the parking warden inserts a personal identification smart card into the reader  53  and then enters a personal identification code using the key pad  51 . If the smart card is removed from the reader during normal use of the terminal  18 , the terminal is locked out. 
     The operation of receiving parking data packets via modem  52  from the public wireless network broadcasts takes place continuously in the background without interruption. In the preferred embodiment, the portable terminals  18  have a computer memory able to store data on all parked vehicles in a jurisdiction or geographical area. The parking warden enter a license plate number, using one of the keypad  51 , the microphone on the headset  59  or the camera connected to  56 , and the portable terminal return the information available on the vehicle. If no match is found for the vehicle, the closest matches in the database are returned. For each vehicle, the data retrieved and displayed on the LCD screen  51  is that contained in the database, namely the vehicle plate number, the time when parking was purchased, the duration, and the payment terminal used. The warden examines the data and decides whether a citation should be issued. In the case that a citation is issued, the portable terminal is used to prepare the citation by filling in extra data, as would normally be done with a manually prepared citation, such as vehicle location, vehicle color, make, model, and the exact nature of the parking violation. The latter is important since even vehicles having parking paid for may be found in special parking zones where there is a shorter parking limit, or a restriction to commercial vehicles only. 
     The portable terminal  18  also provides the parking warden with the ability to cancel or correct citations. If a motorist wishes to settle a citation on the spot, the portable terminal is equipped with both a smart card reader  53  and a swipe card reader  55  which may be used to accept funds from the motorist, the financial transaction being preferably immediately processed by wireless communication with the banking institutions via the central computer  16 . Whether a parking warden issues a citation, cancels a citation and/or settles a citation, the citation data can be stored for communication from the terminal  18  to the central computer  16  for audit and accounting purposes. If a parking warden issues a citation, and within a short grace period of five minutes or less, the motorist goes to a payment terminal  12  to pay for parking, the citation is automatically canceled, according to the preferred embodiment. This is the case since it is considered plausible that a motorist may be en route to a payment terminal when the parking warden checks the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, the citation is canceled, although a small surcharge of an extra amount, for example 25 cents, may be applied, especially if the time elapsed is close to the maximum grace period limit. The central computer may also keep a record of such automatically canceled citations and report any vehicle that regularly receives such citations, since this would be a sign of likely abuse by a motorist keeping watch on the vehicle while not having paid for parking. 
     As can be appreciated, the motorist could be requested to enter parking space identification data instead of vehicle identification data, and spaces could be checked instead of vehicles. In the preferred embodiment, vehicles are checked instead of curbside parking spaces, and vehicles may park anywhere within a curbside parking zone without needing to fit into a predetermined parking space. 
     The payment terminals in the preferred embodiment dispense and sell the parking smart cards. Storage of vehicle identification data in the cards is optional. The telecommunications system connecting the central computer to the payment terminals may be used to transmit video advertising data for display on the screens of the payment terminals when the terminals are not in use. A schedule for presenting advertising video may be provided for displaying ads at specific times of day or at a specific frequency. The schedules and video data can be updated as desired from the central computer. The payment terminals may print advertising on the receipts given to motorists, or the reverse side of the receipts may contain printed advertising. The central computer may send to the payment terminals parking tariff tables to change parking rates as desired, or to accommodate special events. 
     Although the invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the above description is intended merely to illustrate the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.