Remote parking meter auditing module

A remote parking meter monitoring system is provided. The system has a plurality of radio transceivers. Each transceiver communicates with at least one other transceiver within a transceiver communication region. The transceivers are integrated to parking meters. A separate aggregate point has a transceiver and a communication network that is connected to a computer. The aggregate point communicates with at least one proximal transceiver and communicates to the computer through the network. The system has a mesh communication arrangement, and a signal routing architecture, where the information is communicated along any path of adjacent communication regions. The computer is able to communicate information through the network to the aggregate point, and the aggregate point transceiver sends the information to the proximal transceiver. The information is communicated to any one of the transceivers in the mesh using the routing architecture by communicating the signal through any path between adjacent communication regions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to parking meter automation. More particularly, the invention relates to parking meter auditing and maintenance that is automated using a mesh network.

BACKGROUND

In the past, parking meters were audited by recording their functional status and counting the coins collected in each meter vault during coin collection runs. Because meter auditing is an error-prone and labor-intensive process, it is seldom performed. When an audit is performed, it rarely includes payment information on a specific meter. In fact, most parking auditing has only information related to gross earning data of several meters in a region, measured in city blocks for example, and spanning over periods as long as several weeks. As a result, coin theft, meter malfunctions, vandalism, and regulation compliance are often poorly managed because such events cannot be detected in a timely and accurate manner. The introduction of electronically auditable parking meters has partially addressed these problems by making it possible to record payment transaction, failure modes, and device status within the meter's internal memory. This information is then directly downloaded from each parking meter using a handheld device operated by meter service personnel. Depending on a parking management personnel budget, auditing intervals can range from once a week to once every several months.

To improve man-hour efficiency related to data meter information retrieval, some electronically auditable parking meters have been equipped with short-range infrared wireless interfaces that enable data to be downloaded without opening the meter housing. However, the data collection still requires personnel to be dispatched to the field, and the opportunity cost of delayed notification of meter malfunctions continues to take a significant toll on parking revenue. A trade-off still exists between timely detection of malfunctions versus the high labor costs of frequently sending personnel into the field to detect such malfunctions.

In an attempt to address meter malfunctions, parking meters have been equipped with a radio transceiver and cell phone communication devices, where the radio transceiver sends and receives fixed range beacon signals to an adjacent transceiver-equipped parking meter. In the event the meter does not hear back from an adjacent meter, a call through the cellular network is placed from the operative meter to report a non-communicative adjacent meter. A service personnel is then dispatched to find the if one parking meter has been damaged or removed, or if that the transceiver may be malfunctioning. Equipping each parking meter with a cellular communication device is known to be expensive and requires relatively high power demands, where it is desirable to have each meter operate for extended lengths of time without battery replacement or recharge. Additionally, it is found that for this system to be viable, it is necessary to have cellular communication with all of the parking meters, where it becomes prohibitively expensive and difficult in mountainous regions. Further, because the transceiver signal is a simple beacon signal, the transceivers can only determine if there is a beacon signal coming from an adjacent transceiver, thus having very limited utility with respect to the needs of comprehensive parking meter auditing.

Accordingly, there is a need to develop real-time remote parking meter auditing that automatically and remotely audits the meters with timely detection of malfunctions to provide dramatic labor savings. Unfortunately, current wireless systems are power-hungry, expensive, do not scale well as the number of devices in the network increases, are unreliable in urban environments, or have insufficient range. As a result, despite a myriad of wireless options, no parking meter system has a fully automated remote auditing system that can operate over extended periods under very low power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a remote parking meter monitoring system having a plurality of radio transceivers that transmit and receive information radio signals with at least one other transceiver within a communication region of the transceiver, where the transceivers are integrated to parking meters. The remote parking meter monitoring system further has an aggregate point that is removed from the parking meters, where the aggregate point has an aggregate point radio transceiver and a communication network connected to a computer. The aggregate point radio transceiver transmits and receives the information radio signals to at least one proximal parking meter transceiver within the communication region, and the aggregate point further communicates to the computer through the communication network. Additionally, the remote parking meter monitoring system has a mesh communication arrangement of the radio transceivers, and a signal routing architecture in the transceivers. One of the transceivers communicates the information to at least one other transceiver located within its communication region, where the information is communicated to the proximal transceiver along any path of adjacent communication regions across the mesh using the routing architecture. The information is communicated to the aggregate point transceiver and the aggregate point communicates the information to the computer through the network. The computer is able to communicate information through the network to the aggregate point, and the aggregate point transceiver sends the information to the proximal transceiver. The information is communicated to any one of the transceivers in the mesh using the routing architecture by communicating the signal through any path between adjacent communication regions.

In one aspect of the invention, the communication region includes a distance at least to one adjacent transceiver for low-power operation.

In another aspect, the parking meter has an analog to digital and digital to analog signal converter in its transceiver to translate digital information into radio waves and back to digital information on the receiving transceiver. Additionally, the aggregate point has an analog to digital and digital to analog signal converter for the same purpose.

In one aspect of the invention, the path can be a shortest path. And in another aspect, the path is a path of lowest power output from the transceivers.

In another aspect of the invention, the information between the transceivers and the aggregate point can include meter malfunction status, meter payment status, transceiver malfunction status, coin-drop notification, meter battery status, meter time and coin box collection notification.

In another aspect of the invention, the information communicated from the aggregate point to the transceivers can include a command to reset a meter, set meter time, set meter rate, add payment, subtract payment, reset meter audit information, request meter maintenance information and shutdown meter.

In another aspect of the invention, the mesh communication arrangement can be a multi-hopping linear arrangement or a multi-hopping grid arrangement.

In one aspect of the invention, the communication network can be a cellular network, a public switched telephone network, cable, DSL, WiFi, optic fiber, serial cable, or any general digital packet radio.

In another aspect of the invention, the radio transceiver is an infrared transceiver.

In another aspect of the invention, the transceiver power output is according to a distance to a closest operative transceiver. Further, the transceiver power output can be set by a command from the computer.

The invention further includes a method of remote monitoring of parking meters by providing a plurality of parking meters and providing a plurality of radio transceivers, where the radio transceiver transmits and receives information radio signals with at least one other transceiver within a communication region of the transceiver. The transceivers are integrated to the parking meters. The method of remote monitoring of parking meters further includes providing an aggregate point that is removed from the parking meter, providing an aggregate point radio transceiver attached to the aggregate point, providing a communication network attached to the aggregate point and providing a computer at a remote location. The communication network is connected to the computer, and the aggregate point radio transceiver transmits and receives the information radio signals to at least one proximal parking meter transceiver within the communication region, where the aggregate point communicates to the computer. The method of remote monitoring of parking meters further includes providing a mesh communication arrangement of the radio transceivers and providing a signal routing architecture between the transceivers, where one of the transceivers communicates the information to at least one other transceiver located within the region. The information is communicated to the proximal transceiver along any path of adjacent communication regions across the mesh and using the routing architecture, where the information is communicated to the aggregate point transceiver and the aggregate point communicates the information to the computer through the network. Additionally, the computer communicates information through the network to the aggregate point and the aggregate point transceiver sends the information to the proximal transceiver, where the information is communicated to any one of the transceivers in the mesh using the routing architecture by communicating the signal through any path between adjacent communication regions.

Some key advantages include very low power requirements and the ability to transfer date reliably across the mesh network. The low power allows the transceivers to share a battery with the parking meter without significantly reducing its lifetime. Another defining advantage of this invention is that the system does not require any wireless infrastructure. The network scales naturally as more transceivers are added because each one also functions as a wireless mesh network router. The diversity of routing paths in the mesh network provides many paths for a given piece of information to travel through the network, hence increasing the reliability of data delivery compared to other wireless networks. The diversity of routing paths is particularly important in urban environments using the low-power transceiver because the low-power signals are easily blocked by large objects such as trucks, buses, or temporary structures. The information must be able to route around the obstacle in order to achieve the data reliability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following exemplary details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

The current invention provides accurate and timely reporting of parking meter information in a simple module that can be upgraded in the field and may either be applied to existing parking meters, or be deployed with the installation of new parking meters. The invention enables parking management that can instantly detect meter malfunctions, be configured to actuate the meters in real-time, provide resetting of the meter when the meter malfunctions, or change the parking rate remotely, to name a few. With real-time remote auditing and remote actuation capability, meter downtime can be minimized, and significant labor savings can be realized.

The invention is a wireless mesh network transceiver, that functions similarity to an multiple internet routers connected in a peer-to-peer fashion. Information can travel from one mesh transceiver to another by passing through several other mesh transceivers which possess enough intelligence to route the information correctly toward the intended destination. The mesh transceiver is effectively the wireless communication infrastructure. The wireless mesh network is an ideal networking solution for parking meters because the consistent spacing of parking meters lends itself well to redundant mesh networks. The network can support other valuable applications by carrying data from a variety of other device types, delivering information related to locations of car crashes or gunshots, for example, or providing remote metering of electricity, gas and water systems. Because each device is a wireless router, the network expands naturally as more devices are added.

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1shows the parking meter monitoring system100according to one embodiment of the invention. Shown are a at least two electronic parking meters102having digital parking meter information104, where the parking meter has an internal power supply106, such as a battery. Further shown is a radio transceiver108integrated to the parking meters102, where the transceivers108transmit and receive information radio signals110with at least one other transceiver108having adjacent communication regions (seeFIG. 2) of the transceivers108. In one aspect of the invention, the radio transceiver102can be an infrared transceiver. Here the transceiver108is shown to be connected to the power supply106of the parking meter102. Also shown is a data converter112that converts digital parking meter information114to analog transceiver data116, and analog transceiver data116to digital parking meter data114. The transceiver108has an integrated routing architecture118. The remote parking meter monitoring system100further has an aggregate point120that is removed from the parking meters102, where the aggregate point120has an aggregate point radio transceiver122and a communication network124. The communication network124is connected to a computer126. The aggregate point radio transceiver122transmits and receives the information radio signals110with at least one proximal parking meter transceiver108within the communication region (seeFIG. 2), and the aggregate point120further communicates to the computer126through the communication network124. Additionally, the remote parking meter monitoring system100has a mesh communication arrangement of the radio transceivers (seeFIG. 2), for use with the signal routing architecture118in the transceivers108. One of the transceivers102communicates the information110with at least one transceiver102within the region (seeFIG. 2), where the information110is communicated along any path of adjacent communication regions across the mesh (seeFIG. 2), using the routing architecture118, to the transceiver102nearest the aggregate point120. The information110is communicated to the aggregate point transceiver122, where the aggregate point120communicates the information to the computer126through the network124. The computer126is able to communicate information110through the network124to the aggregate point120, and the aggregate point transceiver122sends the information110to the nearest transceiver108. The information is communicated to any one of the transceivers108in the mesh (seeFIG. 2) using the routing architecture118by communicating the signal through any path between adjacent communication regions (seeFIG. 2).

The information between the transceivers108and the aggregate point120can include meter malfunction status, meter payment status, transceiver malfunction status, coin-drop notification, meter battery status, meter time and coin box collection notification.

Further, the information communicated from the aggregate point120to the transceivers108can include a command to reset a meter, set meter time, set meter rate, add payment, subtract payment, reset meter audit information, request meter maintenance information and shutdown meter.

InFIGS. 2-4, to simplify the drawings, dashed circles represent communication regions of the transceivers108. Overlapping transmission regions represent a connected communication path between adjacent transceivers108. Therefore, it is understood that the transceivers108can communicate with each other when the circles are overlapping.

FIG. 2shows the mesh network200according to one embodiment of the invention, where shown is a multi-hopping grid arrangement. Each transceiver108integrated to the parking meter102has a communication region202, where the communication region202includes a distance at least to one adjacent transceiver102for low-power operation. As shown, the communication regions202can be in communication with multiple transceivers108, allowing for many possible paths for the information110to route through the mesh network200. In a circumstance that one or more of the transceivers108or parking meters102become inoperative or are destroyed, the transceivers108can be configured to expand the communication region202to communicate with another transceiver108further away than an adjacent transceiver108. In one embodiment of the invention, the communication network124can be a cellular network, a public switched telephone network, cable, DSL, WiFi, optic fiber, serial cable or any general digital packet radio.

In one embodiment of the invention,FIG. 3shows part of a mesh network200that is a linear mesh segment, such as a multi-hopping linear arrangement. Shown as an example, are five parking meters102in series {A, B, C, D, and E), where the transceiver108in position (B) is not operative. In this example, either the transceiver108in position (A) or the transceiver108in position (C) can increase the transmission region202to reconnect the mesh network200, where as shown inFIG. 3, the transceiver108in position (C) has increased its transmission power output to expand its transmission region202to span beyond the parking meter120in position (B) and communicate with the parking meter102in position (A). The increase in transmission power output can be done automatically by the transceivers108having a seek and find function incorporated there in, or the increase can be controlled using the computer126.

In one aspect, the transceivers108can have a feature that, automatically or by command from the computer126, reduces their transmission power output until no signal is found to determine a minimum transmission power requirement for communicating with adjacent transceivers108, as a power optimization feature. This aspect is also useful after inoperative transceivers108are made operative again.

In another embodiment of the invention,FIG. 4shows part of the mesh network200having a linear segment of parking meters102(A, B, C, and D) and an aggregate point120positioned away from the parking meters102. In this example, the transceiver102in position (D) is shown to be inoperative. In this embodiment, the aggregate point transceiver122increase its transmission power and expand its communication region202to reach the closest region202of an operative transceiver108. Similarly, but not shown, the transceiver108in position (C) could expand its communication region202to reach the aggregate point120.

According to the embodiments above, the communication path can be a shortest path, or it can be a path of lowest power output from the transceivers108, where the multi-hopping linear arrangement or a multi-hopping grid arrangement may be use in part, in tandem or in entirety.

The invention further includes a remote monitoring of parking meters method500as shown inFIG. 5. The method500includes providing a plurality of parking meters502and providing a plurality of radio transceivers504, where the radio transceiver transmits and receives information radio signals with at least one other transceiver within a communication region of the transceiver. The transceivers are integrated to the parking meters. The method of remote monitoring of parking meters further includes providing an aggregate point506that is removed from the parking meter, providing an aggregate point radio transceiver508attached to the aggregate point, providing a communication network510attached to the aggregate point and providing a computer512at a remote location. The communication network is connected to the computer, and the aggregate point radio transceiver transmits and receives the information radio signals to at least one proximal parking meter transceiver within the communication region, where the aggregate point communicates to the computer. The method of remote monitoring of parking meters500further includes providing a mesh communication arrangement514of the radio transceivers and providing a signal routing architecture516between the transceivers, where one of the transceivers communicates information to at least one other transceiver located within the region. The information is communicated to the proximal transceiver along any path of adjacent communication regions across the mesh and using the routing architecture, where the information is communicated to the aggregate point transceiver and the aggregate point communicates the information to the computer through the network. Additionally, the computer communicates information through the network to the aggregate point and the aggregate point transceiver sends the information to the proximal transceiver, where the information is communicated to any one of the transceivers in the mesh using the routing architecture by communicating the signal through any path between adjacent communication regions.

The present invention has now been described in accordance with several exemplary embodiments, which are intended to be illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. Thus, the present invention is capable of many variations in detailed implementation, which may be derived from the description contained herein by a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example the aggregate point may be combined in the parking meter in one embodiment. Additionally, the aggregate point may be combined with the computer in another embodiment. Further the aggregate point and the computer may be combined with the parking meter in yet another variation of the embodiments.

All such variations are considered to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.