Patent ID: RE43245

Claim:
An urban parking system comprising: a wireless network covering a large local geographic area; a large number of payment terminals provided in said area each located near a plurality of parking spaces, each said payment terminal comprising data collection means for gathering parking data from a motorist, said parking data including at least one of vehicle identification data and parking space identification data; communication means for transferring said parking data from said data collection means to said wireless network in response to payment being made at said payment terminals; a plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area, said portable terminals including wireless communication means, a memory for storing said parking data, and a user interface means; and broadcast means associated with said wireless network for transmitting said parking data substantially upon receipt from said communication means simultaneously to said plurality of portable terminals in said area; wherein said plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area receives said parking data continuously from the broadcast means in the background without interruption.