Patent ID: 7571628

Claim:
An electronic vehicle locking system, comprising: a vertical stanchion affixed to a solid surface at a lower end of the stanchion, wherein the stanchion includes (i) at least two elongated securing members, wherein a first securing member is attached at a first side of the stanchion and a second securing member is attached at a second side of the stanchion, wherein each of the elongated securing members are attached at one end thereof to the stanchion and having a first locking element at the other end thereof, and wherein each of the securing members are configured to be wrapped around a portion of a vehicle, and (ii) a plurality of second stanchion locking elements, each stanchion locking element configured to engage a respective first locking element of the at least two securing members wrapped around a portion of the vehicle, thereby securing a vehicle to the stanchion; and a housing affixed to the stanchion at an upper end of the stanchion, wherein the housing includes (i) a user input device configured to receive user input to engage or disengage the first and second locking elements; (ii) an electronic control device configured to, responsive the user input, authenticate a user as having authority to disengage the first and second locking elements, and thereby send a signal to engage or disengage the first and second locking elements based on a user authentication; and (iii) a display device configured to display at least an indication of whether the first and second locking elements are engaged or disengaged.