Electronic system for parking management and personal guidance

Abstract

A parking management and personal guidance system operates in conjunction with a reservation system which stores and manages reservation information in connection with prescheduled activities. Parking management is effected by accessing reservation information using personal identification information and identifying to the driver of a vehicle an available parking space which is near to the pedestrian exit of the parking facility which is closest to the prescheduled activity indicated in the reservation information. Personal guidance is also effected from the parking facility to the prescheduled activity, such as to an assigned seat, including guidance in-between, such as on public transportation. Theft prevention in the parking facility is also provided.

1 . A parking security system for preventing theft of a vehicle in a parking facility, having at least one vehicle entrance and at least one vehicle exit, using vehicle identification information stored in memory, comprising: 
 a terminal device, located at said vehicle entrance, for permitting input of personal identification information as part of a personal file;    a memory for storing personal files each including personal identification information input using said terminal device;    a first video camera positioned at said vehicle entrance so as to scan the license plate of a vehicle which is attempting to enter through said vehicle entrance for generating first license plate identifying information;    means, responsive to said first video camera and personal identification information input by said terminal located at said vehicle entrance, for storing said first license plate identifying information and said personal identification information in corresponding relation to each other in a personal file in said memory;    a second video camera positioned at said vehicle exit so as to scan the license plate of a vehicle which is attempting to leave through said vehicle exit for generating second license plate identifying information;    means, responsive to personal identification information input at said vehicle exit, for accessing a personal file in said memory based on said personal identification information input at said vehicle exit, retrieving from said personal file first license plate identifying information corresponding to said personal identification information input at said vehicle exit, and comparing said first license plate identifying information retrieved from said personal file and said second license plate identifying information scanned at said vehicle exit; and    means for indicating when said first license plate identifying information retrieved from said personal file and said second license plate identifying information scanned at said vehicle exit do not match.    
   
   
       2 . A parking security system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second video cameras are each connected to an optical character reader.