Automatic parking station system for cycles and bicycles

Abstract

An automatic parking station for cycles or bicycles, including an interactive workstation and a plurality of parking posts. Each parking post includes a first lock portion for securing a cycle or bicycle thereto through a removable second lock portion on the cycle or bicycle. The parking posts are connected to the interactive workstation through a local communication network to allow exchange of commands between the interactive workstation and the parking posts. Each parking post including code reading means for reading a cycle/bicycle code univocally identifying a cycle or bicycle and stored in a memory medium, so that the cycle/bicycle can be identified by the interactive workstation. The station accepts the bicycles and cycles of private users and rental companies.

1 . A method for allowing use of cycle/bicycle parking stations to both private users and rental companies owning cycles or bicycles, comprising the steps of:
 issuing a unique cycle/bicycle code for each cycle and bicycle;   storing owner identification data associated with the cycle/bicycle code;   providing locking means comprising a first lock portion and a second lock portion;   fixing a memory medium in which the cycle/bicycle code is stored in a second lock portion of a locking mechanism;   fixing the second lock portion to a cycle or bicycle of an owner, the owner being either a private user or a rental company;   providing a first lock portion on a parking post;   and providing an automatic parking station system with a central server connected to a plurality of automatic parking stations via a station communication network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of, at said automatic parking station;
 validating a user;   checking whether the user selects to pick up or drop off a cycle/bicycle;   if the user selects to pick up a cycle/bicycle, checking whether the automatic parking station comprises parking posts having their first lock mechanism in the locked state and, if so, sending an unlock command message to one of such parking posts;   if the user selects to drop a cycle/bicycle off, receiving a locking status message from the parking post where the cycle/bicycle has been dropped off.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the steps of:
 if there are no parking posts or cycles/bicycles available at the automatic parking station, at said automatic parking station sending a request to the central server for available parking posts or cycles/bicycles an receiving a corresponding response;   at said automatic parking station, displaying the location of the parking posts or the parked cycles/bicycles to the user and wait for a section by the user;   upon said selection, at said automatic parking station sending a booking request for the selected parking post or parked cycle/bicycle to the central server;   keeping the first lock portion of the selected parking post in the unlocked state or in the locked state for a predetermined time span.