Automated vehicle parking system for a plurality of remote parking facilities

Abstract

An automated vehicle parking system for a plurality of remote parking facilities that communicates with a vehicle approaching or leaving the remote facility with RF signals, or the like, that identifies the vehicle and sends the vehicle identification number, time of day, and lane number to a first computer at the remote facility for calculating the parking cost of a given vehicle based on rates for said given individual vehicle stored in the first computer of each of the plurality of remote parking facilities and having a central computer coupled to each remote facility for providing a single bill to a user of several remote facilities and advising each remote facility first computer of the total fees due for all users of that remote facility during specified periods.

I claim:  
     
       1. An automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having controlled entrance lanes and controlled exit lanes, the system including: 
       a vehicle detection device with each of the remote parking facilities for detecting a vehicle as the vehicle approaches the facility entrance lane;  
       a lane controller system with each of the remote parking facilities coupled to the vehicle detection device for identifying the vehicle and generating a recognition signal;  
       a computer database with each of the remote parking facilities for storing parking information concerning all vehicles that use the automated system;  
       a first computer associated with each of the remote parking facilities and coupled to the lane controller and the database for receiving the recognition signal and generating appropriate parking response signals from the database to the lane controller system, said first computer calculating a parking fee for each vehicle;  
       a central facility; and  
       a communication system including a second computer in said central facility coupled to the first computer to enable the second computer to communicate with said first computer at each of the remote parking facilities and to periodically calculate a single parking fee statement for a given vehicle whether parked at one or more of the plurality of remote parking facilities and to advise each remote facility first computer of the total fees due to that remote facility for each vehicle during specified periods.  
     
     
       2. An automated vehicle parking system as in  claim 1  wherein the vehicle detection device at each remote parking facility includes a magnetic loop detector that detects an approaching vehicle and identifies the lane number of the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. An automated vehicle parking system as in  claim 1  wherein the lane controller system at each remote parking facility includes: 
       a sensor for transmitting an interrogation signal to the approaching vehicle;  
       a tag associated with the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signal and returning a vehicle identification signal to the sensor; and  
       a lane controller processor coupled to the sensor and the vehicle detection device, said lane controller processor activating the sensor upon receipt of a signal representing a detected vehicle, receiving the vehicle identification number from the sensor, and passing the valid vehicle identification number, the lane number, and the time of day to the first computer.  
     
     
       4. An automated parking system as in  claim 3  wherein the first computer database at each remote parking facility includes data representing: 
       status of each vehicle tag identification number;  
       rate schedule for each vehicle tag identification;  
       entrance time and date;  
       exit time and date;  
       parking duration interval;  
       maximum and minimum parking duration intervals;  
       parking facility identification; and  
       home parking facility identification.  
     
     
       5. An automated vehicle parking system as in  claim 4  further comprising an accounting module associated with each of the remote parking facilities and coupled to the first computer and database, the accounting module including: 
       an accounts receivable submodule for each of the vehicle tags for storing costs and generating periodic billing statements for parking of each identified vehicle;  
       a rates definition table submodule for defining parameters for a rate calculation algorithm including parking rates for each identified vehicle; and  
       a rate calculation submodule identifying rate schedules for each vehicle transponder account and calculating costs with the rate calculation algorithm based upon appropriate rates and parking times.  
     
     
       6. An automated vehicle parking system as in  claim 5  further including: 
       a data report module at each remote parking facility for generating reports showing parking activity by time of day, length of stay, cost, and the like;  
       a customer maintenance file at each remote parking facility including address, billing information, and vehicle information; and  
       a parking administration submodule at each remote parking facility for transmitting appropriate parking response signals to the lane controller modules for deactivating lanes, displaying cost, printing invoices, and the like.  
     
     
       7. An automated vehicle parking system as in  claim 1  wherein said second computer credits each remote parking facility with its appropriate fees for parker use thereof. 
     
     
       8. An automated vehicle parking system as in  claim 1  wherein said second computer advises each remote parking facility of its share of fees due from individual users. 
     
     
       9. An automated vehicle parking system including a plurality of remote parking facilities each of which has an entrance and an exit, the system including: 
       a vehicle detector at each remote parking facility for generating a detector signal when a vehicle approaches the entrance to the facility;  
       a lane controller coupled to the detector at each remote parking facility for receiving the detector signal and generating an identification request signal;  
       a sensor at the entrance of each remote parking facility and coupled to the lane controller for transmitting the identification request as an RF signal to the detected vehicle;  
       a transponder in the vehicle for responding to the transmitted sensor identification request signal by returning an identification code to the sensor;  
       said lane controller receiving the identification code from the sensor, generating the time of day, and a signal representing the lane number;  
       a first computer at each remote parking facility that is coupled to the lane controller for receiving the vehicle identification code, the time of day, and lane number and generating an appropriate response to the lane controller, the lane controller automatically admitting the vehicle to the parking facility, or denying the vehicle admittance in accordance with the response from the first computer, said first computer calculating a parking fee for each vehicle using the facility; and  
       a second centralized computer coupled to the first computer at each of the remote parking facilities for communicating with each of the first computers and preparing a single periodic parking fee statement for each vehicle that uses one or more of the remote parking facilities.  
     
     
       10. An automatic vehicle parking system as in  claim 9  wherein said second computer credits each remote parking facility with its appropriate fees for parker use thereof. 
     
     
       11. An automatic vehicle parking system as in  claim 9  wherein said second computer advises each remote parking facility of its share of fees due from individual users. 
     
     
       12. A method for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each having at least one controlled entrance lane and at least one controlled exit lane, the method comprising the steps of: 
       generating a vehicle detection signal at each of the plurality of remote parking facilities with a detection device when a vehicle approaches the remote parking facility entrance;  
       identifying vehicles authorized to use the remote parking facility with a lane controller system and generating an authorization signal;  
       storing parking information in a first computer database concerning the vehicles authorized to the use the remote parking facility;  
       generating appropriate parking responses to the lane controller system upon receiving the authorization signal; and  
       communicating with the database of the first computer in each of the remote parking facilities with a central computer and compiling a single parking fee statement with the central computer for a user of one or more of the remote parking facilities.  
     
     
       13. A method as in  claim 12  further comprising the step of detecting an approaching vehicle at each of the remote parking facilities and identifying the lane number of the vehicle with a magnetic loop detector. 
     
     
       14. A method as in  claim 13  further comprising the steps of: 
       coupling a sensor to the vehicle detection system for transmitting an interrogation signal to the approaching vehicle;  
       associating a transponder with the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signal and returning a vehicle identification signal to the sensor; and  
       storing data representing current vehicle transponder identification signals and time of day in a lane controller processor and passing the vehicle identification number, the lane number, and the time of day to the first computer.  
     
     
       15. The method as in  claim 14  further comprising the step of using said central computer to advise each remote facility computer of the total fees due the corresponding remote facility for all users of the respective remote facility during specified periods. 
     
     
       16. In an automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having controlled entrance and exit lanes, a system comprising: 
       
         a communication system including a central computer at a central facility and coupled to remote computers that are associated with each of the remote parking facilities to enable the central computer to communicate with the remote computers,  
       
       
         wherein the remote computers automatically receive vehicle recognition signals from lane controller systems and generate appropriate parking response signals including a parking fee for each vehicle, and wherein the central computer receives the vehicle recognition and parking fee signals from each remote computer and periodically calculates a single parking fee statement for each vehicle whether parked at one or more of the plurality of remote parking facilities and to advise each remote facility remote computer of the total fees due to that remote facility for each vehicle during specified periods.  
       
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16  wherein each remote parking facility includes a sensor for transmitting an interrogation signal to the approaching vehicle, a tag associated with the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signal and returning a vehicle identification number to the sensor, and wherein the central computer receives the vehicle recognition signals from the remote computers where the vehicle recognition signals are associated with the vehicle identification number from the sensor, and include a time of day.  
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16  wherein the central computer is configured to credit each remote parking facility with its appropriate fees for each vehicle's use thereof.  
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16  wherein the central computer is configured to advise each remote parking facility of its share of fees due from individual users.  
     
     
       20. An automated vehicle system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each parking facility having controlled entrance and exit lanes, one of the plurality of remote parking facilities having a system comprising: 
       
         a lane controller system for identifying a vehicle at the remote parking facility and generating a recognition signal;  
       
       
         a computer database for storing information concerning vehicles that use the remote parking facility;  
       
       
         a first computer associated with the remote parking facility and coupled to the lane controller and the database for receiving the recognition signal and generating appropriate response signals from the database to the lane controller system, the first computer calculating a parking fee related signal for each recognized vehicle; and wherein the first computer is coupled to and provides the recognition signals and parking fee related signals to a central computer, wherein the central computer, in response thereto, periodically calculates a single fee statement for a given vehicle whether at one or more of the plurality of remote parking facilities.  
       
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20  wherein the recognition signals are identification signals associated with each recognized vehicle, wherein the recognition and response signals are stored in a database associated with each first computer, and wherein the central computer is configured to advise each remote facility first computer of the total parking fees due to that remote parking facility for each vehicle during specified periods.  
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 20  wherein the central computer is configured to credit the remote parking facility with its appropriate parking fees for each vehicle's use thereof.  
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 20  wherein the central computer is configured to advise each remote location of its share of parking fees due from individual users.  
     
     
       24. In an automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having at least one controlled entrance and exit, an apparatus comprising: 
       
         a central computer coupled to receive signals from remote computers that are associated with each of the remote parking facilities, wherein the remote computers automatically receive recognition signals and generate appropriate parking response signals including a signal related to a parking fee, and  
       
       
         wherein the central computer is configured to receive the recognition and parking fee signals from each remote computer and to calculate parking fee statements for each vehicle whether parked at one or more of the plurality of remote parking facilities.  
       
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the each remote parking facility includes a sensor for transmitting an interrogation signal to the approaching vehicle, a tag associated with the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signal and returning a vehicle identification number to the sensor, and wherein the central computer receives the vehicle recognition signals from the remote computers where the vehicle recognition signals are associated with the vehicle identification number from the sensor, and including a time of day.  
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the recognition signals are for each vehicle, wherein the parking fees are for each vehicle, wherein the recognition and parking response signals are stored in a database associated with each remote computer, and wherein the central computer is configured to advise each remote facility remote computer of the total fees due to that remote facility for each vehicle during specified periods.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the central computer is configured to credit each remote parking facility with its appropriate fees for vehicle's use thereof.  
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the central computer is configured to advise each remote parking facility of its share of fees due from individual users.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein each remote parking facility includes a sensor for transmitting an interrogation signal to the approaching vehicle, a tag associated with the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signal and returning a vehicle identification number to the sensor, wherein the recognition and parking response signals are stored in a database associated with each remote computer, and wherein the remote computer database at each remote parking facility further includes parking data representing: 
       
         status of each vehicle tag identification number;  
       
       
         rate schedule for each vehicle tag identification;  
       
       
         entrance time and date;  
       
       
         exit time and date;  
       
       
         parking duration interval;  
       
       
         maximum and minimum parking duration intervals;  
       
       
         parking facility identification; and  
       
       
         home parking facility identification, and wherein the central computer is configured to receive at least some of the parking data.  
       
     
     
       30. In an automated vehicle system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote locations, each location having controlled entrance and exit, a system comprising: 
       
         a lane controller with each of the remote locations for identifying a vehicle and generating a recognition signal;  
       
       
         a computer database with each of the remote locations for storing information concerning all vehicles that use the automated system;  
       
       
         a remote computer associated with each of the remote locations and coupled to the lane controller and the database for receiving the recognition signal and generating appropriate response signals from the database to the lane controller, the first computer calculating a fee for each vehicle; and wherein the first computer at each remote location is coupled to and provides recognition signals to a central computer, wherein the central computer, in response thereto, periodically calculates a single fee statement for a given vehicle whether at one or more of the plurality of remote locations.  
       
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 30  wherein the recognition signals are identification signals associated with each vehicle, wherein the fees are parking fees for each identified vehicle, wherein the recognition and response signals are stored in a database associated with each remote computer, and wherein the central computer is configured to advise each remote facility remote computer of the total parking fees due to that remote facility for each vehicle during specified periods.  
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 30  wherein the central computer is configured to credit each remote location with its appropriate parking fees for vehicle's use thereof.  
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 30  wherein the central computer is configured to advise each remote location of its share of parking fees due from individual users.  
     
     
       34. A method for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each having at least one controlled entrance and exit lane, the method comprising: 
       
         communicating between a remote computer in each of the remote parking facilities and a central computer and receiving parking information from the remote computer, wherein the parking information concerns and identifies a parking user authorized to use the remote parking facility; and  
       
       
         compiling a single parking fee statement with the central computer for a user of one or more of the remote parking facilities based on the received parking information.  
       
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34  wherein the received parking information includes a vehicle identification signal for a vehicle tag transponder associated with each vehicle and wherein the vehicle transponder is interrogated to receive the vehicle identification signal, and wherein the method includes: 
       
         storing data representing current vehicle identification signals, time of day, day of week and lane number.  
       
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 34 , further comprising using the central computer to advise each remote facility computer of the total fees due the corresponding remote facility for all users of the respective remote facility during specified periods.  
     
     
       37. In an automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having at least one controlled entrance and exit, a computer-readable medium providing instructions, when implemented by a computer, perform a method comprising: 
       
         under control of a central computer, receiving parking information from a remote computer in each of the remote parking facilities, wherein the parking information concerns and identifies a vehicle authorized to use the remote parking facility; and  
       
       
         under control of the central computer, compiling a single parking fee statement for a user of one or more of the remote parking facilities based on the received parking information.  
       
     
     
       38. The computer- readable medium of    claim 37    wherein the received parking information includes a vehicle identification signal for a vehicle tag transponder associated with each vehicle and wherein the vehicle transponder is interrogated to receive the vehicle identification signal.    
     
     
       39. In an automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having at least one controlled entrance and exit, a computer- readable medium storing data for use by a computer comprising:    
       
         vehicle identification provided to a central computer by a remote computer associated with each remote parking facility;  
       
       
         parking data provided to the central computer by the remote computer associated with each remote parking facility, wherein the parking data is for the remote parking facilities and associated with each vehicle identification number, and  
       
       
         wherein the central computer can compute single parking fee statements for users of one or more of the remote parking facilities based on the vehicle identifications and the parking data.  
       
     
     
       40. The computer- readable medium of    claim 39    wherein the vehicle identifications are produced based on a vehicle tag transponder associated with each vehicle and wherein the vehicle transponder is interrogated to receive the vehicle identification.    
     
     
       41. In an automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having at least one controlled entrance and exit, a transmitted data signal for use by a computer, comprising: 
       
         vehicle identifications provided to a central computer by a remote computer associated with each remote parking facility;  
       
       
         parking data provided to the central computer by the remote computer associated with each remote parking facility, wherein the parking data is for the remote parking facilities and associated with each vehicle identification number, and  
       
       
         wherein the central computer can compute single parking fee statements for users of one or more of the remote parking facilities based on the vehicle identifications and the parking data.  
       
     
     
       42. The transmitted data signal of  claim 41  wherein the vehicle identifications are produced based on a vehicle tag transponder associated with each vehicle and wherein the vehicle transponder is interrogated to receive the vehicle identification.  
     
     
       43. A method for revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, the method comprising: 
       
         communicating from a remote computer in each of the remote parking facilities to a central computer and receiving parking information from the remote computer, wherein the parking information concerns and identifies a user authorized to access the remote parking facility; and  
       
       
         compiling a single parking fee statement with the central computer for a user of one or more of the remote parking facilities based on the received parking information.  
       
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 43  wherein the received parking information includes a vehicle identification signal for a vehicle tag transponder associated with each vehicle and wherein the vehicle transponder is interrogated at each of the plurality of remote parking facilities to receive the vehicle identification signal, and wherein the method further includes: 
       
         storing data representing current vehicle identification signals, time of day, and day of week.  
       
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 43  wherein the plurality of parking facilities include first and second remote parking facilities owned by respective first and second entities, and wherein the method includes providing separated statements to the first and second entities.  
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 43 , further comprising using the central computer to advise each remote facility computer of the total fees due the corresponding remote facility for all users of the respective remote facility during specified period.