Method and apparatus for parking lot metering
AssigneeLiberty PlugIns, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Gibbens Redmann, Chris Outwater
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for parking lot metering. The present invention allows multi-space meters to separately manage and control premium parking spaces, such as those for charging electric vehicles or those which supply electric power for engine block heaters in both pay-by-space and pay-an-display systems. Such premium spaces can be managed together over large areas (e.g., a city or region), or may be managed over smaller areas (e.g., the domain of an individual kiosk), or individually per parking space. Management includes pricing, time limits, hours, seasons of operation, and restrictions by vehicle type, and alternative pricing and restrictions for non-premium hours.
Claims18
A multi-space parking metering process to support remotely controlling electric vehicle (EV) charging devices located among multiple parking spaces, the process comprising:
- a) automatically receiving, by a controller of a parking management system, for parking in a first parking space managed by the system, the first parking space associated with a EV charging first device, the controller having communication with the first device, the first parking request comprising a first identifier, the first identifier associated with the first device;
- b) based on at least the first parking request, automatically both enabling, by the controller, the first device and recording, by the controller, in a memory of the system having communication with the controller, a first data associated with the first identifier, the first data representative of a first time of expiration;
- c) automatically receiving, by the controller, a second parking request for parking in a second parking space managed by the system, the second parking space associated with no EV charging device, the second parking request comprising a second identifier associated with the second parking space;
- and,
- d) based on at least the second parking request, automatically recording, by the controller, in the memory, a second data associated with the second parking space, the second data representative of a second time of expiration.
A multi-space parking meter system for remote control of electric vehicle (EV) charging devices located among multiple parking spaces served by the system, the system comprising:
- a controller, the controller to meter and control a plurality of parking spaces, the plurality comprising a first parking space having an EV charging first device and a second parking space having no EV charging device;
- a communication channel configured to provide parking requests to the controller;
- a signal channel configured to provide communication between the controller and the first device;
- and,
- a memory with which the controller has communication;
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- a) accept a first parking request comprising at least a first identifier associated with the first device;
- b) on the basis of at least the first request both enable, with the signal channel, the first device and record, in the memory, a first data associated with the first device, the first data representative of a first time of expiration;
- c) accept a second parking request comprising at least a second identifier associated with the second parking space;
- and,
- d) on the basis of at least the second request, record, in the memory, a second data associated with the second parking space, the second data representative of a second time of expiration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.