# US 2014/0195279 A1 · Computer-Implemented System And Method For Providing Guest Parking Reservations

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- Number: US 2014/0195279 A1
- Document ID: US20140195279A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/203,519
- Filed: 2014-03-10
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-10-14
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation; Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
- Applicants: Xerox Corporation; Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
- Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik; Alan G. Bell; Craig Eldershaw; Lance E. Good; Daniel H. Greene; Francisco Eduardo Torres; Serdar Uckun; David Preston Cummins; Roger Phylos Hoover; Robert Thomas Krivacic
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195279A1

## CPC

- G07F 9/001: {Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices}
- G08G 1/142: {external to the vehicles}
- G06Q 10/02: Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
- G06Q 10/028: {for seating or spaces in a venue}
- G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083)
- G07B 15/02: taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems (G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24)
- G07F 17/0021: {Access to services on a time-basis}
- G08G 1/14: indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
- G08G 1/147: {where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre}
- G08G 1/148: {Management of a network of parking areas}
- G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management
- G06Q 10/025: {Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation}
- G06Q 50/265: {Personal security, identity or safety}
- G07B 15/00: Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points (handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00)
- G07F 17/246: {provided with vehicle proximity-detectors (detecting hidden masses, e.g. metal detectors, G01V, e.g. G01V3/00; proximity switches per se H03K17/00; traffic control systems G08G1/00)}
- G08B 25/12: Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements {emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure}
- H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for providing guest parking reservations are provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Use of one of the parking spaces for a guest of a resident of the area is reserved. A request for a reservation is accepted and that the resident is eligible to reserve the space is confirmed. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations in the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of the parking space by a vehicle is sensed through the nearest sensor. An identity of a motorist is verified through the nearest parking device. The use of the parking space is denied if not by the guest.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented system for providing guest parking reservations, comprising:
a server configured to manage a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area, the server comprising a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer executable program modules;
a plurality of smart parking devices interfacing to the server that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and
a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors interfacing to the server that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and
a reservation module executed by the server and configured to reserve use of one of the parking spaces for a guest of a resident of the residential area, comprising:
a request module configured to accept a request for a parking reservation, comprising a guest's identity, and confirming that the resident is eligible to reserve the requested parking space;
a grant module configured to grant the request provided the requested parking space is available over any other parking reservations stored in the server;
a management module executed by the server and configured to manage use of the reserved parking space, comprising:
a sensor module configured to sense occupancy of the requested parking space by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor;
a verification module configured to verify an identity of a motorist as the guest against the parking reservation through the nearest smart parking device; and
a denial module configured to deny the use of the reserved parking space if not by the guest.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:
an code module executed by the server and configured to associate a parking code with the reservation, which is provided to the resident, and to facilitate check-in to the reservation by receiving the parking code during the verification of the identity of a motorist;
an information module executed by the server and configured to associate information regarding the guest's identity with the reservation and to facilitate check-in to the reservation by matching the information during the verification of the identity of a motorist;
a record module executed by the server and configured to associate a physical digital record with the reservation, which is provided to the resident, and to facilitate check-in to the reservation by receiving a facsimile of the physical digital record through a user interface of the nearest smart parking device during the verification of the identity of a motorist; and
a ticket module executed by the server and configured to associate a digital ticket with the reservation, which is provided electronically to the resident, and to facilitate check-in to the reservation by receiving an electronic transmission of the digital ticket through the nearest smart parking device during the verification of the identity of a motorist.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, wherein the physical digital record comprises at least one of a barcode, QR code, and unique digital record.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, further comprising:
an additional guest module executed by the server and configured to reserve use of one or more of the parking spaces for one or more additional guests of the resident of the residential area; and
an additional guest reservation module executed by the server and configured to manage use of the parking spaces reserved for the additional guests using one or more of the parking code, the information, the physical digital record, and the digital ticket.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a contact module executed by the server and configured to contact the resident through the server while verifying the identity of the motorist, wherein the use of the reserved parking space is conditioned upon the resident confirming the motorist's identity as the guest.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a message module executed by the server and configured to convey a message from the motorist to the resident through the nearest smart parking device;
an acceptance module executed by the server and configured to accept a remote instruction from the resident through the server; and
an authentication module executed by the server and configured to authenticate the use of the reserved parking space by the motorist upon receipt of the remote instruction at the nearest smart parking device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of parking availability indicators interfacing to the server that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces;
an activation module executed by the server and configured to activate the parking availability indicators associated with the reserved parking space at the beginning of the time during which the reserved parking space is reserved for the guest;
an indication module executed by the server and configured to provide a visual indication through the smart parking device nearest to the reserved parking space upon the approach and at the request of the motorist; and
a navigation module executed by the server and configured to navigate the motorist to the reserved parking space through a device associated with the motorist through directions electronically received from the server.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A system according to claim 7, wherein the directions comprise at least one of a map and GPS coordinates of the reserved parking space.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A system according to claim 7, wherein the request of the motorist comprises at least one of a signal from the device associated with the motorist and a phone call from the motorist.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a hyperlink module executed by the server and configured to provide to the guest a hyperlink to a Web page comprising directions to the reserved parking space.

### Claim 11

A computer-implemented method for providing guest parking reservations, comprising:
managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area through a server, comprising:
interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and
interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and
reserving use of one of the parking spaces for a guest of a resident of the residential area, comprising:
accepting a request for a parking reservation, comprising a guest's identity, and confirming that the resident is eligible to reserve the requested parking space;
granting the request provided the requested parking space is available over any other parking reservations stored in the server;
managing use of the reserved parking space, comprising:
sensing occupancy of the requested parking space by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor;
verifying an identity of a motorist as the guest against the parking reservation through the nearest smart parking device; and
denying the use of the reserved parking space if not by the guest.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of:
associating a parking code with the reservation, which is provided to the resident, and facilitating check-in to the reservation by receiving the parking code during the verification of the identity of a motorist;
associating information regarding the guest's identity with the reservation and facilitating check-in to the reservation by matching the information during the verification of the identity of a motorist;
associating a physical digital record with the reservation, which is provided to the resident, and facilitating check-in to the reservation by receiving a facsimile of the physical digital record through a user interface of the nearest smart parking device during the verification of the identity of a motorist; and
associating a digital ticket with the reservation, which is provided electronically to the resident, and facilitating check-in to the reservation by receiving an electronic transmission of the digital ticket through the nearest smart parking device during the verification of the identity of a motorist.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A method according to claim 12, wherein the physical digital record comprises at least one of a barcode, QR code, and unique digital record.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A method according to claim 12, further comprising:
reserving use of one or more of the parking spaces for one or more additional guests of the resident of the residential area; and
managing use of the parking spaces reserved for the additional guests using one or more of the parking code, the information, the physical digital record, and the digital ticket.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, further comprising:
contacting the resident through the server while verifying the identity of the motorist, wherein the use of the reserved parking space is conditioned upon the resident confirming the motorist's identity as the guest.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, further comprising:
conveying a message from the motorist to the resident through the nearest smart parking device;
accepting a remote instruction from the resident through the server; and
authenticating the use of the reserved parking space by the motorist upon receipt of the remote instruction at the nearest smart parking device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, further comprising:
interfacing a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces;
activating the parking availability indicators associated with the reserved parking space at the beginning of the time during which the reserved parking space is reserved for the guest;
providing a visual indication through the smart parking device nearest to the reserved parking space upon the approach and at the request of the motorist; and
navigating the motorist to the reserved parking space through a device associated with the motorist through directions electronically received from the server.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A method according to claim 17, wherein the directions comprise at least one of a map and GPS coordinates of the reserved parking space.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

A method according to claim 17, wherein the request of the motorist comprises at least one of a signal from the device associated with the motorist and a phone call from the motorist.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, further comprising:
providing to the guest a hyperlink to a Web page comprising directions to the reserved parking space.