# US 2014/0195313 A1 · Controlling Use of Parking Spaces Using Cameras and Smart Sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195313 A1 - Document ID: US20140195313A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/209,375 - Filed: 2014-03-13 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-06 - Assignees: Cloudparc, Inc. - Applicants: Cloudparc, Inc. - Inventors: Steven David Nerayoff; Thompson S. Wong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195313A1 ## CPC - G08G 1/0175: {by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules} - G06F 18/22: Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures - G06Q 20/02: involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP] - G06Q 20/145: {Payments according to the detected use or quantity} - G06Q 30/0284: {Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters} - G06Q 30/04: Billing or invoicing - G06Q 50/265: {Personal security, identity or safety} - G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083) - G06T 7/20: Analysis of motion (motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51) - G06T 7/292: Multi-camera tracking - G06T 7/70: Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) - G06T 7/73: using feature-based methods - G06T 7/90: Determination of colour characteristics - G06V 20/52: Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) - G06V 20/54: of traffic, e.g. cars on the road, trains or boats - G06V 20/56: exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle - G06V 20/593: {Recognising seat occupancy} - G06V 20/62: Text, e.g. of license plates, overlay texts or captions on TV images - G06V 30/224: of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks - G06V 40/23: {Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training} - 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) - 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) - G08G 1/00: Traffic control systems for road vehicles (arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 {; automatic vehicle control B62D}) - G08G 1/017: identifying vehicles (G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence) - G08G 1/052: with provision for determining speed or overspeed {(speed measuring in general G01P)} - G08G 1/056: with provision for distinguishing direction of travel - G08G 1/133: within the vehicle {; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops} - G08G 1/14: indicating individual free spaces in parking areas - G08G 1/142: {external to the vehicles} - G08G 1/144: {on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]} - G08G 1/148: {Management of a network of parking areas} - H04N 7/181: {for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources} - H04N 23/62: Control of parameters via user interfaces - H04N 23/66: Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices - H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums - G06T 2207/10004: Still image; Photographic image - G06T 2207/30236: Traffic on road, railway or crossing - G06T 2207/30264: Parking - G06V 20/625: {License plates} - G07F 17/24: for parking meters - G08G 1/143: {inside the vehicles} - G08G 1/146: {where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space} - H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast - H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming - 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}) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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 - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - 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}) ## Abstract Tracking use of a destination location is disclosed. A first unique identifier of a first vehicle is received based on a sensor located within the first vehicle. A first location of the first vehicle is determined based on a first vehicle image taken at a second time. A second location of the first vehicle is determined based on a second vehicle image taken at a third time. Finally, it is indicated that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the second time and that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the third time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of tracking use of a destination location, the method comprising: receiving, at a first time, a first unique identifier of a first vehicle based on a sensor located within the first vehicle; receiving, at a second time, a first vehicle image, the first vehicle image showing the first vehicle; determining, based on the first vehicle image, a first location of the first vehicle at the second time; receiving, at a third time, a second vehicle image, the third time being after the second time, and the second vehicle image showing the first vehicle; determining, based on the second vehicle image, a second location of the first vehicle at the third time; determining, based on the first location of the first vehicle, that the first vehicle is occupying the destination location at the second time; determining, based on the second location of the first vehicle, that the first vehicle has left the destination location at the third time; indicating the first unique identifier of the first vehicle; indicating that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the second time; and indicating that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the third time, wherein the steps of receiving, determining, and indicating are performed by one or more processors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the second time, the first location of the first vehicle based on a sensor located within the first vehicle; and receiving, at the third time, the second location of the first vehicle based on the sensor located within the first vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor located within the first vehicle is in communication with a Global Positioning System receiver, and the first location and the second location of the first vehicle are received by the sensor from the Global Positioning System receiver. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the first location of the first vehicle based on the sensor located within the first vehicle comprises receiving the first location of the first vehicle from the sensor located within the first vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first unique identifier of the first vehicle based on the sensor located within the first vehicle comprises receiving the first unique identifier of the first vehicle from the sensor located within the first vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor located within the first vehicle is in communication with other sensors located within other vehicles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the first unique identifier of the first vehicle based on the sensor located within the first vehicle comprises receiving the first unique identifier of the first vehicle based on a status of the first vehicle sensed by at least one of the other sensors located within the other vehicles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor located within the first vehicle and the other sensors located within the other vehicles form a short range wireless mesh network between the vehicles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the first unique identifier of the first vehicle based on the sensor located within the first vehicle comprises receiving the first unique identifier of the first vehicle from the other sensors located in the other vehicles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor located within the first vehicle is configured to communicate with parking equipment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the first vehicle image, a second unique identifier of the first vehicle, the second unique identifier being different from the first unique identifier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second time is the same as the first time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second time is after the first time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first unique identifier of the first vehicle based on the sensor located within the first vehicle comprises receiving, via a cellular data connection, the first unique identifier of the first vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the second time, a first dynamic characteristic of the first vehicle based on the sensor located with the first vehicle; and receiving, at the third time, a second dynamic characteristic of the first vehicle based on the sensor located with the first vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first dynamic characteristic is an indication that that the first vehicle is stopped, and the second dynamic characteristic is an indication that the first vehicle is moving. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a first characteristic of the first vehicle based on the first vehicle image; determining a second characteristic of the first vehicle based on the second vehicle image; comparing the second characteristic to the first characteristic; and determining that the first vehicle is present in the second vehicle image in response to a match between the second characteristic and the first characteristic. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic of the first vehicle are static characteristics, the static characteristics being one or more of a vehicle make, a vehicle model, a vehicle year, a vehicle color, a vehicle outline, a vehicle size, and a vehicle dimension. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a dynamic characteristic of the first vehicle based on the first vehicle image, the dynamic characteristic being one or more of a vehicle speed of travel, a lane identifier, and a vehicle direction of travel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a description of one or more restrictions for use of the destination location; determining that the use of the destination location by the first vehicle from the second time to the third time violates at least one of the one or more restrictions; and indicating the at least one of the one or more restrictions violated by the first vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein indicating the at least one of the one or more restrictions violated by the first vehicle comprises: automatically identifying a mailing address associated with the first vehicle without user interaction; and automatically generating a citation requesting payment of a fee associated with the at least one of the one or more restrictions without user interaction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein indicating the at least one of the one or more restrictions violated by the first vehicle comprises: identifying an enforcement officer to issue a citation for the first vehicle based on the location of the destination location; and notifying the identified enforcement officer that the first vehicle is at the destination location. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a cost for the first vehicle to occupy the destination location from the second time to the third time; and charging the cost to an account associated with the first vehicle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a cost for the first vehicle to occupy the destination location from the second time to the third time; and receiving payment for the cost from the sensor located within the first vehicle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a cost for the first vehicle to occupy the destination location from the second time to the third time; and receiving payment information for the cost from a third-party pay-by-phone parking payment system, the third-party pay-by-phone parking payment system being in communication with the sensor located within the first vehicle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving the first vehicle image comprises receiving the first vehicle image from a first camera having a first field of view; and receiving the second vehicle image comprises receiving the second vehicle image from the first camera having the first field of view. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving the first vehicle image comprises receiving the first vehicle image from a first camera having a first field of view; and receiving the second vehicle image comprises receiving the second vehicle image from a second camera having a second field of view, the second field of viewing being different from the first field of view, and partially overlapping with the first field of view. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the destination location is a multi-vehicle destination location comprising a plurality of directly adjacent destination locations. ### Claim 29 A system for tracking use of a destination location, the system comprising one or more processors connected to at least one storage device, the system being configured to: receive, at a first time, a first unique identifier of a first vehicle based on a sensor located within the first vehicle; receive, at a second time, a first vehicle image, the first vehicle image showing the first vehicle; determine, based on the first vehicle image, a first location of the first vehicle at the second time; receive, at a third time, a second vehicle image, the third time being after the second time, and the second vehicle image showing the first vehicle; determine, based on the second vehicle image, a second location of the first vehicle at the third time; determine, based on the first location of the first vehicle, that the first vehicle is occupying the destination location at the second time; determine, based on the second location of the first vehicle, that the first vehicle has left the destination location at the third time; indicate the first unique identifier of the first vehicle; indicate that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the second time; and indicate that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the third time. ### Claim 30 A storage device storing a computer program for tracking use of a destination location, the computer program comprising one or more code segments that, when executed, cause one or more processors to: receive, at a first time, a first unique identifier of a first vehicle based on a sensor located within the first vehicle; receive, at a second time, a first vehicle image, the first vehicle image showing the first vehicle; determine, based on the first vehicle image, a first location of the first vehicle at the second time; receive, at a third time, a second vehicle image, the third time being after the second time, and the second vehicle image showing the first vehicle; determine, based on the second vehicle image, a second location of the first vehicle at the third time; determine, based on the first location of the first vehicle, that the first vehicle is occupying the destination location at the second time; determine, based on the second location of the first vehicle, that the first vehicle has left the destination location at the third time; indicate the first unique identifier of the first vehicle; indicate that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the second time; and indicate that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the third time.