System and method for facilitating access and payments to a parking facility

A computer-implemented method for facilitating access and payments to a parking facility, the method consisting of:

• providing a parking facility having a parking area for parking a vehicle;
• providing a software application operable on a mobile communication device;
• registering a user through the software application, the registration including providing contact information, vehicle type, payment preferences, and a password;
• inputting personal and financial information through the software application;
• communicating the personal and financial information from the software application to a parking facility server, the parking facility server storing the personal and financial information;
• providing a payment server, the payment server being in communication with the parking facility server;
• generating an electronic ticket or a radio frequency identification, the electronic ticket and the radio frequency identification corresponding to the personal and financial information;
• displaying the electronic ticket and the radio frequency identification on the mobile communication device, or the vehicle, or both;
• providing a gate controller to regulate access to the parking area, the gate controller comprising a gate, the gate controller being in communication with the parking facility server, the gate controller being operatively connected to a reader, the reader being operable to read the electronic ticket and the radio frequency identification;
• reading directly, with the reader, the electronic ticket or the radio frequency identification through the mobile communication device or the vehicle;
• relaying, by the gate controller, the personal and financial information to the parking facility server;
• authorizing, by the parking facility server, passage of the vehicle to and from the parking area, whereby the gate controller actuates a gate to enable passage;
• processing, with the payment server, a payment for the duration in the parking area, the payment based at least partially on the duration that the vehicle is in the parking area and actuation of the gate by the gate controller;
• and
• displaying, by the software application, a historical archive of prior parking payments and parking durations.

A computer-implemented system for facilitating access and payments to a parking facility, the system comprising:

• a parking facility comprising a parking area for a vehicle;
• a mobile communication device comprising a software application, the software application enabling the input of personal and financial information;
• a parking facility server in communication with the software application and the parking facility, the parking facility server storing the personal and financial information of the user;
• an electronic ticket or a radio frequency identification corresponding to the personal and financial information, the electronic ticket and the radio frequency identification displayable on the mobile communication device, or the vehicle, or both;
• a gate controller regulating a gate for access to the parking area, the gate controller being in communication with the mobile communication and radio frequency identification device and the parking facility server, the gate controller comprising a reader for directly reading the electronic ticket and the radio frequency identification, whereby the parking facility server verifies the personal and financial information;
• and
• a payment server in communication with the gate controller and the parking facility server, the payment server authenticating and processing payment for the user for use of the parking facility, whereby the duration in the parking area determines the payment amount.