Parking meter communications for remote payment with updated display
AssigneeIps Group Inc.
InventorsDavid William KING, Chad P. RANDALL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A parking meter receives data indicative of a remote payment being completed and displays an amount of time purchased by the remote payment for a parking session. The parking meter determines an amount of time remaining in the parking session and powers down at least a portion of a meter communication subsystem subsequent to receiving the data indicative of the remote payment being completed. The parking meter wakes up the powered down portion of the communication subsystem upon determining that the amount of time remaining is below a threshold time, and can receive an indication of additional time being paid for remotely, and can update the displayed time remaining to reflect the additional time.
Claims21
-19. (canceled)
A meter device comprising:
- a) a clock;
- b) a visual indicator;
- c) a communication subsystem configured to provide two-way wireless communication;
- and
- d) a controller module in communication with the clock, the visual indicator, and the communication subsystem, the controller configured to perform at least the following:
- i. receive data indicative of a first payment being completed for an amount of time for a parking session;
- ii. monitor the clock to determine a first amount of time remaining in the parking session;
- iii. control the visual indicator to indicate the first amount of time remaining;
- iv. power down at least a portion of the communication subsystem subsequent to receiving the data indicative of the first payment being completed;
- v. periodically wake up the powered down portion of the communication subsystem;
- vi. receive data indicative of a second payment being completed remotely for additional time;
- and
- vii. control the visual indicator to update the indicated time remaining to reflect the additional time.
A method of operating a meter comprising a clock, a visual indicator, and a communication subsystem, the method comprising:
- a) receiving data indicative of a first payment being completed for an amount of time for a session;
- b) monitoring the clock to determine a first amount of time remaining in the session;
- c) controlling the visual indicator to indicate the first amount of time remaining;
- d) powering down at least a portion of the communication subsystem subsequent to receiving the data indicative of the first payment being completed;
- e) periodically waking up the powered down portion of the communication subsystem;
- f) receiving data indicative of a second payment being completed remotely for additional time;
- and
- g) controlling the visual indicator to update the indicated time remaining to reflect the additional time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.