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US 7,783,530 B2Granted
Parking reservation systems and related methods
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsJohn Blake Slemmer, Neil Fredrick Rivenburgh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Parking reservation systems and methods for a parking lot having a plurality of individual parking spaces include an electronic database of an inventory of available parking spaces; and at least one processor in communication with the electronic database. The processor can be configured to: (a) accept user input regarding a request for a reserved parking space; (b) automatically reserve a parking space for a patron upon receipt of a payment therefor; (c) generate a confirmation of the reservation for the patron; and (d) automatically adjust the database of the inventory of available spaces based on the reservation. Other systems and methods are configured to identify parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest.
Claims73
A parking reservation system for a parking lot comprising a plurality of individual parking spaces, comprising:
- a plurality of object detectors, at least one in communication with one or more of the parking spaces in a parking lot comprising the plurality of individual parking spaces, wherein the object detectors are configured to detect if a parking space is vacant or occupied;
- an electronic database of an inventory of available parking spaces in communication with the object detectors;
- and
- at least one processor in communication with the electronic database, the processor being configured to:
- (a) accept input regarding a request for a reserved parking space for an event specific and/or date specific need;
- (b) automatically reserve a parking space for an occasional use patron of the parking lot upon receipt of a payment therefor;
- (c) generate a confirmation of the reservation;
- and
- (d) automatically adjust the database of the inventory of available spaces based on the reservation and data from the object detectors,
- wherein the processor is configured to relay the inventory of parking spaces to the computer network in substantially real-time based both on the spaces detected as being open by the detectors and spaces being unreserved based on electronic reservations.
7 more elements
A parking reservation system for a parking lot comprising a plurality of individual parking spaces, comprising:
- a plurality of object detectors, at least one in communication with one or more of the parking spaces in a parking lot comprising the plurality of individual parking spaces, wherein the object detectors are configured to detect if a parking space is vacant or occupied;
- an electronic database of an inventory of available parking spaces in communication with the object detectors;
- and
- at least one processor in communication with the electronic database, the processor being configured to:
- (a) accept input regarding a request for a reserved parking space for an event specific and/or date specific need;
- (b) automatically reserve a parking space for an occasional use patron of the parking lot upon receipt of a payment therefor;
- (c) generate a confirmation of the reservation;
- and
- (d) automatically adjust the database of the inventory of available spaces based on the reservation and data from the object detectors,
- wherein the system is configured with an electronically adjustable grid of parking spaces associated with parking spaces in a reserved or limited access region of the parking lot, the adjustable grid of parking spaces can be adjusted in size based on demand, and wherein a defined grid size for a particular day and/or event is output to lot attendants so that physical boundaries associated therewith can be adjusted accordingly whereby the parking lot reserved and/or limited access region is adjustable in size day to day and/or event to event.
7 more elements
A parking reservation system for a parking lot comprising a plurality of individual parking spaces, comprising:
- a plurality of object detectors, at least one in communication with one or more of the parking spaces in a parking lot comprising the plurality of individual parking spaces, wherein the object detectors are configured to detect if a parking space is vacant or occupied;
- an electronic database of an inventory of available parking spaces in communication with the object detectors;
- and
- at least one processor in communication with the electronic database, the processor being configured to:
- (a) accept input regarding a request for a reserved parking space for an event specific and/or date specific need;
- (b) automatically reserve a parking space for an occasional use patron of the parking lot upon receipt of a payment therefor;
- (c) generate a confirmation of the reservation;
- and
- (d) automatically adjust the database of the inventory of available spaces based on the reservation and data from the object detectors,
- wherein the processor is configured to identify a plurality of spatially separate parking lots within a target geographical location that have vacancies including parking lots not under common ownership or management, and wherein the system comprises a server that communicates with a computer network to relay that information to the patron.
7 more elements
A method of reserving parking spaces in a parking lot, comprising:
- detecting whether a space is vacant or occupied in the parking lot using electronic detectors;
- determining whether a space is reserved but unoccupied in the parking lot based on the detecting step;
- obtaining an inventory of available spaces in a parking lot based on the detecting and determining steps;
- accepting an advance request for a reservation of a parking space from an occasional use patron;
- reserving a parking space based on the accepted request for a reserved parking space;
- and
- updating the inventory of available spaces in the parking lot based on the reservation and the detecting and determining steps,
- wherein the step of updating available space inventory is carried out substantially continuously while reservations are being accepted and patrons are parking to provide a substantially real-time count of available parking spaces.
5 more elements
A method of reserving parking spaces in a parking lot, comprising:
- detecting whether a space is vacant or occupied in the parking lot using electronic detectors;
- determining whether a space is reserved but unoccupied in the parking lot based on the detecting step;
- obtaining an inventory of available spaces in a parking lot based on the detecting and determining steps;
- accepting an advance request for a reservation of a parking space from an occasional use patron;
- reserving a parking space based on the accepted request for a reserved parking space;
- and
- updating the inventory of available spaces in the parking lot based on the reservation and the detecting and determining steps,
- wherein the inventory is date-specific, the method further comprising:
- electronically defining a grid of parking spaces in a reserved or limited access region of the parking lot that can be adjusted in size based on demand, and wherein grid size for a particular day and/or event of the reserved or limited access region is output to lot attendants so that boundaries associated therewith can be adjusted accordingly.
6 more elements
A method of reserving parking spaces in a parking lot, comprising:
- detecting whether a space is vacant or occupied in the parking lot using electronic detectors;
- determining whether a space is reserved but unoccupied in the parking lot based on the detecting step;
- obtaining an inventory of available spaces in a parking lot based on the detecting and determining steps;
- accepting an advance request for a reservation of a parking space from an occasional use patron;
- reserving a parking space based on the accepted request for a reserved parking space;
- updating the inventory of available spaces in the parking lot based on the reservation and the detecting and determining steps;
- and
- identifying a plurality of spatially separate parking lots within a target geographical location that have vacancies including parking lots not under common ownership or management and relaying that information to a potential patron or user using a computer network.
5 more elements
A method of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising:
- electronically providing a database of an inventory of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest;
- identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest based on data from object detectors in those parking lots that detect whether a space is vacant or occupied;
- and
- relaying vacancy data of the parking lots identified to a potential patron requester, wherein at least some of the parking lots are not commonly owned or under common management.
1 more element
A method of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising:
- electronically providing a database of an inventory of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest;
- identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest based on data from object detectors in those parking lots that detect whether a space is vacant or occupied;
- and
- relaying vacancy data of the parking lots identified to a requester,
- wherein the step of relaying vacancy data of the parking lots in the region of interest comprises:
- generating a visual map display of the region of interest with locations of the identified parking lots with relayed vacancy data and configuring the display to allow a requester to adjust a boundary of interest and automatically updating the visual display with the parking lots identified that reside within a perimeter of the adjusted boundary.
3 more elements
A method of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising:
- electronically providing a database of an inventory of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest;
- identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest based on data from object detectors in those parking lots that detect whether a space is vacant or occupied;
- and
- relaying vacancy data of the parking lots identified to a requester, wherein the relayed vacancy data includes parking lot information includes a graphic visual display of parking lots on a map with those having vacancies shown thereon, and wherein parking lots without vacancies are shown on the display in a manner different from the lots with vacancies on the map, wherein the parking lots without vacancies are shown with an “X” over their parking lot on the display.
1 more element
A method of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising;
- electronically providing a database of an inventory of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest;
- identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest based on data from object detectors in those parking lots that detect whether a space is vacant or occupied;
- relaying vacancy data of the parking lots identified to a requester;
- displaying a visual grid of a target geographical area of interest;
- allowing the requester to touch the screen on the display to select the target destination in the geographical area of interest;
- and
- displaying the parking lots identified as having vacancies in response thereto, wherein at least some of the parking lots are not commonly owned or under common management.
4 more elements
A system of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising:
- means for electronically providing a database of an inventory of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest;
- means for identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest, wherein the parking lots have object detectors that identify whether a parking space is vacant or occupied, and wherein the means for indentifying obtains vacancy data from the parking lots based on occupancy or vacancy information provided by the object detectors;
- and
- means for relaying vacancy data or information of each of the parking lots identified to a requester,
- wherein the means for providing the inventory of parking lots with vacancies comprises at least one processor that is configured to identify a plurality of spatially separate parking lots within a target geographical location that have vacancies including parking lots not under common ownership or management, and wherein the system comprises a server that communicates with a computer network to relay that information to the requester.
2 more elements
A system of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising:
- means for electronically providing a database of an inventory of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest;
- means for identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest, wherein the parking lots have object detectors that identify whether a parking space is vacant or occupied, and wherein the means for indentifying obtains vacancy data from the parking lots based on occupancy or vacancy information provided by the object detectors;
- and
- means for relaying vacancy data or information of each of the parking lots identified to a requester, wherein the means for relaying the vacancy data is configured to generate a list of parking lots in the desired geographical region to the requester and present the list with the parking lots in a rotating order so that different parking lots are listed first for different requesters.
1 more element
A system of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising:
- means for electronically providing a database of an inventory of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest;
- means for identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest, wherein the parking lots have object detectors that identify whether a parking space is vacant or occupied, and wherein the means for indentifying obtains vacancy data from the parking lots based on occupancy or vacancy information provided by the object detectors;
- and
- means for relaying vacancy data or information of each of the parking lots identified to a requester,
- wherein the system is configured to generate a list of parking lots in the desired geographical region to the requester and present the list with the parking lots in a rotating order so that different parking lots are listed first for different requesters.
2 more elements
A system of identifying parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest, comprising:
- means for electronically providing a database of an inventor of parking lots located in a geographical region of interest:
- means for identifying those parking lots within the geographical region with vacancies at a time period of interest, wherein the parking lots have object detectors that identify whether a parking space is vacant or occupied, and wherein the means for indentifying obtains vacancy data from the parking lots based on occupancy or vacancy information provided by the object detectors;
- and
- means for relaying vacancy data or information of each of the parking lots identified to a requester,
- wherein the means for relaying the vacancy data is configured to electronically generate and wirelessly provide to a mobile communications device associated with the requester a visual map display of the region of interest showing locations of the identified parking lots with relayed vacancy data and showing the parking lots with vacancies in a different manner from those without vacancies, and wherein the map display of the region of interest is configured to allow a requester to adjust a boundary about the region of interest.
2 more elements
A parking reservation system for a parking lot comprising a plurality of individual parking spaces, comprising:
- a plurality of object detectors, at least one in communication with one or more of the parking spaces in a parking lot comprising the plurality of individual parking spaces, wherein the object detectors are configured to detect if a parking space is vacant or occupied;
- an electronic database of an inventory of available parking spaces in communication with the object detectors;
- and
- at least one processor in communication with the electronic database, the processor being configured to:
- (a) accept input regarding a request for a reserved parking space for an event specific and/or date specific need;
- (b) automatically reserve a parking space for an occasional use patron of the parking lot upon receipt of a payment therefor;
- (c) generate a confirmation of the reservation;
- and
- (d) automatically adjust the database of the inventory of available spaces based on the reservation and data from the object detectors,
- wherein the system is configured to automatically adjust a size of a reserved zone within a parking lot based on user-demand for an event, and provide the parking lot with a perimeter size of the reserved zone for adjusting a physical size of the reserved zone for an event-specific parking configuration.
7 more elements
A method of reserving parking spaces in a parking lot, comprising:
- detecting whether a space is vacant or occupied in the parking lot using electronic detectors;
- determining whether a space is reserved but unoccupied in the parking lot based on the detecting step;
- obtaining an inventory of available spaces in a parking lot based on the detecting and determining steps;
- accepting an advance request for a reservation of a parking space from an occasional use patron;
- reserving a parking solace based on the accepted request for a reserved parking solace;
- updating the inventor of available spaces in the parking lot based on the reservation and the detecting and determining steps;
- electronically adjusting a size of a reserved parking zone in a parking lot based on the updating step;
- and
- calculating a perimeter size of the reserved parking zone based on the adjusting step and providing the calculated perimeter size to the parking lot for a day-specific and/or an event-specific parking configuration.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.