Methods and systems for electronic payment for parking using autonomous position sensing

A system comprising:

• a wireless communications device comprising a processor providing user input and output and position location capability;
• and
• a parking application server connected to the wireless communications device,
• wherein the wireless communications device and the parking application server are configured to perform a method of payment for parking of a vehicle comprising:
• determining the identity of the vehicle by the wireless communications device by automatically sensing with a sensor located in the wireless communications device an identification device wherein the identification device is located in the vehicle and wherein determining the identity comprises using near field or short range wireless communications;
• determining the location of the vehicle using a satellite navigation system, the location determined by the processor;
• initiating a parking session via a transceiver with a parking application server, the parking session initiated by the processor;
• transmitting with the transceiver the location of the vehicle and the identity of the vehicle to the parking application server, the location of the vehicle transmitted by the wireless communications device;
• and
• wherein the system is configured to allow a user to input an alternative location different from the location determined by the vehicle positioning system, wherein the inputting an alternative location includes the user touching a user selected location on a touch sensitive screen or moving a cursor to a user selected location and pushing a button, wherein the user input only provides an alternative location for the parking session, and wherein the user input sets the alternative location as user's parking spot for the parking session and initiates the parking session.

A system comprising:

• a wireless communications device comprising a processor built into a vehicle's electronic system, the wireless communications device configured to provide connectivity to a parking application server;
• a user input and output system built into the vehicle's electronic system;
• a vehicle positioning system which provides position location capability based on inputs from the following built-in subsystems:
• satellite radio navigation and inertial navigation;
• and
• a parking application server connected to the wireless communications device, wherein the wireless communications device and the parking application server are configured to perform a method of payment for parking of a vehicle comprising:
• determining the location of the vehicle using the vehicle positioning system, the location determined by the processor;
• initiating a parking session via a transceiver with a parking application server, the parking session initiated by the processor;
• transmitting with the transceiver the location of the vehicle and the identity of the vehicle to the parking application server, the location of the vehicle transmitted by the wireless communications device;
• and
• wherein the system is configured to allow a user to input an alternative location different from the location determined by the vehicle positioning system, wherein the inputting an alternative location includes the user touching a user selected location on a touch sensitive screen or moving a cursor to a user selected location and pushing a button, wherein the user input only provides an alternative location for the parking session, and wherein the user input sets the alternative location as user's parking spot for the parking session and initiates the parking session.