Parking Meter System

What is this patent about?

’205 is related to the field of automated parking management systems, specifically those that use technology to monitor parking spaces, enforce parking regulations, and provide additional services. Traditional parking meters often rely on manual enforcement and may not efficiently capture violations or offer convenient payment options. The patent addresses the need for improved systems that can automate these processes, enhance revenue, and provide additional community services.

The underlying idea behind ’205 is to create a self-contained, networked parking meter that uses camera-based vehicle detection and license plate recognition to automate parking enforcement and offer vehicle charging. The system aims to eliminate the need for on-site attendants by automatically detecting vehicle presence, capturing license plate information, determining violations, and processing payments. The addition of a charging port allows the meter to also function as an electric vehicle charging station.

The claims of ’205 focus on a parking enforcement and vehicle charging system comprising a weather-resistant housing containing a processor, memory, and network interface. A camera faces outward to monitor a parking space, and a charging port with an electricity supply allows for vehicle recharging. The processor is configured to recognize vehicle occupancy of the parking space. Claim 16 further details a method of monitoring and managing parking in a facility using image data capture at entry and exit, time recording, vehicle identification, violation determination, and automated violation notice issuance.

In practice, the system uses the camera to detect when a vehicle parks in a space and initiates a timer. The system then uses optical character recognition to extract the license plate number and transmits it to a remote server. If payment is not received within a grace period or if the vehicle remains parked beyond the paid time, a violation is recorded and a notice is issued. The system can also accept payment of fines and transmit the vehicle's exit time to the remote server, resetting the parking time period.

This approach differs from prior systems by integrating vehicle charging capabilities and automating the entire parking enforcement process. Unlike traditional meters that require manual monitoring, ’205 uses camera-based detection and license plate recognition to automatically identify violations and issue notices. The system also offers additional features such as remote monitoring, community communication services, and variable pricing, making it a more versatile and efficient solution for modern parking management .