CITY PARKING SERVICES WITH AREA BASED LOYALTY PROGRAMS
Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.
1 . A method in a server including a processor, a memory and a network interface comprising:
generating a parking rewards account for a participant in parking rewards program;
receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of parking associated with the parking rewards account wherein the indication includes a purchase amount and a time period for the purchase of parking;
receiving, via the network interface, an indication of an activity including information about the activity and a time activity occurred;
determining the activity occurred within the time period for the purchase of parking;
when the activity is determined to have occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking, determining an amount of award points earned for the activity; and
storing to the memory information associated with the purchase of parking including the time period, information about the activity that occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking and the amount of award points earned for the activity to the memory wherein the award points are redeemable for parking awards.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request to open the parking rewards account;
generating a registration interface and a unique account identifier for the parking rewards account;
receiving user identification information and vehicle identification information; and
storing the user identification and vehicle identification information to the parking rewards account.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an amount of award points earned for the purchase of parking and storing the amount of award points earned for the purchase of parking to the memory.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating an award point total to include the amount of award points earned for the activity and
storing the award point total to the memory.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining the award point total exceeds a threshold for earning a parking award,
crediting the earned parking award to the parking awards account, and
deducting an amount of points associated with earned parking award from the award point total.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
displaying a list of parking awards each parking award redeemable for an amount of the award points;
receiving a selection of a first parking award from the list;
crediting the first parking award to the parking rewards account and deducting a first amount of award points associated with the first parking award from the award point total.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity includes a use of a city service.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity includes a purchase of a service or merchandise from a non-government merchant or a service provider.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving an indication from a parking enforcement device that a parking violation has occurred for a vehicle associated with the parking rewards account;
storing a record of the parking violation to the parking rewards account.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: receiving a request to pay all or a portion of a penalty amount associated with the parking violation with award points accumulated in the parking rewards account.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: reviewing information stored in the parking rewards account including a historical record of parking purchases and based upon the information, sending a message to the parking enforcement device to issue a warning ticket for the parking violation instead of a violation ticket including a fine.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: reviewing information stored in the parking rewards account including a historical record of parking purchases and based upon the information, sending a message to the parking enforcement device to issue a violation ticket with a reduced fine amount.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a request from a merchant to credit an amount of award points to the parking awards account; and
storing the amount of award points to the parking awards account.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving an indication that an account holder of the rewards program account has utilized a city service, determining an award point amount associated with the use of the city service and updating an award point total to include the award point amount.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining a location associated with the purchase of parking and determining an award point amount for the purchase based upon the location.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining additional award points are to be offered for parking in a particular parking location, sending to a remote device an indication that the additional award points are offered and the parking location.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the determination to offer the additional award points is based upon a determination of traffic conditions within a city.
18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining a parking award has been earned wherein the parking award is valid for redemption only in a certain zone of a city.
19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining a parking award has been earned wherein the parking award is one of a parking credit or a discount on a parking purchase.
20 . A server including a processor, a memory and a network interface wherein the server is configured to execute computer code for:
1) generating a parking rewards account for a participant in parking rewards program;
2) receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of parking associated with the parking rewards account wherein the indication includes a purchase amount and a time period for the purchase of parking;
3) receiving, via the network interface, an indication of an activity including information about the activity and a time activity occurred;
4) determining the activity occurred within the time period for the purchase of parking;
5) when the activity is determined to have occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking, determining an amount of award points earned for the activity; and
6) storing to the memory information associated with the purchase of parking including the time period, information about the activity that occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking and the amount of award points earned for the activity to the memory wherein the award points are redeemable for parking awards.
21 . A method in a server including a processor, a memory and a network interface comprising:
generating a rewards account for a participant in a rewards program;
receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of parking associated with the rewards account wherein the indication includes a purchase amount;
determining a first amount of award points earned for the parking purchase;
storing to the rewards account the first amount of award points earned for the parking purchase;
receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of a transportation service;
determining a second amount of award points earned for the transportation purchase;
storing to the rewards account the second amount of award points earned for the parking purchase;
based upon the first amount of award points and second amount of award points determining an award redeemable for free or discounted parking; and
storing information regarding the award to the rewards account.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising: via the network interface, sending a message to the participant including information about the award.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the transportation service is selected from the group consisting of a bus, a bicycle sharing, car sharing, a water-based transportation service or a train.
24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising: based upon the first amount of award points and second amount of award points determining an award redeemable for free or discounted transportation service.