AUTOMATED PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
There is provided a parking management system comprising a vehicle parking management device adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a vehicle identifier for detecting a parking position of the vehicle, determining the location of the vehicle, and generating and transmitting via a wireless data network a parking notification comprising the vehicle location and the vehicle identifier when the vehicle is in a parking position; and a server adapted to be connected to the vehicle parking management device via the wireless data network for receiving the parking notification, determining a parking zone of the vehicle based on the vehicle location, determining a parking tariff based on the parking zone, and for paying the parking tariff or issuing a fine in association with the vehicle if the parking tariff is determined not to be paid. There is further provided a vehicle equipped with such a vehicle parking management device.
1 . A parking management system comprising:
a vehicle parking management device adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a vehicle identifier for detecting a parking position of the vehicle, determining the location of the vehicle, and generating and transmitting via a wireless data network a parking notification comprising the vehicle location and the vehicle identifier when the vehicle is in a parking position; and
a server adapted to be connected to the vehicle parking management device via the wireless data network for receiving the parking notification, determining a parking zone of the vehicle based on the vehicle location, determining a parking tariff based on the parking zone, and for paying the parking tariff or issuing a fine in association with the vehicle if the parking tariff is determined not to be paid.
2 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle location is a GPS location, the system further comprising:
a GPS benchmark device located at a benchmark point within the parking zone, the benchmark point having a priori known benchmark GPS location stored at the server, the server being further adapted for receiving a real time GPS location from the GPS benchmark device at the time of determining the parking zone, for determining a deviation value between the benchmark GPS location and the real time GPS location, and for correcting the GPS location of the vehicle based on the determined deviation value.
3 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the server is further adapted to validate and correct the parking zone and the parking tariff based on the corrected GPS location of the vehicle.
4 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the server is adapted to communicate with a user associated with the vehicle for transmitting an electronic parking payment notification or a an electronic fine notification.
5 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the vehicle parking management device is an automated device adapted to operate without human interaction.
6 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the vehicle parking management device is adapted to receive the electronic parking payment notification or the electronic fine notification and communicating thereof to the user.
7 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the server is adapted to be connected to a traffic authority server comprising a parking zone database, a parking tariff database, a parking payment database and a fine issuance database for the determination of the parking zone, the parking tariff and the parking payment status, and for the storage of data with respect to the parking payment made or fine issued.
8 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the traffic authority server further comprises a financial database storing financial information in association with the vehicle for use for the purpose of paying the parking tariff or paying the fine.
9 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the vehicle parking management device store financial information in association with the vehicle and the parking notification further comprises said financial information, the server further adapted to use the financial information for the purpose of paying the parking tariff or paying the fine.
10 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the vehicle parking management device stores contact information allowing for communicating with the user and the parking notification comprises the contact information, the server being further adapted to send the electronic payment notification or the electronic fine notification to the user using said contact information.
11 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the contact information comprises a mobile device identifier associated with the user.
12 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the vehicle parking management device comprises a SIM module/chip having a SIM module/chip identifier used as the vehicle identifier, the parking notification being sent to the server using the SIM module/chip.
13 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the vehicle parking management device detects the parking position by detecting at least one of a stationary position and a power off status of the vehicle.
14 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the stationary position is detected using at least one of an accelerator detector and gyroscope.
15 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the vehicle parking management device further comprises a user interface for communicating with the user, the user interface comprising a screen for displaying the electronic payment notification or electronic fine to the user.
16 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a memory for storing data records of electronic parking payment notifications and electronic fines received from the server, the memory being readable by the device for displaying said records to the user using the screen.
17 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the user interface is adapted to enable the user to manually affect the payment of the parking tariff or the fine by specifying the financial information or approving the use of the financial information stored in the device for the purpose of the payment.
18 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the user interface is adapted to enable the user to post a complaint in association with a fine issued, the vehicle parking management device being adapted to transmit the complaint to the server, and the server being adapted to transmit the complaint to the traffic authority server.
19 . The parking management system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the server and traffic authority server is the same server.
20 . A vehicle comprising a vehicle parking management device adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a vehicle identifier for detecting a parking position of the vehicle, determining the location of the vehicle, and generating and transmitting to a server via a wireless data network a parking notification comprising the vehicle location and the vehicle identifier when the vehicle is in a parking position for purpose of paying a parking tariff or controlling the payment of the parking tariff by the traffic authorities.