Marina slip occupancy detection
View Patent ↗A marina slip occupancy detection system includes at least one watercraft detector configured to detect the presence and/or absence of a watercraft in a target area. A process of the watercraft detector is configured to communicate with a remote server with indications of occupancy or occupancy change. The remote server is configured to notify a dockhand, marina manager, and/or the watercraft owner/operator depending on the occupancy change and predetermined configurations of the remote server.
1. A method of monitoring marina slip occupancy comprising:
detecting, with at least one watercraft detector, an occupancy of a plurality of slips for watercraft;
communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with a remote server to provide an occupancy indication of each slip of the plurality of slips;
communicating, by the remote server, with a notification device of marina management to indicate a change in occupancy status of a slip of the plurality of slips;
notifying, with the notification device, a user of the change in occupancy status of the slip, the user being a member of the marina management; and
transmitting, by the remote server, a message to a phone number or email address associated with the slip after the change in occupancy status;
wherein the message asks for a return date and/or time when the change in occupancy status is a departure and not expected.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising
generating, by the notification device, a visual and/or audible alert indicating the change in occupancy status of the slip.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user is a dockhand.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a passive infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor or break beam sensor.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a camera.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a power pedestal electricity usage/connection sensor.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with the remote server occurs continuously.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with the remote server occurs periodically.
9. A method of monitoring marina slip occupancy comprising:
detecting, with at least one watercraft detector, an occupancy of a plurality of slips for watercraft;
communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with a remote server to provide an occupancy indication of each slip of the plurality of slips;
communicating, by the remote server, with a notification device of marina management to indicate a change in occupancy status of a slip of the plurality of slips;
notifying, with the notification device, a user of the change in occupancy status of the slip, the user being a member of the marina management; and
transmitting, by the remote server, a message to a phone number or email address associated with the slip after the change in occupancy status;
wherein the message includes a link to booking platform when the change in occupancy status is an arrival and not expected.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a passive infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor or break beam sensor.
11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a camera.
12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a power pedestal electricity usage/connection sensor.
13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with the remote server occurs continuously.
14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with the remote server occurs periodically.
15. A method of monitoring marina slip occupancy comprising:
detecting, with at least one watercraft detector, an occupancy of a plurality of slips for watercraft:
communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with a remote server to provide an occupancy indication of each slip of the plurality of slips;
communicating, by the remote server, with a notification device of marina management to indicate a change in occupancy status of a slip of the plurality of slips;
notifying, with the notification device, a user of the change in occupancy status of the slip, the user being a member of the marina management; and
transmitting, by the remote server, a message to a phone number or email address associated with the slip after the change in occupancy status;
wherein the message indicates that a dockhand is on the way to the slip when the change in occupancy status is an arrival and the slip is associated with a renter of the slip.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a passive infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor or break beam sensor.
17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a camera.
18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the watercraft detector comprises an occupancy sensor, the occupancy sensor being a power pedestal electricity usage/connection sensor.
19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with the remote server occurs continuously.
20. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the communicating, by the at least one watercraft detector, with the remote server occurs periodically.