System and method for implementing an exception to a parking restriction

1. A method for implementing an exception to a parking restriction, the method comprising the steps of:

defining, by a central data processing system, a parking/loading area by one or more coordinates, the parking/loading area being an exception to a parking restriction on a road, wherein the parking/loading area is not marked on the road, whereby signs and/or markings on the road indicating the parking restriction indicate that the parking restriction applies to the parking/loading area;

transmitting, by said central data processing system to a vehicle, location information indicating the location of the parking/loading area;

monitoring an area of the road including the parking/loading area;

detecting a vehicle parked in the monitored area;

receiving, at said central data processing system by means of a wireless signal, vehicle position information indicating the current position of the vehicle;

determining, by said central data processing system, by means of said position information, whether the detected vehicle is positioned within the parking/loading area; and

determining, by said central data processing system, whether the vehicle has permission to park in the parking/loading area.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of charging an operator or user of the vehicle for permission to park in the parking/loading area.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of issuing a fine or penalty in respect of the vehicle if it is determined that the vehicle does not have permission to park in the parking/loading area.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a fine or penalty issued in respect of the vehicle is annulled if the vehicle is determined to have permission to park in the parking/loading area.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the exception to the parking restriction applies at a predetermined time or times, and/or to predetermined vehicles and/or users, and/or to predetermined classes of users and/or vehicles.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring the area is performed using a camera.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of determining whether said vehicle has permission to park in the parking/loading area at the time of detecting said vehicle comprises:

determining an identification number of the vehicle from image data captured by the camera; and

checking the identification number against identification numbers stored in a permission table.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the detected vehicle is positioned within said parking/loading area and/or the step of determining whether the detected vehicle has permission to park in the parking/loading area comprises:

receiving, by said central data processing system, data transmitted by the vehicle and/or a device located proximal the detected vehicle, said data including identification information identifying the detected vehicle; and

comparing, by said central data processing system, the identification information with permissions information stored by said data processing system.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said data further comprises:

parking/loading area usage information including a time or times at which the vehicle is parked in the parking/loading area and/or at which the vehicle enters and/or exits the parking/loading area.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the position information is determined by a global navigation satellite system.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at said central data processing system, data transmitted by said vehicle, said vehicle having received said data from a kerbside transmitter.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the kerbside transmitter is at least one of a radio-frequency transmitter, a radio-frequency identification tag, a Wi-Fi™ or Bluetooth™ transmitter.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for permission to park a vehicle in said parking/loading area;

checking whether the parking/loading area is available; and

entering identification information of said vehicle in a permission table if the parking/loading area is available.

14. The method according to claim 1 , including transmitting, by said central data processing system, permission information indicating whether the vehicle has permission to use the parking/loading area including a time or times at which the vehicle has permission to use the parking/loading area.

15. A method for indicating an exception to a parking restriction, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a vehicle, from a central data processing system, location information relating to the location of a parking/loading area, wherein the parking/loading area is defined by one or more coordinates and is an exception to a parking restriction on a road, wherein the parking/loading area is not marked on the road, wherein signs and/or markings on the road indicating the parking restriction indicate that the parking restriction applies to said parking/loading area;

receiving, at the vehicle by means of a wireless signal, vehicle position information indicating the current position of the vehicle; and

indicating the location of the parking/loading area and the vehicle position on a display in said vehicle.

16. An apparatus for implementing an exception to a parking restriction, the apparatus comprising:

a data processing system, operable to define at least one parking/loading area by one or more coordinates, the parking/loading area being an exception to a parking restriction on a road, wherein the parking/loading area is not marked on the road, wherein signs and/or markings on the road indicating the parking restriction indicate that the parking restriction applies to said parking/loading area;

at least one transmitter for transmitting, to a vehicle, location information indicating the location of the parking/loading area;

at least one monitoring device for monitoring an area of the road including the parking/loading area;

at least one detection device for detecting a vehicle parked in the monitored area,

wherein said data processing system is configured to receive, by means of a wireless signal, vehicle position information indicating the position of the vehicle;

wherein said data processing system is configured to determine, by means of said position information, whether a detected vehicle is positioned within the parking/loading area, and

wherein said data processing system is configured to determine whether the detected vehicle has permission to park in the parking/loading area.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said apparatus comprises:

at least one data receiving device for receiving data transmitted by a device located proximal the vehicle.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the data receiving device is a GPRS receiver.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said position information comprises data read by the vehicle from a kerbside transmitter.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the kerbside transmitter is a radio-frequency transmitter, an RFID, Wi-Fi™ or Bluetooth™ transmitter.

21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the position information is received by said central data processing system from said vehicle and/or from a device located proximal said vehicle.

22. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from a kerbside transmitter when the vehicle is within or proximal to the parking/loading area; and

alerting a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is positioned within the parking/loading area, based on said signal.