WO1997030421A1 - Option de remboursement sur carte de parking - Google Patents

Option de remboursement sur carte de parking Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997030421A1
WO1997030421A1 PCT/US1997/002784 US9702784W WO9730421A1 WO 1997030421 A1 WO1997030421 A1 WO 1997030421A1 US 9702784 W US9702784 W US 9702784W WO 9730421 A1 WO9730421 A1 WO 9730421A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
parking
payment
time
refund
meter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/002784
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1997030421A9 (fr
Inventor
Seth Ii Ward
Gary W. Speas
R. Todd Brown
Original Assignee
Pom, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pom, Inc. filed Critical Pom, Inc.
Priority to AU19691/97A priority Critical patent/AU1969197A/en
Publication of WO1997030421A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997030421A1/fr
Publication of WO1997030421A9 publication Critical patent/WO1997030421A9/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
    • G07F7/0873—Details of the card reader
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/12—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
    • G06Q20/127—Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0014—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/24—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for parking meters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
    • G07F7/0866—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means by active credit-cards adapted therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electronic parking meters which accept smart card input, and specifically to a feature which reduces the practice of motorists cruising to find time remaining on a meter.
  • Vending machines which track time purchased for parking spaces have been around for many years as a means for metropolitan areas to charge for the use of parking space.
  • the types of machines fall into two general categories, depending on the situation in which they will be used.
  • Parking meters are designed to be placed adjacent to a parking spot and will only accommodate a small number of vehicles. Parking meters can be placed adjacent to each parking space, shared between two adjacent parking spaces, or. where two rows of parked cars face each other, one meter may serve a maximum of four vehicles.
  • Central collection systems are designed for situations where one central location may serve a large number of parking spaces. These two categories of parking vending machines have evolved in different directions to meet these different needs and face some different constraints on their use.
  • One example is power usage. Where a central collection system serves a large number of spaces, external power connections are possible and if batteries are used, the need to charge a single (or small number) of batteries is not a critical problem.
  • parking meters typically contain some type of a visual display to show whether there is any time remaining for the parking space controlled by the meter.
  • Such a display is useful not only to motorists purchasing time but also to a law enforcement official who is checking for parking violations.
  • the central collection systems although they may display a time purchased as the initial transaction is made, do not, as a general rule, give a visual signal as to the status of each parking space.
  • Parking Meter System with Refund Option The use of electronic parking meters, which can accept electronic payment from a payment card, allows an innovative solution to be used. Using this system, the motorist is encouraged to purchase a maximum amount of time on the meter using his payment card, and is given the assurance that when he returns, he can obtain a refund for any unused time. When the motorist returns, he simply inserts his payment card into the meter and the meter refunds the purchase price of any time remaining. This refund is credited electronically to his payment card, while at the same time the time remaining on the meter is set to zero and the display is changed to show an expired status.
  • U.S. Patent 4,876.540 to Berthon et al. discloses a central collection system which may be configured to offer a refund to the motorist.
  • the central collection system of Berthon et al. is used to control a large number of parking spaces; it is contemplated in Berthon et al. that this central collection system will dispense a slip of paper that shows the expiration time.
  • Information regarding the transaction may be retrieved from the central collection system or related hand-held unit, but the system does not display status for the spaces controlled by the system, hence cruising is a problem which is neither contemplated nor solved by this patent.
  • the meter can optionally be programmed to disallow purchase of additional time from the same card (called meter feeding) to exceed the legal parking time limit of the meter. This feature would encourage the parking turnover for which parking meters were originally invented.
  • Figure 1 shows a parking meter which accepts a payment card input and which has a visual indicator of time remaining.
  • Figure 2 is a flowchart of the decision process when a smart card is inserted.
  • Figure 3 is a block diagram of a parking meter which can be programmed to provide refunds and zero the meter.
  • slot 102 in the parking meter will accept a payment card (101) proffered for payment.
  • a payment card 101
  • other means of payment may be received by the meter, such as coin input 104, but, since the preferred embodiment of the parking meter does not offer refunds for time purchased with coins, these will not be discussed at this time.
  • the payment card will be a "smart" card, which contains electronic circuitry, such as a microprocessor, to handle transactions.
  • the smart card will typically, but not necessarily, have been issued by a parking authority which has jurisdiction over a given area and is useful only in the jurisdiction in which it is purchased.
  • the smart card will typically be preprogrammed with a given monetary value, which is the purchase price of the card. Each usage of the card causes the value in the card's memory to be decremented until no value remains. At the option of the issuing authority, the card could then be returned for reprogramming with a new purchase price, or discarded.
  • the meter After insertion of the parking card, the meter will then prompt the user to select an amount of time to be purchased, e.g., the user may be prompted to press button 106 once for each 15 minutes of time required, or the time requested could be entered on a keypad (not shown). After the time is selected, the meter computes the value of this time and deducts this amount from the payment card, if possible. An error message will be given if the value remaining on the card is not sufficient for the time requested, otherwise, an acknowledgement of the transaction is displayed, e.g. on display 108, to provide visual assurance to the user that the transaction has been completed.
  • This display can take different forms, such as a liquid crystal display or a flag-wheel.
  • the payment card can be once again inserted into the parking meter.
  • the meter retains a record of the serial number (and will retain up to three serial numbers per space) which is used to purchase time and will refund the cost of any remaining time when that card is reinserted.
  • FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the decision process for the use of a payment card.
  • the processor detects that a card has been inserted (step 200)
  • the value of the time requested is deducted from the card (step 270), the timing circuits are activated for the requested time (step 275), and acknowledgement is made of the transaction (step 280).
  • the processor will proceed to calculate the value of any time remaining for the associated space (step 215).
  • the value of the remaining time is compared to a threshold value (step 220); if it is not greater than the threshold, an error message is displayed (step 222), such as "No Refund Available"; otherwise the computed value is refunded to the card (step 225) and an acknowledgement is displayed (step 230). Note that if, for example, time is purchased in increments of 15 minutes, no refund would be available for remaining time of 14 minutes or less. Regardless of whether the value was greater than zero or not, the meter would be zeroed (step 235).
  • Figure 3 provides a block diagram of a parking meter which can be programmed to utilize the innovative refund option.
  • the processor (310) communicates with circuitry to identify coin input (320), with a reader (330) for the parking card, and with a display (340). Power is supplied to each of these elements by the power supply (300). which is typically a battery. Further details of such a meter can be found in U.S. Patents 5.360,095 and 5.475.373 and in U.S. Patent Application 08/428,771, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the payment card above generally refers to a smart card, but another type of card which does not contain circuitry can also be used, e.g., a card which uses magnetic tape for memory. If means are available to communicate with a central computer, a regular credit card or a card which identifies a centrally available account could also be used.
  • Contactless cards are becoming popular in transit application, such as buses and subways, and this type of card could be used in parking meter systems, such as the disclosed refundable system. Since the reader in contactless applications has high power requirements, it could not remain constantly active, as is typical. However, by requiring the user to insert the contactless card into a slot, this action could activate an extremely close range transmitter and receiver within the slot. This would require very little power, as the card would be exactly positioned and very close to the card reading apparatus.
  • the disclosed parking meter automatically assumes that the second insertion of a payment card is a request for a refund
  • other configurations can alternatively be used, such as allowing the user to insert their card again to purchase additional time and providing a refund only when an external signal is provided, such as pushing a button on the meter.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Système de parcmètre faisant appel à une carte à puce (101) utilisée comme un moyen de paiement. Cette carte à puce est introduite une fois dans le parcmètre pour déclencher le décompte du temps d'utilisation puis une deuxième fois pour mettre un terme à ce décompte. A la deuxième introduction de la carte (200), un remboursement est calculé (225) puis porté au crédit de cette carte. La remise à zéro du parcmètre s'effectue en même temps que ce remboursement (235). Ce système à pour effet de dissuader la recherche, par les automobilistes, d'un parcmètre offrant un reste de temps d'utilisation non épuisé.
PCT/US1997/002784 1996-02-14 1997-02-13 Option de remboursement sur carte de parking WO1997030421A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU19691/97A AU1969197A (en) 1996-02-14 1997-02-13 Refund option on parking card

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US1163696P 1996-02-14 1996-02-14
US60/011,636 1996-02-14
US1351296P 1996-03-15 1996-03-15
US60/013,512 1996-03-15

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997030421A1 true WO1997030421A1 (fr) 1997-08-21
WO1997030421A9 WO1997030421A9 (fr) 1997-10-30

Family

ID=26682619

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/002784 WO1997030421A1 (fr) 1996-02-14 1997-02-13 Option de remboursement sur carte de parking

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1969197A (fr)
WO (1) WO1997030421A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003065322A1 (fr) * 2002-01-30 2003-08-07 Iem Sa Horodateur a affichage electronique de l'image des tickets de stationnement
WO2003096286A3 (fr) * 2002-05-10 2005-01-13 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Procede de paiement au moyen d'une carte intelligente
US7426635B1 (en) * 2001-06-28 2008-09-16 Entrust Technologies Limited Bulk certificate lifetime allocation systems, components and methods
WO2008138098A1 (fr) * 2007-05-13 2008-11-20 Mitschele Frederick L Parcmètre
US20140180774A1 (en) * 2012-12-26 2014-06-26 Anand P. Rangarajan Systems and methods for managing parking transactions

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4861971A (en) * 1987-08-10 1989-08-29 Chan Mike T Parking meters capable of being operated without monetary coins
US4876540A (en) * 1985-06-07 1989-10-24 Flonic System for controlling metered parking

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4876540A (en) * 1985-06-07 1989-10-24 Flonic System for controlling metered parking
US4861971A (en) * 1987-08-10 1989-08-29 Chan Mike T Parking meters capable of being operated without monetary coins

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7426635B1 (en) * 2001-06-28 2008-09-16 Entrust Technologies Limited Bulk certificate lifetime allocation systems, components and methods
WO2003065322A1 (fr) * 2002-01-30 2003-08-07 Iem Sa Horodateur a affichage electronique de l'image des tickets de stationnement
WO2003096286A3 (fr) * 2002-05-10 2005-01-13 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Procede de paiement au moyen d'une carte intelligente
WO2008138098A1 (fr) * 2007-05-13 2008-11-20 Mitschele Frederick L Parcmètre
US20140180774A1 (en) * 2012-12-26 2014-06-26 Anand P. Rangarajan Systems and methods for managing parking transactions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1969197A (en) 1997-09-02

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