WO2004084145A2

WO2004084145A2 - A system and method for parking

Info

Publication number: WO2004084145A2
Application number: PCT/IL2004/000227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eli Israeli; Joseph Lewinsohn
Original assignee: L.Y.Zoom Consulting & Entrepreneurship Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-03-17
Filing date: 2004-03-08
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: IL154940A0; WO2004084145A3

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for continually monitoring parking spaces (12) in a parking facility (10), and for providing means for interactive communication between a particular user at a particularly allocated parking space (12) and a central controller (46). This monitoring permits the system to dynamically allocate a particular parking space to a particular user. According to the present invention, the system includes means (22) for continually collecting data from the parking spaces in the parking facility (10), the means (12) for collecting being mounted adjacent to each parking space, means for processing the parking space data, and means for automatically identifying, from the parking space data and from data of the motor vehicle to be parked in the parking facility, the motor vehicle actually parked in the monitored parking space.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARKING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general, to monitoring and allocating of parking spaces in parking facilities. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for allocating a particular parking space to a particular user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Finding a convenient and available parking space for a vehicle in the center of major cities and towns is becoming an increasingly challenging task for motor vehicle operators. Most any motor vehicle operator desires to have an available parking space at any given point in time, and as close to any given location as possible. For an operator who must find, on a regular basis, a parking space at a particular location, for example, in proximity to the operator's work place, renting a parking space at a parking garage, or a parking lot, or any other parking facility, may provide the motor vehicle operator with a practical solution to his parking issue. However, the rent for a parking space is inherently high, particularly at a parking facility located in an area where parking spaces are in high demand but in short supply, since it must include certain compensation for the parking facility owner for keeping that space available for the renting operator according to the rental agreement, even when he is not using the rented parking space.

Normally, in the regular course of business, work, shopping or entertainment, a motor vehicle operator needs a parking space in more than one location each day. Thus, an operator, having a rented parking space at one parking facility, does not occupy that space 24 hours a day, but rather looks for other parking spaces in other parking facilities that are near his various activities.

Users of parking facilities may be classified generally into two groups: (i) users who arrive at a parking facility in close proximity to their destination, hoping to be lucky and find an available parking space forthwith, or will have to search for a vacant parking space or wait until one becomes available. Such users are characterized by their unwillingness to pay an extra price for having an available parking space in a desirable parking facility and/or at a convenient location within the parking facility at the time of their arrival; and (ii) users who are willing to pay for the privilege of having a vacant parking space in a parking facility and at a convenient location within the facility, ready for them as they arrive at a pre-selected hour. Users of this group, who frequently use a particular parking space in a particular facility, may try to secure that parking space or a nearby parking space, by prepaid arrangements of various kinds, such as advanced booking of the parking space for a desired period of time (a month, a week, a day, etc.).

It would be advantageous for a parking facility owner to accommodate as many prepaying customers as possible for as long a period of parking time as possible, since such customers provide the owner with a steady flow of income. It would also be advantageous for a parking facility owner to reallocate the prepaid parking spaces to occasional operators, when they are not occupied by the prepaying customers, in order to maximize his income. However, the parking facility owner will not reallocate prepaid parking spaces, even when they are available, for fear of losing a prepaying customer, if such customer happens to find his parking space occupied upon arrival. Therefore, if the parking facility owner could increase his income by utilizing prepaid parking spaces when they are vacant at a relatively low risk of frustrating prepaying customers, he would tend to lower prepaid parking rates so as to increase the number of prepaying customers and still increase revenues.

Systems and methods for controlling, managing and reserving parking spaces in parking facilities are known in the art. Their general objective is to collect information regarding the availability of parking spaces in parking facilities, and use that information for managing said facilities, and also provide the information to vehicle operators. Some of such prior art systems monitor vehicular parking by utilizing a sensor to collect information of the number of vehicles entering a parking facility and the number of vehicles leaving it, and monitoring the number of vacant parking spaces by subtracting these two numbers (U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,298). Such systems are limited to providing only general information of the number of available parking spaces at a given point in time. However, this information is of no consequence to operators who wish to secure a particular parking space in a parking facility at a particular time for a particular duration.

Another prior art system comprises a sensing device mounted at each parking space in the parking facility for determining whether it is occupied or vacant, and further includes a signaling device or indicator means such as a lamp, for indicating a vacant space to the motor vehicle operator. The signaling device signals to the operator the availability of each vacant space, thus making it easier for him to locate such a space when moving inside the parking facility (U.S. Pat. 5,432,508). The latter prior art system further provides for a motor vehicle operator to remotely reserve a parking space and pay for it prior to arriving at the parking facility. Such system prompts the operator to provide a unique identifier for credit confirmation purposes, and when the validity of the operator's credit is confirmed, he receives a reserved parking space number and confirmation code, which he must enter upon arrival at the parking facility in order to secure entrance into the facility. If the correct code and the reserved parking space number are not entered within a certain number of attempts, the system alerts an attendant of a possible problem.

This prior art system cannot accommodate operators desiring to reserve a preferred parking space at a preferred time for a preferred duration. The need for the operator to enter a confirmation code is also a disadvantage of this system. Furthermore, since the sensing device at each parking space collects only binary information i.e., occupied or vacant, the system suffers from the disadvantage that it cannot automatically monitor which particular motor vehicle is parked at which particular parking space, thus it cannot verify that an operator is actually using a particular parking space allocated to him. Such a feature is imperative for dynamically allocating a given number of parking spaces, and for efficiently monitoring these spaces in a parking facility, very much like in a telephone exchange, which dynamically allocates its limited number of lines among its subscribers relying on the known fact that the ratio between the total number of subscribers and the highest number of calls the exchange needs to handle momentarily, is generally accepted as approximately 10:1. Even if a telephone exchange cannot service all of its subscribers at the same time, it rarely sends a "no dial tone" to a subscriber when he or she picks up the phone.

The example of a telephone exchange can be utilized to create a desirable system and method for dynamically allocating, controlling and monitoring of parking spaces in parking facilities, provided that such system is adapted to account for the fact that the number of users of a parking facility is generally smaller in comparison to the number of telephone subscribers of a telephone exchange, and the average parking period is generally longer than an average telephone call. In other words, in order to assure a particular parking space for a prepaying customer whenever he or she desires to park at a parking facility, the allocating system must operate according to a ratio of maximum number of prepaying customers to the total number of parking spaces within a parking facility designated for prepaid parking, that is much smaller than the ratio of a telephone exchange. Still, even within a conservatively calculated ratio of 2:1, a parking facility operator can substantially increase revenues. Consequently, he could charge lower rates for long-term prepaid parking spaces at the same level of service, thus motivate customers to use this method of parking for the benefit of both the parking facility operator and the customer.

Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a parking system which allocates a particular parking space to a prepaying customer whenever he or she desires to park at a parking facility, and it would be very desirable for such a system to have a sensing device at each parking space in the parking facility which is arranged and configured for automatically verifying the identity of a parked vehicle and/or its operator. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for continually monitoring parking spaces in a parking facility, and for providing means for interactive communication between a particular user at a particularly allocated parking space and a central controller. This monitoring permits the system to dynamically allocate a particular parking space to a particular user.

There is thus provided in accordance with the present invention system for monitoring parking spaces in a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces, the system including means for substantially continually collecting data from at least one parking space in the parking facility, the means for collecting being mounted adjacent the parking space, means for processing the parking space data, and means for automatically identifying, from the parking space data and from data of at least one motor vehicle to be parked in the parking facility, a motor vehicle parked in the parking space.

For purposes of the present invention, the term "continually" means repeated regularly and frequently at selected time intervals. Thus, in the present invention, data may be collected at varying selected time intervals, depending upon the specific visual sensing and storing means used. For example, a video camera will collect data at a different rate from a still camera. According to one embodiment, the system further includes means for receiving the motor vehicle data.

Preferably, the system further includes at least one user interface unit (UIU), the UIU including the means for collecting the parking space data, each parking space being associated with a UIU.

According to one embodiment, the UIU further includes the means for processing data and the means for automatically identifying a motor vehicle.

The UIU may also include means for providing interactive communication with a motor vehicle operator at the parking space. It may also include the means for receiving the motor vehicle data. Preferably, the UIU further includes means for storing images of the parking space and any object therein.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the system further includes a central controller coupled to the UIU, the central controller including: the means for receiving the motor vehicle data; and means for transferring the motor vehicle data to the UIU.

The central controller may also include the means for receiving the motor vehicle data, the processing means; and the identifying means. It may also include the storage means. According to one embodiment, the system further includes a plurality of

UIUs coupled to the central controller and to each other via a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), for exchanging the motor vehicle data and the parking space data, each parking space in the parking facility being associated with a UIU. Preferably, the central controller further includes an automatic dialing director configured for establishing a link with a telephony destination.

According to another embodiment, the system further includes a wireless communication unit including a short range wireless communication interface and transmitter-receiver device for communicating with a mobile transmitter-receiver.

According to a preferred embodiment, the system also includes means for allocating a particular parking space in the parking facility to a particular motor vehicle, according to the motor vehicle data and the parking space data.

According to another preferred embodiment, the system may also include at least one entrance and exit control unit to permit monitoring and control of entrance and exit of motor vehicles, in and out of the parking facility.

There is also provided, according to the present invention, a method for monitoring parking spaces in a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces, the method including substantially continually collecting data from at least one parking space in the parking facility, processing the parking space data, automatically identifying, from the parking space data and from data of at least one motor vehicle to be parked in the parking facility, a motor vehicle parked in the parking space.

According to one embodiment, the step of collecting is performed by a user interface unit (UIU) associated with each parking space, the UIU including means for collecting parking space data. The steps of processing and identifying may also be performed by the UIU.

According to one embodiment, the step of receiving is performed by a central controller coupled to a user interface unit (UIU) associated with each of the parking spaces. According to another embodiment, the steps of receiving, processing and identifying are performed by a central controller; and the step of collecting is performed by a UIU associated with each parking space, the UIU being coupled to the central controller for transmission of collected parking space data. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further includes the step of allocating a specific parking space in the parking facility to a specific motor vehicle for a particular date and time according to the motor vehicle data and the parking space data.

Further according to a preferred embodiment, the step of allocating includes receiving a request for a particular parking space for a particular motor vehicle for a particular date and time from a user; determining whether the particular space is available for the requested time; if the parking space is available as requested, collecting from the user motor vehicle data, and payment data of the user. According to one embodiment, the step of allocating further includes determining whether another space is available, if the parking space is not available; and, informing the user of the other parking space.

Preferably, the method further includes, after the step of allocating, the step of sending the motor vehicle data to an entrance and exit control unit of the parking facility, for automatic operation of a gate. According to one embodiment, the method further includes the steps of identifying an operator entering a parked motor vehicle in the allocated parking space; determining whether the operator is the user; and notifying the exit control unit of the parking facility and the user, if the operator is not the user. Further according to the invention, the method also includes the steps of determining that a motor vehicle has left an allocated parking space; recording a time of departure; and calculating a parking cost for the motor vehicle.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method further includes the steps of identifying a company car at an entrance to the parking facility; determining availability of parking spaces in the parking facility; and displaying an indication that the parking facility is full, if the parking facility is full.

Alternatively, the method may include identifying a company car at an entrance to the parking facility; determining availability of parking spaces in the parking facility; and allocating an available parking space to the company car, if the parking facility is not full.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view schematic illustration of a typical floor in a parking facility utilizing a system and method for dynamically monitoring, controlling and allocating of parking spaces, constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a user interface unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 4A and 4B are a flow chart of the operation of the system according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 5A and 5B are a flow chart describing the operation of the user interface unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and,

Fig. 6 is a flow chart describing a parking process of a company car in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring parking spaces in a parking facility, and for identifying objects, especially vehicles and people, in each parking space. The present system permits dynamic allocation of specific spaces in the parking facility. In addition, the system and method provide means for interactive communication between a user and a central controller, and between a user at a particularly allocated parking space and a central controller. According to the present invention, each parking space is associated with at least one user interface unit (referred to herein as "UIU"). The UIU is adapted and configured to automatically receive, store and process images of at least one motor vehicle or any part of the motor vehicle which is located in the parking space, such as its license plate; and/or images of the motor vehicle operator; and/or sounds made in close proximity to the UIU. The UIU is also adapted and configured to display visual messages and/or play audio messages. Thus, the UIU provides interactive communication between a central controller of the parking system and a particular user at a particular parking space, via a local communication network of the parking system, which may utilize a local communication network of the parking facility itself, if such exists. A UIU may operate as a "stand alone" unit, i.e., as an autonomous unit with its own controller, and/or may communicate with other UIUs via the local communication network of the system.

The central controller of the system is further arranged and configured to communicate via conventional publicly available communication networks with potential customers and/or other systems constructed and operative according to the present invention located outside the parking facility. In particular, it is envisioned that a single central controller can control a parking facility consisting of a plurality of parking lots in different locations.

It should be noted that the particular terms and expressions used, and the particular structural and operational details disclosed, in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings are provided to illustrate various specific configurations and examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, which should not be regarded as limiting, in any way, the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It should be understood that the invention may be practiced or carried out in various ways and by other embodiments. Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a top view schematic illustration of a typical floor 10 of a parking facility (not shown) embodying a parking system and method according to one embodiment of the present invention. As used in the specifications and claims herein, the phrase "parking facility" refers to at least one parking garage including at least one floor, or at least one parking lot. Floor 10 typically includes a plurality of parking spaces 12 and a plurality of access aisles 14 used by the motor vehicle operators to reach any one particular parking space 12. In the illustrated embodiment, floor 10 is defined by walls 16, ceiling 18 and a paved surface 20.

According to the present invention, all the parking spaces 12 in the parking facility, or only selected parking spaces, may be included within the "parking facility" of the invention and operate according to the inventive method. Each such parking space 12 is associated with a UIU 22, which may be mounted on wall 16 adjacent to parking space 12. According to another embodiment of the invention, a UIU 22' is mounted on ceiling 18 between two parking spaces 12, one on each side of UIU 22' and both are associated with UIU 22'. Both UIU 22 and UIU 22' are arranged and configured to perform several tasks, such as displaying visual messages and/or playing audio messages, collecting images and/or voices, receiving data of a motor vehicle, identifying a motor vehicle or any part thereof which is located in the parking space, identifying the operator of the vehicle, communicating and exchanging data with the central controller and/or with each other by a local or wide area network, and preferably communicating by short-range wireless communication means with a mobile transmitter-receiver device, which may be hand held by a motor vehicle operator and/or disposed within the motor vehicle 24. Alternatively, for a parking lot with no walls or ceiling, mounting stands or posts can be erected to hold the UIUs. Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a block diagram illustrating a system 40 constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system includes at least one UIU 42, and preferably a plurality of UIUs, coupled to a central controller 46 via a local area network or a wide area network 44 (herein referred to as "LAN/WAN"), which can be a line and/or wireless network. It will be appreciated that central controller 46 may form an integral part of one UIU of the system, rather than comprising a separate unit. Each UIU 42 may also be coupled to other UIUs via LAN/WAN 44, and adapted and configured to communicate with each other, as well as with the central controller 46.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that central controller 46 may comprise standard computer hardware, or a call center, and may be already available at the parking facility. Central controller 46 is coupled to a conventional database 56 for storing and managing data collected by the parking system of the present invention, and performing statistical computations thereon. Database 56 may be a local database serving the parking system or a common database serving other systems as well. It will further be appreciated that control and management software 48 for executing the various steps of receiving data from users, allocating, monitoring and controlling parking spaces in the parking facility and the entrance and exit thereto, in accordance with the present invention, is readily programmable by those skilled in the art.

System 40 also includes a public communication networks interface 50 for connecting central controller 46 to public communication networks, such as line telephone networks, wireless telephone networks, Internet, cables and the like, which permit the public to communicate with system 40 and exchange data required for operating the method of the present invention.

System 40 further includes a parking entrance and exit control unit 52. Entrance and exit control unit 52 includes a UIU which is coupled via WAN/LAN 44 to central controller 46 and/or to the other UIUs, for exchange of data to permit monitoring and controlling the entrance and exit of authorized motor vehicles, in and out of the parking facility. Central controller 46, and/or the UIUs of the system, may provide control unit 52 with data of authorized vehicles, including their anticipated time of arrival and departure. The UIU of control unit 52 is arranged and configured to identify authorized vehicles which desire to enter shortly prior to the start of their allocated parking period or exit the parking facility after parking, and automatically open or close the appropriate gate. Optionally, if UIU 42 identifies the operator of the departing motor vehicle as being different than the original operator, the UIU may send a message to control unit 52 to keep the gate closed, and notify central controller 46 which, in turn, may alert the original operator. Alternatively, instead of a UIU, a camera may be placed at the entrance or exit gate to monitor the gate by continually sending images collected at the gate to the central controller for identifying the approaching vehicle.

An automatic dialing director 54 may optionally be provided, coupled to central controller 46, to permit the central controller to contact, via public communications networks interface 50, a user whose vehicle was parked in the parking facility, and whose vehicle has just left its parking space.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a schematic block diagram illustrating a User Interface Unit (UIU) generally referenced 60, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. UIU 60 includes a power supply 66 for powering all the elements of the UIU, and a central processing unit (CPU) 62. CPU 62 is coupled to a memory unit 64 for storing data, such as data of a particular motor vehicle authorized to park in the parking space associated with UIU 60, and data being continually collected by the UIU. CPU 62 and memory 64 may comprise any suitable conventional CPU or memory element, respectively. Such conventional CPU 66 may include a digital signal processing (DSP) unit or may be capable of performing DSP and pattern recognition functions (as known and available). UIU 60 further includes an audio unit 63, a visual unit 73, a communication unit 83, and a wireless communication unit 93, all coupled to, and controlled by, CPU 62. Audio unit 63 includes an audio interface 68, a microphone 70 and a speaker 72 for recording and/or playing audio messages. In the illustrated embodiment, CPU 62 activates and controls microphone 70 via audio interface

68 for recording audio messages from the operator of the parked vehicle at the parking space and storing these messages in memory 64.

Central controller 46 may utilize communication unit 83 _s CPU 62, and audio interface 68, for sending vocal messages to the motor vehicle operator at the parking space via speaker 72. These messages, such as advertisements or other information, or a warning to an unauthorized vehicle operator that he or she is parking in an incorrect space, may be sent automatically or may be initiated by a parking facility attendant, and may be stored in the central controller.

Alternatively, or in addition, CPU 62 may be configured for automatically sending to the motor vehicle operator at the parking space, via speaker 72, vocal messages, which were stored in memory 64. The stored vocal messages may include an advertisement or information that was pre-selected as appropriate to the location of a particular parking space, or in accord with personal preferences of a particular user parked at the parking space, and central computer 46 or, optionally CPU 62, may be arranged and configured for automatically choosing a suitable stored vocal message and playing it via speaker 72 when the user arrives at the parking space. According to the present embodiment, audio interface 68 may be implemented in a conventional PC sound card.

Visual unit 73 includes a visual sensing and storing means coupled to the UIU and arranged to collect and store images of objects in the associated parking space. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, visual unit 73 includes a camera 78 and a camera interface 76 coupled to CPU 62. Camera 78 can be a video camera, a still camera, a digital camera, or any other type of camera. Alternatively, any other means of visually monitoring and identifying objects in a parking space can be utilized. For example, a bar code could be affixed to each vehicle, and each UIU 60 could include a bar code reader and appropriate interface for reading and identifying the bar codes on the vehicles.

CPU 62 activates and controls camera 78 via camera interface 76 for monitoring an adjacent parking space 12 and any object moving in or out thereof, such as a motor vehicle arriving or leaving the space, by continually collecting images of the parking space and any object located in it, such as a parked vehicle, if any, including any part of the vehicle or markings thereon, such as a license plate number, and/or its operator, and storing the images in memory 64. It will be appreciated that if, for some reason, camera 78 is unable to provide images of the vehicle parked at the particular parking space associated with a particular UIU, that UIU may receive images of such vehicle from an UIU of a neighboring parking space whose camera has a clearer view of such vehicle.

CPU 62 may also be configured for identifying the motor vehicle in the space and/or its operator, from the images collected by visual unit 73, as by utilizing known conventional pattern recognition techniques. Camera interface 76 may further be configured for providing control by CPU 62 over all parameters of operation of camera 78, such as tilt, pan, zooming, lens angle, etc. Communication unit 83 includes a communication interface 80 and a

LAN/WAN 84 for communication between all UIUs of system 40 and central controller 46. CPU 62 is arranged for monitoring and controlling transmittal and reception of data over LAN/WAN 84 via communication interface 80. UIU 60 is coupled to the central controller 46 and, possibly, to all the other UIUs via LAN/WAN 84 for two-way interactive communication.

Wireless communication unit 93 includes a short range communication interface 82 for communicating with a mobile transmitter-receiver device 92, such as a cellular telephone, PDA, etc., which is carried by the motor vehicle operator or disposed within the vehicle. Short range communication interface 82 may be coupled to a plurality of communication devices, such as an IR transmitter-receiver 86, WAP transmitter-receiver 88 and Blue-Tooth transmitter-receiver 90, all for wireless short range communication. CPU 62 controls transmittal and reception of IR, WAP or Blue Tooth audio and/or visual messages to and from mobile transmitter-receiver device 92, thus providing for short range wireless intercommunication between the motor vehicle operator at the parking space and the UIU 60 (via wireless communication unit 93) and/or the central controller 46 (via wireless communication unit 93 and communication unit 83). Various IR, WAP or Blue Tooth audio and/or visual messages may be programmed in advance in memory 64, and automatically transmitted to the vehicle operator via mobile transmitter-receiver device 92 at the entrance or exit gate and/or at the parking space, under pre-defined conditions, such as determined by processing of images from the parking space associated therewith. IR, WAP or Blue Tooth audio and/or visual messages transmitted by mobile transmitter-receiver device 92 and received by UIU 60 from the operator may also be stored in memory 64. Such short range wireless communication system, coupled with communication unit 83, forms a private communication network nearly free of blocking effects which are usually severe in parking garages. The system requires no license and provides the motor vehicle operator with a capability of tying into various communication networks, such as the Internet, via central controller 46. It will be appreciated that the motor vehicle operator may utilize transmitter-receiver device 92 to communicate with entrance and exit control unit 52 (Fig. 2) for opening the entrance or exit gate of the parking facility.

UIU 60 also includes a display 74, coupled to CPU 62, for displaying visual messages to the operator of the parked vehicle at the parking space. Preferably, display 74 of each UIU displays the license plate number of the vehicle authorized to park in the particular space associated with that UIU at a particular time, or displays special markings affixed on the vehicle. Central controller 46 may utilize communication unit 83, CPU 62 and display 74, for sending and displaying to the motor vehicle operator at the parking space, automatically or initiated by a parking facility attendant, various visual messages which may be stored in the central controller and/or memory 64, such as a warning to an unauthorized vehicle operator that he or she is parking in an incorrect space, or advertisements or other information.

It will be appreciated that CPU 62 may be configured for automatically displaying to the motor vehicle operator at the parking space, via display 74, visual messages, which were stored in memory 64. The stored visual messages may include an advertisement or information that was pre-selected as appropriate to the location of a particular parking space, or in accord with personal preferences of a particular user parked at the parking space. Central computer 46 or optionally CPU 62 may be arranged and configured for automatically choosing a suitable stored visual message and displaying it via display 74 when the user arrives at the parking space.

The images collected and stored by UIU 60 as described above, may be used for identifying a parked motor vehicle and/or its operator and/or any object moving in or out of the associated parking space. UIU 60 may determine that a motor vehicle is parked at the monitored parking space, as by conventional image processing techniques and by measuring a pre-deterrnined time duration in which the vehicle was motionless. Once UIU 60 determines that a vehicle is parked, it may further determine whether it is an authorized or unauthorized vehicle, as by conventional comparison techniques between the data of a particular motor vehicle authorized to park in the parking space associated with UIU 60, previously received from central controller 46 and stored in memory unit 64, and the images being continually collected by visual unit 73 and stored in memory 64.

Thereafter, CPU 62 may send to central controller 46 a signal indicating whether the parked vehicle at the parking space is an authorized or unauthorized vehicle. CPU 62 may also automatically play stored vocal messages, such as welcome greetings or warning notices, to the operator of the authorized or unauthorized vehicle, respectively, via audio unit 63, and/or automatically display stored visual messages, such as welcome greetings or warning signs to the operator of the authorized or unauthorized vehicle, respectively, via display 74. If an operator of an unauthorized motor vehicle disregards the warning messages, the attendant of the parking facility may take suitable actions.

As soon as UIU 60 determines that a motor vehicle has left its parking space, it immediately sends a signal indicating the departure of the vehicle to central controller 46 and to entrance and exit control unit 52. The central controller may now allocate the space to another user. UIU 60 may determine that a motor vehicle has left a parking space by measuring a pre-determined time duration in which no images of the vehicle appear in the images collected by visual unit 73. It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the motor vehicle operator's image, which is stored by UIU 60 in memory 64 upon arrival may optionally be utilized to identify the operator of the motor vehicle when entering the parked vehicle for departing from the parking space. According to one embodiment of the invention, if such operator is not the original operator who parked the vehicle, or his image is not stored in memory 64, CPU 62 may send to central controller 46, and optionally also to entrance and control unit 52, a signal indicating a possible theft of the vehicle. In turn, central controller 46 may send an alarm message to the original operator, by means of automatic dialing director 54 (shown in Fig. 2), which is configured for establishing a link with any telephony destination, such as a line or cellular telephone device, a facsimile device, a computer via a modem, etc., and control unit 52, may prevent the opening of the exit gate.

In addition, or instead, the central controller may send an alarm message to a parking facility attendant, and also maintain the perpetrator's image for future reference.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all visual images and sounds collected by UIU 60 at the parking space and stored in memory 64, may also be sent by CPU 62 via communication unit 83 to central controller 46 for storing. The present invention has been described hereinabove with reference to visual identification of objects in a parking space, as this is the preferred embodiment at present. However, it will be appreciated that, alternatively, any other means for monitoring a space and identifying vehicles or persons in the space may be utilized. Conventional means designed to uniquely identify a motor vehicle operator may include voice recognition means, biometric identification means, such as fingerprints, hand prints, or retina structure identification means. Other conventional means to uniquely identify a motor vehicle may include means for locating a stolen vehicle and other such means, which are fixedly mounted in the vehicle. In such embodiments, the UIU would include identification devices, such as means for voice recognition, etc. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that all the components of a UIU may be located in a single location. Alternatively, selected components of the UIU may be mounted adjacent the associated parking space, such as the display and audio unit, and the collecting means, while other components may be mounted elsewhere. It will be appreciated that the UIUs described in the preferred embodiment are smart units, capable of performing the wide variety of functions described above. Alternatively, all data of authorized vehicles, data collected at the entrance and exit and at each parking space, and all stored messages, may be stored in central controller 46, only. Any processing of the data required by the system, such as identifying a motor vehicle at the entrance or exit of the parking facility or at the parking space, controlling the entrance and exit gates, identifying the operator of the vehicle at the parking space, and/or identifying any object moving in or out of the parking space, as well as sending audio or visual messages to the user at the parking space through LAN/ WAN 84 and the UIU adjacent thereto, may be performed by central controller 46.

According to such an embodiment, the UIU would on one hand, merely activate and control camera 78 and microphone 70 for collecting images and sounds at the parking space, and on the other hand, merely activate and control display 74 and speaker 72 for transmitting messages to the user at the parking space, while all processing, identifying, decision making and controlling would be performed by central controller 46.

The method of operation of the present invention is a method for monitoring parking spaces in a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces, which includes receiving data of motor vehicles to be parked in the parking facility, substantially continually collecting data from the parking spaces, processing the motor vehicle data and the parking spaces data, and automatically identifying from the parking spaces data and the motor vehicles data the motor vehicles parked in the parking spaces. The data of motor vehicles will be received generally from the central controller, but can also be received from a UIU. Collecting data is performed by one or more UIU's for their associated parking spaces. As stated above, processing the data can be accomplished by either the central controller, and/or by one or more UIUs.

One method according to the invention of allocating parking spaces is illustrated in Figs 4A and 4B, a flow chart 100 of the operation of the system according to one embodiment of the present invention. A user who wants a parking space allocated to him contacts central controller 46 (call center), via any public communication service, i.e., telephone, internet, wireless telephone, call center, by mail, fax, etc., and public communication networks interface 50 (Fig. 2), and requests a particular parking space for particular date and time (block 102). The central controller determines whether the space is available for the requested time (block 104). If the parking space is available as requested the central controller informs the user of the availability of the parking space and its price. A first time user is asked to provide, and the central controller collects, the following information: name, ID number and/or special logo, if he has one, phone number, fax number, email address, license plate number, motor vehicle model and make, and credit card number (block 106). If the user has already used the service in the past, and wants to park the same vehicle, he needs merely provide his code. Then, the central controller checks the credit card of the caller (block

108) and, if it is valid, the central controller confirms the order and the UIU displays an indication that the requested space has been allocated (block 110). The central controller further provides the user with a permanent personal code, and a location, as by a standard code location, or map or directions to the parking space. If the credit card is not valid, the central controller informs the user of the rejection of his credit card and asks for an alternative credit card number or other credit means (block 112). It will be appreciated that any means of credit and payment, other than a credit card, can alternatively be utilized in accordance with the present invention.

Once assigned a permanent code, the user can program it in his cell phone for automatic identification by the central controller during later calls, so that the next time he calls the parking facility for parking the same motorcar, he need only state the desired parking space, date, and start time of parking. The user may change his permanent code at will.

If the requested space is not available, the central controller determines whether another space is available (block 114), preferably in the vicinity of the requested space. If so, the central controller informs the user of the available options (block 116). If the user chooses to select one of the available spaces (block 118), the central controller collects the necessary information (block 106), as described above. If there are no available spaces, the central controller will inform the user what is the estimated waiting time for a successful space allocation (block 120), and if the user is willing to wait for any available space (block 122), the central controller will inform him as soon as a space becomes available (block 124). If the user is still interested in reserving a space (block 126), the central controller collects the necessary information (block 106), checks the user's credit at the credit card company (block 108) and confmns the reservation (block 110).

Alternatively, if the user does not choose to select an available space other than the desired one (block 118), he is informed of the waiting time for the desired space (block 128), and he may choose to remain on a waiting list for that space (block 130). In this case, the central controller informs the user as soon as the desired space becomes available (block 132) and, if the user is still interested in reserving the space (block 126), the central controller collects the necessary information (block 106), checks the user's credit at the credit card company (blocks 108), and confirms the reservation (block 110).

After the central controller has allocated a parking space to a certain user, it sends an electronic message containing data for identifying the motor vehicle of that user, and/or for identifying the user, and the date and start time of the parking, to the UIU associated with that particular space. Accordingly, the UIU displays, at the proper time, an "allocated" message and the license plate number and/or the personal logo of the user. The data for identifying the motor vehicle of the user and/or the user may also be sent to a UIU at the entrance and exit control unit of the parking facility.

The central controller charges the user's account according to the actual parking time, or any other pricing arrangement the parking lot operator utilizes. If the user could not reserve a parking space and does not wish to wait for a specific allocation, the user can come to the parking lot, to see whether a random space has become available.

When a user having an allocated parking space enters or exits the parking facility, the vehicle is identified and the gate opens automatically (block 134). The gates may be controlled by a standard identification system. One possibility is to use the code given to the user by the central controller, as by transmitting the code by the user's cellular phone via a standard protocol (infra red, for example). Another option is to automatically identify the vehicle license number or other identifying features marked thereon, or any other unique identifier affixed to the vehicle, as by entrance/exit control unit 52 (Fig. 2) which may include an UIU placed at the entrance and exit of the parking facility, which opens the gate for an identified authorized vehicle. Optionally, the control unit holds stored data of the date and start time of the parking period reserved by the authorized user and permits entrance only shortly prior thereto. The control unit could also be utilized to open the gate upon receipt of a wireless short range communication ofan ID code from the mobile transmitter- receiver device or cellular phone in the vehicle. Alternatively, an attendant of the parking facility may open the gate after visually observing the motor vehicle (This option provides better security).

The central controller may optionally display or otherwise provide the location of the reserved parking space and/or directions to get there, as on a display of the control unit at the entrance of the parking facility. Alternatively, any conventional code system can be utilized to designate the allocated parking space. Preferably, the time of entrance to, and exit from, the parking facility is recorded by the control unit.

Once the user has entered the parking facility, he directs his motor vehicle towards his allocated space. The user can uniquely identify his allocated space by recognizing his license plate number, and/or his name and/or his logo and/or his photo being displayed by the UIU with which that space is associated (block 136). When the user parks his motor vehicle in his designated space, the UIU identifies the motor vehicle (e.g., license number, model, make, or in any other fashion) and reports to the central controller that that space is occupied by that particular authorized motor vehicle as of that time (block 138). The UIU may also collect and store an image of the user of the motor vehicle as he is leaving the parked motor vehicle. Thereafter, the UIU may automatically play stored vocal messages, such as welcome greetings to the operator of the authorized vehicle (or warning notices to the operator of an unauthorized vehicle) via its audio unit (block 140). It may also automatically display visual messages, such as welcome greetings to the operator of the authorized vehicle, or warning notices to the operator of an unauthorized vehicle, via its display (block 140). If an operator of an unauthorized motor vehicle disregards the warning messages, the attendant of the parking facility may take suitable action.

In addition or alternatively, the UIU may initiate short-range communication with the user's mobile transmitter-receiver device to welcome and/or inform him about available offers and deals, and display and/or play such messages via the user's mobile transmitter-receiver device (block 142). If the user is a regular customer, such welcome greetings and information could be pre-arranged to suit his preferences, according to the parking location he has requested. Similarly, the user may initiate communication with the UIU and the central controller via the wireless communication unit of the UIU with his cellular phone, PDA or any other device that supports short-range wireless communication protocol (block 142).

As long as the vehicle remains parked in its allocated space, the UIU displays an identifying feature of the vehicle or its operator. The UIU associated with the parking space continually monitors and stores activity in the space (block 144). If desired, an attendant of the parking facility may also monitor visually any particular parking space in the facility, such as via the central controller and the UIU with which that space is associated.

When the vehicle leaves the parking space, the UIU associated therewith automatically notifies the central controller and the entrance and exit control unit (block 146). The UIU may determine that a motor vehicle has left the monitored parking space by measuring a pre-determined time duration in which no images of the vehicle are collected by the visual unit. The central controller preferably stores the time of departure, and immediately can allocate this space to another user (block 146). Optionally, the central controller also immediately sends the user whose vehicle has just left its allocated parking space, a message (voice, SMS, picture, fax, etc.), preferably via any public telephony system (block 146), informing the user that his vehicle has left its parking space. This message may have two purposes: A) to thank the user for utilizing the service, requesting any comments he may have and informing him of the actual parking charges accrued; and B) if the user receives that message while he is not in his vehicle, he may immediately realize that his vehicle has just left the parking space. If the vehicle is being operated by an unauthorized operator, the user may contact the central controller, which can automatically block the exit gates when the UIU at the exit identifies the user's vehicle, and alert security personnel and/or police with a full description of the vehicle and perpetrator. The exit gate control preferably has the same options as the entrance gate control. When the vehicle reaches the parking facility exit, if the vehicle is authorized to exit the facility, the gate is automatically opened (block 150). The display on the UIU associated with the vacated parking space, and the list of available parking locations in the central controller are updated, either upon departure of a parked vehicle from its parking space, or upon exit of the vehicle from the parking facility (block 152).

The UIU tasks and cycle states are illustrated in Fig. 5, a flow chart 160 of the various states of the UIU operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. The initial state of the UIU operation is a reset or a "first power-on", wherein the UIU connects to the central controller (not shown). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that while installing the system according to the present invention, it is initially reset to a state wherein the parking facility or any part thereof designated for dynamic allocation, is empty. In the event of a system shut-down, the central controller keeps a record of the state of the facility just prior to shutting-down in the database and assumes that state as soon as the system is operable again.

Upon initialization, the UIU may display an appropriate sign, e.g., "reserved", if the space has been allocated to a fleet of company vehicles; a vehicle identification feature, if the space has been allocated to a particular vehicle and is being saved for the arrival of the authorized vehicle; "no parking", if the space is available for allocation by the central controller; etc. (block 162). The UIU begins to continually monitor the associated parking space (block 164), as by continually taking images of the space with the camera, and storing the images for processing.

When the UIU detects that a motor vehicle is pulling into the parking space (block 166), it determines whether the vehicle is parked, as by measuring a pre-determined time duration in which the vehicle is motionless (blockl68).

If no vehicle is pulling in and the UIU detects an activity other than a vehicle pulling in (block 170), it may notify the central controller (block 172) and optionally, alert security personnel. If the UIU detects no activity at all, it checks whether the central controller has sent data of the next authorized motor vehicle (block 174), and if it has, the UIU changes the display (block 176), accordingly, and continues to monitor the parking space (block 164). When the UIU determines that a vehicle is parked (block 164) in the parking space, it identifies the vehicle, as by license plate number, color, model, make, and/or any other unique identifier, stores the time of the vehicle's arrival, and notifies the central controller (block 178) for updating the status of the parking facility. If the parked vehicle is authorized (block 180), the UIU may continue to display the vehicle number and/or identification feature and/or owner's logo (block 182). If the parked vehicle is not authorized, the UIU may display a "NO Parking" sign or any other warning notices, and preferably actuates an audible alarm (block 184). The UIU may also notify the central controller (block 172) which, in turn, may alert security personnel who may take proper action, and/or can record the time for possibly charging the unauthorized user.

The vehicle actually in the parking space is being continually identified, as described above, to ensure that the vehicle parked is, indeed, the authorized vehicle. The UIU may also identify motion and moving objects in the parking space by the same techniques. The UIU may also be used by an attendant to visually confirm that the correct vehicle is in the space (not shown).

The UIU continually monitors the parking space to ensure that a motor vehicle is parked, whether authorized or not (block 186). When the UIU detects that a vehicle is pulling out of the parking space (block 188), it determines whether the vehicle has cleared it (block 190), as by measuring a predetermined time duration from pulling out in which the UIU detects no activity. Then the UIU notifies the central controller that the parked vehicle has left the parking space and the central controller stores the time of departure and notifies the user (block 192). The central controller can now calculate the charge due for the time the vehicle was parked in the parking space, which can be paid at the exit gate. If the vehicle was an authorized one, the charge can be paid by a monthly bill, or charged to a credit card, or in any other fashion decided between the parking facility manager and the authorized user. The central controller also updates the status of the parking facility, including the list of available spaces.

After the vehicle clears the parking space, the UIU may display a "no parking" sign or the like (block 194), until it receives from the central controller data of the next authorized user (174).

The present invention is particularly useful in providing a long term parking arrangement for the vehicle fleet of a company. In this situation, the company pays for a certain number of allocated parking spaces, which will be occupied at different times and for different durations by vehicles in the fleet. Due to the dynamic allocation of spaces provided by the present invention, some of these spaces can be utilized by non-company users during the time when they are not in use by company vehicles. In this way, the company may pay less for monthly parking, while the parking facility owner earns money also when company cars are not present in the allocated spaces.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart 200 showing the parking options of a company vehicle. In this case, a company vehicle approaches the parking facility entrance without prior notice. The company vehicle is identified at the entrance gate by the control unit (block 202), which reports the arrival to the central controller (block 204). The central controller determines the status of the parked company vehicles and the status of the parking facility at that instant in time. If the parking facility is not full (block 206), the central controller will allocate an available parking space for the vehicle, on the spot (block 208). The gate is then automatically opened, and the display shows the number or code of the allocated space, and may provide directions thereto (block 210). The associated UIU is notified of the data of the company vehicle to which the space has been allocated (block 176 in Fig. 5 A). If the current occupancy status of company vehicles has reached its limit (block 212), the company will be charged extra (block 214), as would any other user of the facility. If the current occupancy status of company vehicles is below its limit, no charge will be collected for parking (block 216). If the parking facility is full, a "No Space" sign is displayed at the entrance gate (block 218), and the operator must seek parking elsewhere. In this case, if the current occupancy status of company vehicles has reached its limit (block 220) the company should not be compensated (block 222). But if the current occupancy status of company vehicles is below its limit, the company should be compensated (block 224), since the company's operator was unable to park in the parking facility, despite the monthly arrangement.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to what has been described hereinabove by way of example. Rather, the scope of the invention is limited solely by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring parking spaces in a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces, the system comprising: means for substantially continually collecting data from at least one parking space in said parking facility, said means for collecting being mounted adjacent the parking space; means for processing said parking space data; and means for automatically identifying, from said parking space data and from data of at least one motor vehicle to be parked in the parking facility, a motor vehicle parked in said parking space.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving said motor vehicle data.

3. The system according to claims 1 and 2, further comprising at least one user interface unit (UIU), said UIU including said means for collecting said parking space data, each parking space being associated with a UIU.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said UIU further comprising said means for processing data and said means for automatically identifying a motor vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said UIU further includes means for providing interactive communication with a motor vehicle operator at said parking space.

6. The system according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein said UIU further comprises said means for receiving said motor vehicle data.

7. The system according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein said UIU further comprises means for storing images of said parking space and any object therein.

8. The system according to claim7, wherein said object is any part of a motor vehicle which is located in said parking space.

9. The system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said UIU further comprises means for storing an image of an operator of a motor vehicle in said parking space.

10. The system according to any of claims 3-9, wherein only selected components of said UIU are mounted adjacent said parking space.

11. The system according to claim 3, and further comprising: a central controller coupled to said UIU, said central controller including: said means for receiving said motor vehicle data; and means for transferring said motor vehicle data to said UIU.

12. The system according to claim 3, wherein said central controller includes said means for receiving said motor vehicle data and further includes: said processing means; and said identifying means.

13. The system according to 12, wherein said central controller includes said storage means.

14. The system according to claims 11 and 13, and further comprising a plurality of UIUs coupled to said central controller and to each other via a local area network (LAN), for exchanging said motor vehicle data and said parking space data, each parking space in said parking facility being associated with a UIU.

15. The system according to claims 12 and 13, and further comprising a plurality of UIUs coupled to said central controller and to each other via a wide area network (WAN), for exchanging said motor vehicle data and said parking space data, each parking space in said parking facility being associated with a UIU.

16. The system according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein said central controller further includes an automatic dialing director configured for establishing a link with a telephony destination.

17. The system according to any of claims 2-16, wherein said means for receiving motor vehicle data includes a communication interface to at least one public network outside the system.

18. The system according to any of claims 3 to 17, wherein each UIU includes a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a memory unit for storing said motor vehicle data received and said parking space data collected by said UIU.

19. The system according to any of claims 3 to 18, wherein said UIU includes display means and is arranged to display visual messages, said display means being mounted adjacent the parking space.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said visual messages are selected from a group of messages stored in a memory unit in the system.

21. The system according to any of claims 3 to 20, wherein said UIU includes an audio unit arranged to play audio messages, said audio unit being mounted adjacent the parking space.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said audio messages are selected from a group of messages stored in a memory unit in the system.

23. The system according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein said means for collecting includes visual sensing means and image storage means arranged to collect and store images of objects in said parking space, and coupled to said means for processing and to said means for automatically identifying.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said visual sensing means includes a visual unit, comprising a camera and a camera interface.

25. The system according to any of claims 1 to 24, wherein said means for collecting includes an audio sensing and storage means arranged to collect and store sounds in said parking space, and said means for collecting are coupled to said means for processing and to said means for automatically identifying.

26. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a wireless communication unit including a short range wireless communication interface and transmitter-receiver device for communicating with a mobile transmitter-receiver.

27. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising means for allocating a particular parking space in the parking facility to a particular motor vehicle, according to said motor vehicle data and said parking space data.

28. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one entrance and exit control unit to permit monitoring and control of entrance and exit of motor vehicles, in and out of the parking facility.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said entrance and exit control unit includes at least one UIU which is coupled to a central controller for exchange of motor vehicle data and data collected at said entrance and exit of the parking facility.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said UIU of said entrance and exit control unit is further coupled to other UIUs, for exchange of parking space data and data collected at said entrance and exit of the parking facility.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said entrance and exit control unit includes at least one visual sensing means which is coupled to said central controller for continually sending images collected at said entrance and exit of the parking facility to said central controller.

32. A method for monitoring parking spaces in a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces, the method comprising: substantially continually collecting data from at least one parking space in said parking facility; processing said parking space data; automatically identifying, from said parking space data and from data of at least one motor vehicle to be parked in said parking facility, a motor vehicle parked in said parking space.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of receiving said motor vehicle data.

34. The method of claims 32 and 33, wherein said step of collecting is performed by a user interface unit (UIU) associated with each said parking space, said UIU including means for collecting parking space data.

35. The method of claim 32 and 33, wherein said steps of processing and identifying are performed by said UIU.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said step of receiving is performed by a central controller coupled to a user interface unit (UIU) associated with each said parking space

37. The method of claim 32 and 33, wherein: said steps of receiving, processing and identifying are performed by a central controller; and said step of collecting is performed by a UIU associated with each said parking space, said UIU being coupled to said central controller for transmission of collected parking space data.

38. The method according to any of claims 32-37, further comprising the step of allocating a specific parking space in the parking facility to a specific motor vehicle for a particular date and time according to said motor vehicle data and said parking space data.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein said step of allocating includes: receiving a request for a particular parking space for a particular motor vehicle for a particular date and time from a user; determining whether said particular space is available for the requested time; if the parking space is available as requested, collecting from said user motor vehicle data, and payment data of said user.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the step of allocating further includes the step of checking the credit of said user.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein the step of allocating includes the step of displaying, at said parking space, an indication that said parking space has been allocated.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein the step of allocating further includes: determining whether another space is available, if said parking space is not available; and, informing said user of said other parking space.

43. The method according to any of claims 39 to 42, further including, after said step of allocating, the step of sending said motor vehicle data, and a date and start time of parking, to a UIU associated with the allocated space.

44. The method according to any of claims 39 to 43, further including, after said step of allocating, the step of, sending said motor vehicle data to an entrance and exit control unit of the parking facility, for automatic operation of a gate.

45 The method according to claims 32 to 44 further comprising the steps of: identifying an operator entering a parked motor vehicle in said allocated parking space; determining whether said operator is said user; and notifying the exit control unit of the parking facility and the user, if said operator is not said user.

46. The method according to any of claims 39 to 45, further including the steps of: determining that a motor vehicle has left an allocated parking space; recording a time of departure; and calculating a parking cost for said motor vehicle.

47. The method according to claim 45 or 46, further comprising: re-allocating said parking space; and, displaying an indication that said parking space has been allocated.

48. The method according to claim 45 or 46, further comprising: sending a message to the user that said motor vehicle has left said allocated parking space.

49. The method according to claim 45 or 46, further comprising: sending said motor vehicle data to said entrance and exit control unit of the parking facility, for automatic operation of a gate.

50. The method according to claim 44, further comprising the steps of: identifying a company car at an entrance to the parking facility; determining availability of parking spaces in the parking facility; and displaying an indication that said parking facility is full, if the parking facility is full.

51. The method according to claim 44, further comprising the steps of: identifying a company car at an entrance to the parking facility; determining availability of parking spaces in the parking facility; and allocating an available parking space to said company car, if the parking facility is not full.

52. The method according to claim 50, further comprising the steps of: determining occupancy status of the company; and compensating said company, if the occupancy status of the company of said company car has not reached its limit.

53. The method according to claim 51 , further comprising the steps of: determining occupancy status of the company; and charging said company extra, if the occupancy status of the company of said company car has reached its limit.