Low power vehicle detection

摘要

A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.

主权项

1. A method of operating a parking meter, the method comprising:
positioning a meter unit in a housing, wherein the housing comprises a wireless tag storing a unique identification code that corresponds in a database at a central management system to location specific settings, wherein the meter unit comprises a control module, a short-range communications interface, a contactless electronic payment reader, and a wireless transceiver; receiving, by the control module via the short range communications interface, the unique identification code stored in the wireless tag; detecting an object in proximity to the meter unit, the detecting being based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter unit, performed with a low power proximity sensor; activating a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, wherein the directional sensor draws more power than the proximity sensor; receiving sensor data at the control module from the directional sensor, the received sensor data indicating a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter unit; determining a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data; upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, storing an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination; and transmitting, by the control module via the wireless transceiver, the unique identification code and payment information received at the contactless electronic payment reader to the central management system.