Computer-implemented system and method for offering commercial parking reservations

摘要

A computer-implemented system and method for offering commercial parking reservations through flexible loading zones is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a business district are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces as a loading zone is reserved. A reservation request from a business is accepted. The business is confirmed as eligible. The request is granted, provided the requested parking space is available over any other reservations. Use of the loading zone is managed. The parking availability indicator is activated contemporaneous to the reservation period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. An identity of a driver is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is permitted upon matching the driver's identity to the business.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for offering commercial parking reservations through flexible loading zones, comprising:
managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces disbursed over a plurality of physically-separate and openly-disbursed parking locations in a business district of an urban environment through a centrally-located server, the server configured to interface over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer executable program modules, comprising:
interfacing by the computer processor via the computer network a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces;interfacing by the computer processor via the computer network a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces;interfacing with the server via the computer network a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces, each of the parking availability indicators comprising a plurality of indications that correspond to an availability of each of the associated parking spaces for parking based upon actual, reserved, and restricted use of the parking space as provided to the parking availability indicator by the server and by the smart parking device and the vehicle occupancy sensor that both correspond to each of th parking spaces with which the parking availability indicator is associated; anddesignating by the server at least one of the parking spaces as a loading zone for use by businesses during scheduled times and days; reserving by the server use of one such parking space for the loading zone, comprising:
maintaining by the server a list of authorized businesses for reserving the parking space for the loading zone, accepting by the server a request for a reservation of the parking space for the loading zone from a business comprising a time and date over which a reservation period would be in effect, and confirming that the business is eligible to reserve the parking space for the loading zone by identifying the business in the list of the authorized businesses; andupon confirmation of eligibility, granting by the server the request provided that the reservation period occurs within the scheduled times and days and the parking space for the loading zone is available over any other reservations stored in the server; and managing by the server use of the parking space for the loading zone, comprising:
activating by the server the parking availability indicator associated with the parking the loading zone and indicating reserved use of the parking space for the loading zone by the parking availability indicator that corresponds to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the loading zone, as provided to the corresponding parking availability indicator from the server via the network, throughout the time period during the scheduled times and days;sensing occupancy of the requested parking space by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor;determining an identity of a driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device; andpermitting by the server the use of the loading zone during the scheduled times and days upon matching the driver's identity to the business to whom the parking reservation was granted.