WO2007134606A1 - System for monitoring and administration of a parking facility - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for monitoring and administration of a parking facility, said parking facility (1) comprising one or more parking spaces (10) and at least one entrance (20; 30). The system comprises a registration unit (50) that comprises a registration transceiver (54) allocated to said at least one entrance (20; 30), which transceiver is adapted for wireless communication. Further, the system comprises at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2), said validation unit (90) comprising a transponder, and a portable receiver unit such as a portable inspection unit (104). The registration transceiver (54) allocated to said at least one entrance (20; 30) is adapted for establishing a communication with said at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2), when a vehicle is present in a predefined location near the registration transceiver. According to the invention, the system further facilitates a transmission of an alert signal to said portable receiver unit or to a person, to which said portable receiver unit is allocated, in dependence on predefined criteria relating to a vehicle passing said entrance.

Description

SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND ADMINISTRATION OF A PARKING FACILITY

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a system for monitoring and administration of a parking facility, wherein said parking facility comprises one or more parking spaces and at least one entrance.

The invention also relates to a validation unit system for monitoring and administration of access to one or more service facilities.

Background of the invention

Systems for managing parking facilities are known in a multitude of varieties, ranging from systems, where vehicles are admitted free of charge, but where certain limits such as time limitations must be observed, over systems, where only certain vehicles are allowed access, e.g. vehicles of residents, to systems involving payment for the parking and where numerous systems are provided for facilitating such payments, including e.g. systems involving the payment of a specific amount allowing a predefined parking time, and systems, where a parking ticket is given to the user of a vehicle upon entering the parking facility and where the user pays for the lapsed parking time when leaving the parking facility, etc. Also systems involving the use of credit cards for payment and mobile telephone account payments are known.

The management of parking facilities and other restricted access areas have resulted in various more or less automated systems for the monitoring and administration of such facilities. For example, WO 94/07206 Al discloses an electronic parking management method and apparatus for a restricted access area having an entrance and an exit, at each of which a base transceiver is located. The base transceiver can communicate with a plurality of vehicle borne transponders and a management computer. When a vehicle approaches a parking facility and the transponder enters the radio field transmitted by the base transceiver, data is interchanged between the two units, e.g. a unique code identifying the parking facility is transmitted to the vehicle borne transponder and a unique code identifying the vehicle is transmitted to the base transceiver. Further, the number of parking credits, which the transponder has available for the specific parking facility is transmitted to the base transceiver. The base transceiver determines whether the transponder contains a sufficient number of parking credits, and if this is the case, the base transceiver transmits information of the current date and time to the transponder, and further the entrance gate is opened. When the vehicle approaches the exit and the transponder enters the radio field transmitted by the exit base transceiver, information packets are exchanged, including the vehicle identification code, the elapsed time since arrival, a request for a total parking fee calculated by the transponder, etc.

If the information received by the central computer via the base transceiver indicates proper payment through debiting in the transponder, the exit base transceiver transmits a signal releasing the vehicle through the exit gate, e.g. lifting the gate.

Further, the central management computer is updated in order to accurately reflect which vehicles remain in the parking facility.

According to this prior art, a customer may purchase additional parking credits from the manager of the parking facility, which additional parking credits may be programmed into the transponder via the central management computer. Further, this prior art system allows for the directing of a vehicle to specific parking spaces, e.g. short/long term parking spaces or available parking spaces, by means of information provided by the central management computer and displayed on a visual display on the transponder.

Still further, according to this prior art, the system may perform a polling by means of the entrance and exit base transceivers and possibly by means of additional transceivers in order to update the central computer's inventory record of vehicles in the parking facility and in order to determine if any vehicles have depleted their internally store parking credit account. If this is the case, a signal may be transmitted to facility attendants in order for these to take appropriate action, i.e. in case a vehicle that fulfilled the requirements when approaching the parking facility and therefore had been allowed to enter, but now has depleted its internally store parking credit account. However, no further information is given as to the action taken by these attendants.

Apparently, this prior art system allows the management of a parking facility to be performed in an automatic manner.

However, as it will also be apparent, this prior art system requires that the entrances and the exits are provided with gates that has to be opened and closed, controlled by a central computer. Thus, such a prior art system requires such equipment to be installed and therefore it also requires maintenance of such mechanically operated equipment to be performed, e.g. at regular intervals and/or when damaged and/or malfunctioning.

Also, such a prior art system has the drawback that if a vehicle enters the entrance area without a transponder system corresponding to the system used by the specific parking facility, for example if the vehicle operator is of the impression that the parking facility is a common payment parking facility, the vehicle is not allowed to enter the parking facility and may thus be required to leave the area, which may cause disturbances to other customers and dissatisfaction to the vehicle operator in question.

Similar problems arise if a vehicle is trying to leave the parking facility after a period of time superseding the time allowed by the parking credits contained in its transponder. In such a case the entrance gate will not be released, again creating disturbances to other customers and presumably requiring action to be taken by parking attendants. Still further, this prior art system has the drawback that if a vehicle is parked for longer than the parking credits stored in its transponder allows, it may be difficult and time-consuming to locate the vehicle, even if the system has alerted facility attendants, since these have no or little information as to which vehicle is concerned and no information as to where the vehicle in question is parked.

Further, US 2002/0084915 Al discloses a parking facility system, which according to a particular embodiment utilizes smart cards for use authorization. The smart card can function as a prepaid credit card that can be used until depleted, with the option of purchasing additional credits, or as a debit card which automatically deducts funds from an account when it is used. Further, the smart cards can be produced with a predetermined value, which cards can be purchased by the users and discarded when depleted. The card may contain information such as a user identification and level of parking privilege authorization. The parking facility may comprise different parking areas, e.g. with different levels of security, a VIP parking areas etc., and by means of the information contained in the smart card the user may gain access to the specific area(s), which the user is allowed to enter.

The user gains access to the parking facility by interfacing the smart card with a system processor via a user interface located at the entrance to the specific parking area, e.g. a level I or a level II parking area and corresponding user interface. The user interface comprises an input device in the form of a magnetic strip reader, a card reader, a keyboard, a keypad, a bar code scanner a touch screen or the like and the user interface may also comprise an output device in the form of a display, a printer etc. When interfacing with the system processor, the parking facility usage can be debited from the smart card.

As explained above, this prior art system requires that the user enters the smart card in a reader or the like situated at the entrance in order to gain access, and it is obvious that the parking facility is equipped with gate facilities, i.e. facilities hindering a vehicle in entering the facility if the user has not been authorized, i.e. by means of a valid smart card. Thus, this prior art system has the drawback that a wireless authorization and administration is not provided and that the system requires gates to be used thereby leading to the drawbacks associated with such gates.

A method for managing parking spaces using electronic parking tickets is described in CA 2 507 611 Al. Here, the electronic parking ticket containing a transponder can be purchased at a terminal in a conventional manner, e.g. by inserting coins or by debiting a payment card at the terminal, and the issued ticket will bear the authorized parking time limit, corresponding to the payment. The electronic parking ticket takes the place of a conventional parking ticket and the user thus places the electronic parking ticket behind the windshield of the vehicle. A parking enforcement officer can check the parked vehicle by means of a portable reader, which can read the information carried by the electronic parking ticket through the windshield by means of radio signals. Thus, the integrity, authenticity and validity of the parking ticket can be verified. Further, the portable reader has functions for printing out fines or for sending parking data to a remote dedicated server over a mobile telephone network.

However, this method for managing parking spaces is not related to an automated monitoring and administration of a parking facility, and further, the method is not related to restricted access parking facilities, but to pay parking spaces, e.g. individual parking spaces, in particular on-road parking spaces. WO 03/019485 Al discloses a system for the payment and monitoring of fees, in particular fees for parked vehicles, which system comprises a personal device carried by a user, either on his or her person or in their vehicle. When the vehicle is parked, the user has to enter the appropriate parking fee for the particular space by means of a keypad, and the fee will be deducted from the value on a smart card that can be inserted in the personal device.

Thus, it will be understood that this prior art system requires manual activation and input from the user.

Further, this prior art system requires that the parked vehicles have to be checked by a parking warden, who has to patrol the designated parking areas in order to monitor whether the personal devices have been activated and whether the correct fee is being deducted from the smart card. This can be done by means of a monitoring device carried by the parking warden, which monitoring device can communicate via infrared or short range radio with a personal device in a vehicle, when the parking warden passes the vehicle, whereby information regarding e.g. whether the personal device have been activated and details of the fee being deducted can be recorded by the monitoring device.

Thus, this prior art system is not related to automated monitoring and administration of a parking facility, and further, the system is not related to restricted access parking facilities, but to pay parking spaces, e.g. individual parking spaces, as a substitute for parking meters and the like. Furthermore, the system requires that one or more parking wardens need to patrol the parking areas in order to monitor that the users have activated their personal devices and that they have entered the correct parking fee. Further, WO 02/01485 Al describes a travel related smart card system including a smart card payment processing facility for automated payments of fares, tolls and parking fees. The smart card comprises a contactless interface for communicating by means of radio-frequency signals with payment processors, including parking fee processors. However, parking systems as such and the administration or monitoring hereof is not described in this prior art document.

WO 2004/055751 Al relates to an automatic system for monitoring and management of parking spaces, where the vehicles using the parking spaces have to comprise a mobile recognition unit, containing a user code, and where a detection sensor has to be installed next to each of the parking spaces. Such a detection sensor can receive the user code from a mobile recognition unit placed in a vehicle parked next to it, and the information is transmitted to a fixed data collection station related to a number of parking spaces. From the collection station(s) the information regarding the parked vehicles is transmitted to a control centre for decoding and processing.

Thus, it will be seen that this prior art system requires that a detection sensor is placed next to each of the parking spaces, thereby requiring a relatively large number of components placed at the parking facility.

According to a particular embodiment as suggested in WO 2004/055751 Al, a single modified vehicle sensor can be allocated to a space, where a number of vehicles can park. However according to this embodiment, the system and the mobile recognition unit have to be modified in order for the user to press a "parking start" and a "parking end" pushbutton in order for the system to perform. Thus, this embodiment does not represent an automated system, since the system relies on the correct manual input by the user, and it has further not been described how it can be monitored or checked that the parking space(s) is/are used in a correct manner. WO 95/08162 Al relates to a device located in a vehicle for the registration of vehicle fees such as road and bridge tolls and parking fees. When the device passes into a toll facility area, a transponder in the device receives a signal from the toll facility, whereby the device is activated for fee registration. The device comprises an accelerometer for detecting, when the vehicle is stopped, and a timer for registering the fees, which must be paid for driving in the zone, for example deducted from a smart card. When the vehicle is stopped, for example parked at a place, where a time related parking fee must be paid, the user must manually set the device to register the relevant fee, in which case a signal unit will indicate that a fee registration is going on and further also the fee rate may be indicated. This can be checked by a parking officer. Thus, this prior art system also relies on manual actions performed by the user and further, monitoring of all parked vehicles by parking officers are required.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a system for monitoring and administration of a parking facility that provides an improvement in relation to the prior art systems.

In particular, it is an objective to present such a system that provides access to a parking facility in a physically contactless manner, e.g. a manner not requiring physical contact and/or interaction between a user and a stationary user interface such as a card reader or coin receiver placed at an entrance or an exit.

Further, it is an objective of the present invention to provide such a system, which provides a flexible management.

Still further, it is an objective of the present invention to provide such a system, which is cost-efficient and which may be established in a straight-forward manner, also at already established parking facilities. Also, it is an objective of the present invention to provide such a system, which may be operated in highly automated manner, thereby requiring only a minimum of manpower in order to be operated efficiently and to the satisfaction of all involved, e.g. customers as well as parking facility operators.

Even further, it is an object of the invention to provide such a system that may readily be provided without having gates or the like at the entrances.

These and other objectives are achieved by the invention as explained in further detail in the following.

Summary of the invention

The invention relates to a system for monitoring and administration of a parking facility, wherein said parking facility comprises one or more parking spaces and at least one entrance, and wherein said system comprises

- a registration unit comprising a registration transceiver allocated to said at least one entrance, said transceiver being adapted for wireless communication,

- at least one validation unit allocated to a vehicle, said validation unit comprising a transponder, and

- a portable receiver unit such as a portable inspection unit, wherein said registration transceiver allocated to said at least one entrance is adapted for establishing a communication with said at least one validation unit allocated to a vehicle, when a vehicle is present in a predefined location near the registration transceiver, and wherein said system further facilitates a transmission of an alert signal to said portable receiver unit or to a person, to which said portable receiver unit is allocated, in dependence on predefined criteria relating to a vehicle passing said entrance. Hereby, it is achieved that a vehicle being equipped with a validation unit can validly and in an authorized manner, but in spite hereof in a quick and efficient manner, gain access to the parking facility when communication has taken place between the validation unit and the registration transceiver comprised in the registration unit located at the entrance, where said communication can comprise the transmittal of data borne by the validation unit, e.g. an identity code, and possibly the identity of the parking facility, the time of arrival and/or other type of information. The communication takes place while the vehicle is in the vicinity of the registration transceiver, possibly while the vehicle is slowly passing the registration unit. Thus, a user may enter the parking facility in a relatively quick and effortless manner, i.e. without having to manipulate any admittance facilities, and without having to wait for an admittance procedure to take place. This advantage is achieved since the system is configured in such a manner that if for example a vehicle passes the entrance registration unit and a communication is not established, for example in case the vehicle is not equipped with a validation unit, or the communication does not lead to a result satisfying predefined criteria, a signal will be transmitted for example from the registration unit via a central control unit to a portable receiver allocated to e.g. a parking attendant, who then can take care of the vehicle that has passed without fulfilling the admittance criteria. On the other hand, a vehicle that is provided with a validation unit in accordance with the invention, can enter the facility in a manner not giving rise to the transmittal of an alert signal to e.g. a parking attendant, and thus not giving rise to any administrative additional work, for example manual operation on the part of the e.g. parking attendant, and further providing the user with parking space and service in an efficient and in particular cost-efficient manner as also explained above.

The system according to the invention may find use in connection with a wide variety of parking facilities, e.g. not only in connection with payment parking facilities, but also in connection with other types of parking facilities. For example, the system may be used in connection with a parking facility that may be used free of charge, but where limitations are put on the use, for example the parking time. In such an instance, when a vehicle comprising a validation unit in accordance with the invention enters the parking facility, data such as the identity of the vehicle, the entrance time, etc are registered. If the vehicle is not registered as having left the parking facility within the prescribed tile limit, e.g. two hours, an alert signal is transmitted to the e.g. parking attendant, for example to a cellular phone, a pager, a portable inspection unit or another receiver in the possession of the parking attendant, who then takes action as described above, e.g. by locating the vehicle and issuing a parking fine etc. Thereby, the administration of such a parking facility is also made more efficient in comparison with prior art systems that mostly rely on parking attendants that must check that the parking restrictions are not violated. Thus, prior art systems require a substantial amount of manpower, if the parking facility has to be checked continuously or regularly, whereas in accordance with the invention, the amount of manpower can be reduced to a minimum while still achieving that substantially all vehicles that violate the parking restrictions, are given a fine.

The wireless communication may take place using techniques that are readily available and according to different protocols, etc., using for example electromagnetic communication, e.g. radio frequency radiation (rf), infrared communication (IR), ultraviolet radiation (UV) etc. which will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

According to an advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 2, said validation unit may comprise an electronic chip, for example comprised in an electronic ticket, a smart card or the like.

Hereby, it is achieved that the validation unit may be provided using a readily available technique and possibly the validation unit may be one of a number of different e.g. smart cards that have been issued by other operators and already used by customers for other applications than parking transactions. Furthermore, the validation unit may function as a prepaid credit card that can be used until depleted, with the option of purchasing additional credits, or as a debit card which automatically deducts funds from an account when it is used. Still further, the validation units in the form of e.g. smart cards can be produced with a predetermined value, which cards can be purchased by the users and discarded when depleted.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 3, said system may comprise a control system, said control system comprising means for storing and/or retransmitting of information relating to said at least one validation unit allocated to a vehicle, and wherein said control system further comprises means for performing a time registration, such as registering a time of arrival, a time of departure and/or lapsed time.

Hereby, it is achieved that the payment for usage of the parking facility can take place in a time dependent manner, e.g. whereby the payment can be taken care of when the vehicle leaves the parking facility where the exit will be registered by a registration unit, which may register the time of departure and/or the lapsed time. The actual payment may be performed in a number of varieties, for example if the validation unit is a prepaid card, the actual parking fee can be deducted from the sum, or if the validation unit is related to a debit or credit card, the parking fee can be paid in a conventional manner, e.g. by performing a transaction via the control system and a transmission channel to e.g. the credit card operator.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 4, said predefined criteria may relate to at least one of the detection of a validation unit, the detection of a predefined parameter for said validation unit and the non-detection of a validation unit. Hereby, an efficiently operating system is achieved, where, if the registration unit detects that a validation unit is present in a passing vehicle, the vehicle is determined as being a vehicle that is allowed to use the facility. Further, it may be predefined that at least one parameter read from the validation unit must fulfil a certain criterion, for example that an identity code is recognized by the system, that a parking credit sum is present and supersedes a certain value and/or that the lapsed time supersedes a parking time limitation. Still further, if a validation unit is not detected, which may be the case if such a unit is not actually present in the vehicle or if it is, it cannot be read by the registration transceiver, an alert signal may immediately be transmitted in the prescribed manner, where after a parking attendant can take care of the matter. Further, it is noted that the system may be adapted for e.g. cancelling an alert signal or transmitting a new signal to the parking attendant that he/she need not take action, if a vehicle that has given rise to an alert signal, is registered as leaving the parking facility again within a predetermined short period, e.g. five minutes. Such a vehicle may have entered the facility due to a fault and when the driver becomes aware of this, the parking facility is left immediately. Thus, the parking attendant need not take any action, e.g. try to locate the vehicle, and thereby the efficiency of the system is enhanced.

Preferably, as specified in claim 5, said at least one entrance of said parking facility may comprise a registration unit for registering vehicles entering the parking facility and a registration unit for registering vehicles leaving the parking facility.

Hereby, it is achieved that the system may comprise designated registration units, for example placed at designated entrances and designated exits or placed at one and the same gateway to a parking facility, but at different locations, e.g. at each side of the gateway in order to detect only entering and leaving vehicles, respectively. The registration units may be designated for performing different jobs, or they may be similar or even identical, in which case the system may be configured for detecting DK2007/000240

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whether a vehicle is entering or leaving the system, e.g. for example by storing the registrations and processing these.

According to a still further advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 6, said parking facility may comprise at least one entrance and at least one exit, each comprising a registration unit.

Hereby, it is achieved that a particularly simple configuration may be achieved, for example since vehicles registered at one registration unit will automatically be considered as vehicles entering the parking facility and vice versa.

According to a particular advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 7, said entrance and/or said exit of said parking facility may be freely passable.

Hereby, it is achieved that special arrangements for indicating to drivers of vehicles that they are allowed to enter the parking facility, for example in the form of gates, bars, barriers, signalling lights etc. are not necessary, thereby reducing the costs for constructing a parking facility as well as the costs for running the parking facility.

According to a further particular advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 8, said entrance and/or said exit of said parking facility may comprise sensor means for sensing the presence of an object such as a vehicle, said sensor means preferably being integrated with said registration unit.

Hereby, it is achieved that the registration unit, e.g. registration transceiver may be configured for initiating a communication only when it is detected by the sensor means that a vehicle is present in the predetermined location, which location may for example be an area corresponding to the length of a standard vehicle or a larger area, e.g. an area corresponding to a standard length and/or width plus a predetermined percentage of a standard length and/or width in order to allow for larger vehicles, 40

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vehicles with a trailer, vehicles which approach the drive-in at an awkward position, e.g. near the far side of the entrance, etc. Thus, it is achieved that the registration unit may be optimized as regards power consumption and that errors caused by for example false detection of e.g. radio signals may be reduced or even avoided, thereby enhancing the system reliability. Furthermore, the sensor system may be designed for not only activating the communication system, but also for providing measurements of the passing vehicles, for example the length of the vehicle, which may be used for deciding the parking fee, if length is a deciding parameter, and/or for indicating a suitable parking place in case the parking facility comprises means for directing a vehicle to a suitable free parking place and if the parking facility comprises parking places of different lengths and/or heights for accommodating differently sized vehicles. Further, the sensor means may in addition be used for detecting the direction, in which a vehicle is moving, e.g. whether a vehicle is entering or leaving a parking facility.

The sensor units may for example optical sensors, but sensors operating by other means may be used as well, e.g. by acoustic, inductive, capacitive, infrared techniques or the like or by a combination of these.

Preferably, as specified in claim 9, said portable receiver unit may be a portable inspection unit, which is adapted for facilitating communication with said validation unit allocated to a vehicle.

Hereby, it is achieved that a parking attendant which has been alerted of a passing vehicle which has not fulfilled the predetermined criteria, may in a relatively simple manner identify such a vehicle, for example a vehicle that is not equipped with an appropriate validation unit. With the portable inspection unit the attendant may determine whether a vehicle is equipped with a validation unit, for example by pointing the inspection unit towards e.g. the windshield of a car, in which case the inspection unit may indicate whether or not a validation unit is present. Further, the inspection unit may be configured for communicating with a validation unit, for example controlled by the parking attendant, in order to establish whether or not a specific validation unit fulfils criteria such as a suitable amount of parking credit etc. The actual localization of a vehicle, which has given rise to an alert signal, may be performed efficiently in case the parking facility comprises means for directing a vehicle to a specific parking space or for monitoring the parking space, in which case such information may be transmitted to the parking attendant, for example with the alert signal. The portable unit may preferably be designed for communicating with the validation unit in a manner corresponding to the manner, in which the wireless communication between the registration unit and the validation unit takes place at the entrance and/or the exit. However, other manners of performing this communication are possible, as it will be apparent to a skilled person.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 10, said portable inspection unit may comprise means for registering data relating to a specific vehicle, such as for example a picture, the time of occurrence, vehicle registration number and/or the like.

Hereby, it is achieved that such data may be registered and/or transmitted to e.g. a central control system for use as documentation of a parking offence etc. in addition to data that have been read from the validation unit. Furthermore, the portable registration unit may be readily adapted for printing out e.g. parking fines etc. as well.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 11, said portable inspection unit may comprise means for transmitting data relating to a specific vehicle to e.g. a central communication unit, either directly or indirectly.

Hereby, it is achieved that data regarding a vehicle that has entered the parking facility without e.g. a validation unit or data regarding a vehicle which is equipped DK2007/000240

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with a validation unit but which erroneously has not been registered as such may be transmitted to the e.g. central control system for e.g. corrective action or the like.

According to a still further advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 12, said at least one validation unit allocated to a vehicle m ay be accommodated by an adapter placed in the vehicle, said adapter comprising a validation unit reader and possibly antenna means placed on the exterior of the vehicle.

Hereby, it is achieved that a validation unit may be detected and read by the registration unit with a very large degree of certainty as compared to a validation unit which has been placed inside a vehicle behind the windshield, or worse, at another location in the vehicle, where communication by means of e.g. radio signals is restricted. Thus, the reliability of the system may be enhanced in this manner. Further, when such an adapter is used, options may be provided for using different validation units, e.g. different smart cards, electronic tickets, etc. for example designed for different applications, etc. Even further, such an adapter may comprise interface facilities such as a display, a keypad or the like, acoustical means for providing e.g. messages to the user etc. which will enhance the optional advantages of this embodiment, as it will be explained in further detail below.

According to a particular advantageous embodiment, as specified in claim 13, said at least one validation unit allocated to a vehicle may be adapted for facilitating a transfer of data with at least one service facility transceiver, said transfer of data being performed in order to gain access to a service facility.

Hereby it is achieved that a user, which is in possession of a validation unit, e.g. a smart card in accordance with the invention, may use such a validation unit not only for gaining access to a parking facility, e.g. payment parking facility, but also for acquiring other types of services in particular services, which are naturally related to the activity of driving a vehicle or the like. Thus, when a vehicle is equipped with a 40

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validation unit in accordance with the invention, the user may quickly and efficiently gain access to other services, that may be services requiring payment, authorization and/or may be services in dependence of other types of restriction. Since the validation unit in accordance with the invention already provides an authorization, such authorization may also be made valid for other service providers, e.g. private or public service provider companies that are given or purchase an agreement with a system provider to participate in the system operational facilities. Thus, also payments for such services may be taken care of in the above-described manner, thereby further alleviating e.g. everyday procedures and matters for drivers etc.

Preferably, as specified in claim 14, said transfer of data with at least one service facility transceiver may involve and/or may be complemented with a user key code, for example a key code provided via input means such as a keypad.

Hereby an enhanced security can be achieved, which is of particular importance when economical transactions, e.g. payments, are comprised in the interaction, since an e.g. personal code key, e.g. a PIN code or the like must be inputted by the user, before the authorization is completed and the service in question is released. For example, if the service facility is a petrol station, a vehicle comprising a validation unit approaching the petrol station, will when passing a service facility transceiver initiate a communication between the validation unit and the service facility transceiver, which, if it is completed successfully, will result in that the validation unit is recognized as a unit giving access to the service. However, in accordance with this embodiment, a key code has to be communicated to the service facility transceiver as well, which may be performed by having the user manipulate a keyboard, keypad or the like on the service facility transceiver, on a chosen petrol stand or the like, in which case the code is processed by the system in order to give the final validation and authorization. Alternatively, the key code may be inputted via a keypad on a validation unit adapter or the like placed in the vehicle, which transmits the code to the e.g. service facility transceiver, possibly in encrypted form to enhance the security.

In this respect it is further noted that if a plurality of users shares a vehicle, they may each have a validation unit and have corresponding key codes. However, the users may also share one and the same validation unit, e.g. smart card dedicated to a specific vehicle, but the users may have different, personal key codes, in which case the security is enhanced, e.g. abuse can be avoided, and the individually consumed services can be allocated to the persons responsible here fore.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 15, said service facility may be at least one of

- a vehicle fuel service station, e.g. a gasoline/petrol and/or diesel fuel station,

- a bridge and/or road payment facility,

- a toll gate, - a drive-in facility such as e.g. food suppliers, banks, etc.

- an entrance to an entertainment facility.

Other applications and application derived of the above are possible, for example the use of a car wash, which often may be related to a fuel service station or the like. Also such applications as other drive-in or drive-through services, e.g. food stores or suppliers such as e.g. McDonald's ™, banks, exchange offices etc., may be included.

The invention also relates to a validation unit system for monitoring and administration of access to at least one service facility, wherein said validation unit system comprises

- a least one registration unit comprising a registration transceiver allocated to said at least one service facility, said transceiver being adapted for wireless communication,

- at least one validation unit allocated to a vehicle, said validation unit comprising a transponder, and - means for releasing access to a predetermined service related to said service facility, wherein said registration transceiver allocated to said at least one service facility is adapted for establishing a communication with said at least one validation unit allocated to a vehicle, when a vehicle is present in a predefined location near the registration transceiver, and wherein said system facilitates access to said predetermined service in dependence of a transfer of data being performed between said validation unit and said registration unit.

Hereby it is achieved that a user, which is in possession of a validation unit, e.g. a smart card in accordance with the invention, may use such a validation unit for gaining access to one or more service facilities representing in particular services, which are naturally related to the activity of driving a vehicle or the like. Thus, when a vehicle is equipped with a validation unit in accordance with the invention, the user may quickly and efficiently gain access to such services that may be services requiring payment, authorization and/or may be services in dependence of other types of restriction. By means of the validation unit in accordance with the invention, an authorization may be provided, which may be valid for a number of service providers, e.g. private or public service provider companies that are given or purchase an agreement with a system provider to participate in the system operational facilities. Thus, also payments for such services may be taken care of in the above-described manner, thereby further alleviating e.g. everyday procedures and matters for drivers etc.

Preferably, as specified in claim 17, said transfer of data with at least one service facility transceiver may involve and/or may be complemented with a user key code, for example a key code provided via input means such as a keypad. Hereby an enhanced security can be achieved, which is of particular importance when economical transactions, e.g. payments, are comprised in the interaction, since an e.g. personal code key, e.g. a PIN code or the like must be inputted by the user before the authorization is completed and the service in question is released. For example, if the service facility is a petrol station, a vehicle comprising a validation unit and approaching the petrol station will, when passing a service facility transceiver initiate a communication between the validation unit and the service facility transceiver, which, if it is completed successfully, will result in that the validation unit is recognized as a unit giving access to the service. However, in accordance with this embodiment, a key code has to be communicated to the service facility transceiver as well, which may be performed by having the user manipulate a keyboard, keypad or the like on the service facility transceiver, on e.g. a chosen petrol stand or the like, in which case the code is processed by the system in order to give the final validation and authorization. Alternatively, the key code may be inputted via a keypad on a validation unit adapter or the like placed in the vehicle, which transmits the code to the e.g. service facility transceiver, possibly in encrypted form to enhance the security.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 18, said service facility may be at least one of - a vehicle fuel service station,

- a parking facility,

- a bridge and/or road payment facility,

- a toll gate,

- a drive-in facility such as e.g. food suppliers, banks, etc. - an entrance to an entertainment facility.

Other applications and application derived of the above are possible, for example the use of a car wash, which often may be related to a fuel service station or the like. Also such applications as drive-in or drive-through services, e.g. food stores or suppliers, such as e.g. McDonald's ™, banks, exchange offices etc. may be included. The figures

The invention will be described in further detail in the following with reference to the figures of which

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic manner a parking facility comprising a system according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a parking facility corresponding to the parking facility shown in fig. 1, but according to a modified embodiment,

Fig. 3a illustrates a registration unit communicating with e.g. an electronic parking ticket placed in a vehicle at the entrance of a parking facility, Fig. 3b shows in a schematic manner the registration unit illustrated in fig. 3 a, when interacting with e.g. an electronic parking ticket placed in a vehicle,

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of the communication taking place between different units of an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5 illustrates the use of a hand held portable unit by a parking attendant for detecting a validation unit, e.g. an electronic parking ticket in a vehicle, Fig. 6 illustrates a parking administration and monitoring system in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, wherein a plurality of separate parking lots are comprised in the system, Fig. 7 shows in accordance with a further embodiment a vehicle comprising an adapter for a validation unit such as an electronic ticket or a smart card, Fig. 8 shows in a schematic manner a fuel station, e.g. a gas/petrol and/or diesel fuel station seen from above, illustrating a further aspect of the invention, Fig. 8a shows in an enlarged view a detail of an administering unit for such a fuel station, and

Fig. 9 shows a fuel station corresponding to fig. 8, but illustrating a further embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

Fig. 1 illustrates a car park, a parking lot, a multi-storey car park 1 or the like with a plurality of parking spaces 10 for motorized vehicles 2. The car park may have one or more shar ed entrance and exit facilities 20 as well as one or more separate entrance facilities 30 and/or exits facilities 40. The car park comprises a parking system for registering a vehicle 2 when it is entering and leaving the car park 1, by means of one or more entrance registration units 50 and one or more exit registration units 60, placed at the entrances and exits of the car park 1. In fig. 1 it is shown that the shared entrance and exit facility 20 comprises a separate entrance registration unit 50 and a separate exit registration unit 60, each placed at a position where the registration of a passing vehicle 2 may take place in an optimal manner. However, it will be understood that the entrance and exit registration units may be integrated in one and the same e.g. housing, that they may share components etc. and that such a combined unit may be placed at a suitable location, allowing the unit to monitor entering as well as leaving vehicles.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each vehicle 2 has a validation unit in the form of e.g. an electronic parking ticket or a label, containing a chip (not shown in fig 1), placed for example behind the windshield or the like of the vehicle 2. The chip of such a validation unit is adapted for containing data concerning for example expiry date (day, week, month, quarter, year), total available parking time and/or value, registration data (e.g. chip number, the registration number of the car, customer number, or the like), whether the ticket is a permanent pass or if the paying should be done per time unit or the like and/or other data, including data such as information concerning which parking spaces the chip gives access to (one parking space, a number of parking spaces, all of the parking spaces, or the like). The registration units 50, 60 each contain a chip reader for wirelessly reading data stored in the chip. The registration units 50, 60 further contain means for sending and/ or receiving data from a central unit (not shown in fig. 1), a portable unit (not shown in fig. 1) or the like. As mentioned above, it is further possible that only one registration unit takes care of both entering and leaving vehicles at the shared entrance and exit facilities 20, in which case the e.g. reader and/or the transmission components may serve for both purposes. The wireless communication may take place using techniques that are readily available and according to different protocols, etc., using for example electromagnetic communication, e.g. radio frequency radiation (rf), infrared communication (IR), ultraviolet radiation (UV) etc. which will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

If the parking system is used in a very big parking lot, in a multi-storey car park with a plurality of floors or in other parking facilities comprising a number of sections, it may be difficult to find a specific vehicle, e.g. a vehicle without an electronic parking ticket. Therefore, according to a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to place a registration unit at one or more entrances at a new floor, at one or more entrances to a new area in a big parking lot or the like, or in other words, at passageways between adjacent sections. These registration units only have to contain means for registering whether or not the vehicle passing contains a valid electronic parking ticket, and means to send information to e.g. a central unit, if the vehicle does not have a valid ticket. This provides the possibility of making a more effective search for a vehicle without a (valid) parking ticket.

Fig. 2 illustrates, corresponding to fig. 1, a car park, parking lot, multi-storey car park 1 or the like, where the earlier mentioned registration units in accordance with a modified embodiment are divided into a sensor units 52 and 62, respectively, and communication units 54 and 64, respectively. The sensor units 52 and 62 may in this embodiment of the invention be optical sensors, but in other embodiments of the invention the sensing of a vehicle may be done by acoustically, inductively, capacitively, infrared sensing means or the like or by a combination of these. The sensor units 52 and 62 perform the task of checking if there is a vehicle present. The communication unit 54, 64 is communicating with the electronic parking ticket placed in the vehicle (not shown in fig. 2), by means of electromagnetic waves, radio frequency waves, infrared signals or the like.

If a vehicle 2 is entering the car park without an electronic parking ticket, the communication unit 54 at the entrance is transmitting a signal to a portable unit, a central unit, a mobile phone, a pager or the like (not shown in fig 2), which is described further below. Thereby it is possible for the user of the portable unit, the pager or the mobile phone, to know if an unauthorized vehicle has entered the car park. If a vehicle 2 without an electronic parking ticket is leaving the parking facility within e.g. three minutes, five minutes, or the like, the communication unit at the exit 64 is sending a signal telling that a car without an electronic parking ticket has left the park.

The system according to the invention may find use in connection with a wide variety of parking facilities, e.g. not only in connection with payment parking facilities, but also in connection with other types of parking facilities. For example, the system may be used in connection with a parking facility 1 that may be used free of charge, but where limitations are put on the use, for example the parking time. In such an instance, when a vehicle 2 comprising a validation unit in accordance with the invention enters the parking facility, data such as the identity of the vehicle, the entrance time, etc are registered. If the vehicle is not registered as having left the parking facility within the prescribed tile limit, e.g. two hours, an alert signal is transmitted to the e.g. parking attendant, for example to a cellular phone, a pager, a portable inspection unit or another receiver in the possession of the parking attendant, who then takes action, e.g. by locating the vehicle and issuing a parking fine etc. Fig. 3a illustrates a vehicle 2 with a validation unit, e.g. an electronic parking ticket 90 placed behind the windshield. The parking ticket may be a smart card, a small chip or the like, which in this particular embodiment of the invention may comprise the option of getting "refilled" when it is empty, but in another embodiment of the invention the parking ticket 90 may be discarded when empty. The refilling of the ticket 90 could be done on the internet or automatically, as well as in a gas station, a kiosk, individually on a PC, or the like.

The registration unit 50 may according to this embodiment be divided into two units, a sensor unit 52 and a communication unit 54, respectively, giving a two step detecting. The sensor unit 52 detects whether or not a vehicle is present, and if there is a vehicle present, the sensor unit 52 at the entrance communicates with the communication unit at the entrance 54, telling the communication unit 54 to seek for a parking ticket 90. The communication unit thereby sends a signal looking for an electronic parking ticket, and if there is a parking ticket present, the communication unit 54 receives data from the electronic parking ticket. The parking ticket 90 can be powered by the power supply in the vehicle, it can be powered by the signal from the communication unit 54, or it can be powered by other means that are generally known to a person skilled in the art.

The registration unit 50 comprises the possibility of communicating with means for determination of the dimensions of the vehicle, e.g. the length and/or height of the vehicle, whereby it is possible to determine which parking spaces that are suitable for the vehicle 2. It is possible to place more than one sensor around the vehicle, which could give a more precise and reliable dimension-determination. Further the registration unit may comprise means for controlling a bar, gate or the like.

The system further has the opportunity of being capable of determining/evaluating how many vehicles 2 that are located in the parking facility 1, giving the possibility of determining the number of free parking spaces 10, the type of free parking spaces, and the like. This may be accomplished for example by having a central control system or a system allocated to for example an entrance or an exit registration unit keeping count of the vehicles in the parking facility, e.g. by having a register and adding to the register, when a vehicle enters the parking facility, and by subtracting from the register, when a vehicle leaves the parking facility. As it will be apparent to the skilled person, further features may be used for e.g. keeping a correct register, for example by keeping a register of the identities of the vehicles, e.g. in order to avoid that if by fault an exit has not been correctly registered, this will not lead to that this specific vehicle will be counted as a parked vehicle for en indefinite time.

Further features may be presented in this aspect, e.g. the number of available parking spaces may be displayed to the user, for example on a display at the entrance registration unit and/or transmitted to and displayed at e.g. a validation adapter or reader located in a vehicle.

As mentioned above, the sensors 58 may for example be optical sensors, but the sensors may also apply acoustic, inductive, capacitive, infrared sensing means or the like or a combination of these, which will be apparent to a skilled person. Thus, it will also be understood that sensing by means of a vision system, including a three dimensional vision system may be applied.

The communication unit 54 and 64 further comprise a display 56 capable of showing at which floor, area, car park or the like the vehicle should be parked, based on the dimensions of the vehicle, if there is free parking spaces available in the car park suited for the vehicle, customer number, registration number or the like. Further, the display 56 may be capable of visualizing a welcome message based on the customer number, registration number of the vehicle or the like. The display is as well capable of showing other information's relevant to the driver of the vehicle, if the communication unit does not register a parking ticket 90, or the like. The display 56 could also be placed in the registration units 50, 60. The above-described information may also or instead be displayed at a display in the vehicle, for example on an adapter or card reader, which will be described in further detail below.

It is obvious that even though fig. 3 refers to the registration unit 50, similar may apply for each of the registration units 50, 60, 70 or 80, or a plurality of other registration units placed at entrances and exits.

Fig 3b illustrates a vehicle 2 passing an entrance facility 50 or exit facility 60, comprising one or more sensors 58, capable of detecting if there is a vehicle 2 present. It is understood that the sensor or sensors 58 are not necessarily placed at the locations illustrated in the figures, but may as well be placed in the ceiling, in the ground or the like, as well as a combination of these. The sensors 58 may be placed at different heights, at different locations along the e.g. entrance and/or exit and at different locations in a transverse direction, thereby also providing information, if desired or needed, regarding the length, the height, the width and/or the profile of a specific vehicle.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of the communication between different units. The communication units 54 and 64 as well as the central unit 106 comprise means for transmitting information to e.g. the parking company, containing for example: The data from the electronic parking ticket 90 (not shown in fig. 4), identification of the possible assigned parking space, arrival and exit times and/or the like.

Further, the communication unit 54, and/or the central unit 106 is capable of communicating with a mobile phone 100, a pager 102, a portable handheld unit 104, other communication units 64 or a combination of these, whereby it is possible to monitor a plurality of entrances and exits in the car park, and even monitor more than one car park. Not all of the possible communication lines between the units are illustrated by arrows. It is noted that the communication between the portable handheld unit 104 or mobile phone 100, and the parking company, could take place in more than one step. For example, first the portable handheld unit 104 or mobile phone 100 sends its data to the central unit 106 or the communication unit 54 or 84, and these units then send the data to the parking company. Another possibility is that the portable handheld unit 104 or mobile phone 100 communicates directly with the parking company.

Fig. 5 illustrates a parking attendant/officer 12 using a hand held portable unit 104, used for detecting an electronic parking ticket 90 in a vehicle 2. The handheld portable unit 104 comprise means for communication with the ticket 90, thereby receiving data from the ticket 90.

Further, the hand held unit 104 comprises means for communicating with a communication unit 54, 64, 74, 84 (not shown in fig. 5), a central unit 106 (not shown in fig. 5) and/or the parking company, whereby it is possible to forward information about a vehicle without a parking ticket, such as: Parking place identification, car park identification, the registration number of the vehicle, type of vehicle, colour of the vehicle, time/date/month/year of observation, identification of the parking officer, number/type of the offence, individual remarks and so on. It is further possible to forward the data received from the parking ticket 90.

Further, it is possible for the portable unit 104 to comprise a digital camera, and the camera is capable of taking pictures that could be forwarded together with other information or data, e.g. in order to provide documentation for an illegal and/or invalid parking, for example a time-stamped picture showing a car and in particular its number plate, parked in a specific parking space. The handheld portable unit 104 could be a mobile phone with means for communicating with the ticket 90, as well as it could be a specially designed portable unit. Fig. 6 illustrates a system with more than one parking lot 1, a central communication unit 108 and a parking attendant/officer 12 with a portable hand held unit 104. The system gives the opportunity of having one or more parking attendants 12 to control more than one parking facility. The central communication unit 108 receives communication signals from the communication units (not shown in Fig. 6), the central units (not shown in Fig. 6) or the like, from the more than one parking facility, administers the signals and sends signals to the parking attendant/officer 12, containing information about which parking lot a vehicle has entered without a valid parking ticket. It is further a possibility that more than one parking attendant/officer control the same area, whereby the central communication unit 108 controls to which of the attendants/officers the signal is dedicated, e.g. by choosing the attendant/officer nearest to the facility. It is also a possibility that the internal systems in each facility are communicating between each others, so that the central communication unit 108 may not be necessary. Further, it is a possibility that there are no central units (not shown in fig. 6) in the individual parking spaces, but the units in each parking station is communicating directly with the central communication unit 108. The same system could be used in a very big parking lot, a multi-storey car park with a plurality of floors, or the like.

Fig. 7 illustrates a vehicle 2 with a parking ticket reader or adapter 120. The parking ticket reader 120 comprises means for reading data from the parking ticket 90, and for sending this information by request from e.g. a registration unit or a communication unit (not shown in fig. 7). The reader 120 could be connected to the radio system and the antenna 130 on the vehicle 2, whereby it is possible to make the system work in a bigger area, caused by the improved communication facilities.

Further, it is thereby possible to place the reader 120 in other places than the windshield, e.g. in the glove compartment, in the dashboard or the like, while the reader 120 is connected to the antenna. The parking system further comprises the possibility of being used in a plurality of other payment systems, e.g. gas stations (described later on), giving the possibility of paying for gas or car wash directly and wireless, payment roads, bridge toll and the like. This gives the advantage that a single system may be used for a plurality of different functions and facilities.

The reader or adapter 120 further gives the opportunity to have more than one user driving the same vehicle, and each of them having their own parking ticket 90, giving the opportunity of controlling the expenses for each user driving the vehicle 2. Further the reader 120 could be connected to the ignition of the vehicle 2, giving the possibility of only allowing specific users to use the vehicle.

The reader 120 may as shown comprise a display 124, whereby it is possible to see for example the data stored on the parking ticket 90 (e.g. remaining time units on the parking ticket) and other information received from a plurality of registration means 50, 60, communication means 54, 64, handheld units 104, or the like. Further the reader 120 is capable of containing acoustic means, capable of sending out one or more different sounds, according to different states, received signals, transmitted signals, when a new parking ticket 104 is inserted and validated, or the like.

Further the reader 120 is capable of containing a number of keys 122, a touch screen (not shown) or the like for inputting and/or storing data on the card, and/or for making a validation between the ticket 90 and the reader 120, e.g. by making it necessary to enter a code using the keys 122, every time a card 90 is placed in the reader 120. This is giving the benefit of an improved amount of security.

In accordance with further aspects of the invention messages may be provided to users of the system, for example presented to the user via the display 124 on the adapter or reader 120 or via other display means. As previously mentioned, such messages may relate to the number of available parking spaces, a direction to an available parking space, the available parking time available on the electronic ticket or the like, the parking time limitation, in case the parking facility is a free-of-charge parking facility, which messages may be transmitted via e.g. the entrance registration unit, when entering the parking facility. Other messages may be received by e.g. the validation unit adapter 120 and shown on a display, which messages may be transmitted from other transmitters such as service facility transmitters. For example, if a vehicle enters a parking facility, which is not a payment parking facility but has other forms of restrictions, for example regarding the parking time, a service transmitter may be present which will interact with the validation unit, e.g. 90 in the vehicle, thereby registering that the vehicle is using the validation unit in accordance with the invention. Thus, service messages may be sent to the validation unit and presented to the user via e.g. the display 124, e.g. a message informing the user that the total parking time is restricted to for example two hours, that the vehicle must leave the premises at the latest at a specified time, etc. Further messages may be provided according to this aspect of the invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a gas station 140 comprising a number of gas pumps 146, a car wash 142, a gas administering unit 144, a car wash administering unit 150 and a registration zone 148. When a vehicle 2 is located in the registration zone 148, and the user of the vehicle is entering a code on the gas administering unit 144 or the car wash administering unit 150, the user is gaining access to usage of either the gas pumps or the car wash, depending on the administering unit used. The administering units are capable of containing a display 152, capable of visualising information, messages etc., and a number of keys 154, used for entering a pin code or the like as shown in the enlarged detailed view in fig. 8a. This provides the possibility of paying for e.g. gas or car wash directly and wirelessly. It is noted that it is a possibility to gain access to other kinds of products, e.g. windshield wash, slot machines comprising oil, vehicle fuses, candy, sandwiches or the like, by entering a code, as described above. It is further a possibility that there is only one registration unit with means for choosing between the available products in the gas station. The registration units further have the possibility of containing means for refilling the parking ticket 90 with parking credits etc.

When the vehicle enters the fuel/gas station 140 and a communication is established with a registration transceiver, information, e.g. messages may also be presented to the user via e.g. the display 124 on a validation unit adapter 120 in the vehicle, for example regarding the type of service facilities that are available at the actual station, regarding e.g. fuel prices, special offers, for example offers available only to holders of a validation unit in accordance with the invention, etc.

Fig 9 illustrates in a manner corresponding to fig. 8 a gas station 140 comprising a number of gas pumps 146, a car wash 142, a gas administering unit 144, a car wash administering unit 150, entrance registration units 50 and exit registration units 60. According to this embodiment, it is registered when a vehicle 2 enters the gas station 140, so that when the vehicle 2 has entered the gas station 140, and is validated by the entrance registration unit 50, the driver of the vehicle 2 or the passengers of the vehicle 2 can gain entrance to all the products available in the gas station 140 in a predetermined time interval, and/or until the vehicle 2 is leaving the gas station, as described above. It will be understood that the details and functionality which have been explained above in connection with figs.8 and 8a, may also apply to the embodiment presented in fig. 9, for example regarding the key code input means, the message services, etc.

It will be understood that a user, who is in possession of a validation unit, e.g. a smart card in accordance with the invention, may use such a validation unit for gaining access to one or more service facilities, comprising in particular services, which are naturally related to the activity of driving a vehicle or the like as exemplified above. Thus, when a vehicle is equipped with a validation unit in accordance with the invention, the user may quickly and efficiently gain access to such services that may be services requiring payment, authorization and/or may be W

34

services in dependence of other types of restriction. By means of the validation unit in accordance with the invention, an authorization may be provided, which may be valid for a number of service providers, e.g. private or public service provider companies that are given or purchase an agreement with a system provider to 5 participate in the system operational facilities. Thus, also payments for such services may be taken care of in the above-described manner, thereby further alleviating e.g. everyday procedures and matters for drivers etc.

As also exemplified above, the transfer of data with a service facility transceiver may 0 involve and/or may be complemented with a user key code, for example a key code provided via input means such as a keypad. Hereby an enhanced security can be achieved. For example, if the service facility is a petrol station as exemplified above, a vehicle comprising a validation unit and approaching the petrol station will, when passing a service facility transceiver initiate a communication between the validation 5 unit and the service facility transceiver, which, if it is completed successfully, will result in that the validation unit is recognized as a unit giving access to the service. However, in accordance with a particular embodiment, a key code has to be communicated to the service facility transceiver as well, which may be performed by having the user manipulate a keyboard, keypad or the like on the service facility 0 transceiver, on e.g. a chosen petrol stand or the like, in which case the code is processed by the system in order to give the final validation and authorization. Alternatively, as also described above, the key code may be inputted via a keypad on a validation unit adapter or the like placed in the vehicle, which transmits the code to the e.g. service facility transceiver, possibly in encrypted form to enhance the 5 security.

The types and numbers of services available to the user are numerous and may for example be fuel/gas service stations, a parking facilities in general, a bridge and/or road payment facilities, toll gates in general, entrances to for example entertainment 0 facilities or the like. Other applications and application derived of the above are possible, for example the use of a car wash, which often may be related to a fuel service station or the like as also exemplified above. Also such applications as drive-in or drive-through services, e.g. food stores or suppliers, such as e.g. McDonald's ™, suppliers of other human necessities, banks, exchange offices etc may be included.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above and illustrated in the drawings but may be modified in numerous manners and used in a variety of applications within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims.

List of references:

1. Parking lot, parking facility or the like.

2. Motorized vehicle.

10. Parking space.

12. Parking enforcement officer, car park attendant.

20. Shared entrance and exit facility.

30. Entrance facility.

40. Exit facility.

50. Entrance registration unit.

52. Sensor unit at entrance.

54. Communication unit at entrance.

56. Display in communication unit 54, 64 (or registration unit 50, 60)

58 Sensors, sensor elements.

60. Exit registration unit.

62. Sensor unit at exit.

64. Communication unit at exit.

90. Validation unit, electronic parking ticket.

100. Mobile phone.

102. Pager.

104. Portable handheld unit.

106. Central unit.

108. Central communication unit.

120. Adapter/parking ticket reader.

122. Keys on parking ticket reader

124. Display on parking ticket reader

130. Antenna on vehicle.

140. Gas station

142. Car wash

144. Gas administering facility 146. Gas pump

148. Registration zone

150. Car wash administering facility

152. Display on registering unit 154. Keys on registering unit

Claims

Claims

1. System for monitoring and administration of a parking facility, wherein said parking facility (1) comprises one or more parking spaces (10) and at least one entrance (20; 30) and wherein said system comprises

- a registration unit (50) comprising a registration transceiver (54) allocated to said at least one entrance (20; 30), said transceiver being adapted for wireless communication,

- at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2), said validation unit (90) comprising a transponder (92), and

- a portable receiver unit such as a portable inspection unit (104), wherein said registration transceiver (54) allocated to said at least one entrance (20; 30) is adapted for establishing a communication with said at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2), when a vehicle is present in a predefined location near the registration transceiver, and wherein said system further facilitates a transmission of an alert signal to said portable receiver unit or to a person, to which said portable receiver unit is allocated, in dependence on predefined criteria relating to a vehicle passing said entrance.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein said validation unit (90) comprises an electronic chip, for example comprised in an electronic ticket, a smart card or the like.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said system comprises a control system, said control system comprising means for storing and/or retransmitting of information relating to said at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2), and wherein said control system further comprises means for performing a time registration, such as registering a time of arrival, a time of departure and/or lapsed time.

4. System according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said predefined criteria relates to at least one of the detection of a validation unit, the detection of a predefined parameter for said validation unit and the non-detection of a validation unit.

5. System according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one entrance (20; 30) of said parking facility (1) comprises a registration unit (50) for registering vehicles entering the parking facility and a registration unit (60) for registering vehicles leaving the parking facility

6. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, wherein said parking facility (1) comprises at least one entrance (30) and at least one exit (40), each comprising a registration unit (50, 60).

7. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, wherein said entrance and/or said exit of said parking facility is/are freely passable.

8. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, wherein said entrance and/or said exit of said parking facility comprises sensor means (52, 62) for sensing the presence of an object such as a vehicle (T), said sensor means preferably being integrated with said registration unit (50, 60).

9. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, wherein said portable receiver unit is a portable inspection unit (104), which is adapted for facilitating communication with said validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2).

10. System according to claim 9, wherein said portable inspection unit (104) comprises means for registering data relating to a specific vehicle, such as for example a picture, the time of occurrence, vehicle registration number and/or the like.

11. System according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said portable inspection unit (104) comprises means for transmitting data relating to a specific vehicle to e.g. a central communication unit (108), either directly or indirectly.

12. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, wherein said at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2) is accommodated by an adapter placed in the vehicle, said adapter comprising a validation unit reader (120) and possibly antenna means (130) placed on the exterior of the vehicle (2).

13. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, wherein said at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2) is adapted for facilitating a transfer of data with at least one service facility transceiver, said transfer of data being performed in order to gain access to a service facility.

14. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, wherein said transfer of data with at least one service facility transceiver involves and/or is complemented with a user key code, for example a key code provided via input means such as a keypad.

15. System according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said service facility is at least one of - a vehicle fuel service station,

- a bridge and/or road payment facility,

- a toll gate,

- a drive-in facility such as e.g. food suppliers, banks, etc.

- an entrance to an entertainment facility.

16. Validation unit system for monitoring and administration of access to at least one service facility, wherein said validation unit system comprises

- a least one registration unit comprising a registration transceiver allocated to said at least one service facility, said transceiver being adapted for wireless communication, - at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2), said validation unit (90) comprising a transponder, and

- means for releasing access to a predetermined service related to said service facility, wherein said registration transceiver allocated to said at least one service facility is adapted for establishing a communication with said at least one validation unit (90) allocated to a vehicle (2), when a vehicle is present in a predefined location near the registration transceiver, and wherein said system facilitates access to said predetermined service in dependence of a transfer of data being performed between said validation unit and said registration unit.

17. System according to claim 16, wherein said transfer of data with at least one service facility transceiver involves and/or is complemented with a user key code, for example a key code provided via input means such as a keypad.

18. System according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said service facility is at least one of

- a vehicle fuel service station,

- a parking facility - a bridge and/or road payment facility,

- a toll gate,

- a drive-in facility such as e.g. food suppliers, banks, etc.

- an entrance to an entertainment facility.