FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for performing parking using a communication network, said method and system facilitating automated ticket generation and payment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In most of the developed countries, parking in certain areas such as malls, offices, markets, hospitals etc. is subjected to payment of parking fees. Several kinds of parking systems using different technologies may be installed in the parking. One of the conventional techniques is wherein, a slip or a ticket is generated by a parking attendant using a Bluetooth printer when a car enters the parking area and said slip is handed to a car user. Further, the entry of the car number is done manually. At the exit, meters may be installed and authorized parking attendants may be present to manually calculate the time and fare of parking by checking the bar code on the slip issued to the car owner and collect payment.
However, several problems arise using above technique such as confusion in parking entry time and date, hassle of waiting while other car users make the payment, manual verification of cars and their users. Moreover, there is no versatility about the end time of the parking, which may lead to overpayments. This is rather uncomfortable. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and a system that address the aforementioned limitations of existing parking arrangement.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a method and a system that facilitates automated ticket generation and payment collection using a communication network. Another object of the invention is to provide security by verifying car user’s details.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a system (100) and a method for performing parking procedure.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a system (100) for performing parking procedure, comprising:
- a server (108) for facilitating information exchange over communication network;
- a first computing device (102) in communication with the server (108) via a first communication network (106), wherein the first computing device (102) includes a camera linked with an automatic number plate reader; and a radio frequency reader for receiving any information in radio frequency;
- a second computing device (104) in communication with the server (108) via a second communication network (114);
- an automatic number plate recognition database (110) in communication with the first computing device (102) over the server (108);
- a database (116) for storing parking related details in communication with the server (108);
- a means (112) for transmitting a radio frequency signal carrying a vehicle and a vehicle owner details stored in the database (116) to the first computing device (102); and
- a payment mode (118) in communication with the server (108);
characterized in that, a parking attendant initializes an computer implemented application running over a volatile memory of the first computing device (102) to fetch a first information and a second information related to the vehicle to be parked and the vehicle owner to issue a first notification to the second computing device (104).

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the first computing device (102) is a smart multimedia device further including a processing unit; a display screen (102a); the volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the computer implemented application is stored in the non-volatile memory and gets initialized over the volatile memory of the first computing device (102).
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the computer implemented application is linked with the automatic number plate reader and the radio frequency reader.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the automatic number plate reader is in communication with automatic number plate recognition database (110) over the first communication network (106).
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the radio frequency reader is in communication with the database (116) over the first communication network (106).
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second computing device (104) is selected from a group consisting of a smartphone; a tablet; a mini-computer; an i-pad or any other similar computing devices.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second computing device (104) includes a processing unit; a display screen (104a); a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the computer implemented application is stored in the non-volatile memory and gets initialized over the volatile memory of the second computing device (102).
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the automatic number plate recognition database (110) is a regional transport office database.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the means for transmitting the radio frequency signal carrying a vehicle and a vehicle owner details stored in the database (116) to the radio frequency reader of the first computing device (102) is a near field communication card (112).
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first information received by the first computing device (102) relates to a registration number of the vehicle and the vehicle owner details shared over the automatic number plate recognition database (110).
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second information received by the first computing device (102) relates to a data already stored on the database (116) relating to the vehicle and the vehicle owner.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first notification received by the second computing device (104) carries an information relating to parking.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the information relating to parking is selected from a group comprising of a short messaging service; an e-receipt over an electronic mail or any other similar form of electronic communication.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for performing parking procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a server (108) in communication with an automatic number plate recognition database (110); a database (116); a first communication network (106); a second communication network (114); and an online transaction mode (118);
- providing a first computing device comprising a processing unit; a volatile memory; a non-volatile memory; a camera linked with a automatic number plate reader; a radio frequency reader; a display screen (102a) and in communication with the server
(108) via a first communication network (106);
- providing a second computing device comprising a processing unit; a volatile memory; and a non-volatile memory and in communication with the server (108) via a second communication network (114);
- providing an computer implemented application stored in the respective non-volatile memory of the first computing device (102) and the second computing device (104);
- providing a card having an ability to emit a radio frequency signal carrying information related to a vehicle owner and a vehicle entering a parking lot;
- initializing the computer implemented application over the respective volatile memory of the first computing device (102) and the second computing device (104);
- initializing the automatic number plate reader and the radio frequency reader linked with the computer implemented application;
- fetching a first information over the first computing device (102) relating to a registration number of the vehicle and the vehicle owner from the automatic number plate recognition database (110) by pointing the camera linked with the automatic number plate reader of the first computing device (102) over a number plate of the vehicle;
- receiving a second information using the radio frequency reader over the first computing device by flashing the card over the display screen (102a);
- matching the first and the second information to confirm the provided details;
- issuing a first notification in form of an electronic receipt to the second computing device (104);
- parking the vehicle according to an information provided in the first notification;
- initializing the computer implemented application over the second computing device (104) to exercise an option for exiting the parking lot after a time duration;
- calculating an amount payable for utilizing a parking facility of the parking lot form an ‘IN TIME’ to an ‘OUT TIME’ and sending it to the second computing device (104);
- receiving a second notification over the second computing device (104) in form an electronic bill;
- initializing an online transaction over the second computing device (104) using the online transaction mode (118) linked with the computer implemented application;
- exiting the vehicle from the parking lot.

In the accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the ‘IN TIME’ is a time when the vehicle enters the parking lot.

In the accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the ‘OUT TIME’ is a time duration between the ‘IN TIME’ of the vehicle and a time when the vehicle owner exercises an ‘EXIT’ option available in the computer implemented application over the display screen (104a) of the second computing device (104).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following drawings are illustrative of preferred embodiment for enabling the present invention, are descriptive of some methods, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.
Figure 1: illustrates a figurative representation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2: illustrates a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3: illustrates a flowchart of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The various embodiments including the preferred embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosed subject matter may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the disclosed subject matter to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.
It is to be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or”, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
Hereinafter, a system and a method for performing parking procedure will be explained in more detail. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the aforementioned embodiments and their minute explanation has been omitted.
Referring to Figure 1, illustrates a figurative representation of a system (100) for performing a parking procedure as per preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the Figure 1, two independent computing devices are shown namely a first computing device (102) and a second computing device (104). The first computing device (102) is the device used by a parking attendant present in a parking lot of a mall, a municipal corporation parking or any other similar place. The first computing device (102) is a smart multimedia device using ANDROID based operating system including a processing unit (not shown); a camera (not shown); a display screen (102a); an automatic number plate reader; an radio frequency reader; an computer implemented application or an application or a program (not shown) installed and stored in an non-volatile memory (not shown). The application is enabled for being initialized on a volatile memory (not shown) of the first computing device (102) when accessed by the parking attendant. The application facilitates the parking procedure of the present invention. The application is further integrated with functionalities of the automatic number plate reader or automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) (not shown) and the radio frequency reader or radio frequency identification (RFID) (not shown). The first computing device (102) is in communication with an automatic number plate recognition database (110) a server (108) over a first communication network (106) and the radio frequency reader is in communication with a database (116) over the first communication network (106). The first communication network 106 is selected from a group consisting of 2G, 3G, 4G or other similar internet networks provided by various service providers like AIRTEL,VODAFONE and others.
The ANPR is a system by which any person including a person who is not an owner of a motor vehicle or a vehicle owner; can get the details of the motor vehicle and the vehicle owner merely by pointing or flashing automatic number plate reader linked camera over a number plate of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle can be any four wheeler or two wheeler or three wheeler or other similar vehicles. The ANPR system fetches information of registration numbers and owner details stored in database of a local regional transport office (RTO) and is used widely nowadays by traffic police of various countries to effectively manage traffic and also track stolen vehicles. The radio frequency reader on the other hand reads a signal in radio frequency provided or emitted by a microchip provided in a card (112) or any other similar article. In this case the microchip of the card (112) acts as a transmitter of the signal in radio frequency and the radio frequency reader acts as a receiver of the signal in radio frequency. The RFID has various applications in our day to day lives for example smart cards issued by airport authorities for a hassle free parking at parking lots of various airports and similarly metro cards being utilized by commuters of metro trains. The signal transmitted by the transmitter contains information regarding the vehicle and the vehicle owner. The information contains the registration number of the vehicle; the type of vehicle; the name and address of the vehicle owner and the registered mobile number of the vehicle owner with the local RTO office and the vendors of the parking facility issuing the card (112).
The second computing device (104) is the device held by the vehicle owner (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown) and in communication with the server (108) via a second communication network (114). The second communication network (114) is selected from a group consisting of 2G, 3G, 4G or other similar internet network provided by various service providers like AIRTEL,VODAFONE and others.
The second computing device (104) can be any computing device selected from a group consisting of a smartphone; a tablet; a micro-computer; an i-pad; an i-phone and other similar computing devices. The second computing device (104) includes a processing unit (not shown); a volatile memory (not shown); a non-volatile memory (not shown) and a display screen (104a). Preferably similar computer implemented application running on the first computing device (102); is also installed and stored in a non-volatile memory of the second computing device (104) being used by the vehicle owner and is initialized by the vehicle owner over a volatile memory of the second computing device (104).
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when the vehicle owner is approached by the parking attendant in the parking lot the first computing device (102) and the second computing device (104) are not in communication with each other. Accordingly, to start the parking procedure using the system of the present invention, the parking attendant initializes the application over the first communication network (106) linked to the server (108). The server used here is preferably TATA company owned server. However, any other server may be utilized and there are no restrictions for using different servers. The parking attendant than points the camera of the first computing device (102) to the number plate (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown) and receives a first information related to the vehicle and the vehicle owner over a display screen (102a) of the first computing device (102) via the ANPR system linked to the ANPR database or the local RTO database (110) linked to the server (108). The first information is in the form of a shot messaging service (SMS) or any other similar type service.
After receiving the first information the parking attendant than asks the vehicle owner for the card (112) having a RFID transmitter (not shown). The card (112) is denoted as a near field communication card (NFC). The NFC card (112) carries all the required information of the vehicle and the vehicle owner stored in the application linked with the database (116). In a scenario where the vehicle owner does not have the NFC card (112), the parking attendant uses the details provided by the ANPR system in the first information and issues a new NFC card (112) to the vehicle owner for facilitating smooth movement through the parking procedure. The information entered into the NFC card (112) is also stored in the database (116) linked to the application running on the parking attendant’s first computing device (102). In another scenario if the vehicle owner does have the NFC card than the parking attendant swaps the NFC card over the display screen (102a) of the first computing device 102 and receives a second information over the display screen (102a). The parking attendant than verifies the first and the second information displayed over the display screen (102a) for match and security concerns; and then proceeds with an ‘EXIT’ option (not shown) provided in the application for providing a first notification (not shown) relating to a parking related information to the second computing device 104 over the server 108. The first notification can be in form of a shot messaging service (SMS); an internet mail or email or any other similar forms of notifying.
The parking related information includes details like name of a local area where the parking lot is situated; a place like mall or similar places where the parking lot is situated; a name of vendor providing parking facility; a name of the parking attendant on duty; day and date when vehicle is parked in the parking lot; an ‘IN TIME’ of the vehicle and an allotted parking space in the parking lot. Here the ‘IN TIME’ denotes the time when the vehicle enters the parking lot.
The second computing device (104) receives the first notification relating to the parking related information which is flashed over a display screen (104a) of the second computing device (104) and accordingly the vehicle owner parks the vehicle in the allotted parking space of the parking lot and leaves the parking lot for doing his work.
After a while or a time duration when the vehicle owner comes near the vehicle parked in the allotted parking space of the parking lot for exiting the parking lot, the vehicle owner again initializes the application and uses the ‘EXIT’ option provided in the application running on volatile memory of the second computing device (104); to end the time duration for which the vehicle was parked in the parking lot. As soon as the ‘EXIT’ option is exercised by the vehicle owner a second notification is sent to the second computing device (104) over the server (108). The second notification can be in form of an e-receipt; a shot messaging service (SMS); an internet mail or email or any other similar forms of notifying. The second notification contains information relating to the vehicle number; the vehicle owner name and mobile number; a billed amount or an amount payable by the vehicle owner for the time duration the parking utilized before pressing of ‘EXIT’ option by the vehicle owner; day and date when the vehicle was parked in the parking lot; the time duration of parking and ‘OUT TIME’. Here the ‘OUT TIME’ denotes the time duration between the vehicle entering the parking lot and the time till the vehicle owner does not exercise the ‘EXIT’ option from the second computing device (104).
The vehicle owner can optionally swap the NFC card (112) over the display screen (104a) of the second computing device (104) to exit the parking lot and receive the second notification.
The vehicle owner upon receiving the second notification can pay the billed amount in cash or by using an online transaction mode. The online transaction mode can be selected from a group comprising a mobile wallet; a mobile banking application or other similar options available. Preferably, the vehicle owner can pay the billed amount using an online option 116 linked with the application running over volatile memory of the second computing device (104); over the server 108. The online option 116 can be any mobile wallet like PayTM etc. or any mobile banking application like BHIM application.
Referring to Figure 2, illustrates a block diagram representing the system (100) of the present invention. As already discussed above the Figure 2 shows the first computing device (102) and the second computing device (104) in communication with each other over the server (108); the ANPR database (110) and the application linked database (116) linked to the server (108). The figure also shows the NFC card (112) of the vehicle owner in radio frequency communication with the first computing device (102).
Referring to Figure 3, illustrates a flowchart representing a process or a method (200) in step wise form for execution of the parking procedure according to preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the first step (202), the parking attendant initializes the application (not shown) that facilitates parking procedure of the present invention, over the display screen (102a) (not shown) of the first computing device (102) in communication with the server (108) (not shown) via the first communication network (106) (not shown). In the next step (204) the vehicle owner initializes the application over the display screen (104a) (not shown) of the second computing device (104) in communication with server (108) over the second communication network (114) (not shown).
The first computing device (102) and the second computing device 104 communicate with each other via the server (108) as shown in step (206). The parking attendant than points the camera (not shown) of the first computing device (102) over the number plate of the vehicle as shown in step (208) and receives the first notification (not shown) related to the vehicle and the vehicle owner stored in the ANPR system (not shown) as shown in step (210).
After receiving the first information the parking attendant asks the vehicle whether he has the NFC card (112) as represented in step (212). If the vehicle owner has the NFC card (112) than the parking attendant moves to step (214) and if the vehicle owner does not have the NFC card (112) than the parking attendant proceeds for step (216). In the step (216), the parking attendant uses the details disclosed in first information received on the first computing device (102) to make the new NFC card (112) and provides it to the vehicle owner as shown in step (218). The details filled in the new NFC card are also stored in the application linked database (116) (not shown) over the server (108).
The parking attendant then swaps the NFC card (112) over the display screen (102a) of the first computing device (102) as per step (214) and accordingly the vehicle owner receives the first notification on the second computing device (104) disclosed in step (220) regarding the allotted parking space in the parking lot among other details as discussed above.
The vehicle owner then parks the vehicle at the allotted space and leaves the vehicle as shown in step (222). After some time duration when the vehicle owner decides to leave the parking lot he again initiates the application and chooses the ‘EXIT’ option over the display screen (104a) (not shown) of the second computing device (104) as shown in step (224), the vehicle owner receives the second notification including the amount payable among other details over the second computing device as shown in step (226). The billable amount or the amount payable by the vehicle owner is with respect to the time duration for which the park remained parked in the parking lot and the time the ‘EXIT’ option was exercised by the vehicle owner.
The vehicle owner than pays the billable amount to the parking attendant either in cash or through online mode as disclosed in step (228). The online mode includes the online transaction means available such as the mobile wallets like PayTM or other similar mobile wallets; mobile banking applications like BHIM application or any other online mode linked with the application of the present invention.
Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described by the following claims.

I claim:
1. A system (100) for performing parking procedure, comprising:
- a server (108) for facilitating information exchange over communication network;
- a first computing device (102) in communication with the server (108) via a first communication network (106), wherein the first computing device (102) includes a camera linked with an automatic number plate reader; and a radio frequency reader for receiving any information in radio frequency;
- a second computing device (104) in communication with the server (108) via a second communication network (114);
- an automatic number plate recognition database (110) in communication with the first computing device (102) over the server (108);
- a database (116) for storing parking related details in communication with the server (108);
- a means (112) for transmitting a radio frequency signal carrying a vehicle and a vehicle owner details stored in the database (116) to the first computing device (102); and
- a payment mode (118) in communication with the server (108);
characterized in that, a parking attendant initializes an computer implemented application running over a volatile memory of the first computing device (102) to fetch a first information and a second information related to the vehicle to be parked and the vehicle owner to issue a first notification to the second computing device (104).

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first computing device (102) is a smart multimedia device further including a processing unit; a display screen (102a); the volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the computer implemented application is stored in the non-volatile memory of the first computing device (102).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer implemented application is linked with the automatic number plate reader and the radio frequency reader.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic number plate reader is in communication with automatic number plate recognition database (110) over the first communication network (106).
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio frequency reader is in communication with the database (116) over the first communication network (106).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second computing device (104) is selected from a group consisting of a smartphone; a tablet; a mini-computer; an i-pad or any other similar computing devices.
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second computing device (104) includes a processing unit; a display screen (104a); a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the computer implemented application is stored in the non-volatile memory and gets initialized over the volatile memory of the second computing device (102).
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic number plate recognition database (110) is a regional transport office database.
11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the radio frequency signal carrying details of the vehicle and the vehicle owner stored in the database (116) to the radio frequency reader of the first computing device (102) is a near field communication card (112).
12. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first information received by the first computing device (102) relates to a registration number of the vehicle and the vehicle owner details shared over the automatic number plate recognition database (110).
13. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second information received by the first computing device (102) relates to a data already stored on the database (116) relating to the vehicle and the vehicle owner.
14. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first notification received by the second computing device (104) carries an information relating to parking.
15. The system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the information relating to parking can be selected from a group comprising of a short messaging service; an e-receipt over an electronic mail or any other similar form of electronic communication.
16. A method for performing parking procedure, the method comprising the steps of :
- providing a server (108) in communication with an automatic number plate recognition database (110); a database (116); a first communication network (106); a second communication network (114); and an online transaction mode (118);
- providing a first computing device comprising a processing unit; a volatile memory; a non-volatile memory; a camera linked with a automatic number plate reader; a radio frequency reader; a display screen (102a) and in communication with the server
(108) via a first communication network (106);
- providing a second computing device comprising a processing unit; a volatile memory; and a non-volatile memory and in communication with the server (108) via a second communication network (114);
- providing an computer implemented application stored in the respective non-volatile memory of the first computing device (102) and the second computing device (104);
- providing a card having an ability to emit a radio frequency signal carrying information related to a vehicle owner and a vehicle entering a parking lot;
- initializing the computer implemented application over the respective volatile memory of the first computing device (102) and the second computing device (104);
- initializing the automatic number plate reader and the radio frequency reader linked with the computer implemented application;
- fetching a first information over the first computing device (102) relating to a registration number of the vehicle and the vehicle owner from the automatic number plate recognition database (110) by pointing the camera linked with the automatic number plate reader of the first computing device (102) over a number plate of the vehicle;
- receiving a second information using the radio frequency reader over the first computing device by flashing the card over the display screen (102a);
- matching the first and the second information to confirm the provided details;
- issuing a first notification in form of an electronic receipt to the second computing device (104);
- parking the vehicle according to an information provided in the first notification;
- initializing the computer implemented application over the second computing device (104) to exercise an option for exiting the parking lot after a time duration;
- calculating an amount payable for utilizing a parking facility of the parking lot form an ‘IN TIME’ to an ‘OUT TIME’ and sending it to the second computing device (104);
- receiving a second notification over the second computing device (104) in form an electronic bill;
- initializing an online transaction over the second computing device (104) using the online transaction mode (118) linked with the computer implemented application;
- exiting the vehicle from the parking lot.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the ‘IN TIME’ is a time when the vehicle enters the parking lot.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the ‘OUT TIME’ is a time duration between the ‘IN TIME’ of the vehicle and a time when the vehicle owner exercises an ‘EXIT’ option available in the computer implemented application over the display screen (104a) of the second computing device (104).