TECHNICAL FIELD
The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to system and 5 method to detect presence and absence of a device in a geospatial area.
BACKGROUND
Now-a-day, with the high percentage of vehicle ownership, parking has become a conflicting and confusing situation for a number of people. Whether at an airport, bus station, shopping centres, offices, problems with perking are an everyday 10 occurrence. Availability of parking within a short period of time is a critical problem. Drivers are wasting a lot of time circling around on campus multiple times to try to find a vacant spot to park especially during the peak hours. This problem arises due to inefficient parking spaces or inefficient use of existing parking capacity. In turn, this problem is causing another one – that of wasting a 15 lot of fuel and thus polluting the surroundings, wasting commuters’ time, lead to low productivity and economic opportunities and also thus to inefficient city services.
Moreover, unorganised parking creates problem on multiple fronts. Some real-20 time problems are:
• 30% of the traffic congestion on the road is due to vehicles searching for empty parking space.
• Lack of real time availability of spaces to the commuters results in needless traffic in that area. 25
• On an average, every car spends 20 minutes in search of a parking spot wasting litres of fuel.
• Delhi has been ranked #1 in the World in terms of parking woes by IBM Global Parking Index 2011.
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• Unauthorized parking resulting into traffic jams/congestion
Another problem which is faced by lot of people is manual payment system for vehicle parking. The manual payment system is quite time consuming and creates lot of inconvenience while managing cash, manually calculating time duration of parking, etc. 5
In the view of all the above scenarios, one can conclude that there is a long-standing need to have automated and well organised parking mechanism which is capable of providing information related to real time available parking space in a particular geographical area which will help user to accurately predict where they 10 will likely find a spot. Further, there should be an automated mechanism for calculating time duration of parked vehicle and automated cashless payment system in order to reduce human efforts.
SUMMARY 15
This summary is provided to introduce the concepts related to system and method to detect presence and absence of a device in a geospatial area and the concepts are further described in the detail description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor it is intended to use in 20 determining or limiting the scope of claimed subject matter.
In one implementation, the present subject matter describes a system to detect presence of a device in a geospatial area. The system may comprise one or more sensor each having a unique identity and capable of independently transmitting 25 signals within a communication range that covers a certain geospatial area, a server that stores identity, a corresponding threshold signal strength of each sensor as well as its coordinates that correspond to geospatial area where such threshold signal strength be detected, a network, a device. The device may further comprise signal receiver capable of receiving signals simultaneously from one or more 30 sensors, a processor and a memory coupled with the processor. The system may
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comprise receiving, over a network, geospatial coordinates associated with a sensor, its identity and threshold signal strength from a server. The system may comprise navigating, the device to the coordinates so received. Further, the system may comprise receiving, via a signal receiver, one or more signals from one or more sensors installed when such device is in proximity to the coordinates. The 5 system may comprise comparing, the received signal strength so received with the threshold strength of such sensor. The system may further comprise prompting a message on a display screen of the device when such received signal strength equals or is above the threshold strength of such sensor. The system may comprise registering an input, via input means of the device, followed by communicating a 10 data packet to the server that comprises the identity of the sensor to detect presence of a device in a geospatial area.
In another implementation, the present subject matter describes a method to detect presence of a device in a geospatial area. The method may comprise receiving, 15 over a network, geospatial coordinates associated with a sensor, its identity and threshold signal strength from a server. The method may further comprise navigating, via a processor, the device to the coordinates so received. The method may comprise receiving, via a signal receiver, one or more signals from one or more sensors installed when such device is in proximity to the coordinates. The 20 method may comprise comparing, the received signal strength so received with the threshold strength of such sensor. Further, the method may comprise prompting, via the processor, a message on a display screen of the device 104 when such received signal strength equals or is above the threshold strength of such sensor. The method may comprise registering an input, via input means of 25 the device, followed by communicating a data packet to the server that comprises the identity of the sensor to detect presence of a device in a geospatial area.
In yet another implementation, the present subject matter describes a system to detect absence of a device in a geospatial area. The system may comprise a 30 network, a server that stores a geospatial coordinate of corresponding predefined
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geospatial area associated with a device and the device. The device may further comprise an accelerometer capable of detecting acceleration of the device, a processor and a memory coupled with the processor. The system may comprise detecting, the acceleration of the device as the device starts moving, wherein the accelerometer in the device provides the XYZ coordinate value, which is used to 5 measure the position and acceleration of the device. The system may further comprise triggering, a message from the server seeking an input as soon as the accelerometer detects the acceleration of the device. The system may comprise registering an input, via input means of the device, followed by communicating a data packet to the server, wherein the data packet contains the sensor identity and 10 corresponding geospatial coordinates for registration of absence of the device.
In yet another implementation, the present subject matter describes a method to detect absence of a device in a geospatial area. The method may comprise detecting, via an accelerometer, the acceleration of the device as the device 104 15 starts moving, wherein the accelerometer in the device provides the XYZ coordinate value, which is used to measure the position and acceleration of the device. The method may further comprise triggering, via a processor, a message from the server seeking the user input as soon as the accelerometer detects the acceleration of the device. Further, the method may comprise registering an input, 20 via input means of the device, followed by communicating a data packet to the server, wherein the data packet contains the sensor identity and corresponding geospatial coordinates for registration of absence of the device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 25
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying Figures. In the Figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the Figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components. 30
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Figure 1 illustrates a network implementation 100 of a system 101 for detecting presence and absence of a device in a geospatial area, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
Figure 2 illustrates the system 101 and its components that are used for detecting 5 presence and absence of a device in a geospatial area, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
Figure 3 illustrates a method 300 for detecting presence of a device in a geospatial area, performed by the system 101, in accordance with the embodiment of the 10 present subject matter.
Figure 4 illustrates a method 400 for detecting absence of a device in a geospatial area, performed by the system 101, in accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter. 15
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular 20 feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures 25 or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
Referring to Figure 1, that illustrates a network implementation 100 of a system 101 for detecting presence and absence of a device 104 in a geospatial area, in 30 accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
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In an embodiment, the system 101 may be connected to the device 104 through a network 102. It may be understood that the system 101 may be accessed by multiple users through one or more devices 104-1,104-2,104-3…104-n, collectively referred to as a device 104 hereinafter, or applications residing on the 5 device 104.
In an embodiment, as illustrated in figure 1, the system 101 may accept information provided by multiple users using the device 104, to register the respective user with the system 101. The user may be any person, machine, 10 software, automated computer program, a robot or a combination thereof.
In an embodiment, as illustrated in figure1, the system 101 may be implemented in a server. It may be understood that the server used for the purpose of the present subject matter may be an electronic device that stores a computer programmes, or 15 the like.
In an embodiment, it may be understood that the system 101 may also be implemented in a variety of devices, such as a but are not limited to, a portable computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld device, a mobile device, a laptop 20 computer, a desktop computer, a notebook, a workstation, a mainframe computer, a local node, and the like.
In one implementation, the network 102 may be a wireless network, a wired network or a combination thereof. The network 102 can be accessed by the device 25 104 using wired or wireless network connectivity means including updated communications technology.
Referring to Figure 2, components of the computer implemented system 101, may comprise an accelerometer 201, a signal receiver 202, at least one processor 203, 30 an input/output (I/O) interface 204, and a memory 205. The memory 205 may
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further comprise one or more modules 206 and a data 212. In one embodiment, the at least one processor 203 is configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 205.
In one embodiment, the I/O interface 204 implemented as a mobile application or 5 a web based application may include a variety of software and hardware interfaces, for example, a web interface, a graphical user interface, and the like. The I/O interface 204 may allow the system 101 to interact with the device 104. Further, the I/O interface 204 may enable the device 104 to communicate with other computing devices, such as web servers and external data servers (not 10 shown). The I/O interface 204 may facilitate multiple communications within a wide variety of networks and protocol types, including wired networks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such as WLAN, cellular, bluetooth network or satellite. The I/O interface 204 may include one or more ports for connecting to another server. 15
In one embodiment, the I/O interface 204 is an interaction platform. The I/O interface 204 may allow commands for a command line interface or a Graphical User Interface (GUI) which may enable a user to create, modify and delete either of data, metadata, program, logic, algorithm, parameters associated with 20 encryption method, encryption program and encryption language.
In an implementation, the memory 205 may include any computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), 25 and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and memory cards.
In one embodiment, the modules 206 includes routines, programs, objects, 30 components, data structure, etc., which performs particular tasks, functions or
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implement abstract data types. In one implementation, the modules 206 may further comprise a data receiving module 207, a navigating module 208, a comparison module 209, a registration module 210 and a detection module 211.
In one embodiment, one or more sensor 103-1, 103-2, 103-3…….103-n 5 collectively referred to as a sensor 103 hereinafter, may be installed on the geospatial area. The one or more sensor 103 may have a unique identity and may be capable to independently transmitting signals within a communication range that covers a certain geospatial area. The sensor 103 may directly communicate with the device 104 via bluetooth network 105. The one or more sensor 103 may 10 be Bluetooth Beacon, Magnetic Sensor, IR Sensor, Radar Sensor, Ultrasonic Sensor, or the like.
In one embodiment, the one or more sensor 103 may be installed in the geospatial area and a geospatial area is mapped into a virtual square grid with each grid 15 having a unique threshold signal strength. A combination of signals from one or more sensor 103 may be received in a geospatial area covered by each virtual square grid and further the received signal strength may be a function of distance of virtual square grid from one or more sensor 103. The one or more sensor 103 may be a long-range sensor 103. 20
In one embodiment, the server may store identity, a corresponding threshold signal strength of each sensor 103 as well as its coordinates that correspond to geospatial area where such threshold signal strength may be detected.
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In one embodiment, the data receiving module 207 may receive geospatial coordinates associated with a sensor 103, identity of the sensor 103 and a threshold signal strength of the sensor 103 from the server. The data receiving module 207 may receive geospatial coordinates, identity and threshold signal strength over a network 102. 30
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In one embodiment, the threshold strength of the signal may be a pre-defined signal strength of each sensor 103 or the threshold strength of the signal may be calculated by way of triangulation of signal strengths of more than one sensor 103 in the proximity to the geospatial coordinates.
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In one embodiment, the navigating module 208 may navigate the device 104 to the coordinates so received from the server. The navigating module 208 may navigate the device 104 by providing the complete path map or direction for reaching at the received coordinates.
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In one embodiment, as the device 104 reaches in the proximity of the geospatial coordinates that are received from the server, the data receiving module 207 may further enable the signal receiver 202 to receive one or more signals form one or more sensor 103 installed in the proximity of the geospatial coordinates, wherein a signal receiver 202 capable of receiving signals simultaneously from one or 15 more sensors 103.
In one embodiment, in order to appropriately locate or detect the device 104 in the geospatial coordinates, the comparison module 209 may compare the received signal strength with the pre-defined threshold signal strength of the sensor 103. 20
In one embodiment, the processor 203 may be configured to prompt a message on the display screen of the device 104 seeking as input from the user, as soon as the received signal strength becomes equal to or above the threshold signal strength the sensor 103. Upon detection of threshold signal strength, and before prompting 25 a message on a display screen of the device 104, deceleration and zero acceleration of the accelerometer 201 of the device 104 may be verified.
In one embodiment, the registration module 210 may register the inputs with the server, wherein the registration of the input may be followed by communicating a 30
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data packet to the server that may comprise the identity of the sensor 103 for registration of the presence of a device 104 in a geospatial area.
In one embodiment, as the server receives the input along with the data packets that may comprise the identity of the sensor 103, the server may update its 5 database of sensor 103 identity and its corresponding geospatial area based on the received inputs.
In one embodiment, the absence of the device 104 in the geospatial area may be detected. In order to detect the absence of the device 104 in the geospatial area, 10 the detection module 211 may detect the acceleration of the device 104 as the device 104 starts moving, wherein the accelerometer 201 of the device 104 may provide the XYZ coordinate values, which may be used to measure the position and acceleration of the device 104.
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In one embodiment, in order to get the confirmation that the device 104 is leaving the geospatial area, the message may be triggered on the display screen of the device 104 from the server seeking an input as soon as the accelerometer 201 detects the acceleration of the device 104.
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In one embodiment, the registration module 210 may register the inputs with the server, wherein the registration of the input may be followed by communicating a data packet to the server, wherein the data packets may comprise the sensor 103 identity and corresponding geospatial coordinates for registration of absence of the device 104. 25
In one embodiment, as the server receives the input along with the data packets that may comprise the identity of the sensor 103, the server may update its database of sensor 103 identity and its corresponding geospatial area based on the received inputs for registration of absence of the device 104. 30
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In one embodiment, the processor 203 may be capable of recording the time duration of presence of the device 104 in the geospatial area, wherein as soon as the accelerometer 201 detects acceleration of the device, a message may be prompted showing the charges based on the time duration of presence of the device 104 in the geospatial area. 5
In one embodiment, the processor 203 may enable the user to make cashless payment of parking fees after completion of the time duration.
Now referring to figure 3, that illustrates a method 300 for detecting presence of 10 a device in a geospatial area, performed by the system 101, in accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter.
At step 301, the data receiving module 207 may receive geospatial coordinates associated with a sensor 103, identity of the sensor 103 and a threshold signal 15 strength of the sensor 103 from the server. The data receiving module 207 may receive geospatial coordinates, identity and threshold signal strength over a network 102.
In one embodiment, the threshold strength of the signal may be a pre-defined 20 signal strength of each sensor 103 or the threshold strength of the signal may be calculated by way of triangulation of signal strengths of more than one sensor 103 in the proximity to the geospatial coordinates.
At step 302, the navigating module 208 may navigate the device 104 to the 25 coordinates so received from the server. The navigating module 208 may navigate the device 104 by providing the complete path map or direction for reaching at the received coordinates.
At step 303, as the device 104 reaches in the proximity of the geospatial 30 coordinates that are received from the server, the data receiving module 207 may
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further enable the signal receiver 202 to receive one or more signals form one or more sensor 103 installed in the proximity of the geospatial coordinates, wherein a signal receiver 202 capable of receiving signals simultaneously from one or more sensors 103.
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At step 304, in order to appropriately locate or detect the device 104 in the geospatial coordinates, the comparison module 209 may compare the received signal strength with the pre-defined threshold signal strength of the sensor 103.
At step 305, the processor 203 may be configured to prompt a message on the 10 display screen of the device 104 seeking as input from the user, as soon as the received signal strength becomes equal to or above the threshold signal strength the sensor 103. Upon detection of threshold signal strength, and before prompting a message on a display screen of the device 104, deceleration and zero acceleration of the accelerometer 201 of the device 104 may be verified. 15
At step 306, the registration module 210 may register the inputs with the server, wherein the registration of the input may be followed by communicating a data packet to the server that may comprise the identity of the sensor 103 in order to detect presence of a device 104 in a geospatial area. 20
In one embodiment, as the server receives the input along with the data packets that may comprise the identity of the sensor 103, the server may update its database of sensor 103 identity and its corresponding geospatial area based on the received inputs. 25
Figure 4 illustrates a method 400 for detecting absence of a device in a geospatial area, performed by the system 101, in accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter.
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At step 401, the absence of the device 104 in the geospatial area may be detected. In order to detect the absence of the device 104 in the geospatial area, the detection module 211 may detect the acceleration of the device 104 as the device 104 starts moving, wherein the accelerometer 201 of the device 104 may provide the XYZ coordinate values, which may be used to measure the position and acceleration of 5 the device 104.
At step 402, in order to get the confirmation that the device 104 is leaving the geospatial area, the message may be triggered on the display screen of the device 104 from the server seeking an input as soon as the accelerometer 201 detects the 10 acceleration of the device 104.
At step 403, the registration module 210 may register the inputs with the server, wherein the registration of the input may be followed by communicating a data packet to the server, wherein the data packets may comprise the sensor identity 15 and corresponding geospatial coordinates for registration of absence of the device.
In one embodiment, as the server receives the input along with the data packets that may comprise the identity of the sensor 103, the server may update its database of sensor identity and its corresponding geospatial area based on the 20 received inputs for registration of absence of the device 104.
In one embodiment, the processor 203 may be capable of recording the time duration of presence of the device 104 in the geospatial area, wherein as soon as the accelerometer 201 detects acceleration of the device, a message may be 25 prompted showing the charges based on the time duration of presence of the device 104 in the geospatial area.
In one embodiment, the processor 203 may enable the user to make cashless payment of parking fees after completion of the time duration. 30
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The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs or the description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. 5
Although implementations for the system and method to detect presence and absence of a device in a geospatial area have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. 10 Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as examples of implementations for system and method to detect presence and absence of a device in a geospatial area.

We claim:
1. A system to detect presence of a device in a geospatial area, the system 101 comprising:
one or more sensor 103 each having a unique identity and capable of independently transmitting signals within a communication range that covers a 5 certain geospatial area;
a server that stores identity, a corresponding threshold signal strength of each sensor 103 as well as its coordinates that correspond to geospatial area where such threshold signal strength be detected;
a network 102; 10
a device 104, that comprises:
a signal receiver 202 capable of receiving signals simultaneously from one or more sensors 103;
a processor 203; and
a memory 205 coupled with the processor 203, wherein the processor 203 15 is capable of executing programmed instructions stored in the memory 205 for:
receiving, over a network 102, geospatial coordinates associated with a sensor 103, its identity and threshold signal strength from a server;
navigating, the device 104 to the coordinates so received; 20
receiving, via a signal receiver 202, one or more signals from one or more sensors 103 installed when such device is in proximity to the coordinates;
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comparing, the received signal strength with the threshold strength of the sensor 103;
prompting a message on a display screen of the device 104 when such received signal strength equals or is above the threshold strength of 30 such sensor 103;
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registering an input, via input means of the device 104, followed by communicating a data packet to the server that comprises the identity of the sensor 103 to detect presence of a device 104 in a geospatial area.
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2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device 104 is at least one of a mobile device, a local node, or a combination thereof.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein upon receipt of the data packet the server updates its database of sensor identity and its corresponding geospatial area. 10
4. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sensor 103 is Bluetooth Beacon, Magnetic Sensor, IR Sensor, Radar Sensor, Ultrasonic Sensor or a combination thereof.
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5. The system of claim 1, wherein, the threshold strength of the signal is calculated by way of triangulation of signal strengths of more than one sensor 103.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein upon detection of threshold signal strength, and 20 before prompting a message on a display screen of the device 104, deceleration and zero acceleration of the accelerometer 201 of the device is verified.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sensor 103 is installed in the geospatial area and a geospatial area is mapped into a virtual square grid with 25 each grid having a unique threshold signal strength.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein a combination of signals from one or more sensor 103 is received in a geospatial area covered by each virtual square grid and further the received signal strength is a function of distance of virtual 30 square grid from one or more sensor 103.
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9. A method to detect presence of a device in a geospatial area, the method comprising:
receiving, over a network 102, geospatial coordinates associated with a sensor 103, its identity and threshold signal strength from a server;
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navigating, via a processor 203, the device to the coordinates so received;
receiving, via a signal receiver 202, one or more signals from one or more sensors 103 installed when such device 104 is in proximity to the 10 coordinates;
comparing, via the processor 203, the received signal strength with the threshold strength of such sensor 103;
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prompting, via the processor 203, a message on a display screen of the device 104 when such received signal strength equals or is above the threshold strength of such sensor 103;
registering an input, via input means of the device 104, followed by 20 communicating a data packet to the server that comprises the identity of the sensor 103 to detect presence of a device in a geospatial area.
10. A system to register absence of a device in a geospatial area, the system 101 comprising: 25
one or more sensor 103 each having a unique identity and capable of independently transmitting signals within a communication range that covers a certain geospatial area;
a network 102;
a server that stores a geospatial coordinate of corresponding predefined 30 geospatial area associated with a device 104;
the device 104, further comprises:
an accelerometer 201 capable of detecting acceleration of the device 104;
a processor 203; and
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a memory 205 coupled with the processor 203, wherein the processor 203 is capable of executing programmed instructions stored in the memory 205 for:
detecting, the acceleration of the device 104 as the device starts moving, wherein the accelerometer 201 of the device 104 provides the XYZ coordinate values, which is used to measure the position and 5 acceleration of the device 104;
triggering, a message from the server seeking an input as soon as the accelerometer 201 detects the acceleration of the device 104;
registering an input, via input means of the device 104, followed by communicating a data packet to the server, wherein the data packet 10 contains the sensor identity and corresponding geospatial coordinates for registration of absence of the device 104.
11. A system of claim 10, wherein the processor 203 of the device 104 is capable of recording the time duration of presence of the device 104 in the geospatial 15 area.
12. A system of claim 11, wherein as soon as the accelerometer 201 detects acceleration of the device 104, a message is prompted showing the charges based on the time duration of presence of the device 104 in the geospatial area. 20
13. A system of claim 12, wherein the processor 203 of the device 104 enables user to make cashless payment of parking fees after completion of the time duration.
14. A method to detect absence of a device in a geospatial area, the method 25 comprising:
detecting, via an accelerometer 201, the acceleration of the device 104 as the device 104 starts moving, wherein the accelerometer 201 of the device 104 provides the XYZ coordinate values, which is used to measure the position and acceleration of the device 104; 30
triggering, via a processor 203, a message from the server seeking the user input as soon as the accelerometer 201 detects the acceleration of the device 104;
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registering an input, via input means of the device 104, followed by communicating a data packet to the server, wherein the data packet contains the sensor identity and corresponding geospatial coordinates.