An approach is disclosed that locates available parking spaces from a set of parking spaces, such as in a parking lot. The approach retrieves a clearance distance that needed between a parked vehicle parked in an adjacent parking space to the identified parking space. After retrieving the needed clearance distance, the system transmit an instruction to a self-driving vehicle to park in the identified parking space and leave the clearance distance between the self-driving vehicle and the parked vehicle.

A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are each proximate to at least one of the parking spaces. Tourist parking identification cards are issued to an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges, which are then provided to the visitors. The parking identification cards are activated by pairing each identification card with a digital ticket issued to the agency. The parking spaces are managed by sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and by determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device.

A parking enforcement device includes a weather resistant housing, a processor disposed inside of the housing, a memory disposed inside of the housing and coupled to the processor, a network interface disposed in the housing and coupled to the processor, and a first camera disposed inside of the housing and coupled to the processor. The camera is aimed to face outward from the housing towards a target space, the first camera coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to recognize when a vehicle enters the target space, determine which of a plurality of parking class rules is applicable to the vehicle in the target space, and determine that a parking violation for the vehicle has occurred if parking in the target space is prohibited by the applicable parking class rule for the vehicle.

The methods describe the use of Handset Apps in garages currently using paper tickets or ID tokens in ways that minimize disruption to the existing infrastructure. The techniques include automatic recognition of garage/gate ID, automatic identification of paper ticket ID without optical scanning, and direct payment in manually operated garages, including those using valet parking.

A personal electronic parking system and method adapted to identify, track, predict, alert, manage and collect payment, and enforce on-street and off-street parking, the system including a central cloud network adapted to generate and manage user data and parking data, a user interface adapted to show users parking information relevant to the user, a unique machine-readable code, wherein the code provides identification of a specific vehicle used by the user, one or more sensors, one or more meter devices adapted to connect with the central cloud network and the user interface, and a parking payment and enforcement portal.

A system and method facilitates access and payment to a parking facility. The vehicle operator/owner downloads a software application and inputs personal and financial information during registration. The personal and financial information is stored in a parking facility server and a payment server. The system generates an electronic ticket, or a radio frequency identification technology, or Bluetooth networking standard that correspond to the personal and financial information. A reader at the gate controller, in the parking area, scans the electronic ticket or RFID from the mobile communication device or vehicle. The server authorizes the gate controller to enable access for the vehicle to a parking area, based on the information. When the vehicle egresses the parking area, the electronic ticket or RFID is scanned again, and the duration in the parking area is transmitted to payment server to process payment and provide a receipt based on duration in parking area.

A digital license plate with an associated payment and information handling system is described. The payment system allows for automated payment for parking that includes sending authorization to pay parking related payments to a payment authority, with authorization at least partially incorporating information stored in the digital license plate.

Tracking and tolling an object, such as a vehicle, are disclosed. It may be determined that the object has crossed a geographic boundary or moved a determined distance. A cost may be determined and charged for the object moving past the geographic boundary or moving the determined distance. Tracking the use of at least one destination location is also disclosed. It may be determined that a first vehicle is stopped at a destination location and a first amount may be charged to an account associated with the first vehicle. The first vehicle may be charged based on one or more characteristics such as passenger drop-off or pick-up. It may also be determined that a second vehicle is stopped at the destination location. A second, different amount may be charged to an account associated with the second vehicle because the second vehicle has characteristics not present in the first vehicle.

A method to find and report an available parking space in a parking lot, where a software application is installed on a memory device coupled to a processor on a dedicated computing platform in an automobile. The dedicated computing platform further including a geographic localizing program, a mapping software providing a digital parking space map superimposed on a real map of the parking lot, a statistical analysis software calculating probability of occupied or available status of a parking space based on data provided by the dedicated computing platform, a transceiver transmitting availability status of the parking space in the parking lot to a central processing unit. Where the central processing unit further transmits availability status of the parking spaces in the parking lots to the dedicated computing platform, thus enabling the dedicated computing platform to report on available parking spaces in the parking lots.

A computer-implemented system and method for proximity-based computer application control is provided. A parking session of a vehicle is monitored via a first application and tracked by a second application. An initial communication connection status between the vehicle and a device associated with a user of the vehicle is obtained. At a later time, a further communication connection status is obtained. The further communication connection status is compared with the initial communication connection status. A determination is made that the parking session has terminated when a status of the further communication connection status differs from the initial communication connection status and is connected. A session termination instruction is transmitted from the first application to the second application to terminate the parking session.