A smart street parking management system includes a smart street parking meter a smart cloud parking management server connected to the smart street parking meter through a wireless networking technology and configured to regularly receive parking information of a vehicle parked on a smart street parking grid and status information of the smart street parking meter uploaded by the smart street parking meter. The status information of the smart street parking meter includes an empty-space status of the street parking grid detected by the smart street parking meter and a battery status of a rechargeable battery of the smart street parking meter. The parking information of the vehicle includes the plate number of the vehicle, the parking fee of the vehicle, and a payment status of the parking fee of the vehicle.

A parking meter is described that comprises components for providing parking meter functionality and a display for displaying parking information and a metal housing for protecting the parking meter components from an environment that has a display aperture through which the display is visible. The parking meter also comprises an antenna for a contactless payment reader arranged in or on the parking meter in close proximity to the display.

An upper parking meter outer housing component that includes a parking meter cap is provided. The parking meter cap includes an outer surface, an inner surface defining an interior cavity, and a lower edge portion defining an opening into the interior cavity. The lower edge portion is configured to be coupled to a lower housing component of single space meter such that a meter mechanism may be enclosed within the interior cavity of the upper meter dome. The meter cap includes a vehicle sensor coupled to the inner surface of the upper meter dome. The meter cap includes a solar panel coupled to the inner surface of the upper meter dome and configured to supply power to the vehicle sensor.

A parking meter mechanism is described that may include a front housing, having a display opening for viewing a display through, connected to an internal structure. Additionally or alternatively the parking meter mechanism may include a contactless payment reader located behind the display. The parking meter mechanism may be secured to a lower housing. A back housing may be secured to the lower housing as well. The front or back housing may include a solar panel compartment and solar panel mounted therein.

Disclosed are parking pay stations, media display caps for parking pay stations, parking pay station advertising platforms including a housing, wherein at least one side of the housing comprises at least one transparent window and at least one media display screen visible through the window, wherein the media display screen is configured to display media to parking users and others, including pedestrians. Also disclosed are methods of retrofitting existing parking pay stations to upgrade them to include media display capability.

A parking meter is described that comprises components for providing parking meter functionality and a display for displaying parking information and a metal housing for protecting the parking meter components from an environment that has a display aperture through which the display is visible. The parking meter also comprises an antenna for a contactless payment reader arranged in or on the parking meter in close proximity to the display.

An upper parking meter outer housing component that includes a parking meter cap is provided. The parking meter cap includes an outer surface, an inner surface defining an interior cavity, and a lower edge portion defining an opening into the interior cavity. The lower edge portion is configured to be coupled to a lower housing component of single space meter such that a meter mechanism may be enclosed within the interior cavity of the upper meter dome. The meter cap includes a vehicle sensor coupled to the inner surface of the upper meter dome. The meter cap includes a solar panel coupled to the inner surface of the upper meter dome and configured to supply power to the vehicle sensor.

An electronic parking meter mechanism is provided. The electronic meter mechanism includes an inner housing, an electronic display screen and a wireless communication subsystem configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system. The electronic meter mechanism includes a first processor configured to control the electronic display screen, and a second processor configured to control communication of data by the wireless communication subsystem.

An electronic parking meter mechanism is provided. The electronic meter mechanism includes an inner housing, an electronic display screen and a wireless communication subsystem configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system. The electronic meter mechanism includes a first processor configured to control the electronic display screen, and a second processor configured to control communication of data by the wireless communication subsystem.

Disclosed are parking pay stations, media display caps for parking pay stations, parking pay station advertising platforms including a housing, wherein at least one side of the housing comprises at least one transparent window and at least one media display screen visible through the window, wherein the media display screen is configured to display media to parking users and others, including pedestrians. Also disclosed are methods of retrofitting existing parking pay stations to upgrade them to include media display capability.