US20110210869A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20110210869A1
Application number: US12/932,621
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Herman Weik, III
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-24
Filing date: 2011-03-01
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Also published as: US20060015398A1; US6945303B2; US20030075287A1

Abstract

A parking area control and management system employs a card reader, which reads identification information from a card commonly carried by a person, such as a driver's license or credit card or other identity card carried by a user that is issued by an entity other than a parking area management entity. A record is made of the identification information upon entrance of a vehicle into the parking area. The person may subsequently leave the parking area on foot and regain entry to the parking area by presenting the same card. Later, the same card is used to exit the parking area, via the vehicle, and to validate that the same person is leaving with the vehicle. The parking area control and management system also includes sensors, such as loop detectors and electric eyes, to determine if a second vehicle or a pedestrian follows behind a vehicle entering into, or exiting from, the parking area. The parking area control and management system can be used to manage existing loop detectors and electric eyes, that normally control door and gate safety access systems, and to integrate those devices into an alarm system, such that an alert is issued whenever an abnormal or unauthorized event occurs during operations.

Description

This application is a Continuation of Applicant's prior U.S. application Ser. No. 10/303,025, filed on Nov. 25, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of Applicant's prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/131,029, filed Apr. 25, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/644,901, filed on Aug. 24, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,784 issued on Nov. 26, 2002. The contents of the parent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for controlling access to, and egress from, a parking area.

2. Description of the Relevant Art

Private and public parking areas, such as garages and lots, are common in urban and suburban areas. Often the entrance to, and exit from, the parking area are monitored and/or controlled. Various systems are known to perform the monitoring and/or controlling functions of the parking area. Such systems range in complexity, such as from simple, manned attendant booths, to semi-automated parking pass systems, to fully automated parking systems.

A first known parking control system employs the use semi-permanent indicia, such as bumper stickers, window stickers or rear view mirror placards. By paying a periodic fee, a person is issued the indicia. When a vehicle enters a parking area, the vehicle must pass through an entrance area. If an attendant or machine recognizes the indicia on the vehicle, the attendant or machine will allow the vehicle to enter the parking area. Often the exit portion of the parking area is completely automated and does not check the indicia, since all of the vehicles which entered the parking area were presumably authorized.

The first known system suffers drawbacks. The indicia is associated with the vehicle, rather than the driver. Therefore, the indicia remains on the vehicle, after the driver has left the vehicle parked in the parking area. If a thief obtains the vehicle from the parking area, the thief can easily pass by the automated exit or the attendant's booth, since the indicia on the vehicle is known and valid to the system. Another drawback is that many people object to placing indicia on their vehicles.

A second known parking control system addresses the drawbacks of the first known system. The second known system employs an attendant located in a booth at a vehicle entrance/exit portion of a parking area, or a ticket printing machine located at the vehicle entrance. When a vehicle enters the parking area, the attendant or ticket printing machine presents the driver with a parking slip printed on a paper card.

Later, when the vehicle exits the parking area, the driver presents the parking slip to the attendant or a ticket reading machine. The attendant or machine either charges a set fee, or perhaps reads a date and time stamp on the parking slip to determine a time-based fee for the parking service. Therefore, in the second known system, the parking authorization is presented to, and associated with, the driver, rather than the vehicle. Further, the driver need not place any indicia on the vehicle.

The second known system also suffers drawbacks. Often, a person does not want to carry the parking slip on their person because it is inconvenient to do so. Further, the person may fear losing the parking slip and having to pay the maximum parking fee. Therefore, the parking slip is usually left in the parked vehicle, such as on the dash, on the passenger's seat, on or in a center console, etc.

Leaving a parking slip in the vehicle is an invitation to a thief to steal the person's vehicle. Once the vehicle is obtained, the thief can simply present the parking slip, pay the parking fee and leave the parking area without raising suspicions. Another drawback to the above system is that a new parking slip must be issued every time a vehicle is parked. This wastes natural resources and costs the parking service provider money.

In order to alleviate the later drawback, a third known parking control system has enjoyed wide spread acceptance. Many parking service providers now issue a plastic parking card, which is uniquely registered to the driver. By paying a periodic fee, the parking service provider maintains the parking card in a valid state. Presentation of the parking card to an attendant or automated card reader allows the driver's vehicle to enter and exit the parking area.

Unfortunately, the third known system also suffers drawbacks. People are resistant to carrying yet another plastic card in their wallet or purse. Further, if a person frequents several different parking areas, managed by different service providers, the problem is exacerbated, since each parking service provider will issue their own unique plastic parking card. Therefore, most people simple “store” their parking cards in their vehicle, such as in a center console or dash glove box. Therefore, again if a thief obtains the vehicle in the parking area, the thief can easily exit the parking area using the valid parking card without raising any suspicions.

Another drawback to the third known system is that it takes time and money to issue a parking card. The plastic cards and machine to encode the cards are expensive to the parking service operator. Further, if a person is patronizing a parking area for the first time, it is a hassle to fill out an application form and wait for a parking card to be issued. Many people also object to the personal information that must be provided in order to obtain the parking card, and worry that the information will be sold to telemarketers and direct mailers.

Yet another drawback is that the third known system is only cost effective to issue parking cards to repeat, or monthly, parking patrons. The third known system has no provision for a onetime, or daily, parking patron, other than to issue an expensive dedicated, parking card. Issuing a parking card to a onetime parking patron would add significantly to the price charged for a day of parking, and/or detract significantly from the profits of the parking service provider. In any event, a parking card would be needed by the onetime, parking patron in order to reenter the parking garage to retrieve the vehicle.

Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a new system for controlling a parking area, which is convenient to parking patrons, which saves parking service providers money, and which deters the theft and/or vandalism of parked vehicles, and allows entry and exit for pre-approved parking patrons on a case by case basis.

Further, there exists a need in the art for an improved parking area management and control system which can more easily detect and deter (1) “vehicle-type tailgating” past a parking barrier, wherein an unauthorized vehicle follows an authorized vehicle into and/or out of the parking area; and (2) “pedestrian-type tailgating” past a parking barrier, wherein a person follows an authorized vehicle into a parking area. Such a system would reduce the likelihood of vehicle theft and vandalism, reduce the likelihood of lost parking revenue, reduce the operating expenses of a parking area by reducing insurance claims, and improve the safety of the patrons of the parking area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to address one or more of the drawbacks associated with the background art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which operates in combination with a card already issued to, and typically carried by, a parking patron.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which deters vandalism and theft of parked vehicles, as well as assaults and robberies of parking patrons, by issuing an alert signal when an unauthorized vehicle or person attempts to enter or exit the parking area.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which deters vandalism of parked vehicles and/or theft of objects from parked vehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which saves money and time for parking service providers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which is more convenient and less objectionable to parking area patrons.

These and other objects are accomplished by a parking area control and management system employing a card reader, which reads identification information from a card commonly carried by a person, such as a driver's license or credit card. A record is made of the identification information upon entrance of a vehicle into the parking area. The person may subsequently leave the parking area on foot and regain entry to the parking area by presenting the same card. Later, the same card is used to exit the parking area, via the vehicle, and to validate that the same person is leaving with the vehicle. The parking area control and management system also includes sensors, such as loop detectors and electric eyes, to determine if a second vehicle or a pedestrian follows behind a vehicle entering into the parking area.

The parking area control and management system of the present invention may employ preexisting equipment already in use at the parking area. For example, existing equipment, such as electric eye systems and loop detectors, may be reorganized and integrated into the parking area control and management system of the present invention. The reorganization and integration of the preexisting equipment into the control system of the present invention creates new safety monitoring aspects and other benefits (such as intruder alerts, and tailgating detection) not possible when using the preexisting equipment individually.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an outside perspective view of a parking garage entrance and exit area for vehicles and foot traffic;

FIG. 2 is an inside perspective view of the parking garage entrance and exit area for vehicles and foot traffic;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a customer terminal;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an interconnection between various components of the parking area control and management system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation for allowing a vehicle to enter a parking area;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation for allowing foot traffic into the parking area;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation for allowing a vehicle to exit the parking area; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation for discovering vehicle-type and pedestrian-type tailgating into the parking area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of abuilding2 having an underground parking garage viewed from a street outside of thebuilding2. Thebuilding2 includes a vehicle entrance4 and a vehicle exit6. Thebuilding2 also includes anaccess door8 for entering and exiting the parking garage by foot. Afirst customer terminal10 is located alongside anentrance ramp12. Thefirst customer terminal10 is mounted on apost14, which is situated on a driver's side of theentrance ramp12. A similar,second customer terminal16 is provided on an exterior wall of thebuilding2 adjacent to thedoor8. The

customer terminals

10,16 will be described in greater detail with reference toFIG. 3.

Afirst camera3 is provided on apost5 attached to thebuilding2. Thefirst camera3 has a view of the outside portions of the vehicle entrance4, the vehicle exit6 and theaccess door8. Thefirst camera3 may take one image of the entrance and exit area of thebuilding2, or a series of images over a time period, as will be further described below.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle entrance and exit area taken from inside the parking garage. Anexit lane18 leads to the vehicle exit6. Athird customer terminal20 is located alongside theexit lane18. Thethird customer terminal20 is mounted on apost22, which is situated on a driver's side of theexit ramp18.

Asecond camera23 is provided on apost25 attached to an interior wall of thebuilding2. Thesecond camera23 has a view of the inside portions of the vehicle entrance4, the vehicle exit6 and theaccess door8. Thesecond camera23 may take one image of the entrance and exit area of the building, or a series of images over a time period, as will be further described below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration for the first, second and/or

third customer terminals

10,16, and20. Each customer terminal would include at least a card reader in the form of a pull through slot24 (as commonly used in grocery store checkout lanes) or an insert/withdraw slot (as commonly used at pay gas pumps). The card reader could be used for reading one or more types of cards, such as a magnetic strip or bar code provided on a credit card, a driver's license, etc.

Further, each customer terminal could include atelephone handset26 for voice communications, a numeric or alpha-numeric input keypad28, a plurality offunction keys30, avideo display32, and acamera34. Of course, thehandset26 could be replaced with a hands-free speakerphone, such as aspeaker36 and a microphone38. Further, thekeypad28 andfunction keys30 could be replaced with a touch sensitive graphics display provided on thevideo display32, or a computer input to interface with a personal digital assistant (PDA) or laptop.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the interconnections between various components of the present invention. Thefirst customer terminal10,second customer terminal16 andthird customer terminal20 are connected to acontrol system40. The connections may be hardwired or wireless.

Thecontroller40 is also connected to afirst actuator42, asecond actuator44 and adoor lock46. Thefirst actuator42 controls opening and closing of a first gate ordoor48, serving as a barrier to the vehicle entrance4. Thesecond actuator44 controls opening and closing of a second gate ordoor50, serving as a barrier to the vehicle exit6. Thedoor lock46 controls the locking of thefoot traffic door8. For example, thedoor lock46 could drive a solenoid for withdrawing a dead bolt, and hence unlocking thepedestrian door8. Alternatively, thedoor lock46 may be an electro-magnet, which holds thedoor8 locked when energized, and which releases thedoor8 when de-energized.

As also illustrated inFIG. 4, amemory52 and atimer53 are connected to thecontrol system40. Thememory52 could be a hard drive integrated into, or in the proximity of, thecontrol system40, or alternatively could be a remote memory device, such as a memory space allocated at a local personal computer or service provider connected to thecontrol system40 via amodem54 over the Internet. Also, thetimer53 could be integrated into thecontrol system40.

An emergency/fire detector56 is also connected to thecontrol system40. The emergency/fire detector56 could be a collection of fire sensors and pull alarms located in the garage area. More preferably, the emergency/fire detector56 is tied into a master management system of thebuilding2, and hence would signal trouble to thecontrol system40 under the circumstance of any emergency within thebuilding2. In an emergency condition, the

vehicle barriers

48,50 anddoor8 could be held opened, as for a bomb threat, or could be held locked, in response to a child-abduction in thebuilding2.

Acredit card center64 may also be connected to thecontrol system40, directly or via themodem54, as will be further discussed below. Alocal service facility58 is connected directly to thecontrol system40, or connected to thecontrol system40 via themodem54. Thelocal service facility58 could be manned a security person located onsite of thebuilding2, such as at a guard desk in the lobby of thebuilding2. Alternatively, or in addition, aremote service facility60 could connected directly to thecontrol system40, or connected via themodem54. Theremote service facility60 would be located offsite, and would service the parking garages of severaldifferent buildings2.

As also illustrated inFIG. 4, a presence detector, such as anelectric eye system62, is connected to thecontrol system40. Theelectric eye system62 includes one or more transmitter/receiver sets, arranged proximate the vehicle entrance4 and/or exit6. InFIG. 2 a first transmitter/receiver set70 is located closer to thefirst barrier48 of the vehicle entrance4, as compared to a second transmitter/receiver set72. Therefore, a vehicle or person entering via the vehicle entrance4 will trigger the first transmitter/receiver set70 prior to triggering the second transmitter/receiver set72. Each transmitter/receiver set70,72 is located sufficiently high so that it is unlikely that a pedestrian will step over the light beam. Yet, each transmitter/receiver set70,72 is not located so high that the light beams will pass over a vehicle.

Theelectric eye system62 may be embodied as an infrared light beam transmitter and receiver for detecting the passage of vehicles or people past the vehicle entrance4. Of course, other types of electric eye systems may be employed to detect the passage of vehicles or people past the vehicle entrance4, such as an ultra-sonic transmitter/receiver set. As illustrated inFIG. 2, theelectric eye system62 may also include third and fourth transmitter/receiver sets74,76, arranged proximate the vehicle exit6, to detect the passage of vehicles and people past the vehicle exit6, in a like manner.

As also illustrated inFIG. 4, aloop detector system64 is connected to thecontrol system40. Theloop detector system64 includes one or more loop detectors, arranged proximate the vehicle entrance4 and/or exit6. InFIG. 2, afirst loop detector78 is located closer to thefirst barrier48 of the vehicle entrance4, as compared to asecond loop detector80. Therefore, a vehicle entering via the vehicle entrance4 will trigger thefirst loop detector78 prior to triggering thesecond loop detector80. In typical installations, the loop detectors also act as the inside and outside safety loops for the door or gate.

The

loop detectors

78,80 may be embodied as coils of wire, which act as metal detectors. A large amount of metal, characteristic of a vehicle, will influence a current in the coil of a loop detector, and indicate the presence of a vehicle. Of course, other types of loop detectors may be employed to detect the presence of a vehicle, such as a weight sensor. A typical weight sensor would include a loop-shaped area formed in the entrance ramp which transmits a surface weight to a sensor beneath, such as a piezo-electric strain gauge. As illustrated inFIG. 2, theloop detector system64 may also include third and

fourth loop detectors

82,84, arranged proximate the vehicle exit6, to detect the passage of vehicles past the vehicle exit6, in a like manner.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a first aspect of operation for the present invention. The first aspect of operation relates to a vehicle or person's entrance into the parking area, e.g. parking garage. When entering the garage, a customer's vehicle approaches thefirst customer terminal10 via theentrance ramp12. The customer reviews rules posted at thefirst customer terminal10 or at abillboard66 attached to thebuilding2. The customer is instructed to present their driver's license or a credit card (hereinafter referred to as a customer's common card) to thecard reader24. InFIG. 3, thecard reader24 is provided in a pedestal-type customer terminal10, and accessed directly by the customer. However, other types of customer terminals may house thecard reader24. For example, thecard reader24 may be provided in a customer terminal, taking the form of a customer counter or parking attendant's booth, and accessed by handing the card to an attendant.

In step S100, the card reader obtains unique identifying information from a bar code, magnetic strip or the like, on the customer's common card. It is not important that thecontrol system40 be able to actually identify the individual, but rather that thecontrol system40 simply be able to obtain unique data associated with the customer's common card.

In step S102, thecontrol system40 stores the read identification data in thememory52 along with a timer value, as taken from thetimer53. Then, in step S104, thecontrol system40 sends a signal to thefirst actuator42 to open thefirst barrier48 to permit the vehicle or person to enter the parking garage. In step S106, it is determined whether or not the vehicle or person has entered the parking garage using theloop detector system64 orelectric eye system62. If not, thecontrol system40 goes to step S110. If so, the method proceeds to step S108 and thecontrol system40 sends a signal to thefirst actuator42 to close thefirst barrier48.

If the vehicle or person has not entered the parking garage, thecontrol system40 monitors thetimer53, in step S110, to see if a predetermined time has elapsed. For example, the predetermined time may be approximately 10 to 15 seconds. If the time since the opening actuation of thefirst barrier48 has not yet exceeded the predetermined time, the process returns to step S106 to check if the vehicle has entered the parking garage yet. If the time since the opening actuation of thefirst barrier48 has exceeded the predetermined time, the process goes to step S108 and thefirst barrier48 is closed. This is a “time-out” procedure, whereby thefirst barrier48 is not left open indefinitely.

Once a vehicle has entered and parked in the parking garage, it is customary for a person to leave the vehicle and go perform tasks in thebuilding2 or outside thebuilding2. In this regard, the person will need to exit the parking garage via a door leading to a street, stairway, or elevator room.FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate adoor8 leading to a street. Thedoor8 is constructed to allow people to freely leave the parking garage. However, thedoor8 is locked to prevent people from entering the parking garage. Of course, othersimilar doors8 could be provided to control access to the garage from an elevator room, lobby, etc.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a second aspect of operation of the present invention. The second method of operation relates to a person's ability to regain walking entrance into the parking garage. To regain entry into the parking garage, a person presents their customer's common card (e.g. driver's license or credit card) to thecard reader24 of thesecond customer terminal16. In step S210, thecard reader24 of thesecond customer terminal16 obtains unique identifying information from the bar code, magnetic strip, or the like of the customer's common card.

In step S212, thecontrol system40 compares the identifying information obtained in step S210 to the identifying information records stored in thememory52. In step S214, it is determined if a match is found. If so, processing proceeds to step S216. In step S216, thecontrol system40 sends a signal to thedoor lock46 to unlock thedoor8, such as by withdrawing a deadbolt via a solenoid or de-energizing a magnetic lock. This allows the person to enter the garage.

If no match is found in step S214, processing proceeds to step S218. In step S218, a message is displayed to the person at thesecond customer terminal16, via thevideo display32, that the customer's common card presented was not previously used to gain access to the parking garage. The person is instructed to try again, or to call for assistance using thehandset26.

For example, assume that a car rental agency has rental cars parked inside the parking area. If a person wishes to enter the parking area to obtain a rented car, the person will be asked to insert their customer card into acard reader24 provided at the rental agency desk. Thecontrol system40 will allow the person to enter thedoor8, and perhaps a series of doors inside the parking area, so as to provide the person with an accessible path to the rental cars parked in the parking area. Thecontrol system40 could also allow the person to exit the parking area with a rental car, using the same customer card.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a third method of operation for the present invention. The third method of operation relates to when the person exits the parking garage with their vehicle. To exit the parking garage, the person must present their customer's common card to thecard reader24 of thethird customer terminal20. In step S220, thecard reader24 of thethird customer terminal20 obtains unique identifying information from the bar code, magnetic strip, or the like of the customer's common card.

In step S222, thecontrol system40 compares the identifying information, obtained in step S220, to the identifying information records stored in thememory52. In step S224, it is determined if a match is found. If so, processing proceeds to step S225. In step S225, the timer value stored along with the matching identifying information record is compared to a present value of thetimer53 and a total parking time is computed.

Next in step S226, a charge for the parking service is computed and displayed to the person at thethird customer terminal30, via thevideo display32. The customer then pays for the parking service, either by cash or credit card to thethird customer terminal30 or an attendant, or by putting the charge on an account. After payment is settled, in step S227, thecontrol system40 sends a signal to thesecond actuator44 to open thesecond barrier50, and allow the vehicle to exit. Next, in step S228, thecontrol system40 erases the matching identifying information record from thememory52. Alternatively, thecontrol system40 can flag the matching identifying information record. A flagged identifying information record can be erased after some period of time, for example ten days, or can be archived for later use.

If no matching identifying record is found in step S224, processing proceeds to step S230. In step S230, a message is displayed to the person at thethird customer terminal20, via thevideo display32, that the customer's common card presented to thecard reader24 of thethird customer terminal20 was not previously used to gain access to the parking garage. The person is instructed to try again, or to call for assistance using thehandset26. A video image of the person can be taken, via thecamera34 of thethird customer terminal20. This video image can be stored in thememory52, so that should a criminal event later be uncovered, the video image of the person can be retrieved.

The above described system and method of operation offers many advantages in the monitoring and control of a parking garage. First, the system makes is difficult for a person to enter the parking garage, unless that person has a vehicle parked in the parking garage. This reduces the likelihood of having criminals enter the parking garage and causing injury or damage to persons or property in the parking garage.

Second, the system works in cooperation with a person's credit card or driver's license. Presumably, all persons parking a vehicle in the parking garage should have in their possession their driver's license, and most people would have a credit card. Therefore, the parking control system is operating, based upon a card which is already in the possession of the parking patrons. There is no need to create, issue or update any dedicated parking card, which saves time and money for the parking service provider and parking customer. Further, parking customers need not carry an additional card for parking services.

One particular drawback of the prior parking control systems was that parking customers left their parking slips or parking cards in their parked vehicles. This occurrence is highly unlikely in the present system. People are very much in the habit of keeping their credit cards and driver's license in their wallets or purses, and would be very unlikely to leave their credit card or driver's license behind in a parked vehicle. Therefore, should a thief steal a vehicle from the parking garage, the thief would not have a credit card or driver's license with a matching identifying record stored in thememory52. Therefore, the thief would call attention to himself when trying to leave the parking garage, and a video image of the thief would be stored in thememory52.

Of course, a paper slip could still be issued by the parking control system of the present invention. However, the paper slip would not be used to exit the parking area, but would serve to identify the parking area, such as by address or a service provider's name. Such a slip could be carried by the parking customer to remind them where their vehicle is parked.

Although a credit card may be employed by the system, a person's credit card number might only be used to uniquely distinguish the person. It would not be necessary to identify the person, validate the credit card, or make any charge to the credit card. Rather, the credit card is used to make a unique identification record to be stored in thememory52. Of course, if credit cards were used, it would be possible to charge the credit card for the parking services, if the customer desired.

If a problem occurs at the parking area, such as a theft, vandalism, robbery, assault, etc., then the credit card account information on file at the time of the event could be used to track down the holders of the driver's licenses or credit cards. In this way, it is possible to reconstruct a list of those persons who may have been injured, suffered a loss of property, witnessed a crime, or be a suspect in the crime.

Of course, there will be special circumstances where a different person, not in possession of the customer's common card, will legitimately need to remove a vehicle form the parking garage. Take for example, the instance where a person has driven their vehicle to the parking garage, parked, and then left on a business trip. A spouse picks up the vehicle, later that day. The spouse would be unable to use the same customer's common card to gain entrance into the parking garage, via thedoor8.

However, the spouse could speak with a guard, or remote service person, via thehandset26 and explain the situation. The guard could then instruct the person to insert another customer's common card into thecard reader24 of thesecond customer terminal16. Thecontrol system40 would respond to customer's common card, and an override command issued by the guard orremote service facility60, and would unlock thedoor8 and create a new identifying information record in thememory52. By this arrangement, the spouse could exit the parking garage using the spouse's customer's common card at thethird customer terminal20.

One particular advantage of the present invention is that data surrounding such special circumstances can be collected and stored for some time. For instance, driver's license information of the alleged spouse could be maintained for several days so as to make sure that no vehicle was stolen during the same time period. Further, the first and

second video cameras

3,23 mounted to view the vehicle entrance and exit area, and thevideo camera34 of the customer terminals, can be used to store video images of the person or persons who needed special attention in order to gain entrance into, or exit from, the parking garage. Such measures go along way toward preventing and deterring persons from committing crimes, since their crimes are no long anonymous, and the likelihood that they will be later identified are greatly increased. To this end, it is envisioned that brief video images of all persons entering and exiting the parking garage could be stored for some short period of time. If no usual circumstances surface in the following several days, the video images would be overridden.

Another common problem in conventional parking area management and control systems involves “tailgaters.” A “vehicle-type tailgater” involves an unauthorized vehicle closely following an authorized vehicle past theentrance barrier48 and into the parking area. To exit the parking area, the unauthorized vehicle repeats the tailgating maneuver, and closely follows an authorized vehicle out of the parking area. “Vehicle-type tailgating” leads to lost revenues for the parking service provider. Further, the unscrupulous person who commits “vehicle-type tailgating” is not uniquely identified by the above-described methods ofFIGS. 5-7. Therefore, that person could commit a crime inside the parking area and leave the parking area, not having left a recoverable record of their identity.

It is also possible for a person to inadvertently follow an authorized vehicle into a parking area. For example, sometimes the gate or door will remain open a sufficiently long time after an authorized vehicle enters a parking area, which leads a following vehicle to assume that the gate or barrier has malfunctioned. The following person then enters the parking area, and is deemed an “inadvertent” tailgater. The inadvertent tailgater will have problems leaving the parking area since no record of their entrance into the parking area was created. In fact, if the parking area barrier is unattended, the inadvertent tailgater is essentially trapped in the parking garage.

Another common problem in conventional parking area management and control systems involves “pedestrian-type tailgaters.” To enter a parking lot, an unauthorized person closely follows behind an authorized vehicle entering the parking area. By this maneuver, the person gains access to the parking area and bypasses the security check of thesecond customer terminal16, provided by the foottraffic access door8. Again, the “pedestrian-type tailgater” is not uniquely identified by the methods ofFIGS. 5-7, and could commit a crime inside the parking area with some degree of anonymity.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a further aspect of operation of the present invention, which enhances the security of the parking area by detecting vehicle-type and pedestrian-type tailgating. In step S300, the unique identifying information is obtained from the customer's common card, via thecard reader24 of thefirst customer terminal10. In step S302, the unique identifying information is sent to thecontrol system40 and stored inmemory52. Next, in step S304, thefirst camera3 and thesecond camera23 are activated. By activating the first and

second cameras

3,23, it is possible to store video images of the vehicle entrance and exit area.

Next, in step S306, theentrance barrier48 is opened. Then, in step S308, the outputs of theelectric eye system62 and theloop detector system64 are monitored while theentrance barrier48 is opened (see steps S106 and S110, inFIG. 5), and the process goes to step S310. In step S310, if thefirst loop detector78 is activated only once and the firstelectric eye70 is activated only once, prior to the first barrier closing, thecontrol system40 determines that only one authorized vehicle entered the parking garage, and the process goes to step S312, otherwise, the process goes to step S314. In step S314, thecontrol system40 sends a signal to thefirst actuator42 to close theentrance barrier48.

In step S312, thecontrol system40 notes that an unusual event has occurred. A log of the unusual event is stored in thememory52. For example, if the firstelectric eye70 was activated more than once and thefirst loop detector78 was activated more than once, it is highly possible that a vehicle-type tailgating occurred. If the first electric eye was activated more than once and the first loop detector was activated only once, it is highly possible that a pedestrian-type tailgating occurred.

Whenever an unusual event occurs, thecontrol system40 will send an alarm signal to thelocal service facility58 and/or theremote service facility60. The video images of the first and

second cameras

3,23 will be stored in thememory52. The images may be later evaluated by authorized personnel to determine if a vehicle-type tailgating or pedestrian-type tailgating actually occurred. Further, the images can be used to reveal the license plate and/or identity of the vehicle of person performing any vehicle-type or pedestrian-type tailgating.

If a vehicle has normally entered the parking area, as in step S314, the system can flag the video images. The flagged video images can be stored in thememory52 for some period of time, e.g. ten days. However, it is envisioned, from a practical standpoint, that flagged images will eventually be erased or overwritten. By saving all video images for some period of time, it is possible to reconstruct comings and goings of vehicles relative to the parking area, should some criminal event surface later. For example, if an assault is reported to the parking service personnel several hours after it actually occurred, the video images would be available to determine the identities of vehicles entering and exiting the parking area around the time of the incident.

If desired, the electric eye system can include a second transmitter/receiver set72 offset laterally from the first transmitter/receiver set70. The second transmitter/receiver set72 makes it highly unlikely that a pedestrian will pass by theelectric eye system62 undetected, such as by stepping over the light beam. Further, by providing a laterally displaced second transmitter/receiver set72, thecontrol system40 can determine the direction of movement of the pedestrian, i.e. whether the pedestrian entered the parking area as an authorized vehicle entered, or whether the pedestrian exited the parking area, via the entrance, as an authorized vehicle entered the parking area.

Also, if desired theloop detector system64 can include asecond loop detector80 offset laterally from thefirst loop detector78. By providing a laterally displacedsecond loop detector80, thecontrol system40 can determine the direction of movement of a vehicle, i.e. whether the vehicle entered the parking area when theentrance barrier48 opened, or whether the vehicle exited the parking area when theentrance barrier48 opened.

It is also envisioned that multiple transmitter/receiver sets74,76 and

multiple loop detectors

82,84 could be employed in conjunction with thevehicle exit barrier50. By this arrangement, a method similar toFIG. 8 could be employed to detect, and record video images of, vehicle-type tailgating and pedestrian-type tailgating at the vehicle exit.

The drawings have illustrated oneentrance barrier48, oneexit barrier50 and onepedestrian door8. Of course, in practice, the parking garage could include a plurality of entrance and exit barriers, and a plurality ofpedestrian doors8, with each having a customer terminal cooperating with thecontrol system40. Further, the parking area could have a single barrier that allows both pedestrians and vehicles to enter and exit.

Further, the drawings have illustrated a parking garage, however the same advantages of the invention could be obtained with a parking lot. For example, a fenced-in, surrounded parking lot could be provided with vehicle barriers and pedestrian gates to control and monitor the parking lot in a manner similar and analogous the system describe above in relation to the parking garage.

By the present invention, a card reader outside of a parking area barrier, acting in combination with inside and outside loop detectors and electric eyes (typical safety controls for doors and gates), can be organized by a control system to trigger alarms and cameras when non-normal sequences occur. The programming of the control system, in accordance with the present invention, opens a timed window to allow a pedestrian to enter a garage to retrieve their vehicle, even after the garage closes, yet the control system stays vigilant to detect tailgaters and unauthorized pedestrians.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A management system for an access restricted area, the access restricted area having an entrance and an exit, comprising:

a control system;

a memory in communication with said control system;

a first barrier having an open condition and a closed condition, said barrier being disposed at the entrance to the access restricted area for controlling access to the access restricted area;

an actuator for moving said first barrier between said open condition and said closed condition; said actuator being in communication with said control system; and said actuator being controlled by said control system;

a first customer terminal disposed at the entrance to the access restricted area, said first customer terminal being in communication with said control system; and said first customer terminal having a customer input means for receiving customer input information; and

said control system being responsive to an input from said first customer terminal to compare the input with predetermined criteria stored in said memory to determine whether the input is deemed a valid input; said control system responding to a valid input by creating a unique identification record and storing it in said memory; said unique identification record permitting a customer access to the access restricted area by causing said first barrier to be in said open condition when the customer inputs said unique identification number at said first customer terminal.

10. The management system for an access restricted area according toclaim 9, further comprising;

a second barrier having an open condition and a closed condition, said second barrier being disposed at a second location of the access restricted area for controlling access at the second location;

a second actuator for moving said second barrier between said open condition and said closed condition, said second actuator being in communication with said control system; and

a second customer terminal disposed at said second location, said second customer terminal being in communication with said control system; wherein input of said unique identification number at said second customer terminal causes said control system to permit access at said second location by causing said second barrier to be in said open position.

said control system being responsive to an input from said second customer terminal to compare the input with the unique identification record stored in said memory; said unique identification record permitting a customer access to the access restricted area by causing said second barrier to be in said open condition when the customer inputs said unique identification number at said second customer terminal.

11. The access restricted area management system according toclaim 9, further comprising:

a camera mounted to observe the entrance to the access restricted area; said camera being in communication with said control system and with said memory, said camera being controllable by said control system to store images in said memory.

12. The access restricted area management system according toclaim 10, wherein said control system causes an image or sequence of images of the entrance to the access restricted area to be stored in said memory as part of an event log, if said control system determines that an abnormal entry into the access restricted area occurred.

13. The parking area management system according toclaim 9, wherein the customer input information for a valid input is one of a driver's license or a credit card.

14. The parking area and management system according toclaim 9, wherein said first customer terminal includes a card reader adapted to read identifying information from a magnetic strip or a barcode of a card.

15. The parking area management system ofclaim 9, further comprising a plurality of access restricted locations which are access controlled by said control system; and a plurality of customer terminals disposed at respective ones of said plurality of access restricted locations.

16. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the access controlled area is a parking area, and the entrance is a vehicle entrance.

17. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the unique identification record includes information obtained from an object presented to the customer terminal.

18. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the object is an identification card.

19. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the unique identification record includes information obtained from media readable by the customer terminal.

20. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising:

triggering means in communication with said control system for selectively triggering alarms and for selectively controlling cameras when inputs occur which indicate non-normal events.

21. The system ofclaim 9, wherein if the control system determines that an unusual event has occurred, said control system causes a log of the unusual event to be stored in said memory.

22. An access restricted area management control system having a first barrier at an entrance to an access restricted area for controlling access controlled area access, and at least one customer terminal for the access controlled area, comprising:

a means for receiving an input from the at least one terminal and if the input meets predetermined criteria the input, deeming it to be a valid input; and

a means for creating a unique identification record of a customer to permit a customer providing a valid input to any customer terminal to have access at plural access locations to the access controlled area.

23. The system ofclaim 22, further comprising:

first and second detectors, and

means for evaluating a sequence of activation of the first and second detectors to determine direction of movement of an object into or out of an entrance of the access controlled area.

24. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the first and second detectors comprise any of an electric eye and a loop detector.

25. The system ofclaim 22, further comprising:

means to selectively trigger alarms and cameras when inputs occur which indicate non-normal events.

26. The system ofclaim 23, further comprising means for determining whether or not the determined direction of movement constitutes a normal event.

27. An access restricted area management control method for an access restricted area management control system having a first barrier at an entrance to an access restricted area for controlling access to the access restricted area, the access restricted area having a plurality of access locations which are access restricted, and at least one customer terminal for the access controlled area, comprising the steps of:

providing the at least one customer terminal;

providing a control system and a memory in communication with said at least one customer terminal;

receiving an input from the at least one terminal;

using said control system and said memory to compare said input with predetermined criteria to determine whether said input is deemed a valid input; and

creating a unique identification record of a customer to permit a customer providing a valid input to any customer terminal to have access at plural access locations to the access controlled area.

28. The method ofclaim 27, further comprising the steps of:

providing first and second detectors for detecting movement at an entrance to the access restricted area;

using said control system to evaluate a sequence of activation of the first and second detectors to determine direction of movement of an object into or out of an entrance of the access controlled area.

29. The system ofclaim 27, wherein the access controlled area is a parking area, the object is a vehicle, and the entrance is a vehicle entrance.

30. The system ofclaim 27, wherein the unique identification record includes information obtained from media readable by the customer terminal.

31. The system ofclaim 27, wherein the unique identification record includes information obtained from an object presented to the customer terminal.

32. The system ofclaim 31, wherein the object is an identification card.