System and method for parking infraction detection

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for detecting parking infractions. It comprises computing one or more measurements associated with a stationary object found at a first location; classifying the stationary object as being representative of a vehicle parked at the first location based on the one or more measurements associated with the stationary object; capturing one or more images of the vehicle parked at the first location; processing the one or more images of the vehicle to extract one or more present vehicle identifiers associated with the vehicle, and recording a time the one or more images were taken, a co-ordinate set associated with the first location and the one or more identifiers associated with the vehicle; determining a time duration for which parking is allowed at the first location; and comparing the present vehicle identifiers with previously recorded vehicle identifiers associated with the first location to determine if the vehicle has been parked at the first location for a period exceeding the time duration.

1 ) An automated method for detecting parking infractions, comprising the steps of:
 a) computing one or more measurements associated with a stationary object found at a first location;   b) classifying the stationary object as being representative of a vehicle parked at the first location based on the one or more measurements associated with the stationary object;   c) capturing one or more images of the vehicle parked at the first location;   d) processing the one or more images of the vehicle to extract one or more present vehicle identifiers associated with the vehicle, and recording a time the one or more images were taken, a co-ordinate set associated with the first location and the one or more identifiers associated with the vehicle;   e) determining a time duration for which parking is allowed at the first location; and   f) comparing the present vehicle identifiers with previously recorded vehicle identifiers associated with the first location to determine if the vehicle has been parked at the first location for a period exceeding the time duration.   
   
   
       2 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of issuing a parking infraction notice if the elapsed time exceeds the time duration. 
   
   
       3 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or measurements associated with the stationary object is a length measurement of the stationary object. 
   
   
       4 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more measurements associated with the stationary object is a proximity measurement. 
   
   
       5 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing of the one or more images of the vehicle is performed by a plurality of digital cameras; 
   
   
       6 ) The method of  claim 4 , where the plurality of digital cameras are mounted upon a parking enforcement vehicle. 
   
   
       7 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more identifiers may include one or more of the length of the vehicle, the colour of the vehicle, and the contour of the vehicle. 
   
   
       8 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the co-ordinate set associated with a first location is provided by a GPS receiver. 
   
   
       9 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time duration is determined by querying a parking locations database. 
   
   
       10 ) The method of  claim 9 , wherein the parking locations database is stored upon a backend office accessible to an infraction detection device. 
   
   
       11 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein step d) is performed by an infraction detection device. 
   
   
       12 ) An automated method for detecting parking infractions, comprising the steps of:
 a) computing one or more measurements associated with a stationary object found at a first location;   b) classifying the stationary object as being representative of a vehicle parked at the first location based on the one or more measurements associated with the stationary object;   c) capturing one or more images of the vehicle parked at the first location;   d) processing the one or more images of the vehicle to extract one or more present vehicle identifiers associated with the vehicle, and recording a time the one or more images were taken, a co-ordinate set associated with the first location and the one or more identifiers associated with the vehicle;   e) determining whether parking at the first location is valid only when the vehicle has an electronic permit;   f) scanning the vehicle parked at the first location to determine whether the vehicle has an electronic permit.   
   
   
       13 ) The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of issuing a parking infraction notice if the vehicle does not have an electronic permit. 
   
   
       14 ) A system for detecting parking infractions, the system comprising:
 means for performing the steps of:   a) computing one or more measurements associated with a stationary object found at a first location;   b) classifying the stationary object as being representative of a vehicle parked at the first location based on the one or more measurements associated with the stationary object;   c) capturing one or more images of the vehicle parked at the first location;   d) processing the one or more images of the vehicle to extract one or more present vehicle identifiers associated with the vehicle, and recording a time the one or more images were taken, a co-ordinate set associated with the first location and the one or more identifiers associated with the vehicle;   e) determining a time duration for which parking is allowed at the first location; and   f) comparing the present vehicle identifiers with previously recorded vehicle identifiers associated with the first location to determine if the vehicle has been parked at the first location for a period exceeding the time duration.   
   
   
       15 ) The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more measurements associated with a stationary object are taken by a proximity detection system. 
   
   
       16 ) The system of  claim 15 , wherein the proximity detection system comprises an infrared measurement laser. 
   
   
       17 ) The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more images of the vehicle are captured by one or more digital cameras. 
   
   
       18 ) The system of  claim 14 , further comprising means for performing the step of:
 g) issuing a parking infraction notice if the elapsed time exceeds the time duration.