Method and apparatus for automatic location-specific configuration management of a removable meter unit

Abstract

A meter apparatus and method of operating a removable meter apparatus are described. The meter apparatus includes a tag associated with unique tag identification information and configured to be permanently affixed to a location housing at a unique physical location, and includes a removable meter unit configured to mate with the location housing and receive the tag identification from the tag and report the tag identification to a data manager configured to associate an identifier of the removable meter unit with the tag identification and unique physical location, and associate configuration information for the physical location with the removable meter unit and the tag identification. The unique physical location can comprise a single-space parking location.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A meter apparatus comprising:
 a) a removable cash collection box configured to be insertable and removable from the meter;   b) a memory storing cash transaction information;   c) a tag affixed to the removable cash collection box, the tag storing tag identification information uniquely associated with the cash collection box;   d) a tag reader configured to read the tag on the removable cash collection box and detect removal of the cash collection box;   e) a wireless transceiver; and   f) at least one processor configured to perform at least:
 i) receiving an indication of a cash payment made at the meter apparatus and updating the cash transaction information stored in the memory to reflect the payment made; 
 ii) receiving an indication of removal of the cash collection box; and 
 iii) transmitting, to a remote data manager via the wireless transceiver, the tag identification information, information pertaining to the removal of the cash collection box, and the cash transaction information. 
   
     
     
         30 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the meter apparatus is parking meter. 
     
     
         31 . The meter apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the parking meter is single-space parking meter. 
     
     
         32 . The meter apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the parking meter is multi-space parking meter. 
     
     
         33 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the tag is a RFID tag and the tag reader is a RFID tag reader. 
     
     
         34 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the memory is non-volatile memory. 
     
     
         35 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the tag comprises the memory. 
     
     
         36 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the cash collection box receives currency comprising one or more of: coins, banknotes, tokens, coupons, and vouchers. 
     
     
         37 . The meter apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the cash transaction information comprises a value of currency received. 
     
     
         38 . The meter apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the cash transaction information comprises a number and a value for each type of currency received. 
     
     
         39 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform resetting the cash transaction information stored in the memory. 
     
     
         40 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform receiving, in response to the transmission, information from the remote data manager, via the wireless transceiver, the information comprising one or more operating parameters or one or more configuration instructions. 
     
     
         41 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform transmitting the tag identification information, information pertaining to the removal of the cash collection box, and the cash transaction information or resetting the cash transaction information stored in the memory in response to receiving the indication of removal of the cash collection box. 
     
     
         42 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the meter apparatus comprises a housing, the housing comprises a vault, and the removable cash collection box and the tag reader are positioned in the vault. 
     
     
         43 . The meter apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the tag reader is further configured to detect insertion of the cash collection box and read the tag on the removable cash collection box, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform receiving an indication of insertion of the cash collection box and transmitting, to the remote data manager via the wireless transceiver, the tag identification information. 
     
     
         44 . A method of operating a meter comprising: a memory, a removable cash collection box, a tag reader, and a wireless transceiver, the method comprising:
 a) maintaining, in the memory, cash transaction information for the meter;   b) receiving an indication of a cash payment made at the meter and updating the cash transaction information to reflect the payment made;   c) receiving, by the tag reader, unique tag identification information from a tag affixed to the removable cash collection box, the tag identification information associated with a particular removable cash collection box;   d) receiving, by the tag reader, an indication of removal of the removable cash collection box; and   e) transmitting, to a remote data manager via the wireless transceiver, the tag identification information, information pertaining to the removal of the cash collection box, and the cash transaction information.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the meter is a multi-space parking meter. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the tag reader is a RFID tag reader and the tag is a RFID tag. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the cash payment comprises currency and wherein the cash transaction information comprises a value of the currency received or a value of each type of currency received at the meter. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising resetting the cash transaction information stored in the memory. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the resetting the cash transaction information stored in the memory is performed subsequent to the transmitting the tag identification information, information pertaining to the removal of the cash collection box, and the cash transaction information. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising receiving, from the remote data manager and via the wireless transceiver, meter information comprising one or more operating parameters or one or more configuration instructions. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the transmitting the tag identification information, information pertaining to the removal of the cash collection box, and the cash transaction information is performed in response to receiving the indication of removal of the cash collection box. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising receiving, by the tag reader, an indication of insertion of the removable cash collection box and transmitting, to the remote data manager via the wireless transceiver, the tag identification information. 
     
     
         53 . A metering system comprising: a plurality of meters and a central data manager;
 each meter comprising:   a) a removable cash collection box;   b) a memory storing cash transaction information;   c) a tag affixed to the removable cash collection box, the tag storing unique tag identification information associated with the particular cash collection box;   d) a tag reader configured to read the tag on the removable cash collection box and detect removal of the cash collection box;   e) a wireless transceiver; and   f) at least one processor configured to perform at least:
 i) receiving an indication of a cash payment made at the meter and updating the cash transaction information stored in the memory to reflect the payment made; 
 ii) receiving an indication of removal of the cash collection box; and 
 iii) transmitting, to the central data manager via the wireless transceiver, the tag identification information, information pertaining to the removal of the cash collection box, and the cash transaction information; the central data manager comprising: 
   a) a non-transitory storage media maintaining a database comprising meter information, the meter information comprising, for each meter:
 i) tag identification information associated with a particular removable cash collection box currently associated with the meter; and 
 ii) a cash audit record; and 
   b) at least one processor configured to perform at least:
 i) receiving, from each meter, tag identification information, information pertaining to the removal of a cash collection box, and cash transaction information; 
 ii) using the tag identification information to associate the cash transaction information with a particular meter; and 
 iii) updating the cash audit record for the particular meter. 
   
     
     
         54 . The metering system of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one processor of the central data manager is further configured to perform generating a record accounting for the cash collection box associated with each meter.