Computer-implemented system and method for proximity-based computer application control

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for proximity-based computer application control is provided. A mobile device is determined to be present in a vehicle via a parking management application and the mobile device is associated with a driver of the vehicle. A location of the mobile device is monitored during the presence in the vehicle and a location of the vehicle is identified as parked in a parking space. The driver is determined to have left the vehicle when the location of the mobile device differs from the vehicle. An amount of time passed since the driver left the vehicle is determined and a threshold is applied to the amount of time passed. A notification for initiating parking via a parking application is delivered to the driver via a parking management application when the amount of time passed exceeds the threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented system for proximity-based computer application control, comprising:
 a database to store data associated with a user with a vehicle;   a server comprising a central processing unit, memory, an input port to receive the data associated with the user, and an output port, wherein the central processing unit is configured to:
 determine a presence of a mobile device in the vehicle via a parking management application, wherein the device is associated with the driver of the vehicle; 
 monitor a location of the mobile device during the presence in the vehicle; 
 identify a location of the vehicle as parked in a parking space; 
 determine that the driver has left the vehicle when the location of the mobile device differs from the vehicle; 
 measure an amount of time passed since the driver left the vehicle; 
 apply a threshold to the amount of time passed; and 
 deliver a notification for initiating parking via a parking application to the driver when the amount of time passed exceeds the threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 1 , wherein the notification instructs the parking application to initiate a parking session for the driver within the parking application. 
     
     
         3 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 2 , wherein the central processing unit provides the location of the parking space and payment information for the driver from the parking management application to the parking application for the parking session initiation. 
     
     
         4 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 2 , wherein the central processing unit further tracks the mobile device, determines that the mobile device has returned to the vehicle, identifies movement of the vehicle away from the parking space, and automatically terminates the parking session with the parking application via the parking management application. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 4 , wherein the central processing unit determines the movement of the vehicle away from the parking space by identifying a location of the vehicle at a threshold distance from the parking space. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit determines the location of the vehicle in the parking space, comprising:
 determining a location of the vehicle;   obtaining a list of parking spaces with location coordinates of the parking spaces;   comparing the location of the vehicle with the list of parking spaces; and   identifying one of the parking spaces with coordinates that match the location of the vehicle as the parking space in which the vehicle is parked.   
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 1 , wherein the presence of the mobile device within the vehicle is determined via one of Bluetooth connection and GPS. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit identifies that the driver has left the vehicle, comprising:
 determining the location of the driver outside the vehicle;   calculating a distance between the location of the driver outside the vehicle and the location of the vehicle when parked;   applying a threshold to the calculated distance; and   designating the driver having left the vehicle when the calculated distance exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit identifies for the driver a parking permit for the parking space via the parking management application and sends a notification from the parking management application to the parking application to apply the parking permit for the driver. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit blocks via the parking management application, payment within the parking application for the parking space when the parking permit is identified. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for proximity-based computer application control, comprising:
 determining a presence of a mobile device in a vehicle via a parking management application, wherein the device is associated with a driver of the vehicle;   monitoring a location of the mobile device during the presence in the vehicle;   identifying a location of the vehicle as parked in a parking space;   determining that the driver has left the vehicle when the location of the mobile device differs from the vehicle;   measuring an amount of time passed since the driver left the vehicle;   applying a threshold to the amount of time passed; and   delivering a notification for initiating parking via a parking application to the driver when the amount of time passed exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 instructing the parking application to initiate a parking session for the driver within the parking application via the parking management application.   
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 12 , wherein the parking management application provides the location of the parking space and payment information for the driver to the parking application for the parking session initiation. 
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 further tracking of the mobile device;   determining that the mobile device has returned to the vehicle;   identifying movement of the vehicle away from the parking space; and   automatically terminating the parking session with the parking application via the parking management application.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining the movement of the vehicle away from the parking space by identifying a location of the vehicle at a threshold distance from the parking space.   
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining the location of the vehicle in the parking space, comprising:
 determining a location of the vehicle; 
 obtaining a list of parking spaces with location coordinates of the parking spaces; 
 comparing the location of the vehicle with the list of parking spaces; and 
 identifying one of the parking spaces with coordinates that match the location of the vehicle as the parking space in which the vehicle is parked. 
   
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 11 , wherein the presence of the mobile device within the vehicle is determined via one of Bluetooth connection and GPS. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying that the driver has left the vehicle, comprising:
 determining the location of the driver outside the vehicle; 
 calculating a distance between the location of the driver outside the vehicle and the location of the vehicle when parked; 
 applying a threshold to the calculated distance; and 
 designating the driver having left the vehicle when the calculated distance exceeds the threshold. 
   
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying for the driver a parking permit for the parking space via the parking management application; and   sending a notification from the parking management application to the parking application to apply the parking permit for the driver.   
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 blocking via the parking management application, payment within the parking application for the parking space when the parking permit is identified.