Portable time metering device

Claim 2

A time metering device useful as an in-car parking meter for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising: a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and each of the plurality of zones corresponding to a one bank register; means for selectively determining whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the selected zone for a specified amount of time; means for selectively determining a total amount of the specified amount of time parked in the selected zone; and, means for deducting from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register in accordance with the total amount of the time parked.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 further comprising a communication transceiver selectively coupled to the plurality of bank registers.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 2 wherein the communication transceiver includes means for facilitating input of the monetary value in the each bank register.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 1 further comprising an audit register selectively coupled to the deducting means for storing therein deductions cumulatively.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 4 wherein the deducting means includes means for inputting deductions to the audit register.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 1 further comprising a means for selectively displaying the monetary value, the selected zone, and the time parked.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein the means for selectively determining whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the selected zone includes means for determining based on stored information.

Claim 9

The device according to claim 7 wherein the stored information comprises data tables.

Claim 12

The device of claim 9 wherein the means for selectively determining whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the selected zone includes means for determining based on stored information.

Claim 13

The device according to claim 10 wherein the stored information comprises data tables.

Claim 14

The device according to claim 10 wherein the communicating means includes means for facilitating loading and altering the stored information.

Claim 15

A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising: a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register; means for selecting a zone; means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone; means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone; means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit; means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit; means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit; means for metering time based on the desired time limit; means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time; means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked; means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register.

Claim 16

A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising: a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register; means for selecting a zone; means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone; means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone; means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit; means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit; means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit; means for metering time based on the desired time limit; means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time; means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked; means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register.

Claim 17

The device according to claim 13 further comprising a communication transceiver selectively coupled to the plurality of bank registers.

Claim 18

The device according to claim 14 wherein the communication transceiver includes means for facilitating input of the monetary value in the each bank register.

Claim 19

The device according to claim 13 further comprising means for selectively displaying the monetary value, the selected zone, and the metered time.

Claim 20

A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising: a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register; means for selecting a zone; means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone in accordance with stored information; means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone in accordance with stored information; means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit; means for metering time based on the desired time limit; means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time; means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, the selected zone and the stored information; means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register.

Claim 21

A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising: a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register; means for selecting a zone; means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone in accordance with stored information; means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone in accordance with stored information; means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit; means for metering time based on the desired time limit; means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time; means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, the selected zone and the stored information; means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register.

Claim 22

The device according to claim 17 wherein the stored information comprises data tables.

Claim 23

A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising: a microcomputer including a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register, means for selecting a zone, means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone, means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone, means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit, means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit, means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit, means for metering time based on the desired time limit, means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time, means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, and means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register; a display for selectively displaying the selected zone, the maximum time limit, the alternative time limit, the monetary value, and the metered time; and, a communication transceiver for inputting the monetary value in the each bank register.

Claim 24

A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising: a microcomputer including a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register, means for selecting a zone, means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone, means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone, means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit, means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit, means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit, means for metering time based on the desired time limit, means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time, means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, and means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register; a display for selectively displaying the selected zone, the maximum time limit, the alternative time limit, the monetary value, and the metered time; and, a communication transceiver for inputting the monetary value in the each bank register.