# How Mobile Apps Connect Drivers to Real-Time Parking Spots

> A system where a parking server uses a mobile carrier's authentication to help drivers find, track, and reserve parking spots in real-time.

- **Patent:** US 10108910
- **Original title:** Mobile parking systems and methods for providing real-time parking guidance
- **Owner:** Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
- **Granted:** 2018
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 1
- **Field:** telecommunications, software, consumer_electronics

## What it does

This patent describes a system that connects a driver's mobile app to a central parking management server. When a user requests a spot, the server first checks with the user's mobile carrier to confirm they are authorized to use the service. Once verified, the server scans a database for available spots near the user's destination. If a spot becomes unavailable, the system continuously updates the user with other nearby options until they successfully reserve one. Finally, it updates the database to mark that spot as taken and notifies the parking lot manager.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover parking systems that operate without a mobile carrier's authentication server.
- Does not cover hardware-only parking sensors that do not communicate with a central management server.
- Does not cover peer-to-peer parking reservations that occur without a centralized management database.

## The clever bit

The system offloads the security burden to the mobile carrier, using the carrier's existing authentication infrastructure to verify users before granting access to the parking database.

## Real-world examples

1. SpotHero
2. ParkWhiz
3. Smart city parking apps integrated with mobile carrier billing

## Why it matters

This patent addresses the friction of urban parking by integrating mobile network authentication with location-based services. It formalizes the hand-off between a telecommunications provider and a third-party service provider, which is a common architecture in modern smart city applications.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Mobile Apps Connect Drivers to Real-Time Parking Spots cover?

A system where a parking server uses a mobile carrier's authentication to help drivers find, track, and reserve parking spots in real-time.

### Who owns patent US 10108910?

Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on October 23, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 10108910 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent addresses the friction of urban parking by integrating mobile network authentication with location-based services. It formalizes the hand-off between a telecommunications provider and a third-party service provider, which is a common architecture in modern smart city applications.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover parking systems that operate without a mobile carrier's authentication server.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10108910/airbnb-booking-platform

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10108910

---

_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._