Parking Access and Revenue Control

Revenue Management Tools

Basic Tool List

Anti-passback - Lets only one cardholder in at a time. Cardholder must exit before the card can be used again at an entrance. Sometimes called hard anti-passback, is also available in timed and soft anti-passback. To Top

Area Group and Time Zone Card Control - Cards can be set-up for valid usage at select readers and at given times. To Top

Automatic Report Generator - The Automatic Report Generator feature Sample
is an extremely powerful tool that can be used to create and print useful, custom reports, with information that you need. To Top

Card Summary Report - This report provides a significant amount of useful information of both the operational and financial status of your facility and is generated every night. The program scans the card file to generate the information for the reports and includes fields such as cards issued, cards in garage, start mode, paid this month, used today, nest cards, money credit, money debit, credit days, time debit. To Top

Cashier Report - The format of the register shift report is standardized. Validation and chargeback accounts are customized to fit the specifications of the user. Additionally, cashiering options include disallowing "under-rings", manual "forces", or manual transactions on known barcode tickets. You can also request "blind" shift reports (where the total is not indicated to the cashier at sign-off). When a cashier signs off a register, the following report is generated. (The 24 hour revenue summary report is in the same format.) To Top

Lane Monitoring Report - Provides hourly information on all lanes in which activity has taken place. Information includes Gate up Auto Use, Attendant Card Uses, Tickets Issued, Barcodes not read, Card Violations, Remote Opens, and more. The Lane Monitoring Report is an extremely useful report, critical for revenue and facility control. There are actually two reports. One lists the device activity, and the other lists activity by cardholder and transient. To Top

Last Use on Passback - When a card use is attempted and a passback message occurs the "last use" feature will display (or print) the last instance that the card was used, the time it was used and the reader where it was last used. This information provides the cardholder and the lane attendant with positive information to resolve card usage issues. To Top

Levels of Security - The Secom 030 Server incorporates very sophisticated security processing. It provides control as to who is allowed to execute specific admin commands; who can view and/or update specific files and a range of records within each file; and which fields within a file can be viewed and/or updated. To Top

Lot Count - The Lot Count feature allows you to define as many counters as you need. You can assign a name to the counters, set the occupancy and limit, and set them up for more advanced features. You can define the counters to increment and/or decrement based on a transient (ticket) action, or based on a monthly (card) action. Also, you can control the disabling of ticket dispensers and/or card readers and turn on the "lot full" relays based on occupancy limits you may set. To Top

The Lot Count Display - The Lot Count Display is enabled when you bring up the "System Activity" screen. A row of dashes is generated across the screen, near the bottom of the screen which delineates the Lot Count display from the scrollable area for current activity. The 4 counters are displayed in a fixed position within that portion of the screen. The remainder of the screen is used to display activity. Sample
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Lot Count Daily Summary Reports - Daily "snapshot" of hourly lot count counter occupancy report of previous 24 hours Sample, nest and standard occupancy counts Sample, facility with two different lots Sample.
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Lot Full Sign Activator - The Lot Full Sign Activator sends a signal to illuminate the Lot Full sign based on the parameters set-up in the Lot Count Software. To Top

Machine Readability - Secom has combined the proven advantages of its online revenue control system with the most advanced automatic ticket reading technology available. The Secom bar-code system uses tickets that are coded at the time of manufacture with unique bar code identifiers. When the ticket is issued the bar code is read at the dispenser and the ticket number along with lane location, date and time are transmitted and stored at the central server. Total transaction processing time is less than one second! To Top

Nesting (Card or Ticket) - Nesting is the term used to describe the feature in which there is a parking area within the parking facility in which certain cardholders are required to park. Such cardholders are referred to as "nesters". Typically, nests are less desirable areas in which to park. They may be on the roof, farthest from the elevators, etc. To enforce the nesting requirement, the system incorporates timers. When a nester enters the facility, a timer is started on his or her card . If the nester fails to enter the nest before the timer expires, the card times out and is thus rendered useless at ALL readers. Nest violators can be handled in a number of different manners, including converting to cash. To Top

Non-resettable transaction numbers - These numbers appear on all print-outs for all lane devices for the strictest of audit controls. To Top

Outstanding Ticket File Report - This report prints automatically daily and lists three categories of tickets: 1) Normal ("live") tickets still active in the ticket file, 2) Not Taken Tickets where the parker pushed the button, but did not take the ticket from the ticket dispenser, and 3) Back Out Tickets, where the parker took the ticket from the ticket dispenser, which caused the gate to go up, but did not drive over the closing loop. Optional features also include extended use tickets - for Hotels, Hospitals, etc. - for extended stays where guests may use the same ticket for multiple entries and exits. When processed as such, the number of days and the associated room number are indicated on the report. Any validations that have been applied (and any associated Merchant Account numbers) are also held in the ticket file. Up to four different validations can be retained. Partial payments, such as those made at a Pay on Foot, are also kept on the ticket file, so that subsequent payments reflect the amount already paid. Multi-part Valet tickets may have the same or different bar code numbers, depending on the level of security required. Sample
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Net Admin: Remote Site Management - Get all the data you need in real-time, directly from your PC, without leaving your office, even if it is across the globe! Click here to view sample screens - PDF.
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Programmable Rates - Secom offers fully programmable rates and up to eight different rate structures for maximum revenue generation potential. To Top

Random Number - The machine readable bar coded ticket also uses a six digit random number as a fallback identifier on each ticket. When a bar code cannot be read, the cashier simply enters the six digit number for full rate calculation of money owed. The ticket is marked that it was processed using the random number and a summary record of all random number tickets processed is reported at the end of the shift. To Top

Sequence Number Package - Generates a sequence number for each device - useful in determining abuse. To Top

Training (at Secom) - Secom offers system training at our Los Angeles manufacturing facility and will set up your specific system on the test bench for real site-specific training. We recommend the person in charge of using the Secom system visit our plant for final test and training of the system prior to installation. This is a great opportunity to meet the team and get familiar with the system before it is put in to actual use. To Top

Training (at User Site) - We offer full user, maintenance and supervisor training at your location. Depending on the system, this can be a two-day or two week structured event that includes both class room and hands on instruction. To Top

Intermediate power tools

Automatic Delete Ticket File - Provides for automatically deleting tickets from the outstanding ticket file that are "X" days old or older. To Top

Automatic Device Disable by Time Zone - Provides for disabling a register type device, such as a ticket gobbler, according to a user-defined time zone. To Top

Automatic Redeal by Time Zone - Provides for redealing all cards to a "start" status according to a user defined time zone. Useful in nightly situations when attendants are not on duty and the gates are lifted. To Top

Automatic Shift Report by Time Zone - Provides for reporting a register type device such as a ticket gobbler automatically, according to a user-defined time zone. To Top

Carpool - Used to award carpool credits when two or more car-poolers enter the facility together. Accumulates carpool credits on a monthly basis. Generates alphabetical reports of those who have reached preset award levels. To Top

Central Cashiering - Used for systems with a central pay station(s) where transients exit via ticket gobblers or exit registers. To Top

Credit Card Processing - Secom offers both batch processing and immediate on-line verification of credit cards at pay stations, cashier terminals and ticket gobblers. To Top

Debit Card - This feature is used to charge cardholders for parking in the facility. Initially, the cardholder must pay monies to the system administrator. The amount is added to, and entered in, the card's Debit Balance in the Card Info Screen. As the cardholder enters and exits the facility, charges are calculated based on user-defined rates, and deducted from the cards Debit Balance. Debit card feature can be set-up with 24-hour re-entry, no re-entry, and to deny entry on zero balance. To Top

Fail-soft Software - An excellent tool when construction changes cause temporary loss of communication with the Server, this feature allows a Secom card to be used in a device that is not online. Optional "memory" of several hundred card usages for updating Server when communication is restored. To Top

Home Garage (Satellite Systems) - Used in multi-Server facilities for differentiating functions and capabilities of cards used in their assigned "home" location verses their "non-home" location. To Top

Level Occupancy Count - Provides a User-Defined means to keep track and display the spaces available on each level or area. System updates counts and displays in real time. To Top

Limit By House Account - This feature allows you to set a limit on the number of cards allowed in the facility for a specific House Account. You can set up multiple house accounts, each with a different limit. To Top

Merchant Acct Package - Accumulates validation chargebacks into individual accounts for billing back those accounts. Reports are generated daily, on a month-to-date, and year-to-date basis. The Year to Date report can be printed on demand, and only prints and clears on the first day of each year. Standard packages are available in 99 and 256 merchant accounts. To Top

Positive Posting - Used when monthly cardholders pay a monthly fee for parking. Allows user to identify cardholders that have paid the monthly charge "this" month and "next" month. Provides for a grace period. Automatically updates "next" to "this" at first of month. Access is denied if not paid. To Top

Prepay Feature - Allows ticket dispenser to operate as a cashier terminal. Attendant collects fee on entry and uses special pre-pay card to vend the gate and record fee collection to the card. The words PREPAID and the amount collected are printed on the ticket along with the normal time, date, lane and random number information. Report is generated according to attendant card(s) and amounts collected during prepay session for reconciliation purposes. To Top

Printer/Display Message Routing - Routes specific messages to specific printers and/or displays. Useful to separate card activity, register transactions, reports, admin commands, log reviews and more. To Top

Remote Shift Report Command - Allows administrator to "close out" a register type device and generate a register shift report, at the workstation. To Top

Revenue Summary Report - Generates an hourly report that of the total accumulated revenue for the current day. Clears automatically daily. To Top

Roving Cashier - Provides the ability for attendants to collect money due at ticket gobblers. Reduces clogged exit lanes and relieves traffic at exit registers. Generates a register dump of roving cashier card at sign off to reconcile monies collected. To Top

Security Levels (Custom) - Hard-coded at the factory, provides customization of which cards/levels can perform which admin commands, view and/or update which screens/files, and view/update which fields of specific screens. Used to control viewing and/or manipulation of sensitive data. To Top

Ticket Nesting - Ticket nests are areas within the facility in which transient parkers may or may not be "requested" to nest. There is no way of forcing transients to nest other than incentives or penalties in the rates used to calculate their charges. Depending on your situation, you can define your rates to reflect a reduction in rates, or to charge higher rates based on whether or not a transient nested.

For example, you may offer lower rates as an incentive for parkers to park in an area (nest) that is farther away from the office building or shops. Conversely, you may charge higher rates for parking an area close to the elevators, mall entrance, etc.

Initially, a parker is issued a ticket at a ticket dispenser and the system records the date and time the ticket was issued on the internal ticket file. By defining the entry ticket reader to apply a rates validation when the parker inserts his ticket at the nest entry reader, you can control the rates to apply when he pays. In this case, the validation would "point" to a rate record with reduced rates. The non-validated rates would be set up to charge the higher (penalty) rates.

In cases where parking in the nest results in lower rates, there is a time limit in which the parker has to enter the nest. Typically, it is 15 minutes from when the ticket was issued. (You can request a shorter or longer time period, but you must do so when you place your order with Secom as it is hard coded at the factory.) If the parker does not enter the nest within 15 minutes from when the ticket was issued, the validation will not be applied, even though he did eventually enter the nest. This prevent "cheaters" from parking in the prime spots for 3 hours, and then entering the nest just before leaving to get the lower rates.

In cases where parking in the nest results in higher charges, we set the time period to 24 hours. If the parker EVER enters the nest, the validation will be applied to his ticket, which will charge higher rates.

You can also define the nest EXIT ticket reader so that the parker cannot exit the nest until the ticket is paid. (This option is applicable ONLY to systems with central cashiering since it utilizes the exit grace timer started by a central payment device.) By setting the CHECK PAID bit on the exit ticket reader, tickets (that owe money) that have not paid, will be denied exit. If there is no money due, the transient will be allowed to exit the nest. Provides for controlling and/or differentiating charges on transients who may or may not enter a special area. Useful for short-term visitor parking areas such as bank parking. To Top

Validator Configured as Mini Register - A "Mini-Register" is actually a validator configured internally as a register. It has several uses. First, it can be used as a "central" register to allow transients to pay for their parking in advance of exiting. A common use is for banquets or other hotel functions. As the parker gets ready to leave, he can pay for his parking at the banquet room and avoid delays at exit registers. If your facility has ticket acceptors, the parker can exit there. If not, a paid ticket certainly takes less time to process at an exit register than one which owes money.

Another common use is for "late night" exits where you may not have cashiers on duty. Rather than have a guard or attendant simply let the parker out for free, you can use a mini-register in the security office. Even if you have been collecting money, such after-hour exits are typically done manually. The parker brings his ticket to the guard who calculates the amount owed by hand and collects the money. There is no reconciliation, no accountability, and the ticket remains in the ticket file. This "cigar box" approach is certainly open to abuse. To Top

Voucher/Coupons (Hard Coded) - Hard-coded barcodes identify vouchers for use in registers and pay on foot devices. Bar-code pattern is hidden to eliminate duplication problems. Hard-coded vouchers can be re-used. Sample
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Advanced tool list

Event Coupons (User Generated) This feature is used to define and generate Event Coupons (tickets) for subsequent processing, just like "vouchers", at register type devices. Having the ability to define coupons allows not only for the flexibility in determining exactly how and when the coupons will be used, but also makes each individual coupon auditable.

When creating/defining coupons, you can specify a single date or the starting and ending dates when the ticket will be valid. Additionally, you can specify a time zone, inside of which the coupon will be valid. You must assign a rates validation and val count to apply to the coupon. You can optionally assign a dollar amount to the coupon, as well as an optional Merchant Account number. Click here to view PDF file.
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Frequent Parker Programs - Allows user to define cardholders as frequent parkers and set award levels. Reports are generated indicating when cardholders have reached their award level. Variations include flat rate, special rates, with or without re-entry, allow or enforce passback. To Top

Integrated License Plate Recognition - For higher security and multiple-day stay visitor tickets. Equipment includes camera, housing, infrared lighting and software. To Top

Rates Replay - The rates replay option is an extremely useful feature that allows you to "tinker" with your rates and see what effect those changes would have made. As register transactions occur, they are written to the hard drive. The information includes the start date and time, the stop date and time, and any validations that may have been applied to the ticket, and, of course, the calculated charges.

The Rates Replay feature allows you to define a different set of rates (while still running concurrently with your existing rates), and replay historical transactions to see the effect the proposed changes would have made to your bottom line. You can replay rates based on the start and stop time and date in the review template. You may want to replay only a few days transactions, or several month's worth to see seasonal effects. To Top

Application specific tools

Valet Parking - The concept of Valet Parking has different meanings to different people. How "Valet Parking" is accomplished ranges from very simple to very sophisticated, depending on the devices used to control access to/from the valet parking area, and the level of control you want to maintain over the entire operation.

If all you want to do is issue a two part ticket to a parker, park his car for him, and ring it up on the register when he's ready to leave, you don't have much control over what's happening. If valet/attendant cards are being used to let people in and out of the facility, you can't tell if the card is used let a valet parker out, or to let someone out who "forgot his card". And, when you lose control, you often lose revenue.

If you really want to control the valet parking operation, and the revenue from it, here's what you need.

1. You need a valet ticket dispenser that issues multi-part tickets and software that links the two parts together.

2. You need a ticket reader that controls access into the valet parking area.

3. You need a ticket reader that controls access out of the valet parking area.

4. You need a register. Depending on the physical layout of your facility, you may need an exit or a central register, and you may need a ticket acceptor.

The Secom Valet Software Feature allows for utilizing as much control as the equipment employed will allow. Naturally, if there are no devices controlling access into or out of the valet parking area, less control can be attained. The Secom Valet Parking Software provides the flexibility to allow you to achieve the most control with whatever devices you may utilize. To Top

Hotel Ticket - This feature is used to allow guests to use their ticket for multiple exits and entries to and from the facility. There are two common uses for this feature. One is for Hotel Guests who are likely to stay for several days or more, and who are also likely to leave the hotel are return many times. Another common scenario is for Hospitals where long-term patients or their relatives are likely to be eligible for in and out privileges for the entire day or for multiple days.

A guest enters the facility by pulling a ticket from the ticket dispenser. When he checks in to the hotel, that ticket must also be "checked in" so it can be used to exit and re-enter the facility for the length of his stay. The check in process is typically done by hotel personnel at the registration desk, although any admin terminal or Hotel Check-In device will do.

The check in process internally flags the ticket as a guest ticket, defines the length of the stay, and assigns a room number to it. Once the ticket has been checked in, it will be subject to passback rules to prevent cheating (assuming the entry and exit devices are properly defined). When the number of days to which it was assigned has elapsed, the ticket will be considered "timed out" and cannot be used to exit or enter the facility.

The feature requires a ticket reader for re-entering the facility, and one or more exit devices capable of reading a ticket such as cash registers, ticket gobblers, and ticket readers. All devices processing the ticket must be defined correctly to prevent passback, and to prevent non-guest tickets (transient parkers) to exit without paying.

Hospital ticket - Much like hotel ticket, the hospital ticket package allows for multiple day stays and re-entry privileges with user defined rates and charge-back to department capabilities. To Top

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Parking Access and Revenue Control

Revenue Management Tools

Basic Software Tools

Intermediate Power Tools

Advanced Tool List

Application Specific Tools

Basic Tool List

Intermediate power tools

Advanced tool list