Background

A busy urban parking facility was facing difficulties with its outdated payment system. The system was slow, prone to errors, and causing long queues and frustrated customers. To address these issues, the facility management decided to upgrade to a more efficient and reliable solution. This new system supports a range of functions and operations via an internet connection and is an eco-friendly solution that uses barcode parking tickets, reducing the cost of consumables.

Customer’s Needs

• Remote operation for detailed response
• If the customer lost the parking ticket, the customer will be charged the regular rate
• Receipts can be issued from ticket issuing machines
• Collect even more data by using a monitor camera
• Equipped with a double-parking ticket issuing function to prevent paper shortages

MSI’s Solution

The management chose the MS-C906, a high-performance, low-power, fanless industrial computer, to power their new parking payment system. The MS-C906 was selected for its robust features and capabilities, which include:

• High-Performance Processing:
  Equipped with Intel® 13th Gen Raptor Lake-P U series processors with Iris® Xe Graphics (i5 sku up to 80 EUs), the MS-C906 can efficiently handle large volumes of data, making it ideal for processing transaction data and vehicle entry/exit records.
• Multiple Display Outputs:
  With support for four independent HDMI outputs, the MS-C906 can display real-time information, pricing, and advertisements on multiple screens, enhancing the user interface.
• Stable Network Connectivity:
  The MS-C906 features four 2.5GbE LAN ports, ensuring stable and high-speed network connections, crucial for real-time payments and data synchronization.
• Enhanced Security:
  The built-in TPM 2.0 security module enhances data processing and storage security, making it suitable for financial transactions and personal information protection.
• Durability:
  The fanless design and anti-vibration, dust-resistant features of the MS-C906 make it suitable for operation in various harsh environments, extending the lifespan of the parking payment system.
• Rich I/O Interfaces:
  The MS-C906 offers multiple I/O interfaces, including USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB 2.0 ports, GPIO, and COM ports (RS-232/422/485), allowing connection to various parking equipment such as ticket printers, card readers, and displays.
• Expansion Slots:
  The MS-C906 includes multiple M.2 slots and a SATA 3.0 interface, supporting storage expansion and 5G/LTE network connections, ideal for applications requiring high storage and high-speed networks.

Implementation

The MS-C906 was integrated into the parking payment system, connecting to various components such as the ticket printer, card reader, touch panel, and receipt slot. The system was configured to handle real-time transactions, display information on multiple screens, and securely process and store data.

Features and Functions

• Normal Charges for Lost Parking Tickets:
  The MS-C906 can store and retrieve vehicle entry and exit records, ensuring that even if a parking ticket is lost, the system can still charge the normal rate based on the recorded data.
• Receipt Issuance via Ticket Machine:
  The MS-C906’s rich I/O interfaces allow connection to ticket printers, enabling the system to issue receipts through the ticket machine, providing customers with proof of payment.
• Data Collection with Surveillance Integration:
  The MS-C906 supports AI integration with the Intel® OpenVINO™ AI development toolkit, which can be used for image processing and machine vision applications. When integrated with surveillance cameras, the system can collect and analyze more data, such as vehicle license plates and entry/exit times, enhancing security and operational efficiency.
• Parking Ticket Issuance and Paper Management:
  The MS-C906’s expansion slots and storage capabilities ensure that the system can manage and store large amounts of data related to ticket issuance and paper usage. Remote monitoring and control allow for real-time monitoring and prompt addressing of issues such as paper running out.

Results

The new parking payment system powered by the MS-C906 significantly improved the efficiency and reliability of the facility. Customers experienced shorter wait times and smoother transactions, leading to increased satisfaction. The facility management also benefited from enhanced data security and reduced maintenance costs due to the durability of the MS-C906.

Conclusion

The implementation of the MS-C906 in the parking payment system demonstrated its capabilities in handling complex and demanding applications. Its high performance, robust features, and reliability made it an ideal choice for upgrading the parking facility’s payment system.