Getting Ready: Parking Lot

Problem definition

A parking lot is a designated area for parking vehicles and is a feature found in almost all popular venues such as shopping malls, sports stadiums, offices, etc. In a parking lot, there are a fixed number of parking spots available for different types of vehicles. Each of these spots is charged according to the time the vehicle has been parked in the parking lot. The parking time is tracked with a parking ticket issued to the vehicle at the entrance of the parking lot. Once the vehicle is ready to exit, it can either pay at the automated exit panel or to the parking agent at the exit using a card or cash payment method.

Expectations from the interviewee

In a typical parking lot system, there are several components each with specific constraints and requirements. The following section provides an overview of some major expectations the interviewer will want an interviewee to discuss in more detail during the interview.

Payment flexibility

One of the most significant attributes of the parking lot system is the payment structure that it provides to its customers. An interviewer would expect you to ask questions like these: ...