Apparatus and methods for renting and controlling occupancy of a vehicle

• US 10,081,298 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zipcar Incorporated (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zipcar Incorporated (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stanfield, John, Gires, Clement
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US15/262,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20170008451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/508 specific to vehicles driving in fleets or convoys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

One variation of a method for renting a vehicle includes: receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying a current availability of the vehicle for rent; updating a visual indicator arranged on the vehicle according to the signal, the visual indicator visually detectable from outside the vehicle; receiving identification information of a user proximal the vehicle; enabling access to the vehicle for the user in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle; determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat within the vehicle; and enabling ignition of the vehicle for the user in response to determination that the user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

Claims

1. A method for indicating whether a vehicle is available for use by a user and permitting use of the vehicle by the user, the method comprising the steps of:

providing, by a visual indicator visible to a user outside of the vehicle, a visual indication that the vehicle is available for use;

receiving, by a processor of a computing device in the vehicle, identification information of a first user proximal the vehicle;

verifying the first user as a driver of the vehicle;

providing, by the processor, access to the vehicle for the first user;

after providing access to the vehicle, changing the visual indication so the visual indication is that the vehicle is available for passenger use;

receiving, by the processor of the computing device in the vehicle, identification information of a second user proximal the vehicle;

providing, by the processor, access to the vehicle for the second user;

determining that the first user is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat within the vehicle; and

enabling ignition of the vehicle upon determining that the first user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of providing a visual indication that the vehicle is available for use comprises emitting a first color of light from the light source.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of changing the visual indicator so the visual indication is that the vehicle is available for passenger use comprises emitting a second color of light from the light source.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the light source is disposed on a rearview mirror assembly in the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the light source comprises a multi-color LED.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving identification information of the first user comprises receiving identification information of the first user through an RFID reader.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving identification information of the first user comprises receiving identification information of the first user through wireless communications with a mobile computing device of the first user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing access to the vehicle comprises unlocking a door of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining that the first user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat comprises polling an output of a seat occupancy sensor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining that the first user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat comprises correlating GPS position data of a mobile computing device of the first user with a GPS position of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling ignition of the vehicle comprises enabling the first user to start the vehicle through an application executing on a mobile computing device of the first user.

13. An apparatus incorporated in a vehicle to ascertaining whether the vehicle for use, comprising:

a visual indicator disposed on or in the vehicle such that the visual indicator is visible to a user outside the vehicle;

a processor and a memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

provide, by the visual indicator, a visual indication that the vehicle is available for use;

receive identification information of a first user proximal the vehicle;

verify the first user as a driver of the vehicle;

provide access to the vehicle for the first user by unlocking a door of the vehicle,

after providing access to the vehicle for the first user, change the visual indication such that the visual indication is that the vehicle is available for passenger use;

receive identification information of a second user proximal the vehicle;

provide access to the vehicle for the second user;

determine that the first user is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat within the vehicle; and

enable ignition of the vehicle upon determining that the first user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light source.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the light source is arranged on a rearview mirror assembly within the vehicle, or on an interior surface of a window of the vehicle.