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Mobile device application for communicating with vehicles

  • US 10,297,097 B2
  • Filed: 06/08/2010
  • Issued: 05/21/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for managing shared reservable assets, comprising the steps of:

  • prior to receiving a request to reserve a shared reservable asset, providing, by a first processor of a computing device, for display on a map using a second processor on a mobile computing device, information regarding each of one or more available shared reservable assets which have previously been designated as favorites by a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the information comprises a make, a model, a location, rental or use rate, the number of passengers accommodated, types of plugs or adapters provided, and fuel economy for each of the one or more available shared reservable assets;

    receiving, by the first processor, from the second processor in the mobile computing device, a request to reserve a specific shared reservable asset at a user selected location, wherein the request comprises a first identifier associated with a user of the mobile computing device, and the shared reservable asset is a user selected, unique shared reservable asset of the one or more available shared reservable assets;

    following acceptance of the request to reserve the specific shared reservable asset, storing, by the first processor in a reservation database, (i) the first identifier and (ii) an indication that the specific shared reservable asset is now a reserved asset, wherein the first identifier is associated with the reserved asset;

    displaying, in response to the user of the mobile computing device selecting an unlock icon on the display screen of the mobile computing device, a user interface displaying a key-fob icon on the mobile computing device, said key-fob icon displaying the image of a key-fob with several additional icons displayed within said image, said additional icons comprising a button with an image of a lock for controlling the lock/unlock mechanism for the reserved asset, a button with an image of a horn for controlling the horn of the reserved asset, and a light indicator configured to indicate when one of said buttons is selected;

    prior to an attempt to physically access the reserved asset by the user of the mobile computing device, receiving, by the first processor, from the second processor in the mobile computing device, a request to physically access the reserved asset, wherein the request includes a second identifier;

    following receipt of the request to physically access the reserved asset, determining, by the first processor, that the second identifier is valid; and

    sending, by the first processor, over a network, a signal to a third processor in a control module associated with the reserved asset, wherein the control module is configured to interact with a lock associated with the reserved asset to allow physical access to the reserved asset based on the signal from the first processor.

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