Car rental system

• US 20010056361A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sendouda, Mitsuru
• Application Number:
  US09/878,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20010056361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A car rental system receives a rental order specifying the model of a rental car and a delivery location at which the user wishes the rental car to be delivered. The car rental agency delivers the specified rental car to the specified location, and leaves the rental car without attending to the user. The user goes to the specified location and then drives the rental car by using a password and a card key previously delivered to the user.

Claims

1. A car rental system comprising a computer, a network for connecting said computer to terminal units of users, said computer receiving a rental order from a user specifying a model of a rental car and a delivery location for the rental car to be delivered, and a car delivery system for delivering the specified rental car to the specified location.

2. The car rental system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said rental order further specifies the delivery time of the rental car, and said car delivery system delivers the specified rental car at the specified delivery time.

3. The car rental system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said specified location is either user'"'"'s house, toll parking lot, parking space of an apartment building, parking space of a corporation or rental parking lot.

4. The car rental system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said network includes at least one of Internet, telephone, radio communication system and facsimile.

5. The car rental system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein key of the rental car is a card key to be inserted in a card slot in the renal car.

6. The car rental system as defined in

claim 5

, wherein said card key has information specifying identification number of a user and/or a password.

7. The car rental system as defined in

claim 6

, wherein information in said card slot is registered/cancelled by using a radio communication system.

8. The car rental system as defined in

claim 7

, wherein said rental order is allocated to a dedicated password.