System and method for the automated release of a vehicle to one of a plurality of different users
First Claim
1. An automated vehicle release system, comprising:
- a centralized data management system; and
a vehicle to be released to one of a plurality of users, said vehicle having;
original equipment window glass, a local computer in wireless communication with said centralized data management system, and an interactive interface comprising said window glass and a touch sensor associated with said window glass, said touch sensor being in communication with said local computer, said interactive interface being accessible by the user from outside said vehicle and through said window glass;
said centralized data management system receiving data entered into said local computer by the user via said interactive interface, release of said vehicle to the user being authorized by said centralized data management system in response to the data entered by the user and being actuated by said local computer in response to an authorization signal received from the centralized data management system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated vehicle release system including a centralized data management system and a vehicle to be released to one of a plurality of users. The vehicle may have original equipment window glass, a local computer in wireless communication with the centralized data management system, and an interactive interface including the window glass and a touch sensor associated with the window glass. The touch sensor is in communication with the local computer, and the interactive interface is accessible by the user from outside the vehicle and through the window glass. The centralized data management system receives data entered into the local computer by the user via the interactive interface. Release of the vehicle to the user is authorized by the centralized data management system in response to the data entered by the user and is actuated by the local computer in response to an authorization signal received from the centralized data management system. Alternatively, instead of the vehicle having an interactive interface including the window glass, a user interface to the system may include a communication device separate from and located outside the vehicle and in selective communication with the local computer or the centralized data management system, release of the vehicle to the user through the local computer being in response to the data received from the communication device and the local computer having received the authorization signal from the centralized data management system.
167 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An automated vehicle release system, comprising:
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a centralized data management system; and
a vehicle to be released to one of a plurality of users, said vehicle having;
original equipment window glass, a local computer in wireless communication with said centralized data management system, and an interactive interface comprising said window glass and a touch sensor associated with said window glass, said touch sensor being in communication with said local computer, said interactive interface being accessible by the user from outside said vehicle and through said window glass;
said centralized data management system receiving data entered into said local computer by the user via said interactive interface, release of said vehicle to the user being authorized by said centralized data management system in response to the data entered by the user and being actuated by said local computer in response to an authorization signal received from the centralized data management system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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16. A method for releasing a vehicle to one of a plurality of different users, comprising:
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receiving data from a user located outside the vehicle, through the original equipment window glass of the vehicle and a touch sensor in communication with the window glass, into a local computer located inside the vehicle;
communicating the data entered into the local computer to a centralized data management system remotely located relative to the vehicle;
communicating an authorization based on the data entered by the user from the centralized data management system to the local computer; and
permitting access by the user to the vehicle in response to the authorization received by the local computer from the centralized data management system.
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26. An automated vehicle release system, comprising:
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a centralized data management system;
a vehicle for release to one of a plurality of users, said vehicle having a local computer in wireless communication with said centralized data management system; and
a user interface to said vehicle release system comprising a communication device separate from and located outside said vehicle, said interface being in selective communication with one of said local computer and said centralized data management system, data entry by the user through said interface being received by said one of said local computer and said centralized data management system;
wherein, in response to data entered by the user, release of the vehicle is actuated by said local computer.
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29. A method for releasing a vehicle to one of a plurality of different users, comprising:
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receiving data entered by a user through a communication device outside and separate from the vehicle, with one of a centralized data management system remote from the vehicle and a local computer located in the vehicle;
authorizing release of the vehicle to the user through the centralized data management system;
establishing communication between the centralized data management system and the local computer;
sending an authorization signal from the centralized data management system to the local computer; and
releasing the vehicle to the user through the local computer in response to the data received from the communication device and the local computer having received the authorization signal from the centralized data management system.
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Specification