Automated exchange for determining availability of assets shareable among entities
First Claim
1. A system for determining the availability of mobile assets comprising:
- a plurality of mobile asset sources for providing the mobile assets that may be made available and are of one or more types, each mobile asset comprises a location detector for providing position data, at least one mobile asset sensor for detecting a parameter relating to the availability of the mobile asset and wireless communication mechanism for transmitting data relating to the availability of the mobile asset; and
a data center for providing the availability status of the mobile assets, wherein, the data center comprises a receiver for receiving the mobile asset availability data from the mobile assets and a processor programmed for determining the type of each mobile asset, processing availability data, and using the data to determine the availability of each mobile asset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated exchange for determining the availability of mobile assets that are shareable among mobile asset users. The automated exchange includes a plurality of mobile asset sources for providing mobile assets of one or more types, a data center for providing the availability status of each mobile asset, and asset status and availability inputs having communication connection to the data center. The asset status and availability inputs include mobile asset sensors, asset monitoring sensors, manual inputs, and asset status and availability record. A processor located at the data center determines the availability of each mobile asset using the status and availability input data. The processor also receives and processes requests for available mobile assets. A user computer having a communication link to the data center provides user access to information relating to the availability of the mobile assets and user interface to request for available mobile assets. The data center may be connected to an intermediary business entity. The intermediary business entity also facilitates and automates recurring rental transactions and exchanges among long-term users and mobile asset sources. The intermediary business entity also may form a contractual relationship with the users and mobile asset sources to broker transactions using the asset status and availability information from the data center and provide periodic transaction balance and billing statements.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for determining the availability of mobile assets comprising:
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a plurality of mobile asset sources for providing the mobile assets that may be made available and are of one or more types, each mobile asset comprises a location detector for providing position data, at least one mobile asset sensor for detecting a parameter relating to the availability of the mobile asset and wireless communication mechanism for transmitting data relating to the availability of the mobile asset; and
a data center for providing the availability status of the mobile assets, wherein, the data center comprises a receiver for receiving the mobile asset availability data from the mobile assets and a processor programmed for determining the type of each mobile asset, processing availability data, and using the data to determine the availability of each mobile asset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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14. A system for exchanging mobile assets determined to be available comprising:
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a plurality of mobile asset sources for providing the mobile assets that may be made available and are of one or more types;
a processor programmed for determining the availability of each mobile asset, and receiving and processing requests for available mobile assets; and
a plurality of user computers for providing user access to information relating to the availability of the mobile assets and user interface to request one or more mobile assets that are determined to be available.
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24. A system for exchanging mobile assets determined to be made available comprising:
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a plurality of mobile asset sources for providing the mobile assets that may be made available and are of one or more types;
a data center for providing the availability of the mobile assets;
an intermediary business entity having a communication link to the data center for providing a network of users and the plurality of mobile asset sources to efficiently manage the mobile assets that are made available by using the availability information from the data center; and
a plurality of user computers having a communication link to the intermediary business entity for providing user interface to request one or more mobile assets that are determined to be available.
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Specification