System and method for automating a vehicle rental process
First Claim
1. An automated vehicle rental system for a fleet of rental vehicles, said vehicles being geographically distributed, each of said vehicles being normally locked when not rented, at least one of said vehicles, when not in use, being parked in an unguarded location;
- said system comprising;
vehicle communications means for enabling communication to and from the vehicle, user-carried electronic devices, or other readers, and for interfacing with said user;
an on-board unit (OBU) located on each of said vehicles for interfacing with said vehicle communications means, and with a door unlocking mechanism;
a central reservations, management and location system (CRMLS) in communication through a communications network with each of said OBU, said CRMLS performing all reservations and management functions, said CRMLS being linked to a database containing a location and availability of each of said vehicles and a rate for rental, said CRMLS also being provided with an allocation manager system for geographically allocating vehicles; and
a key for accessing said vehicle, said key being borne by said user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns an automated vehicle rental system for a fleet of rental vehicles, where the vehicles are geographically distributed and normally locked when not rented. At least one of the vehicles, when not in use, is parked in an unguarded location. The system has a vehicle communications unit for enabling communication to and from the vehicle, user-carried electronic devices, or other readers, and for interfacing with the user. An on-board unit (OBU) is located on each of the vehicles for interfacing with the vehicle communications unit, and with a door unlocking mechanism. The system further has a central reservations, management and location system (CRMLS) in communication through a communications network with each OBU, the CRMLS performing all reservations and management functions, and being linked to a database containing a location and availability of each of thr vehicles and a rate for rental, the CRMLS also being provided with an allocation manager system for geographically allocating vehicles. In order to access the vehicle, the system also includes a key being borne by the user. The system minimizes the human intervention in the rental process, and is more user-friendly.
397 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. An automated vehicle rental system for a fleet of rental vehicles, said vehicles being geographically distributed, each of said vehicles being normally locked when not rented, at least one of said vehicles, when not in use, being parked in an unguarded location;
- said system comprising;
vehicle communications means for enabling communication to and from the vehicle, user-carried electronic devices, or other readers, and for interfacing with said user;
an on-board unit (OBU) located on each of said vehicles for interfacing with said vehicle communications means, and with a door unlocking mechanism;
a central reservations, management and location system (CRMLS) in communication through a communications network with each of said OBU, said CRMLS performing all reservations and management functions, said CRMLS being linked to a database containing a location and availability of each of said vehicles and a rate for rental, said CRMLS also being provided with an allocation manager system for geographically allocating vehicles; and
a key for accessing said vehicle, said key being borne by said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
- said system comprising;
Specification