Vehicle monitoring and reservation system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle monitoring and reservation system usable in a vehicle sharing system, comprising:
- a) a terminal for accepting a request to use a vehicle;
b) registering means for registering said users;
c) vehicle monitoring means to monitor the use of a vehicle;
d) a parking area for a plurality of users to obtain vehicles from and return vehicles thereto;
e) a central computer with computing means responsive to said monitoring means for determining when a vehicle will be available for use at said parking area and memory means for storing registration information of said users from said registering means;
f) communication means responsive to said computing means for communicating the availability of said vehicles; and
g) an information device responsive to said communications means wherein the user is informed of the availability of said vehicles at said parking area and reserves an available vehicle.
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Abstract
The invention provides a vehicle monitoring and reservation system for use in a shared vehicle system. The vehicle monitoring and reservation system provide that a vehicle is tracked by a central computer in order to accurately gage when a vehicle will be able to be reallocated to another user, thereby making multiple use of a vehicle within a given fleet of shared vehicles. The invention includes tracking the vehicles through the use of vehicle monitoring devices including Global Positioning System (GPS), geo-fencing, and user-input information.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle monitoring and reservation system usable in a vehicle sharing system, comprising:
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a) a terminal for accepting a request to use a vehicle;
b) registering means for registering said users;
c) vehicle monitoring means to monitor the use of a vehicle;
d) a parking area for a plurality of users to obtain vehicles from and return vehicles thereto;
e) a central computer with computing means responsive to said monitoring means for determining when a vehicle will be available for use at said parking area and memory means for storing registration information of said users from said registering means;
f) communication means responsive to said computing means for communicating the availability of said vehicles; and
g) an information device responsive to said communications means wherein the user is informed of the availability of said vehicles at said parking area and reserves an available vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle monitoring and reservation system usable in a vehicle sharing system, comprising:
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a) a terminal for accepting a request to use a vehicle and user input information;
b) registering means for registering said users;
c) vehicle monitoring means to monitor the use of a vehicle;
d) a parking area for a plurality of users to obtain vehicles from and return vehicles thereto;
e) a central computer with computing means responsive to said monitoring means for determining when a vehicle will be available for use at said parking area and memory means for storing registration information of said users from said registering means;
f) communication means responsive to said computing means for communicating the availability of said vehicles; and
g) an information device responsive to said communications means wherein the user is informed of the availability of said vehicles at said parking area and reserves an available vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification