Extended web enabled multi-featured business to business computer system for rental vehicle services

• US 20050021378A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Crawford Group Incorporated (Jack Taylor Family Voting Trust U A D 4 14 99)
• Original Assignee: The Crawford Group Incorporated (Jack Taylor Family Voting Trust U A D 4 14 99)
• Inventors: Weinstock, Timothy Robert, Kennedy, Craig Stephen, Tingle, William T, Klopfenstein, Anita K, Smith, David Gary, Haselhorst, Randall Allan, DeVallance, Kimberly Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,894 B2
• 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 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

An Internet enabled, business-to-business computerized transaction system is disclosed in its preferred embodiment for use in providing rental car services for high volume users and comprises an Internet web portal through which the high volume user may access a plurality of service providers including an integrated business computer network for at least one rental vehicle service provider. The rental vehicle services provider computer network is configured to interconnect a geographically diverse plurality of branch offices, cataloguing their available rental vehicles and schedules for same as well as handling all transactional data relating to its business. The Internet web portal provides ubiquitous connectivity and portability for a multi-level business organization who regularly places high volumes of rental purchases with its business partner and also those other service providers who may or may not have the same integrated business computer system and software. Utilizing the method and apparatus of the present invention large volumes of rental transactions may be placed, monitored, altered during performance, and closed out with financial accounting and payment being made virtually without human intervention.

Claims

1. An Internet enabled automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having an Internet web site through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to one of a plurality of providers of said rental vehicle services, at least one of said rental vehicle service providers offering a plurality of specific geographically remote rental vehicle locations at which vehicles for rent are situated, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction so that a rental vehicle transaction may be automatically processed thereby for any one of said plurality of said rental vehicle service providers.

2. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 1 wherein said authorized purchaser comprises a business organization, said business organization having a plurality of authorized purchasers, said plurality of authorized purchasers being enabled to access said Internet web site from any location offering Internet web access, and wherein said at least one of said rental vehicle service providers further comprising a second business organization, said second business organization having the computer system and rental vehicle software program resident therein, and wherein said second business organization includes a plurality of geographically diverse rental vehicle locations.

3. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 2 wherein said rental vehicle software program is configured to permit a rental vehicle reservation to be initiated remote from said authorized purchaser and communicated to said authorized purchaser for authorization.

4. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 2 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation through said Internet web site.

5. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 4 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation including extending a time period for which said reservation authorizes use of a rental vehicle.

6. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 4 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchaser to generate reports relating to rental vehicle reservation activity conducted through said software program.

7. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 6 wherein said software program further comprises a data base, said data base storing rental vehicle reservation activity for access by said authorized purchasers.

8. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 7 wherein said software program is configured to automatically communicate billing information to said authorized purchaser for further processing.

9. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 8 wherein said software program is configured to communicate messages between said authorized purchaser and any others having access to said software program.

10. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 9 wherein said software program is configured for allowing access through its Internet web site to a plurality of service providers, and for limiting the functionality available to said plurality of service providers.

11. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of service providers include vehicle repair facilities.

12. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 1 further comprising a second computer system, said second computer system having a second computer software program resident thereon, said second computer software program being configured to process rental vehicle transactions at a plurality of geographically diverse branch facilities each of which has a plurality of vehicles for rental, said second computer system being linked to said first computer system.

13. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 12 wherein each of said first and second computer systems comprises a network having a main frame computer, said main frame computers being linked to each other, and wherein said second computer system further comprises a WAN.

14. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 13 wherein said authorized purchaser comprises a business organization, said business organization having a plurality of authorized purchasers, said plurality of authorized purchasers being enabled to access said Internet web site from any location offering Internet web access, and further comprising a second business organization, said second business organization having the second computer system resident therein, and wherein said second business organization includes the plurality of geographically diverse rental vehicle locations.

15. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 14 wherein said first software program is configured to permit a rental vehicle reservation to be initiated remote from said authorized purchaser and communicated to said authorized purchaser for authorization.

16. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 15 wherein said first software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation through said Internet web site.

17. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 16 wherein said first software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation including extending a time period for which said reservation authorizes use of a rental vehicle.

18. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 16 wherein said first software program is configured to permit said authorized purchaser to generate reports relating to rental vehicle reservation activity conducted through said first software program.

19. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 18 wherein said first software program further comprises a data base, said data base storing rental vehicle reservation activity for access by said authorized purchasers.

20. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 19 wherein said first software program is configured to automatically communicate billing information to said authorized purchaser for further processing.

21. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 20 wherein said first software program is configured to communicate messages between said authorized purchaser and any others having access to said software program.

22. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 21 wherein said first software program is configured for allowing access through its Internet web site to a plurality of service providers, and for limiting the functionality available to said plurality of service providers.

23. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 22 wherein said plurality of service providers include vehicle repair facilities.

24. An automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having a graphical user interface (GUI) through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to any one of a plurality of vehicle rental service providers including one having a plurality of specific geographically remote rental vehicle locations at which vehicles for rent are situated, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction so that a rental vehicle transaction may be automatically processed thereby.

25. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 24 wherein said authorized purchaser comprises a business organization, said business organization having a plurality of authorized purchasers, said plurality of authorized purchasers being enabled to access said rental vehicle software program from any location offering access to said computer system, and further comprising a second business organization, said second business organization having the computer system and rental vehicle software program resident therein, and wherein said second business organization includes a plurality of geographically diverse rental vehicle locations.

26. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 25 further comprising a second computer system resident in said second business organization, said second computer system having a second computer software program resident thereon, said second computer software program being configured to process rental vehicle transactions at the plurality of geographically diverse branch facilities each of which has a plurality of vehicles for rental, said second computer system being linked to said first computer system.

27. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 26 wherein each of said first and second computer systems comprises a network having a main frame computer, said main frame computers being linked to each other, and wherein said second computer system further comprises a WAN.

28. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 27 wherein said rental vehicle software program is configured to permit a rental vehicle reservation to be initiated remote from said authorized purchaser and communicated to said authorized purchaser for authorization.

29. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 28 wherein said first software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation through said Internet web site.

30. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 29 wherein said first software program is configured to permit said authorized purchaser to generate reports relating to rental vehicle reservation activity conducted through said first software program.

31. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 30 wherein said first software program is configured to automatically communicate billing information to said authorized purchaser for further processing.

32. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 31 wherein said first software program is configured to communicate messages between said authorized purchaser and any others having access to said software program.

33. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 32 wherein said first software program is configured for allowing access thereto to a plurality of service providers, and for limiting the functionality available to said plurality of service providers.

34. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 33 wherein said plurality of service providers include vehicle repair facilities.

35. A computer software program to provide an Internet site access by a multi-level business organization to a plurality of service providers including one such service provider having an integrated business, said access being sufficient for placing and monitoring orders for delivery of services by said integrated business, said integrated business including a computer system having a business software program configured to automatically accept reservations for, and provide administrative control and accounting for, services offered and physically available at a plurality of geographically diverse locations.

36. The computer program of claim 35 wherein said Internet site software program is configured to provide said access to said business software program for a range of functional interactions therewith.

37. The computer program of claim 36 wherein said Internet site computer software program is configured to provide access to an authorized purchaser of a plurality of said service providers'"'"' services, said authorized purchaser comprising a multi-level business organization requiring interaction at a plurality of levels of said business software program.

38. The computer program of claim 37 wherein said at least one service provider having an integrated business is itself a multi-level business organization, said business software program providing communication of business information needed to effectively execute reservations placed for delivery of its services, and wherein said Internet site software program is configured to provide interaction between different levels of both of said business organizations.

39. The computer program of claim 38 wherein said Internet site software program is further configured to provide controlled access to said business software program by third party service providers.

40. The computer program of claim 38 wherein said Internet site software is resident on a first computer system and said business software program is resident on a second computer system, and wherein each of said first and second computer systems comprises a network having a main frame computer, said main frame computers being linked to each other, and wherein said second computer system further comprises a WAN.

41. A method for providing an Internet site through which an authorized purchaser comprising a multi-level business organization of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program and make reservations for any one of a plurality of rental vehicle service providers, at least one of said providers being an integrated business organization with a functional integrated computer system providing access to a plurality of diverse geographic locations at which vehicles for rental are kept, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an Internet site computer system having a software program configured to create Internet access thereto; and

establishing a link between said purchaser'"'"'s computer system and at least one of said providers computer system;

said Internet site software program being further configured to facilitate functional interaction between the software program resident on said rental vehicle provider'"'"'s business computer system and an authorized purchaser logged onto said Internet site software program.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said provider'"'"'s computer system further comprises a main frame computer, and wherein the step of establishing a link includes the step of establishing a link between said authorized purchaser'"'"'s computer and said main frame computer.

43. A method for providing a GUI interface through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services comprising a multi-level business organization may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a rental vehicle provider'"'"'s business computer system to thereby conduct rental vehicle business with a plurality of providers including conducting vehicle rental business on at least one of said provider'"'"'s business computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a computer system having a software program configured to create a GUI interface; and

establishing a link between said two computer systems;

said GUI interface software program being further configured to communicate with a plurality of providers including facilitating functional interaction between the software program resident on said at least one rental vehicle provider'"'"'s business computer system and an authorized purchaser logged onto said GUI interface software program.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein each of said computer systems further comprises a main frame computer, and wherein the step of establishing a link includes the step of establishing a link between said two main frame computers.

45. An Internet enabled automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having an Internet web site through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a plurality of rental vehicle providers including at least one provider having a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to a centralized destination, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction so that a rental vehicle transaction may be automatically processed thereby virtually without human intervention.

46. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 45 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to generate a report comprised of that users work load sorted by completion date.

47. A rental vehicle transaction system, said system comprising an Internet site through a computer, said computer being networked with a plurality of vehicle rental providers, at least one of said providers having an integrated computer system connected thereto, and said computer being configured to allow users to place reservations for rental vehicle services with any one of said providers.

48. The transaction system of claim 47 wherein said Internet site computer is further configured to allow data requirements for said reservation to be customized.

49. The transaction system of claim 47 wherein said Internet site is networked through the Internet with said other providers.

50. The transaction system of claim 49 wherein said Internet site is configured to allow customization of menus presented to said users.

51. An Internet enabled automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having an Internet web site through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to one of a plurality of providers of said rental vehicle services, a plurality of said rental vehicle service providers each offering a plurality of specific geographically remote rental vehicle locations at which vehicles for rent are situated, said rental vehicle software program having access to a data base, said data base including at least data corresponding to characteristics of presently available vehicles for rental situated at least at one of said specific geographic locations, said data base being accessible to said authorized purchaser and from which said purchaser may choose a vehicle for rent, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction so that a rental vehicle transaction may be automatically processed thereby for any one of said plurality of said rental vehicle service providers.

52. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 51 wherein said software program is configured to automatically update said data base as reservations are processed in order to maintain said data base for use by subsequent authorized purchasers.

53. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 52 wherein said computer system comprises a computer network.

54. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 53 wherein said computer network comprises a first computer for hosting said web site, a second computer for hosting said rental vehicle software program for controlling and processing said authorized reservations, and at least one third computer configured for fulfilling said authorized reservations.

55. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 54 wherein each of said rental vehicle service providers has its own third computer configured for fulfilling said authorized reservations.

56. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 55 wherein said authorized purchaser comprises a business organization, said business organization having a plurality of authorized purchasers, said plurality of authorized purchasers being enabled to access said Internet web site from any location offering Internet web access, and wherein each of said plurality of rental vehicle service providers comprises a separate business organization, said separate business organizations each providing their own plurality of geographically diverse rental vehicle locations.

57. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 56 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation including extending a time period for which said reservation authorizes use of a rental vehicle.

58. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 57 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchaser to generate reports relating to rental activity conducted through said software program.

59. An Internet enabled automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having an Internet web site through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to one of a plurality of providers of said rental vehicle services, a plurality of said rental vehicle service providers each offering a plurality of specific geographically remote rental vehicle locations at which vehicles for rent are situated, said rental vehicle software program having access to a data base, said data base including at least data corresponding to characteristics of presently available vehicles for rental situated at each of said specific geographic locations, said data base being accessible to said authorized purchaser and from which said purchaser may choose a vehicle for rent, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction, and said rental vehicle software program being configured to process said authorized reservation for any one of said plurality of said rental vehicle service providers.

60. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 59 wherein said software program is configured to automatically update said data base as reservations are processed in order to maintain said data base for use by subsequent authorized purchasers.

61. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 60 wherein said computer system comprises a computer network.

62. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 61 wherein said computer network comprises a first computer for hosting said web site, a second computer for hosting said rental vehicle software program for controlling and processing said authorized reservations, and at least one third computer for fulfilling said authorized reservations.

63. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 62 wherein each of said rental vehicle service providers has its own third computer configured for fulfilling said authorized reservations.

64. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 63 wherein said authorized purchaser comprises a business organization, said business organization having a plurality of authorized purchasers, said plurality of authorized purchasers being enabled to access said Internet web site from any location offering Internet web access, and wherein each of said plurality of rental vehicle service providers comprises a separate business organization, said separate business organizations each providing their own plurality of geographically diverse rental vehicle locations.

65. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 64 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation including extending a time period for which said reservation authorizes use of a rental vehicle.

66. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 65 wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchaser to generate reports relating to rental activity conducted through said software program.

67. A method for providing an Internet site through which an authorized purchaser, said authorized purchaser comprising a multi-level business organization, of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program and make reservations for any one of a plurality of rental vehicle service providers, each of said providers being an integrated business organization with a functional integrated computer system providing access to a plurality of diverse geographic locations at which vehicles for rental are kept, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an Internet site computer system having a software program configured to create Internet access thereto; and

establishing a link between said purchaser'"'"'s computer system and each of said providers'"'"' computer systems;

said Internet site software program being further configured to facilitate functional interaction between the software program resident on said rental vehicle providers'"'"' business computer systems and an authorized purchaser logged onto said Internet site software program; and

maintaining a data base of reservation activity handled by said Internet site.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising the step of providing a communication capability over said link to allow for communication between said authorized purchaser and said providers.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising the step of permitting access to said reservation data base by said authorized purchaser for generating reports therefrom.

70. The method of claim 69 further comprising the step of allowing for limiting the functionality of certain authorized purchasers in using the software program.

71. An Internet enabled automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having an Internet web site through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to one of a plurality of providers of said rental vehicle services, at least one of said rental vehicle service providers offering a plurality of specific geographically remote rental vehicle locations at which vehicles for rent are situated, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction so that a rental vehicle transaction may be automatically processed thereby for any one of said plurality of said rental vehicle service providers, wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation through said Internet web site, wherein said authorized purchaser comprises a business organization, said business organization having a plurality of authorized purchasers, said plurality of authorized purchasers being enabled to access said Internet web site from any location offering Internet web access, and wherein said at least one of said rental vehicle service providers further comprises a second business organization, said second business organization having the computer system and rental vehicle software program resident therein, and wherein said second business organization includes a plurality of geographically diverse rental vehicle locations.

72. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 71 wherein said software program is configured to permit multiple parties to modify said rental vehicle reservation, and wherein said software program is further configured to restrict actions which each of said multiple parties can effect to thereby control the extent to which said vehicle reservation may be modified by each of said multiple parties.

73. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 72 wherein said multiple parties are each insurance adjusters and said software program is restricted through an entry instruction generated by said insurance company.

74. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 72 wherein said multiple parties include at least one agent who is not a member of the same organization employing at least one other of said multiple parties.

75. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 71 wherein said software program is configured to provide a synching function so that another computer may be selectively connected thereto and, under operator command, a data base in said other computer containing reservation data may be uploaded to a data base in said software program containing a master data base of reservation data, said computer system comparing the data from said two data bases and choosing to store data from each according to a synch protocol at least partially specified by the user.

76. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 75 wherein said other computer is a mobile computer, and said selective connection is provided over an internet connection.

77. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 71 wherein said software program is configured to permit the entry of user satisfaction data and transmit said user satisfaction data to an authority for response thereto.

78. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 71 wherein said software program is configured to provide a menu of action items for selective entry and processing by a user thereof, and further comprising a command through which a user may execute a plurality of entered action items all together without further operator action.

79. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 71 wherein said software program has access to a data base in which data corresponding to an inventory of vehicles are kept, and wherein said software program is configured to permit a user to access said data base to thereby view replacement vehicles available for transfer to a customer.

80. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 79 wherein said software program is configured to permit searching of said data base from parameters entered by said user.

81. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 80 wherein said parameters include at least vehicle valuation.

82. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 81 wherein said software program is configured to accept authorization for said transfer by an insurance company.

95. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 71 wherein said rental vehicle software program is configured to communicate over the Internet through a stateless connection.

83. An Internet enabled automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having an Internet web site through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to one of a plurality of providers of said rental vehicle services, at least one of said rental vehicle service providers offering a plurality of specific geographically remote rental vehicle locations at which vehicles for rent are situated, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction so that a rental vehicle transaction may be automatically processed thereby for any one of said plurality of said rental vehicle service providers, and wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation including extending a time period for which said reservation authorizes use of a rental vehicle.

84. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 83 wherein said software program is configured to permit multiple parties to modify said rental vehicle reservation, and wherein said software program is further configured to restrict actions which each of said multiple parties can effect to thereby control the extent to which said vehicle reservation may be modified by each of said multiple parties.

85. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 84 wherein said multiple parties are each insurance adjusters and said software program is restricted through an entry instruction generated by said insurance company.

86. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 84 wherein said multiple parties include at least one agent who is not a member of the same organization employing at least one other of said multiple parties.

87. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 83 wherein said software program is configured to provide a synching function so that another computer may be selectively connected thereto and, under operator command, a data base in said other computer containing reservation data may be uploaded to a data base in said software program containing a master data base of reservation data, said computer system comparing the data from said two data bases and choosing to store data from each according to a synch protocol at least partially specified by the user.

88. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 87 wherein said other computer is a mobile computer, and said selective connection is provided over an internet connection.

89. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 83 wherein said software program is configured to permit the entry of user satisfaction data and transmit said user satisfaction data to an authority for response thereto.

90. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 83 wherein said software program is configured to provide a menu of action items for selective entry and processing by a user thereof, and further comprising a command through which a user may execute a plurality of entered action items all together without further operator action.

91. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 83 wherein said software program has access to a data base in which data corresponding to an inventory of vehicles are kept, and wherein said software program is configured to permit a user to access said data base to thereby view replacement vehicles available for transfer to a customer.

92. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 91 wherein said software program is configured to permit searching of said data base from parameters entered by said user.

93. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 92 wherein said parameters include at least vehicle valuation.

94. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 93 wherein said software program is configured to accept authorization for said transfer by an insurance company.

96. The rental vehicle transaction system of claim 83 wherein said rental vehicle software program is configured to communicate over the Internet through a stateless connection.

97. An Internet enabled automatic rental vehicle transaction system, said system having an Internet web site through which an authorized purchaser of rental vehicle services may access a rental vehicle software program resident on a computer system, said rental vehicle software program being configured to automatically respond to a series of commands from said authorized purchaser and communicate a rental vehicle reservation to at least one provider of said rental vehicle services, said at least one rental vehicle service providers offering a plurality of specific geographically remote rental vehicle locations at which vehicles for rent are situated, said rental vehicle reservation having sufficient information for authorizing, processing and billing said rental vehicle transaction so that a rental vehicle transaction may be automatically processed thereby for said at least one of said rental vehicle service provider, wherein said software program is configured to permit said authorized purchasers to modify said rental vehicle reservation through said Internet web site, wherein said authorized purchaser comprises a business organization, said business organization having a plurality of authorized purchasers, said plurality of authorized purchasers being enabled to access said Internet web site from any location offering Internet web access, and wherein said at least one rental vehicle service provider further comprises a second business organization, said second business organization having the computer system and rental vehicle software program resident therein, and wherein said rental vehicle software program is configured to communicate over the Internet through a stateless connection.