Methods and systems for communicating vehicular data

• US 20050021422A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kelly L. Zimmerman, Scott P. Zimmerman
• Original Assignee: Kelly L. Zimmerman, Scott P. Zimmerman
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Scott P., Zimmerman, Kelly L.
• Application Number:
  US10/917,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for returning a rental vehicle to a rental agency facility. One method detects a location of the rental vehicle and commands the rental vehicle to wirelessly communicate diagnostic information. The diagnostic information includes at least one of mileage of the rental vehicle, fuel contained in the rental vehicle, and a number identifying the rental vehicle. Another method wirelessly receives the diagnostic information from the rental vehicle and forwards the diagnostic information to the rental agency. The diagnostic information may be wirelessly received by a manufacturer of the rental vehicle and forwarded from the manufacturer of the rental vehicle to the rental agency. Still another method receives the diagnostic information from the manufacturer and generates a record of a rental transaction using the diagnostic information. The manufacturer of the rental vehicle may be requested to obtain the diagnostic information.

Claims

1. A method of returning a rental vehicle to a rental agency facility, comprising:

detecting a location of the rental vehicle; and

commanding the rental vehicle to wirelessly communicate diagnostic information.

2. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information comprises at least one of mileage of the rental vehicle, fuel contained in the rental vehicle, and a number identifying the rental vehicle.

3. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising generating a receipt using the diagnostic information.

4. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising wirelessly communicating the receipt to a rental agency bus.

5. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising printing the receipt at the rental agency bus.

6. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the location of the rental vehicle comprises detecting the rental vehicle entering the rental agency facility.

7. A method of returning a rental vehicle to a rental agency facility, comprising:

wirelessly receiving diagnostic information from the rental vehicle; and

forwarding the diagnostic information to the rental agency.

8. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising associating the rental vehicle to the rental agency.

9. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising associating a Vehicle Identification Number of the rental vehicle to the rental agency.

10. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising associating a Vehicle Identification Number of the rental vehicle to the rental agency renting the vehicle.

11. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the step of forwarding the diagnostic information to the rental agency comprises forwarding at least one of mileage of the rental vehicle, fuel contained in the rental vehicle, and a number identifying the rental vehicle to the rental agency.

12. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the step of wirelessly receiving the diagnostic information comprises wirelessly receiving the diagnostic information by a manufacturer of the rental vehicle.

13. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the step of forwarding the diagnostic information comprises forwarding the diagnostic information from a manufacturer of the rental vehicle to the rental agency.

14. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the step of forwarding the diagnostic information comprises forwarding the diagnostic information to the rental agency via the Internet.

15. A method of returning a rental vehicle to a rental agency facility, comprising:

receiving diagnostic information from a manufacturer of the rental vehicle; and

generating a record of a rental transaction using the diagnostic information.

16. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising generating a receipt of the rental transaction.

17. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising wirelessly communicating the receipt to a rental agency bus.

18. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising printing the receipt at a rental agency bus.

19. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising emailing the receipt.

20. A method of returning the rental vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising requesting a manufacturer of the rental vehicle to obtain the diagnostic information.