Automated rental vehicle check-in system
First Claim
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1. A system for checking in a rental car into a rental lot, said device comprising:
- a sending module mounted to said vehicle, said module having an information gathering device for gathering information from said vehicle;
a wireless transmission device for transmitting said information;
an activation device directing said sending module to transmit information when said vehicle enters said return lot;
a remote receiving station, said station receiving said information from said sending module; and
a CPU connected to said receiving station to receive said information, said CPU having a database with a rental file for said vehicle, said CPU placing said information in said rental file to check in said vehicle.
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Abstract
A fully automated rental vehicle check-in system includes a sending module connected to the diagnostic port of the vehicle. The sending module gathers information from the vehicle including the vehicle identification number, mileage and fuel level and delivers the information wirelessly to a receiving station located in the rental return lot. The information is delivered to a CPU which uses the information along with the time, date and location of the rental lot to compute the rental charges which are delivered to a return kiosk where the charges are paid and a receipt delivered to the customer.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for checking in a rental car into a rental lot, said device comprising:
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a sending module mounted to said vehicle, said module having an information gathering device for gathering information from said vehicle;
a wireless transmission device for transmitting said information;
an activation device directing said sending module to transmit information when said vehicle enters said return lot;
a remote receiving station, said station receiving said information from said sending module; and
a CPU connected to said receiving station to receive said information, said CPU having a database with a rental file for said vehicle, said CPU placing said information in said rental file to check in said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of checking in a rental vehicle at a return lot, said method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a sending module to a data bus of said vehicle module;
gathering rental information from a data bus sending the rental information to a remote station; and
calculating a rental charge for said vehicle using the rental information sent from said sending module. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification