Web enabled business to business computer system for rental car services

• US 20070271125A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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: Smith, David, Kennedy, Craig, Weinstock, Timothy, DeVallance, Kimberly, Haselhorst, Randall
• Application Number:
  US11/881,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/6
• 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 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

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 an integrated business computer network for the 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. 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

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A rental vehicle reservation management computer system for creating and managing a rental vehicle reservation, the computer system being configured to:

(1) provide a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a computer,

(2) accept input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) create and manage a plurality of rental vehicle reservations in response to the accepted input, wherein the rental vehicle reservation corresponds to a replacement vehicle for a vehicle undergoing repair at a repair facility,

(4) accept vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(5) provide the computer with access to the accepted vehicle repair information.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer system is further configured to manage the rental vehicle reservation by extending a rental time of the rental vehicle reservation.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer system is further configured to manage the rental vehicle reservation by changing a vehicle type for the rental vehicle reservation.

51. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer system is further configured to manage the rental vehicle reservation by changing an authorization for the rental vehicle reservation.

52. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer system is further configured to manage the rental vehicle reservation by approving an invoice for the rental vehicle reservation.

53. The system of claim 47 wherein the accepted vehicle repair information comprises status information as to a progress of repair work on the vehicle undergoing repair.

54. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer system comprises at least one mainframe, the at least one mainframe being configured to execute a software program to create and manage the rental vehicle reservation.

55. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer system is further configured to fulfill the rental vehicle reservation.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the computer system comprises a first mainframe and a second mainframe, the first mainframe being configured to execute a first software program to create and manage the rental vehicle reservation, the second mainframe being configured to execute a second software program to fulfill the rental vehicle reservation.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer system comprises an Internet web portal, the Internet web portal being configured to (1) provide the GUI screens for display over the Internet on the remote computer and (2) accept input from the remote computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens.

58. A method for creating and managing a rental vehicle reservation, the method comprising:

(1) providing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a computer,

(2) accepting input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) creating and managing a rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input, wherein the rental vehicle reservation corresponds a replacement vehicle for a vehicle undergoing repair at a repair facility,

(4) accepting vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(5) providing the computer with access to the accepted vehicle repair information.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the step of accepting vehicle repair information comprises accepting the vehicle repair information over an Internet link with the repair facility.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein the managing step comprises extending a rental time of the rental vehicle reservation.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein the managing step comprises changing a vehicle type for the rental vehicle reservation.

62. The method of claim 58 wherein the managing step comprises changing an authorization for the rental vehicle reservation.

63. The method of claim 58 wherein the managing step comprises approving an invoice for the rental vehicle reservation.

64. The method of claim 58 wherein the accessing providing step comprises providing the computer with access to status information as to a progress of repair work on the vehicle undergoing repair.

65. The method of claim 58 further comprising performing the creating and managing step with at least one mainframe.

66. The method of claim 58 further comprising performing the creating and managing steps by executing a rental vehicle software program.

67. The method of claim 58 further comprising fulfilling the rental vehicle reservation.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising:

performing the creating and managing steps with a first mainframe; and

performing the fulfilling step with a second mainframe.

69. The method of claim 58 further comprising performing the providing and input accepting steps with an Internet web portal.

70. The method of claim 58 wherein the computer comprises a remote computer operated by a purchaser who creates and manages the rental vehicle reservation on behalf of a third party driver.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the purchaser comprises an insurance adjuster.

72. The method of claim 58 further comprising performing the method steps on a computer system operated by a rental vehicle service provider.

73. A rental vehicle reservation management computer system for creating and managing a plurality of rental vehicle reservations with a rental vehicle service provider, the computer system being configured to:

(1) provide a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a plurality of remote computers,

(2) accept input from the remote computers over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) execute a software program to create a plurality of rental vehicle reservations in response to the accepted input, wherein the created rental vehicle reservations correspond to rental vehicle reservations for a plurality of third party drivers whose vehicles are undergoing repair provided by at least one repair facility,

(4) store data in a database corresponding to the created rental vehicle reservations,

(5) accept vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the at least one repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicles undergoing repair, and

(6) execute a software program to manage the created rental vehicle reservations based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

75. The system of claim 73 wherein the computer system is further configured to extend a term of a rental vehicle reservation in response to the execution of the software program to manage the created rental vehicle reservations.

76. The system of claim 73 wherein the computer system is further configured to execute the software program to manage the rental vehicle reservations in response to the accepted input.

77. The system of claim 73 wherein the computer system comprises at least one mainframe, the at least one mainframe being configured to execute the software programs.

78. The system of claim 73 wherein the software program to create the plurality of rental vehicle reservations and the software program to manage the created rental vehicle reservations comprise a rental vehicle software program.

79. The system of claim 73 wherein the computer system is further configured to execute a software program to fulfill the rental vehicle reservations corresponding to the stored data.

80. The system of claim 79 wherein the computer system comprises a first mainframe and a second mainframe, the first mainframe being configured to execute the software program to create the rental vehicle reservations and execute the software program to manage the created rental vehicle reservations, the second mainframe being configured to execute the software program to fulfill the rental vehicle reservations.

81. The system of claim 73 wherein the computer system comprises an Internet web portal, the Internet web portal being configured to (1) provide the GUI screens for display over the Internet on the remote computers and (2) accept input from the remote computers over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens.

82. A method for creating and managing a plurality of rental vehicle reservations, the method comprising:

(1) providing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a plurality of remote computers,

(2) accepting input from the remote computers over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) creating a plurality of rental vehicle reservations in response to the accepted input, wherein the created rental vehicle reservations correspond to rental vehicle reservations for a plurality of third party drivers whose vehicles are undergoing repair provided by at least one repair facility,

(4) storing data corresponding to the created rental vehicle reservations,

(5) accepting vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the at least one repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicles undergoing repair, and

(6) managing the created rental vehicle reservations based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

84. The method of claim 82 wherein the managing step comprises extending a term of a rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

85. The method of claim 82 wherein the managing step comprises managing the rental vehicle reservations in response to the accepted input.

86. The method of claim 82 further comprising performing the creating and managing steps with at least one mainframe.

87. The method of claim 82 further comprising performing the creating and managing steps by executing a rental vehicle software program.

88. The method of claim 82 further comprising fulfilling the rental vehicle reservations corresponding to the stored data.

89. The method of claim 88 further comprising:

performing the creating and managing steps with a first mainframe; and

performing the fulfilling step with a second mainframe.

90. The method of claim 82 further comprising performing the providing and input accepting steps with an Internet web portal.

91. The method of claim 82 wherein the remote computers comprise a plurality of remote computers operated by a plurality purchasers who create and manage the rental vehicle reservations on behalf of the third party drivers.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein the purchasers comprise a plurality of insurance adjusters.

93. The method of claim 82 further comprising performing the method steps on a computer system operated by a rental vehicle service provider.

94. A rental vehicle transaction management computer system for creating and managing a rental vehicle transaction with a rental vehicle service provider, the computer system comprising:

at least one mainframe having an associated database;

wherein the computer system is in bidirectional communication with a repair facility over a bidirectional communication link, the computer system being configured to;

(1) provide a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a remote authorized purchaser computer,

(2) accept a first input from the remote authorized purchaser computer over the Internet and through a provided GUI screen,

(3) execute a software program to create a rental vehicle transaction with the rental vehicle service provider in response to the accepted first input, wherein the rental vehicle transaction is for a third party driver whose vehicle is undergoing repair provided by the repair facility,

(4) store data in the database that corresponds to the rental vehicle transaction in response to execution of the software program to create the rental vehicle transaction,

(5) accept vehicle repair information from the repair facility over the bidirectional communication link, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair,

(6) provide the accepted vehicle repair information to the remote authorized purchaser computer,

(7) after the accepted vehicle repair information has been provided to the remote authorized purchaser computer, accept a subsequent input from the remote computer over the Internet and through a provided GUI screen,

(8) execute a software program to manage the rental vehicle transaction in response to the accepted subsequent input; and

(9) store data in the database that corresponds to the rental vehicle transaction in response to execution of the software program to manage the rental vehicle transaction.

95. The system of claim 94 wherein the accepted vehicle repair information comprises information that is indicative of a delay in repair by the repair facility for the vehicle undergoing repair, and wherein the computer system is further configured to execute the software program to manage the rental vehicle transaction by extending a rental duration for the rental vehicle transaction in response to the accepted subsequent input.

96. The system of claim 94 wherein the computer system is further configured to provide the accepted vehicle repair information to the remote authorized purchaser computer over the Internet and through a provided GUI screen.

97. The system of claim 94 wherein the computer system is further configured to accept vehicle repair information for a plurality of rental vehicle transactions from a plurality of repair facilities over a plurality of bidirectional communication links with the plurality of repair facilities.

98. The system of claim 94 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

99. The system of claim 94 wherein the computer system further comprises an Internet web portal, the Internet web portal being configured to (1) provide the plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on the remote authorized purchaser computer, and (2) accept the first and subsequent inputs, wherein the Internet web portal is in communication with the Internet and the at least one mainframe.

100. The system of claim 99 wherein the at least one mainframe comprises a first mainframe and a second mainframe, wherein the first mainframe is configured to (1) execute the software program to create the rental vehicle transaction, and (2) execute the software program to manage the rental vehicle transaction, and wherein the second mainframe is configured to store the data in the database corresponding to the rental vehicle transaction.

101. The system of claim 100 wherein the software program to create the rental vehicle transaction and the software program to manage the rental vehicle transaction comprise a rental vehicle software program.

102. The system of claim 100 wherein the first mainframe and the second mainframe are in bidirectional communication with each other.

103. The system of claim 94 wherein the computer system is further configured to execute a software program to fulfill the rental vehicle transaction.

104. The system of claim 103 wherein the at least one mainframe comprises a first mainframe and a second mainframe, wherein the first mainframe is configured to (1) execute the software program to create the rental vehicle transaction, and (2) execute the software program to manage the rental vehicle transaction, and wherein the second mainframe is configured to execute the software program to fulfill the rental vehicle transaction.

105. The system of claim 104 wherein the computer system further comprises an Internet web portal, the Internet web portal being configured to (1) provide the plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on the remote authorized purchaser computer, and (2) accept the first and subsequent inputs, wherein the Internet web portal is in communication with the Internet and the first mainframe.

106. The system of claim 105 wherein the computer system further comprises a first computer network and a second computer network, wherein the first computer network comprises the Internet web portal and the first mainframe, and wherein the second computer network comprises the second mainframe and the database.

107. The system of claim 106 wherein the second computer network further comprises a plurality of branch office computers in communication with the second mainframe.

108. The system of claim 104 wherein the first mainframe and the second mainframe are in bidirectional communication with each other.

109. The system of claim 103 wherein the software program to create the rental vehicle transaction and the software program to manage the rental vehicle transaction comprise a first software program, and wherein the software program to fulfill the rental vehicle transaction comprises a second software program.

141. The method of claim 94 wherein the purchaser comprises an insurance adjuster.

110. A method for creating and managing a rental vehicle transaction with a rental vehicle service provider, the method comprising:

(1) providing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a remote authorized purchaser computer,

(2) accepting a first input from the remote authorized purchaser computer over the Internet and through a provided GUI screen,

(3) creating a rental vehicle transaction with the rental vehicle service provider in response to the accepted first input, wherein the rental vehicle transaction is for a third party driver whose vehicle is undergoing repair provided by the repair facility,

(4) storing data in a database corresponding to the rental vehicle transaction in response to the creating step,

(5) accepting vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair,

(6) providing the accepted vehicle repair information to the remote authorized purchaser computer,

(7) after the accepted vehicle repair information providing step, accepting a subsequent input from the remote computer over the Internet and through a provided GUI screen,

(8) managing the rental vehicle transaction in response to the accepted subsequent input; and

(9) storing data in the database that corresponds to the rental vehicle transaction in response to the managing step.

111. The method of claim 110 wherein the accepted vehicle repair information comprises information that is indicative of a delay in repair by the repair facility for the vehicle undergoing repair, and wherein the managing step comprises extending a rental duration for the rental vehicle transaction in response to the accepted subsequent input.

112. The method of claim 110 wherein the accepted vehicle repair information providing step comprises providing the accepted vehicle repair information to the remote authorized purchaser computer over the Internet and through a provided GUI screen.

113. The method of claim 110 wherein the vehicle repair information comprising step comprises accepting vehicle repair information for a plurality of rental vehicle transactions from a plurality of repair facilities over a plurality of bidirectional communication links with the plurality of repair facilities.

114. The method of claim 110 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

115. The method of claim 110 further comprising performing the step of providing the GUI screens and the first and subsequent input accepting steps with an Internet web portal.

116. The method of claim 115 further comprising:

performing the creating step and the managing step with a first mainframe, and

performing the storing steps with a second mainframe.

117. The method of claim 116 further comprising performing the creating step and the managing step with a rental vehicle software program.

118. The method of claim 110 further comprising fulfilling the rental vehicle transaction.

119. The method of claim 118 further comprising:

performing the creating step and the managing step with a first mainframe, and

performing the fulfilling step with a second mainframe.

120. The method of claim 118 further comprising:

performing the creating step and the managing step with a first software program; and

performing the fulfilling step with a second software program.

121. A computer system for processing a rental vehicle reservation with a rental vehicle service provider, the computer system being configured to:

(1) provide a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a computer,

(2) accept input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) execute a software program to create a rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input, wherein the created rental vehicle reservation corresponds to a replacement vehicle for a vehicle undergoing repair at a repair facility,

(4) accept vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(5) execute a software program to make a transactional change to the created rental vehicle reservation, the transactional change being based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

122. The system of claim 121 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

123. The system of claim 121 wherein the computer system is further configured to extend a rental time of the rental vehicle reservation in response to the execution of the software program to make the transactional change.

124. The system of claim 121 wherein the computer system is further configured to execute the software program to make the transactional change in response to the accepted input.

125. The system of claim 121 wherein the computer system comprises at least one mainframe, the at least one mainframe being configured to execute the software programs.

126. The system of claim 121 wherein the software program to create the rental vehicle reservation and the software program to make the transactional change comprise a rental vehicle software program.

127. The system of claim 121 wherein the computer system is further configured to execute a software program to fulfill the rental vehicle reservation.

128. The system of claim 127 wherein the computer system comprises a first mainframe and a second mainframe, the first mainframe being configured to execute the software program to create the rental vehicle reservation and execute the software program to make the transactional change, the second mainframe being configured to execute the software program to fulfill the rental vehicle reservation.

129. The system of claim 121 wherein the computer system comprises an Internet web portal, the Internet web portal being configured to (1) provide the GUI screens for display over the Internet on the computer and (2) accept input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens.

130. A method for processing a rental vehicle reservation with a rental vehicle service provider, the method comprising:

(1) providing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a computer,

(2) accepting input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) creating a rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input, wherein the created rental vehicle reservation corresponds to a replacement vehicle for a vehicle undergoing repair at a repair facility,

(4) accepting vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(5) making a transactional change to the created rental vehicle reservation, the transactional change based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

131. The method of claim 130 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

132. The method of claim 130 wherein the transactional change making step comprises extending a rental time of the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

133. The method of claim 130 wherein the transactional change making step comprises making the transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input.

134. The method of claim 130 further comprising performing the creating and transactional change making steps with at least one mainframe.

135. The method of claim 130 further comprising performing the creating step and the transactional change making step by executing a rental vehicle software program.

136. The method of claim 130 further comprising fulfilling the rental vehicle reservation.

137. The method of claim 136 further comprising:

performing the creating and transactional change making steps with a first mainframe; and

performing the fulfilling step with a second mainframe.

138. The method of claim 130 further comprising:

communicating the rental vehicle reservation to a computer system of a rental vehicle service provider for fulfillment thereby.

139. The method of claim 130 further comprising performing the providing and input accepting steps with an Internet web portal.

140. The method of claim 130 wherein the computer comprises a remote computer operated by a purchaser who creates and makes a transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation on behalf of a third party driver.

142. The method of claim 130 further comprising performing the method steps on a computer system operated by a rental vehicle service provider.

143. A computer system for processing a rental vehicle reservation, the computer system being configured to:

(1) provide a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a computer,

(2) accept input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) create a rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input, wherein the rental vehicle reservation corresponds to a replacement vehicle for a vehicle undergoing repair at a repair facility,

(4) make a transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input,

(5) accept vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(6) provide the computer with access to the accepted vehicle repair information.

144. The system of claim 143 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

145. The system of claim 143 wherein the computer system is further configured to make the transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation by extending a rental time of the rental vehicle reservation.

146. The system of claim 143 wherein the computer system is further configured to make the transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation by changing a vehicle type for the rental vehicle reservation.

147. The system of claim 143 wherein the computer system is further configured to make the transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation by changing an authorization for the rental vehicle reservation.

148. The system of claim 143 wherein the computer system is further configured to make the transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation by approving an invoice for the rental vehicle reservation.

149. The system of claim 143 wherein the accepted vehicle repair information comprises status information as to a progress of repair work on the vehicle undergoing repair.

150. The system of claim 143 wherein the computer system comprises at least one mainframe, the at least one mainframe being configured to execute a software program to create and make the transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation.

151. The system of claim 143 wherein the computer system is further configured to fulfill the rental vehicle reservation.

152. The system of claim 151 wherein the computer system comprises a first mainframe and a second mainframe, the first mainframe being configured to execute a first software program to create and make the transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation, the second mainframe being configured to execute a second software program to fulfill the rental vehicle reservation.

153. The system of claim 143 wherein the computer system comprises an Internet web portal, the Internet web portal being configured to (1) provide the GUI screens for display over the Internet on the computer and (2) accept input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens.

154. A method for processing a rental vehicle reservation, the method comprising:

(1) providing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a computer,

(2) accepting input from the computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) creating a rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input, wherein the rental vehicle reservation corresponds to a replacement vehicle for a vehicle undergoing repair at a repair facility,

(4) making a transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input

(5) accepting vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(6) providing the computer with access to the accepted vehicle repair information.

155. The method of claim 154 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

156. The method of claim 154 wherein the transactional change making step comprises extending a rental time of the rental vehicle reservation.

157. The method of claim 154 wherein the transactional change making step comprises changing a vehicle type for the rental vehicle reservation.

158. The method of claim 154 wherein the transactional change making step comprises changing an authorization for the rental vehicle reservation.

159. The method of claim 154 wherein the transactional change making step comprises approving an invoice for the rental vehicle reservation.

160. The method of claim 154 wherein the accessing providing step comprises providing the computer with access to status information as to a progress of repair work on the vehicle undergoing repair.

161. The method of claim 154 further comprising performing the creating and transactional change making steps with at least one mainframe.

162. The method of claim 154 further comprising performing the creating and transactional change making steps by executing a rental vehicle software program.

163. The method of claim 154 further comprising fulfilling the rental vehicle reservation.

164. The method of claim 163 further comprising:

performing the creating and transactional change making steps with a first mainframe; and

performing the fulfilling step with a second mainframe.

165. The method of claim 154 further comprising performing the providing and input accepting steps with an Internet web portal.

166. The method of claim 154 wherein the computer comprises a remote computer operated by a purchaser who creates and makes a transactional change to the rental vehicle reservation on behalf of a third party driver.

167. The method of claim 166 wherein the purchaser comprises an insurance adjuster.

168. The method of claim 154 further comprising performing the method steps on a computer system operated by a rental vehicle service provider.

169. A method for creating and managing a rental vehicle reservation, the method comprising:

(1) accessing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens over the Internet,

(2) inputting data to a remote computer system over the Internet and through an accessed GUI screen, the inputted data for use by the remote computer system to create a rental vehicle reservation with a rental vehicle service provider on behalf of a third party driver whose vehicle is undergoing repair provided by a repair facility,

(3) obtaining vehicle repair information from the repair facility by way of the remote computer system, the remote computer system having received the vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(5) inputting further data to the remote computer system over the Internet and through an accessed GUI screen to thereby manage the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the obtained vehicle repair information.

170. The method of claim 169 wherein the further data comprises data corresponding to an extension of a rental time of the rental vehicle reservation.

171. The method of claim 169 wherein the accessing step comprises accessing the GUI screens through an Internet web browser.

172. The method of claim 169 further comprising performing the further data inputting step after the obtaining step.

173. The method of claim 169 further comprising performing the method steps on an authorized purchaser'"'"'s computer that is in communication over the Internet with the remote computer system.

174. A method of providing a rental vehicle services purchaser with access to vehicle repair information through a rental vehicle transaction management computer system, the rental vehicle services purchaser comprising a purchaser of rental vehicle services from a rental vehicle service provider on behalf of a plurality of third party drivers whose vehicles are undergoing repair at least one repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicles undergoing repair, the method comprising:

providing the at least one repair facility with access over a bidirectional communication link to the rental vehicle transaction management computer system;

receiving the vehicle repair information from the at least one repair facility over the bidirectional communication link; and

providing the rental vehicle services purchaser with access over the Internet and through a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens to the rental vehicle transaction management computer system, thereby allowing the rental vehicle service purchaser to obtain the vehicle repair information;

delivering the vehicle repair information over the Internet to the rental vehicle services purchaser through a provided GUI screen.

175. The method of claim 174 wherein the bidirectional communication link comprises an Internet link.

176. The method of claim 175 further comprising:

after the delivering step, managing a plurality of rental vehicle transactions in response to input over the Internet from the rental vehicle services purchaser through the provided GUI screens.

177. The method of claim 176 wherein the rental vehicle services purchaser comprises an insurance adjuster.

178. A computer system for processing a rental vehicle reservation with a rental vehicle service provider, the computer system being configured to:

(1) provide a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a remote computer,

(2) accept input from the remote computer over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) execute a software program to create a rental vehicle reservation in response to the accepted input, wherein the created rental vehicle reservation corresponds to a rental vehicle reservation for a third party driver whose vehicle is undergoing repair at a repair facility,

(4) store data in a database corresponding to the created rental vehicle reservation,

(5) accept vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicle undergoing repair, and

(6) execute a software program to extend the created rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

179. The system of claim 178 wherein the computer system is further configured to execute a software program to approve an invoice for the rental vehicle reservation in response to input from the remote computer.

180. A method for processing a plurality of rental vehicle reservations, the method comprising:

(1) providing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display over the Internet on a plurality of remote computers,

(2) accepting input from the remote computers over the Internet and through the provided GUI screens,

(3) creating a plurality of rental vehicle reservations in response to the accepted input, wherein the created rental vehicle reservations correspond to rental vehicle reservations for a plurality of third party drivers whose vehicles are undergoing repair provided by at least one repair facility,

(4) storing data in a database corresponding to the created rental vehicle reservations,

(5) accepting vehicle repair information over a bidirectional communication link with the at least one repair facility, the vehicle repair information corresponding to the vehicles undergoing repair, and

(6) extending the created rental vehicle reservations based at least in part on the accepted vehicle repair information.

181. The method of claim 180 further comprising approving an invoice for the rental vehicle reservation in response to input from the remote computer.