AUTOMATED VEHICLE CHECK-IN SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A system for checking in a vehicle having a data bus into a facility, said device comprising:
- a sending module, said module having an information gathering device for gathering check in information from said vehicle, said check in information including a fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank, said module connected to said data bus of said vehicle;
a wireless transmission device for transmitting said information;
a remote receiving station, said station receiving said check in information from said sending module; and
a CPU connected to a database with a file for said vehicle, said CPU placing said check in information in said 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.
38 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for checking in a vehicle having a data bus into a facility, said device comprising:
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a sending module, said module having an information gathering device for gathering check in information from said vehicle, said check in information including a fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank, said module connected to said data bus of said vehicle;
a wireless transmission device for transmitting said information;
a remote receiving station, said station receiving said check in information from said sending module; and
a CPU connected to a database with a file for said vehicle, said CPU placing said check in information in said file to check in said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. 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, said rental information including a fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank;
sending the check in information to a remote station;
calculating a rental charge for said vehicle using the check in information sent from said sending module;
calculating a fuel charge representative of the difference in fuel level between the time of vehicle check out and vehicle check in; and
adding said fuel charge to the rental charge. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for determining the amount of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank comprising:
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an information gathering device connected to the vehicle data bus which retrieves the fuel level from the data bus; and
a digital display in a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
said information gathering device connected to said display. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A system for checking in a vehicle having a data bus into a facility, said device comprising:
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a module, said module having an information gathering device for gathering check in information from said vehicle, said check in information including a fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank, said module connected to said data bus of said vehicle;
a display device used to display fuel level information in percentage of full. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of checking in a rental vehicle at a return lot, said method comprising the steps of:
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mounting an information gathering module to a data bus of said vehicle;
gathering rental information from a data bus, said information including a fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank;
transferring said information to a form or computer system;
dismounting said information gathering module from said data bus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification