System and Method for Improved Rental Vehicle Reservation Management

• US 20080140460A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• 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: Jouris, Jon B., Concannon, Maribeth, Miller, Regina M., Cormier, Shawn R., Smith, David G., Miller, Owen R., DeVallance, Kimberly A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for managing a rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on automated processing of vehicle repair data corresponding to a disabled vehicle that is related to the rental vehicle reservation. For example, a preferred method and system can automatically compute from the vehicle repair data an amount of time that is likely to be needed by a repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, which in turn can drive more accurate management of an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation. A preferred method and system can also automatically schedule a callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data. Further still, detailed audit reports regarding how reservations are managed can be generated by the preferred method and system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle into a computer program; and

automatically computing with the computer program a term-related parameter for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically computing step comprises:

applying a formula to the received vehicle repair data to thereby compute the term-related parameter.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

storing a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how the formula is applied to the received vehicle repair data, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

determining a party associated with the received vehicle repair data;

selecting the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

configuring the formula in accordance with the selected stored business rule.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle comprises a target number of days (TD) needed by the repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle comprises a target completion date (TCD) for the repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the vehicle repair data includes data that identifies an estimation of how many labor hours will be needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the formula applying step comprises processing the labor hours data to automatically compute the term-related parameter.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the formula applying step further comprises applying a labor hours scalar to the labor hours data to translate the labor hours data into a number of business days needed by the repair facility to perform those labor hours.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each business rule defines the labor hours scalar on a party-specific basis.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the formula applying step further comprises automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to a status identifier as to whether the disabled vehicle is nondriveable.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein each business rule defines the nondriveable adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the formula applying step further comprises automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any weekend days.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein each business rule defines the weekend adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the formula applying step further comprises automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any holiday days.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein each business rule defines the holiday adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicle repair data includes data corresponding to an explanation for a repair delay to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the formula applying step further comprises automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to the explanation data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each business rule defines the explanation data adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining whether the explanation data corresponds to an explanation categorized as an adjustment explanation or an extension explanation; and

wherein the formula applying step comprises automatically computing a target completion date based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to the explanation data that has been determined to be categorized as an adjustment explanation but not on an adjustment amount corresponding to the explanation data that has been determined to be categorized as an extension explanation.

19. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

performing the receiving step and the automatically computing step for a plurality of rental vehicle reservations; and

generating an audit report for the plurality of rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data and the computed term-related parameters.

20. The method of claim 3 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different purchasers.

21. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one of the parties with an associated business rule;

receiving input through the provided GUI screen; and

defining the business rule associated with the at least one party in response to the received input.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein the vehicle repair data includes data that identifies an estimation of how many labor hours will be need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part upon the labor hours data.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on a status identifier as to whether the disabled vehicle is nondriveable.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the automatically computing step comprises:

processing the received vehicle repair data to determine whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any weekend days; and

automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on data corresponding the determination as to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any weekend days.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the automatically computing step comprises:

processing the received vehicle repair data to determine whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any holiday days; and

automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on data corresponding the determination as to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any holiday days.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein the vehicle repair data includes data corresponding to an explanation for a repair delay to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing the term-related parameter based at least in part on the explanation data.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

storing a plurality of adjustment amounts, each adjustment amount corresponding to an explanation for a repair delay; and

wherein the automatically computing step further comprises (1) processing the explanation data to determine a stored adjustment amount associated therewith, and (2) automatically computing the term-related parameters based at least in part on the determined stored adjustment amount.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the vehicle repair data identifies the explanation data as any of a plurality of predefined standardized explanation codes.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, the method further comprising:

comparing data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed; and

automatically extending the rental vehicle reservation to a last authorized day in response to the comparing step resulting in a determination that the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, the method further comprising:

comparing data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter; and

adjusting the authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation such that a last authorized day for the reservation coincides with the computed term-related parameter in response to the comparing step.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, the method further comprising:

comparing data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed; and

automatically sending a request for an authorization to extend the rental vehicle reservation to a reservation manager in response to the comparing step resulting in a determination that the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, the method further comprising:

comparing data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed;

determining whether a reservation manager for the rental vehicle reservation has an automated extension rule associated therewith; and

in response to the determining step resulting in a determination that the reservation manager has an associated automated extension rule, automatically extending the rental vehicle reservation in accordance with the automated extension rule.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

in response to the determining step resulting in a determination that the reservation manager does not have an associated automated extension rule, automatically sending a request for an authorization to extend the rental vehicle reservation to the reservation manager.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one reservation manager having an associated business rule;

receiving input through the provided GUI screen; and

defining the automated extension rule associated with the at least one reservation manager in response to the received input.

35. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically scheduling a callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the automatically scheduling step further comprises automatically scheduling the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the computed term-related parameter.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

storing a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how a callback reminder is to be scheduled based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

determining a party associated with the received vehicle repair data; and

selecting the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

wherein the automatically scheduling step comprises automatically scheduling the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the selected stored business rule.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one of the parties with an associated business rule;

receiving input through the provided GUI screen; and

defining the business rule associated with the at least one party in response to the received input.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different purchasers.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different repair facilities.

41. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the vehicle repair data from a repair facility via an electronic data communication from a computer system of the repair facility.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on the repair facility computer system; and

wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving the vehicle repair data in response to user input through the provided GUI screen.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing a last authorized date for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing a callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

47. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically progressing from the receiving step to the automatically computing step.

48. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

progressing from the receiving step to the automatically computing step in response to user input.

49. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

distributing a cost for the reservation across a plurality of parties based at least in part upon the computed term-related parameter.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

storing a plurality of cost distribution rules, each cost distribution rule being associated with a party;

determining a party associated with the rental vehicle reservation;

selecting the stored cost distribution rule that is associated with the determined party; and

performing the cost distributing step in accordance with the selected cost distribution rule.

51. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle repair data comprises an estimated completion date (ECD) and a labor hours estimate, wherein the automatically computing step comprises automatically computing a target completion date (TCD) for the reservation based at least in part upon the labor hours estimate, the method further comprising:

comparing the computed TCD with the ECD to determine which will control an extension process; and

controlling the extension process using the determined one of the TCD and ECD as a result of the comparing step.

52. A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving labor hours data that represents an estimate as to the amount of labor hours needed by a repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle;

automatically computing a target completion date for repairs to the disabled vehicle based at least in part on the received labor hours data; and

managing the rental vehicle reservation in response to the computed target completion date.

53. A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle;

automatically computing a value indicative of an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data;

comparing data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed value to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed; and

adjusting the authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation such that a last authorized day for the reservation coincides with the computed term-related parameter in response to the comparing step resulting in a determination that the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed.

54. A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle;

automatically computing a value indicative of an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data;

comparing data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed value to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed; and

automatically extending the rental vehicle reservation to a last authorized day in response to the comparing step resulting in a determination that the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed.

55. A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle;

automatically computing a value indicative of an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data;

comparing data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed value to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed; and

automatically sending a request for an authorization to extend the rental vehicle reservation to a reservation manager in response to the comparing step resulting in a determination that the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed.

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

(1) receive vehicle repair data, the vehicle repair data corresponding to repairs performed by a repair facility on a disabled vehicle associated with a driver for a rental vehicle reservation; and

(2) automatically compute a term-related parameter for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter through application of a formula to the received vehicle repair data.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) store a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how the formula is to be applied to the received vehicle repair data, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

(2) determine a party associated with the received vehicle repair data;

(3) select the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

(4) configure the formula in accordance with the selected stored business rule.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle comprises a target number of days (TD) needed by the repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle.

61. The system of claim 59 wherein the value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle comprises a target completion date (TCD) for the repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle.

62. The system of claim 59 wherein the vehicle repair data includes data that identifies an estimation of how many labor hours will be needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to process the labor hours data to automatically compute the term-related parameter.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the computer system is further configured to apply a labor hours scalar to the labor hours data to translate the labor hours data into a number of business days needed by the repair facility to perform those labor hours.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein each business rule defines the labor hours scalar on a party-specific basis.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to a status identifier as to whether the disabled vehicle is nondriveable.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein each business rule defines the nondriveable adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

67. The system of claim 65 wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any weekend days.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein each business rule defines the weekend adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

69. The system of claim 67 wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any holiday days.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein each business rule defines the holiday adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

71. The system of claim 69 wherein the vehicle repair data includes data corresponding to an explanation for a repair delay to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to the explanation data.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein each business rule defines the explanation data adjustment amount on a party-specific basis.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) determine whether the explanation data corresponds to an explanation categorized as an adjustment explanation or an extension explanation; and

(2) automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on an adjustment amount corresponding to the explanation data that has been determined to be categorized as an adjustment explanation.

74. The system of claim 58 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) receive vehicle repair data and automatically compute a term-related parameter in response thereto for a plurality of rental vehicle reservations; and

(2) generate an audit report for the plurality of rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data and the computed term-related parameters.

75. The system of claim 58 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different purchasers.

76. The system of claim 58 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one of the parties with an associated business rule;

(2) receive input through the provided GUI screen; and

(3) define the business rule associated with the at least one party in response to the received input.

77. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein the vehicle repair data includes data that identifies an estimation of how many labor hours will be needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part upon the labor hours data.

78. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on a status identifier as to whether the disabled vehicle is nondriveable.

79. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) process the received vehicle repair data to determine whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any weekend days; and

(2) automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on data corresponding the determination as to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any weekend days.

80. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) process the received vehicle repair data to determine whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any holiday days; and

(2) automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on data corresponding the determination as to whether the time needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle will include any holiday days.

81. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein the vehicle repair data includes data corresponding to an explanation for a repair delay to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically compute the term-related parameter based at least in part on the explanation data.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) store a plurality of adjustment amounts, each adjustment amount corresponding to an explanation for a repair delay;

(2) process the explanation data to determine a stored adjustment amount associated therewith, and

(3) automatically compute the term-related parameters based at least in part on the determined stored adjustment amount.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein the vehicle repair data identifies the explanation data as any of a plurality of predefined standardized explanation codes.

84. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) compare data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed; and

(2) automatically extend the rental vehicle reservation to a last authorized day in response to the comparison resulting in a determination that the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed.

85. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) compare data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter; and

(2) adjust the authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation such that a last authorized day for the reservation coincides with the computed term-related parameter in response to the comparison.

86. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) compare data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed; and

(2) automatically send a request for an authorization to extend the rental vehicle reservation to a reservation manager in response to the comparison resulting in a determination that the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed.

87. The system of claim 56 wherein the term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) compare data corresponding to an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation with the computed term-related parameter to determine whether the authorization period will end prior to the repairs being completed;

(2) determine whether a reservation manager for the rental vehicle reservation has an automated extension rule associated therewith; and

(3) in response to a determination that the reservation manager has an associated automated extension rule, automatically extend the rental vehicle reservation in accordance with the automated extension rule.

88. The system of claim 87 wherein the computer system is further configured to, in response to a determination that the reservation manager does not have an associated automated extension rule, automatically send a request for an authorization to extend the rental vehicle reservation to the reservation manager.

89. The system of claim 87 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one reservation manager having an associated business rule;

(2) receive input through the provided GUI screen; and

(3) define the automated extension rule associated with the at least one reservation manager in response to the received input.

90. The system of claim 56 wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically schedule a callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.

91. The system of claim 90 wherein the wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically schedule the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the computed term-related parameter.

92. The system of claim 90 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) store a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how a callback reminder is to be scheduled based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

(2) determine a party associated with the received vehicle repair data;

(3) select the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

(4) automatically schedule the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the selected stored business rule.

93. The system of claim 92 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one of the parties with an associated business rule;

(2) receive input through the provided GUI screen; and

(3) define the business rule associated with the at least one party in response to the received input.

94. The system of claim 92 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different purchasers.

95. The system of claim 94 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different repair facilities.

96. The system of claim 56 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer system of a repair facility; and

(2) receive the vehicle repair data in response to user input through the provided GUI screen.

97. The system of claim 56 wherein the computer system comprises a rental vehicle reservation management computer system.

98. The system of claim 56 wherein the computed term-related parameter comprises a value indicative of an estimate as to how long the repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle.

99. The system of claim 56 wherein the computed term-related parameter comprises an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation.

100. The system of claim 56 wherein the computed term-related parameter comprises a last authorized date for the rental vehicle reservation.

101. The system of claim 56 wherein the computed term-related parameter comprises a callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation.

102. The system of claim 56 wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically progress from the receipt of the vehicle repair data to the automatic computation of the term-related parameter.

103. The system of claim 56 wherein the computer system is further configured to progress from the receipt of the vehicle repair data to the automatic computation of the term-related parameter in response to user input.

104. The system of claim 56 wherein the computer system is further configured to distribute a cost for the reservation across a plurality of parties based at least in part upon the computed term-related parameter.

105. The system of claim 104 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) store a plurality of cost distribution rules, each cost distribution rule being associated with a party;

(2) determine a party associated with the rental vehicle reservation;

(3) select the stored cost distribution rule that is associated with the determined party; and

(4) perform the cost distribution in accordance with the selected cost distribution rule.

106. The system of claim 56 wherein the vehicle repair data comprises an estimated completion date (ECD) and a labor hours estimate, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) automatically compute the term-related parameter by automatically computing a target completion date (TCD) for the reservation based at least in part upon the labor hours estimate;

(2) compare the computed TCD with the ECD to determine which will control an extension process; and

(3) control the extension process using the determined one of the TCD and ECD as a result of the comparison.

107. A computer-implemented method for processing data relating to a rental vehicle reservation, the method comprising:

receiving an update to data corresponding to a rental vehicle reservation into a software program; and

automatically scheduling with the software program a callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation in response to the received update.

108. The method of claim 107 wherein the reservation is for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle and the receiving step comprises receiving vehicle repair data for the disabled vehicle, the vehicle repair data corresponding to repairs performed by a repair facility on the disabled vehicle, and wherein the automatically scheduling step comprises automatically scheduling the callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation in response to the received vehicle repair data.

109. The method of claim 108 further comprising:

storing a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how a callback reminder is to be scheduled in response to the received update, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

determining a party associated with the rental vehicle reservation; and

selecting the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

wherein the automatically scheduling step comprises automatically scheduling the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the selected stored business rule.

110. The method of claim 109 wherein each business rule comprises at least one condition under which the received update will trigger the automatically scheduling step.

111. The method of claim 110 wherein at least one of the business rules comprises (1) a plurality of conditions under which the received update will trigger the automatically scheduling step, and (2) an instruction associated with each condition as to how the callback reminder is to be automatically scheduled by the automatically scheduling step.

112. The method of claim 109 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different purchasers.

113. The method of claim 112 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different repair facilities.

114. The method of claim 109 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different repair facilities.

115. The method of claim 109 further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one the parties having a business rule associated therewith; and

receiving input through the provided GUI screen that defines the business rule associated with the at least one party.

116. The method of claim 107 further comprising:

storing a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how a callback reminder is to be scheduled in response to the received update, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

determining a party associated with the rental vehicle reservation; and

selecting the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

wherein the automatically scheduling step comprises automatically scheduling the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the selected stored business rule.

117. The method of claim 107 wherein the automatically scheduling step comprises automatically rescheduling a previously-scheduled callback reminder in response to the received update.

118. The method of claim 107 further comprising:

automatically performing a callback in accordance with the scheduled callback reminder.

119. The method of claim 107 wherein the callback reminder comprises a reminder for a repair facility callback.

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

(1) receive an update to data corresponding to a rental vehicle reservation; and

(2) automatically schedule a callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation in response to the received update.

121. The system of claim 120 wherein the update data comprises vehicle repair data, the vehicle repair data corresponding to repairs performed by a repair facility on a disabled vehicle associated with a driver for the rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) receive the vehicle repair data from a repair facility; and

(2) automatically schedule the callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation in response to the received vehicle repair data.

122. The system of claim 121 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) store a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how a callback reminder is to be scheduled in response to the received update, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

(2) determine a party associated with the rental vehicle reservation;

(3) select the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

(4) automatically schedule the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the selected stored business rule.

123. The system of claim 122 wherein each business rule comprises at least one condition under which the received update will trigger the computer system to automatically schedule a callback reminder for the reservation.

124. The system of claim 123 wherein at least one of the business rules comprises (1) a plurality of conditions under which the received update will trigger the computer system to automatically schedule a callback reminder for the reservation, and (2) an instruction associated with each condition as to how the callback reminder is to be automatically scheduled.

125. The system of claim 122 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different purchasers.

126. The system of claim 125 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different repair facilities.

127. The system of claim 122 wherein the parties associated with the business rules comprise a plurality of different repair facilities.

128. The system of claim 122 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) screen for display on a computer of at least one the parties having a business rule associated therewith; and

(2) receive input through the provided GUI screen that defines the business rule associated with the at least one party.

129. The system of claim 120 wherein the computer system is further configured to:

(1) store a plurality of business rules, each business rule defining how a callback reminder is to be scheduled in response to the received update, wherein each stored business rule is associated with a party;

(2) determine a party associated with the rental vehicle reservation;

(3) select the stored business rule that is associated with the determined party; and

(4) automatically schedule the callback reminder for the reservation based at least in part on the selected stored business rule.

130. The system of claim 120 wherein the automatically scheduling step comprises automatically rescheduling a previously-scheduled callback reminder in response to the received update.

131. The system of claim 120 wherein the computer system is further configured to automatically perform a callback in accordance with the scheduled callback reminder.

132. The system of claim 120 wherein the callback reminder comprises a reminder for a repair facility callback.

133. The system of claim 120 wherein the computer system comprises a rental vehicle reservation management computer system.