Web Enabled Business to Business Computer System for Rental Car Services Having a Bidirectional Communication Link with a Repair Facility - 3

• US 20080243562A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• 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 Gary, Haselhorst, Randall Allan, Weinstock, Timothy Robert, Kennedy, Craig Stephen, DeVallance, Kimberly Ann
• Application Number:
  US11/929,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243562A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• 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.

48-181. -181. (canceled)