Method of providing services using controlled access to vehicles of customers

• US 20090150306A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Matthew Campbell
• Original Assignee: David Matthew Campbell
• Inventors: Campbell, David Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/316,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150306A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/500
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like

Abstract

A method of granting a service provider access to a vehicle of a customer to facilitate provision of services therefor is disclosed. The method includes the acts of scheduling a service appointment with the service provider for servicing at least one of the vehicle and articles placed within the interior or trunk of the vehicle, and, if the service appointment is scheduled for the articles, then locking the interior or trunk of the vehicle with the articles placed therein. The method further includes the acts of attaching a security storage box to the vehicle or in proximity to the vehicle, and locking a means for accessing the interior or trunk of the vehicle in the security storage box, granting access to the service provider to the means for accessing locked in the security storage box, and permitting access to the interior or trunk of the vehicle using the means for accessing to afford service to the vehicle or the articles.

Claims

1. A method of granting a service provider access to a vehicle of a customer to facilitate provision of services therefor, the method comprising:

scheduling a service appointment with the service provider for servicing at least one of the vehicle and articles placed within the interior or trunk of the vehicle;

if the service appointment is scheduled for the articles, then locking the interior or trunk of the vehicle with the articles placed therein;

attaching a security storage box to the vehicle or in proximity to the vehicle, and locking a means for accessing the interior or trunk of the vehicle in the security storage box;

granting access to the service provider to the means for accessing locked in the security storage box; and

permitting access to the interior or trunk of the vehicle using the means for accessing to afford service to the vehicle or the articles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for accessing includes a key, keyless entry device, and a security code for unlocking the interior or trunk of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein access is granted to the security storage box via at least one of a key and combination to a lock provided thereon.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing an account with the service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of establishing an account includes providing at least one of contact, billing, and vehicle information to the service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the availability of a service appointment is correlated to whether the service provider is servicing a particular locale.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of scheduling includes selecting a date and a location for the service appointment.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising parking the vehicle on the selected date at the selected location.

9. A method of accessing a vehicle of a customer by a service provider to facilitate provision of services therefor, the method comprising:

confirming an appointment with the customer for servicing at least one of the vehicle and articles placed within the interior or trunk of the vehicle;

locating the vehicle on a date and at a location selected by the customer;

unlocking a security storage box attached to the vehicle or in proximity to the vehicle to obtain a means for accessing the interior or trunk of the vehicle;

accessing the interior or trunk of the vehicle using the means for accessing;

if the service appointment is for the vehicle, servicing the vehicle;

if the service appointment is for the articles, removing the articles, servicing the articles, and returning the articles to the interior or trunk of the vehicle; and

after the service is complete, locking the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising locking the security storage box with the means for accessing placed therein after the service is complete.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the means for accessing includes a key, keyless entry device, and a security code for unlocking the interior or trunk of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein unlocking the security storage box is afforded via at least one of a key and combination to a lock provided thereon.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising permitting the customer to establish an account with the service provider.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of permitting the customer to establish an account includes requesting at least one of contact, billing, and vehicle information from the customer.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of removing the articles includes removing the articles from the interior or trunk of the vehicle to a remote location where the service can be performed thereon.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising equipping a mobile service vehicle with equipment and articles to perform the service.

17. A method of accessing a vehicle of a customer by a service provider to facilitate provision of services therefor, the method comprising:

establishing an account with the service provider;

scheduling a specified date and a specified location for a service appointment;

scheduling services to be performed by the service provider during the service appointment;

attaching a security storage box to the vehicle or in proximity to the vehicle, and locking a means for accessing the interior or trunk of the vehicle in the security storage box;

granting access to the service provider to the means for accessing locked in the security storage box;

locating the vehicle on the specified date in the specified location;

unlocking the security storage box to obtain the means for accessing;

accessing the interior or trunk of the vehicle using the means for accessing; and

performing the service, and after the service is complete, locking the vehicle, and locking the security storage box with the means for accessing placed therein.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising locking the security storage box with the means for accessing placed therein after the service is complete.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the means for accessing includes a key, keyless entry device, and a security code for unlocking the interior or trunk of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein unlocking the security storage box is afforded via at least one of a key and combination to a lock provided thereon.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the service appointment is for servicing at least one of the vehicle and articles placed within the interior or trunk of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, if the service appointment is for the articles, removing the articles, and returning the articles to the interior or trunk of the vehicle after the service is complete.