VEHICLE RENTAL TRANSACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110307375A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Maney, Charles Q.
• Granted Patent: US 8,719,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• 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: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00

Abstract

A vehicle rental transaction system and method which provide a vehicle lot owner with a choice of options for vehicle security and customer convenience. The vehicle rental transaction system includes a computer for identifying a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer. Example instructions include, but are not limited to, unlocking doors and a trunk of the vehicle, adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with customer preferences, adjusting climate control settings in accordance with the customer preferences, adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the customer preferences, and adjusting GPS settings in accordance with the customer preferences.

Claims

1. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:

a computer for identifying a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions comprise an unlock instruction for unlocking doors of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is also for obtaining customer preferences, and wherein the instructions are tailored to satisfying the customer preferences.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer obtains the customer preferences from a customer profile previously completed by the customer.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer obtains the customer preferences during the rental transaction.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer obtains the customer preferences from a portable electronic device provided by the customer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is also for sending an additional wireless message to the vehicle containing additional instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer after a predetermined time period following the one wireless message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is also for obtaining payment from the customer, and wherein the computer sends the message following receipt of the payment from the customer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer comprises a self-service kiosk.

10. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:

a computer for displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during a rental transaction involving a vehicle, for obtaining preferences of the customer, for obtaining payment from the customer, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions to unlock the vehicle and to prepare the vehicle for the customer based upon the preferences.

11. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:

a first computer for displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for obtaining payment from the customer;

a second computer for identifying the customer, for obtaining preferences of the customer, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions to unlock the vehicle and to prepare the vehicle for the customer based upon the preferences.

12. A vehicle rental transaction method comprising:

identifying a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle by a computer; and

sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer by the computer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining preferences of the customer to be used to prepare the vehicle by the computer.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during the rental transaction by the computer; and

obtaining payment from the customer by the computer.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying step comprises:

comparing identification information presented by the customer to records of transactions initiated at another computer to determine whether to release the vehicle to the customer.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sending an additional wireless message to the vehicle containing additional instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer after a predetermined time period following the one wireless message.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the instructions comprise an unlock instruction for unlocking doors and a trunk of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructions comprise adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with the preferences.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructions comprise adjusting climate control settings in accordance with the preferences.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructions comprise adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the preferences.