Bicycle Rental System
First Claim
1. A bicycle rental system comprising:
- a bicycle storage station comprising a plurality of bicycle stands for supporting and locking bicycles, each bicycle stand comprising a lock configured to open at receipt of a command signal,a portable communication device configured for sending a control message representing a specific bicycle stand of the plurality of bicycle stands as well as representing said portable communication device itself, anda central computer comprising a registry with stored registration data representing said specific bicycle stand and said portable communication device, the central computer being configured for;
receiving said control message,comparing said control message with said stored registration data for identifying said portable communication device, and subsequentlysending a command signal to said specific bicycle stand for unlocking said specific stand.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bicycle rental system comprising: a bicycle storage station comprising bicycle stands for supporting and locking bicycles, each bicycle stand including a lock configured to open at receipt of a command signal, a portable communication device configured for sending a control message representing a specific bicycle stand and the portable communication device, and a central computer. The central computer includes a registry with stored registration data representing the specific bicycle stand and the portable communication device, the central computer being configured for: receiving the control message, comparing the control message with the stored registration data for identifying the portable communication device, and subsequently sending a command signal to the bicycle stand for unlocking the stand.
27 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A bicycle rental system comprising:
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a bicycle storage station comprising a plurality of bicycle stands for supporting and locking bicycles, each bicycle stand comprising a lock configured to open at receipt of a command signal, a portable communication device configured for sending a control message representing a specific bicycle stand of the plurality of bicycle stands as well as representing said portable communication device itself, and a central computer comprising a registry with stored registration data representing said specific bicycle stand and said portable communication device, the central computer being configured for; receiving said control message, comparing said control message with said stored registration data for identifying said portable communication device, and subsequently sending a command signal to said specific bicycle stand for unlocking said specific stand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of using a bicycle rental system comprising a bicycle storage station with a plurality of bicycle stands, the method comprising steps of:
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performing an online internet based user registration wherein a bicycle stand identification tag is issued, sending a text message, comprising the bicycle stand identification tag via a phone communication system to a central computer, after which the computer performs a user identification check, and sends a control signal to the bicycle stand unlocking the bicycle stand if the user identification check is approved, removing the bicycle from the bicycle stand for use, automatically locking the bicycle stand, after removal of the bicycle from said stand, returning the bicycle to the bicycle stand after use, unlocking the bicycle stand, placing the bicycle in the bicycle stand, and subsequently automatically locking the bicycle stand.
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Specification