System and Method for Improved Rental Vehicle Reservation Management

• US 20120203582A1
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• 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 G., DeVallance, Kimberly A., Miller, Owen R., Miller, Regina M., Jouris, Jon B., Concannon, Maribeth, Cormier, Shawn R.
• Application Number:
  US13/447,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203582A1
• 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.

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, the received vehicle repair data comprising data that is representative of an estimated amount of labor hours needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle;

automatically computing data indicative of the duration for the repair to the disabled vehicle based on an application of the received vehicle repair data, including the labor hours estimation data, to a business rule formula, the business rule formula comprising a labor hours scalar component, a weekends and holidays adjustment component, and a driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component; and

performing a management operation on the replacement rental vehicle reservation that corresponds to the disabled vehicle based on the computed data indicative of the repair duration; and

wherein the method steps are performed by a processor in cooperation with a memory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the replacement rental vehicle reservation is associated with data indicative of an authorization duration for that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the management operation performing step comprises:

the processor determining whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data; and

in response to a determination by the processor that the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, the processor automatically extending the replacement rental vehicle reservation to thereby associate the replacement rental vehicle reservation with a new authorization duration.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the automatically extending step comprises the processor automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the automatically extending step comprises:

the processor determining whether a difference between an end of the authorization duration and an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computer repair duration data is less than a threshold; and

in response to a determination by the processor that the difference is less than the threshold, the processor automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the labor hours scalar component is configured to scale the labor hours estimation data to a number of business days for the repair, wherein the weekends and holidays adjustment component is configured to account for any days during the repair duration that are not business days and adjust the repair duration accordingly, and wherein the driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component is configured to account for any days that may be needed to transport the disabled vehicle to a repair facility in view of a driveable/nondriveable status for the disabled vehicle.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the business rule formula is configured to compute the repair duration data according to:

TD=ƒ

(r)+┌

WH(ƒ

(r),RSD)┐

wherein TD represents an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein f(r) represents a function of the received vehicle repair data r, and wherein WH(f(r),RSD) represents a weekends and holidays amount based on the function f(r) and a reservation start date (RSD), wherein the function f(r) is represented by;

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the business rule formula is configured to compute the repair duration data according to:

CD=┌

ƒ

(r)+WH(ƒ

(r),RSD)┐

wherein CD represents an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein f(r) represents a function of the received vehicle repair data r, and wherein WH(f(r),RSD) represents a weekends and holidays amount based on the function f(r) and a reservation start date (RSD), wherein the function f(r) is represented by;

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the business rule formula is configured to compute the repair duration data according to:

CD=ƒ

(r)+┌

WH(ƒ

(r),RSD)┐

wherein CD represents an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein f(r) represents a function of the received vehicle repair data r, and wherein WH(f(r),RSD) represents a weekends and holidays amount based on the function f(r) and a reservation start date (RSD), wherein the function f(r) is represented by;

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the replacement rental vehicle reservation is associated with data indicative of an authorization duration for that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the management operation performing step comprises:

the processor determining whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data; and

in response to a determination by the processor that the authorized number of days for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, the processor automatically sending an extension request for the replacement rental vehicle reservation to a manager for that replacement rental vehicle reservation.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the extension request includes the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor and memory are resident within a rental vehicle reservation management computer system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step comprises the processor receiving the vehicle repair data from a repair facility computer.

13. An apparatus for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory configured to store a business rule formula, the business rule formula comprising a labor hours scalar component, a weekends and holidays adjustment component, and a driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component; and

wherein the processor is configured to (1) receive vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle, the received vehicle repair data comprising data that is representative of an estimated amount of labor hours needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, (2) automatically compute data indicative of the duration for the repair to the disabled vehicle based on an application of the received vehicle repair data, including the labor hours estimation data, to the business rule formula, and (3) perform a management operation on the replacement rental vehicle reservation that corresponds to the disabled vehicle based on the computed data indicative of the repair duration.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the memory is further configured to store data indicative of an authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation in association with that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the processor is further configured to perform the management operation by (1) determining whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data, (2) in response to a determination by the processor that the authorized number of days for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, automatically extending the replacement rental vehicle reservation to thereby associate the replacement rental vehicle reservation with a new authorization duration.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to automatically extend the replacement rental vehicle reservation by automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to automatically extend the replacement rental vehicle reservation by (1) determining whether a difference between an end of the authorization duration and an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computer repair duration data is less than a threshold, and (2) in response to a determination by the processor that the difference is less than the threshold, automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the labor hours scalar component is configured to scale the labor hours estimation data to a number of business days for the repair, wherein the weekends and holidays adjustment component is configured to account for any days during the repair duration that are not business days and adjust the repair duration accordingly, and wherein the driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component is configured to account for any days that may be needed to transport the disabled vehicle to a repair facility in view of a driveable/nondriveable status for the disabled vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the business rule formula is configured to compute the repair duration data according to:

TD=ƒ

(r)+┌

WH(ƒ

(r),RSD)┐

wherein TD represents an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein f(r) represents a function of the received vehicle repair data r, and wherein WH(f(r),RSD) represents a weekends and holidays amount based on the function f(r) and a reservation start date (RSD), wherein the function f(r) is represented by;

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the business rule formula is configured to compute the repair duration data according to:

CD=┌

ƒ

(r)+WH(ƒ

(r),RSD)┐

wherein CD represents an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein f(r) represents a function of the received vehicle repair data r, and wherein WH(f(r),RSD) represents a weekends and holidays amount based on the function f(r) and a reservation start date (RSD), wherein the function f(r) is represented by;

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the business rule formula is configured to compute the repair duration data according to:

CD=ƒ

(r)+┌

WH(ƒ

(r),RSD)┐

wherein CD represents an estimate as to how long a repair facility will need to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein f(r) represents a function of the received vehicle repair data r, and wherein WH(f(r),RSD) represents a weekends and holidays amount based on the function f(r) and a reservation start date (RSD), wherein the function f(r) is represented by;

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the memory is further configured to store data indicative of an authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation in association with that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the processor is further configured to perform the management operation by (1) determining whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data, and (2) in response to a determination by the processor that the authorized number of days for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, automatically sending an extension request for the replacement rental vehicle reservation to a manager for that replacement rental vehicle reservation.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the extension request includes the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data.

23. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a rental vehicle reservation management computer system, the processor and memory being resident within the rental vehicle reservation management computer system.

24. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to receive the vehicle repair data from a repair facility computer.

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

receiving data representative of an estimation of a number of labor hours to repair the disabled vehicle;

storing a business rule formula in a memory, the business rule formula comprising a labor hours scalar component, a weekends and holidays adjustment component, and a driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component;

automatically computing data indicative of the duration for the repair to the disabled vehicle based on an application of the business rule formula to the received labor hours estimation data; and

performing a management operation on the replacement rental vehicle reservation that corresponds to the disabled vehicle based on the computed data indicative of the repair duration; and

wherein the method steps are performed by a processor in cooperation with the memory.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the replacement rental vehicle reservation is associated with data indicative of an authorization duration for that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the management operation performing step comprises:

the processor determining whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data; and

in response to a determination by the processor that the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, the processor automatically extending the replacement rental vehicle reservation to thereby associate the replacement rental vehicle reservation with a new authorization duration.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the automatically extending step comprises the processor automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the automatically extending step comprises:

the processor determining whether a difference between an end of the authorization duration and an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data is less than a threshold; and

in response to a determination by the processor that the difference is less than the threshold, the processor automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with the end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the labor hours scalar component is configured to scale the labor hours estimation data to a number of business days for the repair, wherein the weekends and holidays adjustment component is configured to account for any days during the repair duration that are not business days and adjust the repair duration accordingly, and wherein the driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component is configured to account for any days that may be needed to transport the disabled vehicle to a repair facility in view of a driveable/nondriveable status for the disabled vehicle.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the processor and memory are resident within a rental vehicle reservation management computer system.

31. An apparatus for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory configured to store a plurality of labor hours scalars in a memory, the labor hours scalars being associated with a plurality of parties such that each labor hours scalar is associated with at least one party; and

wherein the processor is configured to (1) receive data representative of an estimation of a number of labor hours to repair the disabled vehicle, (2) determine a party associated with the received labor hours estimation data, (3) select the stored labor hours scalar that is associated with the determined party, (4) automatically compute data indicative of the duration for the repair to the disabled vehicle based on an application of the selected labor hours scalar to the received labor hours estimation data, and (5) perform a management operation on the replacement rental vehicle reservation that corresponds to the disabled vehicle based on the computed data indicative of the repair duration.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the memory is further configured to store data indicative of an authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation in association with that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the processor is further configured to perform the management operation by (1) determining whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data, and (2) in response to a determination by the processor that the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, automatically extending the replacement rental vehicle reservation to thereby associate the replacement rental vehicle reservation with a new authorization duration.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processor is further configured to automatically extend the replacement rental vehicle reservation by automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processor is further configured to automatically extend the replacement rental vehicle reservation by (1) determining whether a difference between an end of the authorization duration and an end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data is less than a threshold, and (2) in response to a determination by the processor that the difference is less than the threshold, automatically storing data in the memory that is indicative of the new authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation such that an expiration of the new authorization duration coincides in time with the end of the repair duration corresponding to the computed repair duration data.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the labor hours scalar component is configured to scale the labor hours estimation data to a number of business days for the repair, wherein the weekends and holidays adjustment component is configured to account for any days during the repair duration that are not business days and adjust the repair duration accordingly, and wherein the driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component is configured to account for any days that may be needed to transport the disabled vehicle to a repair facility in view of a driveable/nondriveable status for the disabled vehicle.

36. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a rental vehicle reservation management computer system, the processor and memory being resident within the rental vehicle reservation management computer system.

37. 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 as an electronic communication from a remote repair facility computer system, the received labor hours data representing 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 as applied to a business rule formula, the business rule formula comprising a labor hours scalar component, a weekends and holidays adjustment component, and a driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component; and

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

wherein the receiving, automatically computing and managing steps are performed by a processor.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the labor hours scalar component is configured to scale the labor hours data to a number of business days for completing repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein the weekends and holidays adjustment component is configured to account for any days during a repair duration for the disabled vehicle that are not business days and adjust the repair duration accordingly, and wherein the driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component is configured to account for any days that may be needed to transport the disabled vehicle to a repair facility in view of a driveable/nondriveable status for the disabled vehicle.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the replacement rental vehicle reservation is associated with data indicative of an authorization duration for that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the management operation performing step comprises:

the processor comparing the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation with the computed target completion date; and

in response to a determination by the processor that the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to the computed target completion date, the processor automatically extending the replacement rental vehicle reservation to thereby associate the replacement rental vehicle reservation with a new authorization duration.

40. An apparatus for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory configured to store a business rule formula, the business rule formula comprising a labor hours scalar component, a weekends and holidays adjustment component, and a driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component; and

wherein the processor is further configured to (1) receive labor hours data as an electronic communication from a remote repair facility computer system, the received labor hours data representing an estimate as to the amount of labor hours needed by a repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, (2) automatically compute a target completion date for repairs to the disabled vehicle based at least in part on the received labor hours data as applied to the business rule formula, and (3) manage the rental vehicle reservation in response to the computed target completion date.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the labor hours scalar component is configured to scale the labor hours data to a number of business days for completing repairs to the disabled vehicle, wherein the weekends and holidays adjustment component is configured to account for any days during a repair duration for the disabled vehicle that are not business days and adjust the repair duration accordingly, and wherein the driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component is configured to account for any days that may be needed to transport the disabled vehicle to a repair facility in view of a driveable/nondriveable status for the disabled vehicle.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the memory is further configured to store data indicative of an authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation in association with that replacement rental vehicle reservation, and wherein the processor is further configured to perform the management operation by (1) comparing the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation with the computed target completion date, and (2) in response to a determination by the processor that the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to the computed target completion date, automatically extending the replacement rental vehicle reservation to thereby associate the replacement rental vehicle reservation with a new authorization duration.

43. 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, the received vehicle repair data comprising data that is representative of an estimated amount of labor hours needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle;

automatically computing data indicative of the duration for the repair to the disabled vehicle based on an application of the received vehicle repair data, including the labor hours estimation data, to a business rule formula, the business rule formula comprising a labor hours scalar component, a weekends and holidays adjustment component, and a driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component; and

storing data in a memory about a replacement rental vehicle reservation corresponding to the disabled vehicle, the stored data comprising data indicative of an authorization duration for that replacement rental vehicle reservation;

determining whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data;

in response to a determination that the authorized number of days for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, automatically sending an extension request for the replacement rental vehicle reservation; and

wherein the method steps are performed by a processor in cooperation with a memory.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the processor and memory are resident within a rental vehicle reservation management computer system.

45. An apparatus for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory configured to store (1) a business rule formula, the business rule formula comprising a labor hours scalar component, a weekends and holidays adjustment component, and a driveable/nondriveable status adjustment component, and (2) data about a replacement rental vehicle reservation corresponding to the disabled vehicle, the replacement rental vehicle reservation data comprising data indicative of an authorization duration for that replacement rental vehicle reservation; and

wherein the processor is configured to (1) receive vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle, the received vehicle repair data comprising data that is representative of an estimated amount of labor hours needed to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, (2) automatically compute data indicative of the duration for the repair to the disabled vehicle based on an application of the received vehicle repair data, including the labor hours estimation data, to the business rule formula, (3) determine whether the authorization duration for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle based on the computed repair duration data and the authorization duration data, and (4) in response to a determination that the authorized number of days for the replacement rental vehicle reservation would end prior to repairs being completed for the disabled vehicle, automatically send an extension request for the replacement rental vehicle reservation.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 further comprising a rental vehicle reservation management computer system, the processor and memory being resident within the rental vehicle reservation management computer system.

47. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the processor is further configured to automatically schedule a callback reminder for the replacement rental vehicle reservation in response to the received vehicle repair data.