APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR RENTING AND CONTROLLING OCCUPANCY OF A VEHICLE

• US 20130238167A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zipcar Incorporated (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Local Motion Incorporated (Omikenshi Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stanfield, John, Gires, Clement
• Granted Patent: US 9,442,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0027 for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 Wired data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/508 specific to vehicles driving in fleets or convoys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

One variation of a method for renting a vehicle includes: receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying a current availability of the vehicle for rent; updating a visual indicator arranged on the vehicle according to the signal, the visual indicator visually detectable from outside the vehicle; receiving identification information of a user proximal the vehicle; enabling access to the vehicle for the user in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle; determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat within the vehicle; and enabling ignition of the vehicle for the user in response to determination that the user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

Claims

1. A method for renting a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying a current availability of the vehicle for rent;

updating a visual indicator arranged on the vehicle according to the signal, the visual indicator visually detectable from outside the vehicle;

receiving identification information of a user proximal the vehicle;

enabling access to the vehicle for the user in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle;

determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat within the vehicle; and

enabling ignition of the vehicle for the user in response to determination that the user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the visual indicator arranged on the vehicle comprises changing an output of a light source from a first color specifying that the vehicle is in use to a second color indicting that the vehicle is available for rent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the output of the light source comprises changing the output of the light source that is arranged on a rearview mirror assembly within the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the output of the light source comprises changing the output of the light source that that comprises a multi-color LED, wherein the first color is a blue hue and wherein the second color is a green hue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving identification information of the user comprises receiving identification of the user through an RFID reader configured to download information from an employee badge issued to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving identification information of the user comprises accessing identification information from a rental account of the user in response to receiving an image a portion of the vehicle, the image captured by the user through a discreet mobile computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving identification information of the user comprises receiving the image that comprises an image of a quick-response barcode arranged on and unique to the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling access to the vehicle for the user comprises selectively unlocking a driver'"'"'s door of the vehicle for the user, the driver'"'"'s door adjacent the driver'"'"'s seat.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat comprises polling an output of a seat occupancy sensor arranged within the driver'"'"'s seat.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the user is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat comprises accessing GPS data of a mobile computing device carried by the user and correlating the position of the user with the driver'"'"'s seat based on a comparison of a GPS position of the mobile computing device and a GPS position of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling ignition of the vehicle comprises enabling the user to start the vehicle through a native application executing on a discreet mobile computing device carried.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling ignition of the vehicle comprises remotely activating an ignition system of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking a location of the vehicle while occupied by the user.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the visual indicator to specify unavailability of the vehicle in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle.

15. A method for controlling occupancy of a vehicle, comprising:

determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that a driver is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat within the vehicle;

updating a visual indicator according to passenger availability of the vehicle, the visual indicator arranged on the vehicle and visually detectable from outside the vehicle;

for a user proximal the vehicle, enabling access to a passenger seat within the vehicle in response to verification of the user as a passenger of the vehicle;

determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a passenger seat within the vehicle; and

enabling ignition of the vehicle in response to a number of occupants within the vehicle meeting a threshold minimum number of occupants.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving identification information of the user, accessing a rental account of the user based on the identification information, and verifying the user as a suitable passenger of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving identification information of the user comprises receiving an image of a credit card issued to the user, the image captured by an optical sensor arranged on the vehicle, wherein verifying the user as a suitable passenger comprises verifying a name and account specified on the credit card.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying the threshold minimum number of occupants.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving the signal comprises receiving the signal that specifies the minimum threshold number of occupants according to an estimated future mobility demand proximal the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein determining that the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat and determining that the user is seated in the passenger seat comprise identifying the driver and the passenger in an image of an interior space of vehicle, the image captured by an optical sensor arranged within the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein determining that the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat comprises polling a first seat occupancy sensor arranged in the driver'"'"'s seat, and wherein determining that the user is seated in the passenger seat comprises polling a second seat occupancy sensor arranged in the passenger seat.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein updating the visual indicator comprises changing a lighting color of the visual indicator from a first color signifying availability of a driving position within vehicle to a second color signifying availability of a passenger position within the vehicle, the visual indicator comprising a light source arranged within the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein updating the visual indicator comprises visually highlighting a portion of the passenger seat to indicate availability of the passenger seat.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein visually highlighting the portion of the passenger seat comprising illuminating the portion of the passenger seat with a first color when available and a second color when unavailable.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein enabling access to the passenger seat within the vehicle comprises selectively unlocking a door of the vehicle adjacent the passenger seat.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein enabling ignition of the vehicle comprises comparing a number of occupants of the vehicle to the minimum number of occupants and remotely starting the vehicle in response to the number of occupants that is greater than or equal to the minimum number of occupants.

27. An apparatus for renting a vehicle, comprising:

a visual indicator configured for arrangement on a vehicle to indicate availability of the vehicle for rent;

an output module electrically coupled to a door locking function and an ignition function of the vehicle;

an input module configured to receive a signal from a sensor arranged within the vehicle;

a wireless communication module configured to communicate with a remote vehicle fleet manager; and

a processor configured to receive a rental availability of the vehicle from the vehicle fleet manager via the wireless communication module, to control the visual indicator according to the rental availability of the vehicle, to control the door locking function via the output module to provide access to the vehicle for a user, to identify a seating position of the user within the vehicle according to a signal received from the sensor via the input module, and to control the ignition function of the vehicle via the output module based on the seating position of the user.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light source arranged on a rearview mirror assembly within the vehicle.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a housing configured to couple to an interior surface of a window of the vehicle, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light source arranged on the housing.