REMOTE VEHICLE RENTAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20140156110A1
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Id Systems Incorporated (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Id Systems Incorporated (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ehrman, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,129,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D

Abstract

A system for renting vehicles is disclosed. The system can comprise a vehicle access communicator (“VAC”) capable of interfacing with one or more functions of a rental vehicle and a user provided portable electronic device. The VAC can control various functions of the vehicle including, but not limited to, the door locks and/or enabling/disabling the vehicle. The VAC can also monitor various functions of the vehicle including, but not limited to, the fuel level and/or the odometer readings. The VAC can connect to the portable electronic device using a suitable connection method to access additional functionality such as, for example and not limitation, locations services, cellular, and/or internet access. The VAC and the portable electronic device can be used to provide a rental system with reduced infrastructure and operating costs. The system can enable the use of “Green Zones” to provide permanent or temporary vehicle rental areas.

Claims

1. A vehicle access communicator (“

VAC”

) comprising;

a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving wireless data and for communicating with a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device providing one or more of cellular, internet, and location services to the VAC;

a first vehicle connector for connecting to a diagnostic port on the vehicle; and

a processor for determining that the portable electronic device is associated with an authorized user and initiating an unlock command to the vehicle.

2. The VAC of claim 1, wherein the processor sends an enable command to the vehicle.

3. The VAC of claim 2, wherein the processor sends a command to the vehicle to energize the vehicle'"'"'s fuel pump relay.

4. The VAC of claim 2, wherein the processor sends a command to the vehicle to energize the vehicle'"'"'s ignition relay.

5. The VAC of claim 2, wherein the processor sends a command to the vehicle to energize the vehicle'"'"'s starter relay.

6. The VAC of claim 1, wherein

the processor determines that the portable electronic device is associated with an authorized user by connecting to a central control using a communication channel provided by the portable electronic device.

7. The VAC of claim 6, wherein the processor sends an enable command to the vehicle.

8. A system for renting vehicles comprising:

a central control for monitoring the location and status of a plurality of rental vehicles; and

a vehicle access communicator (“

VAC”

) for controlling access to a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring one or more vehicle parameters, and interfacing with a portable electronic device to provide the VAC with data services;

wherein the VAC provides access to the first vehicle upon receiving a correct password from a user via the portable electronic device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the VAC receives locations services from the portable electronic device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein VAC receives an internet connection from the portable electronic device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the VAC is in wireless communication with the portable electronic device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the VAC is connected to the portable electronic device using a Bluetooth®

connection.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication between the VAC and the portable electronic device has a range of less than 50 feet.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the VAC is in wired communication with the portable electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the VAC is connected to the portable electronic device using a USB connection.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the VAC is connected to a vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic port.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the VAC is connected to the vehicle'"'"'s OBD-II port.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the VAC monitors one or more of the vehicle'"'"'s odometer, fuel gauge, and ignition status.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the VAC further comprises one or more stand alone gauges for monitoring one or more vehicle parameters.

20. A system for renting vehicles comprising:

a central control for maintaining a database comprising the location and status of a plurality of rental vehicles; and

a vehicle access communicator (“

VAC”

) for controlling access to a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring one or more vehicle parameters, interfacing with a portable electronic device, and disabling the vehicle until receiving authorization, the VAC comprising;

a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving wireless data and for connecting to a portable electronic device to provide the VAC with one or more of cellular, internet and location services; and

a first vehicle connector for connecting to a diagnostic port on the vehicle.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the VAC receives authorization from the central control and sends an enable command to the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the VAC receives a correct password from a user via the portable electronic device and sends and enable command to the vehicle.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a second vehicle connector for directly connecting the VAC to one or more vehicle relays or fuses to control one or more vehicle systems.

24. The system of claim 23, the second vehicle connector connected to the vehicle'"'"'s fuel pump relay to control the vehicle'"'"'s fuel pump.

25. The system of claim 23, the second vehicle connector connected to the vehicle'"'"'s fuel starter relay to control the vehicle'"'"'s starter.

26. The system of claim 23, the second vehicle connector connected to the vehicle'"'"'s fuel ignition relay to control the vehicle'"'"'s ignition.

27. The system of claim 23, the second vehicle connector connected to the vehicle'"'"'s shifter lock-out solenoid to control the vehicle'"'"'s shifter.

28. The system of claim 23, the second vehicle connector connected to the vehicle'"'"'s steering lock solenoid to control the vehicle'"'"'s steering.

29. The system of claim 23, the second vehicle connector connected to the vehicle'"'"'s transmission solenoid to control the vehicle'"'"'s transmission.

30. The system of claim 23, the second vehicle connector connected to the vehicle'"'"'s parking brake solenoid to control the vehicle'"'"'s parking brake.

32. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a first smart key;

wherein the VAC sends a command to the vehicle to deauthorizing all smart keys for the vehicle to disable the vehicle; and

wherein the VAC sends a command to the vehicle to authorize the first smart key to enable the vehicle.

33. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a first dumb key;

wherein the VAC disables the vehicle by sending a command to the vehicle to require one or more smart keys for the vehicle; and

wherein the VAC enables the vehicle by sending a command to the vehicle to authorize the first dumb key for the vehicle.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein the VAC disables and enables the vehicle by providing a direct command to the vehicle via the diagnostic port.

35. The system of claim 20, wherein the VAC disables the vehicle by providing a pulsed disable command to the vehicle via the diagnostic port to disable the vehicle for a predetermined amount of time;

and

wherein the VAC enables the vehicle by stopping the pulsed disable command.

36. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a smart key located in the vehicle, but inaccessible to the user; and

a dumb key located in the vehicle and accessible to the user;

wherein the VAC disables the vehicle by disconnecting the smart key from the vehicle; and

wherein the VAC enables the vehicle by connecting the smart key to the vehicle.

37. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

one or more wireless relays for controlling one or more vehicle systems;

wherein the VAC disables the vehicle by de-energizing at least one of the one or more wireless relays; and

wherein the VAC enables the vehicle by energizing all of the wireless relays.