Mobile Device-Enhanced Pickups for Rental Vehicle Transactions
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a mobile device, the mobile device configured to execute a mobile application, the mobile application configured to interact with the mobile device and a remote computer system to perform an automated pickup of a self-rent rental vehicle in response to user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
a mobile device, the mobile device configured to execute a mobile application, the mobile application configured to interact with the mobile device and a remote computer system to perform an automated pickup of a self-rent rental vehicle in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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instructing a mobile device to wirelessly communicate an image of a driver'"'"'s license for a customer to a remote computer system; receiving data from the remote computer system in response to the wirelessly communicated image; and responsive to the received data, instructing the mobile computing device to communicate an output signal for sensing by a sensor on a proximate self-rent rental vehicle, the output signal configured to permit the customer to access and pick up the proximate self-rent rental vehicle; and wherein the method steps are performed by a processor resident on the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A computer program product comprising:
a plurality of instructions executable by a processor of a mobile device and resident on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the instructions, upon execution by the mobile device'"'"'s processor, are configured to cause the mobile device to; wirelessly communicate an image of a driver'"'"'s license for a customer to a remote computer system; receive data from the remote computer system in response to the wirelessly communicated image; and responsive to the received data, communicate an output signal for sensing by a sensor on a proximate self-rent rental vehicle, the output signal configured to permit the customer to access and pick up the proximate self-rent rental vehicle.
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving data indicative of a user via a mobile device of the user while the mobile device is in proximity to a rental vehicle; based on the received data, accessing stored data about the user that is indicative of whether the user is deemed to have a valid driver'"'"'s license; retrieving a rental vehicle reservation record; determining whether the user is authorized to pick up the rental vehicle proximate to the mobile device based on the accessed data and the retrieved rental vehicle reservation record; and in response to the determining step resulting in a determination that the user is authorized to pick up the rental vehicle proximate to the mobile device, enabling the rental vehicle proximate to the mobile device for automated pickup by the user; and wherein the method steps are performed by a processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to (1) receive data indicative of a user via a mobile device of the user while the mobile device is in proximity to a rental vehicle, (2) based on the received data, access stored data about the user that is indicative of whether the user is deemed to have a valid driver'"'"'s license, (3) retrieve a rental vehicle reservation record, (4) determine whether the user is authorized to pick up the rental vehicle proximate to the mobile device based on the accessed data and the retrieved rental vehicle reservation record, and (5) in response a determination that the user is authorized to pick up the rental vehicle proximate to the mobile device, enable the rental vehicle proximate to the mobile device for automated pickup by the user.
Specification