Methods and Systems for Keyless Vehicle Dispatch

• US 20140304173A1
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trapeze Software Group, Inc. (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Trapeze Software ULC (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ernsdorff, Paul Anthony
• Application Number:
  US14/247,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20140304173A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0057 for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs car rental G07B15/00

Abstract

A system for providing a driver, having a driver communication device, access to a vehicle using an electronic key, the system comprising a fleet control center, comprising an asset application and a database, configured to, allow creation of a reservation for the vehicle for the driver and store the reservation in the database, create a keyless asset tag to allow the driver to access the vehicle, communicate the keyless asset tag to the driver computing device, and a vehicle computing device, proximate to the vehicle, and configured to, obtain the keyless asset tag from the driver computing device, determine if the keyless asset tag is valid for the vehicle, and cause a vehicle door to be unlocked to provide the lessee access to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for providing a driver, having a driver communication device, access to a vehicle using an electronic key, the system comprising:

a fleet control center, comprising an asset application and a database, configured to;

allow creation of a reservation for the vehicle for the driver and store the reservation in the database;

create a keyless asset tag to allow the driver to access the vehicle;

communicate the keyless asset tag to the driver computing device; and

a vehicle computing device, proximate to the vehicle, and configured to;

obtain the keyless asset tag from the driver computing device;

determine if the keyless asset tag is valid for the vehicle; and

cause a vehicle door to be unlocked to provide the lessee access to the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle computing device is located inside the vehicle, the driver computing device is located outside the vehicle and obtaining the keyless asset tag is by the vehicle computing device scanning the keyless asset tag from a screen of the driver computing device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein determining if the keyless asset tag is valid comprises:

reading information from the keyless access tag; and

comparing the information to a database of information indicative of a valid keyless access tag.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein reading further comprises decrypting the information from the keyless access tag.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein determining if the keyless asset tag is valid comprises:

reading information from the keyless access tag; and

running an algorithm on the information.

6. A system for allowing a driver, having a driver communication device, to drive a vehicle using an electronic key, the system comprising:

a fleet control center, comprising an asset application and a database, configured to;

receive a current vehicle odometer value from the driver communication device;

determine if the current vehicle odometer value is valid; and

if valid;

create an ignition keyless tag to allow the driver to access the vehicle; and

communicate the ignition keyless tag to the driver computing device; and

a vehicle computing device, proximate to the vehicle, and configured to;

obtain the ignition keyless tag from the driver computing device;

determine if the ignition keyless tag is valid for the vehicle; and

cause the vehicle to be able to be started by the driver.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein determining if the ignition keyless tag is valid comprises:

reading information from the ignition keyless tag; and

comparing the information to a database of information indicative of a valid ignition keyless tag.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein reading further comprises decrypting the information from the ignition keyless tag.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein determining if the ignition keyless tag is valid comprises:

reading information from the ignition keyless tag; and

running an algorithm on the information.