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Hire vehicle transportation system

  • US 5,726,885 A
  • Filed: 08/23/1995
  • Issued: 03/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A hire vehicle transportation system comprising:

  • a pool of vehicles which are available for hire;

    at least one collection and return point at which the vehicles are issued and taken back;

    an automatic collection and return device at each of said at least one collection and return point, for receiving and checking proof of user identity of a prospective user, issuing a driving authorization unit for a vehicle parked there in response to a positive authorization check, and receiving the driving authorization unit for vehicles returned there; and

    a disposition center which has a communication link with each automatic collection and return device, for transmitting at least issuing and return times;

    wherein said disposition center comprises a disposition computer which is programmed to test user authorization based on user identity data supplied to it by the automatic collection and return device, evaluate individual availability of vehicles at the at least one collection and return point taking into account vehicle-specified rental information supplied to it by the automatic collection and return device, and receive vehicle reservation requests;

    wherein, to make a reservation, the disposition computer assigns a selected vehicle, which is available at a desired starting collection and return point, specifically to an authorizing identity of a reserving user until the time when the journey is to begin; and

    wherein, after a successful user authorization check of an authorized user, the disposition computer outputs an instruction signal to a corresponding automatic collection and return device to issue a driving authorization unit for the vehicle reserved for the authorized user or, in the absence of a reservation, for a vehicle not yet reserved.

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