Automated vehicle return system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated vehicle return system, comprising:
- a vehicle including vehicle monitoring circuitry for monitoring parameters relating to the status of the vehicle;
a wireless transmitter which may be coupled to the vehicle, the transmitter operative to transmit data relating to the status of the vehicle; and
at least one base station positioned within a geographic region representing a vehicle return zone, the at least one base station including a receiver for receiving the data transmitted by the vehicle when the vehicle enters the vehicle return zone, the at least one base station transmitting a polling signal within the vehicle return zone to trigger the vehicle monitoring circuitry to transmit the vehicle status data;
wherein the at least one base station forwards the received data to a host computer which is operative to process the data.
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Abstract
An automated vehicle return system wherein status information of a rented vehicle is automatically tracked during the rental period and is transmitted to a selected destination computer upon driving the vehicle into a return area. Electronic vehicle monitoring circuitry is tied to existing components within the vehicle to keep track of the status of the vehicle during the rental period. The status information includes, miles driven, fuel level, pick up time, drop off time, wear and tear on the vehicle, etc. The status information is used by the destination computer to generate a bill for the rented vehicle.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An automated vehicle return system, comprising:
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a vehicle including vehicle monitoring circuitry for monitoring parameters relating to the status of the vehicle; a wireless transmitter which may be coupled to the vehicle, the transmitter operative to transmit data relating to the status of the vehicle; and at least one base station positioned within a geographic region representing a vehicle return zone, the at least one base station including a receiver for receiving the data transmitted by the vehicle when the vehicle enters the vehicle return zone, the at least one base station transmitting a polling signal within the vehicle return zone to trigger the vehicle monitoring circuitry to transmit the vehicle status data; wherein the at least one base station forwards the received data to a host computer which is operative to process the data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle monitoring circuit, comprising:
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a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; an RF circuit coupled to the processor, the RF circuit including a transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communication; wherein the vehicle monitoring circuit is coupled to vehicle components, the vehicle monitoring circuit operative to collect vehicle data via the vehicle components and wirelessly transmit the vehicle data to a destination device upon being polled by the destination device within a vehicle return zone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of returning a rented vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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driving the vehicle to a predetermined location; using vehicle monitoring circuitry engaged with the vehicle to assimilate data relating to the vehicle; using a base station to operatively poll the vehicle monitoring circuitry upon entry into a vehicle return zone; using the vehicle monitoring circuitry to wirelessly transmit the data relating to the vehicle to the base station; forwarding the vehicle data to a host computer; and processing the vehicle data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An automated vehicle return system, comprising:
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a vehicle including a system for monitoring operating parameters of the vehicle; a wireless transmitter which may be coupled to the vehicle, the transmitter operative to transmit data relating to the status of the vehicle; and at least one host computer positioned within a geographic region representing a vehicle return zone, the at least one host computer including a receiver for receiving the data transmitted by the vehicle when the vehicle enters the vehicle return zone; wherein the at least one host computer is operative to poll the monitoring system when the vehicle enters the vehicle return zone to prompt the monitoring system to transmit the vehicle status data, the host computer further operative to process the data. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An automated vehicle return system, comprising:
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a vehicle including vehicle monitoring circuitry for monitoring the status of the vehicle; a first transmitter coupled to the vehicle, the first transmitter operative to wirelessly transmit data relating to the status of the vehicle; and at least one base station positioned within a geographical region representing a vehicle return zone, the at least one base station operative to poll the vehicle to prompt the vehicle monitoring circuitry to transmit the data, and the at least one base station operative to receive the data transmitted by the first transmitter when the vehicle is within the vehicle return zone; wherein the at least one base station is coupled to a vehicle return processing device which is operative to process the data. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A vehicle return system, comprising:
a vehicle, comprising; means for monitoring the status of a vehicle; means for detecting when the vehicle has entered a vehicle return zone; means for analyzing data relating to the status of the vehicle; means for determining a fee to charge a user based on the status of the vehicle; and means for printing a bill for the fee. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. An automated vehicle return system, comprising:
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a vehicle including vehicle monitoring circuitry for monitoring the status of the vehicle; a base station for transmitting a prompting signal within a vehicle return zone; wherein the vehicle monitoring circuit receives the prompting signal upon entering the vehicle return zone and generates a vehicle rental charge based on the vehicle status. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification