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Travel system and methods utilizing multi-application traveler cards

  • US 6,609,658 B1
  • Filed: 05/01/2000
  • Issued: 08/26/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for utilizing a portable passenger card for a plurality of travel services, the method comprising the steps of:

  • storing in said portable passenger card an use right qualifying a particular cardholder for a traveling service from among said plurality of travel services;

    subsequently coupling the passenger card to a travel service provider database;

    automatically uploading said use right by the card to the service provider database; and

    verifying by the database the uploaded right; and

    if the verification is successful, then providing said traveling service to said particular cardholder;

    and otherwise, denying delivery of said use right via the card;

    wherein said traveling service comprising the right to use the travel service comprising a rental car, the method comprising the steps of;

    storing in the card a car reservation data comprising a confirmation number guaranteeing the reservation of said rental car;

    subsequently coupling the card to a rental car database;

    automatically uploading by the card said confirmation number to the database, verifying by the database the uploaded number and if successful, then automatically compiling a rental car contract, the compiling step comprising;

    automatically inputting by the database into said rental car contract a set of database information; and

    automatically retrieving by the database a set of card data from the portable card and inputting by the database the retrieved data into said rental car contract; and

    storing the compiled contract into the card;

    wherein said use right further comprising a means for gaining access to said rental car;

    the step comprising;

    subsequently coupling the card to a control module monitoring access to the car;

    uploading by the card said means for gaining access to the module;

    verifying by the module the uploaded means for gaining access; and

    if successful, then allowing access to said rental car; and

    otherwise, denying access to the car;

    said step of verifying by the module the uploaded means for gaining access comprising;

    retrieving by said control module from the card a card data comprising said rental car contract; and

    comparing by the module said car license number and a date included in the uploaded card data; and

    if said car license number and said date match a particular license number and a particular date provided via said control module, then allowing access to said rental car.

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