Method for displaying dynamically determined priority lanes to customers returning vehicles to a vehicle rental company

• US 7,737,865 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence H. Avidan
• Original Assignee: Lawrence H. Avidan
• Inventors: Avidan, Lawrence H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US11/829,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,053 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/572.1, 340/539.13, 705/13, 705/22, 705/28, 705/1, 705/417, 235384-385
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A method for displaying dynamically determined priority lanes for customers returning vehicles to a vehicle rental company. The method includes identifying a vehicle being returned by a customer to a vehicle rental company by an identification device and dynamically determining directions for the customer based on at least one of vehicle and customer specific parameters. The dynamically determined priority lanes are displayed to the customer in real time using a sign board, a display panel, etc.

Claims

1. A method for displaying dynamically determined priority return lanes to customers returning vehicles to a vehicle rental company, the method comprising:

identifying a vehicle being returned by a customer to a vehicle rental company by an identification device wherein, said identification device includes a bar code scanner or a license plate scanner;

determining priority return lanes dynamically for the customer based on demand for the vehicle, the price of the vehicle, and the make and model of the vehicle; and

displaying the dynamically determined priority lanes to the customer in real time.

2. System for displaying dynamically determined priority lanes for customers returning vehicles to a vehicle rental company, the system comprising:

a database system for storing vehicle and customer specific parameters for vehicles and customers of a vehicle rental company;

an identification device for identifying a vehicle being returned by a customer of the vehicle rental company;

a module for determining the priority status of each returning vehicle and determining a priority return lane based on the demand for the vehicle, the price of the vehicle, and the make and model of the vehicle; and

means for displaying the dynamically determined priority return lanes to the customer in real time wherein the means includes a display panel.