Vehicle rental transaction system and method
First Claim
1. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:
- a computer having memory and one or more processors; and
vehicle rental transaction software residing as instructions in the memory and executing on the one or more processors and configured for identifying a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle including instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer, the vehicle rental transaction software also configured to send customer preferences of the customer directly to the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for the customer based on the customer preferences, and the profile includes instructions for vehicle settings that include;
adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with customer preferences in the profile, adjusting climate control settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting GPS settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the profile, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer preferences and a location for the vehicle.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle rental transaction system and method which provide a vehicle lot owner with a choice of options for vehicle security and customer convenience. The vehicle rental transaction system includes a computer for identifying a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer. Example instructions include, but are not limited to, unlocking doors and a trunk of the vehicle, adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with customer preferences, adjusting climate control settings in accordance with the customer preferences, adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the customer preferences, and adjusting GPS settings in accordance with the customer preferences.
20 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:
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a computer having memory and one or more processors; and vehicle rental transaction software residing as instructions in the memory and executing on the one or more processors and configured for identifying a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle including instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer, the vehicle rental transaction software also configured to send customer preferences of the customer directly to the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for the customer based on the customer preferences, and the profile includes instructions for vehicle settings that include;
adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with customer preferences in the profile, adjusting climate control settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting GPS settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the profile, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer preferences and a location for the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:
a computer for displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during a rental transaction involving a vehicle, for obtaining preferences of the customer as a customer profile for using the vehicle, for obtaining payment from the customer, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions to unlock the vehicle and to prepare the vehicle for the customer based upon the customer profile, the instructions include vehicle settings for;
adjusting climate controls, adjusting GPS settings, and adjusting a radio station, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer profile and a location for the vehicle, and the customer profile updated for the customer based on other settings used in the vehicle by the customer during a rental of the vehicle, the other settings sent from a vehicle control system back to the computer.
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11. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:
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a first computer having memory and one or more processors configured with executable instructions within the memory that execute on the one or more processors for displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for obtaining payment from the customer; a second computer having memory and one or more processors configured with executable instructions within the memory that execute on the one or more processors for identifying the customer, for obtaining preferences of the customer, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for vehicle settings;
to adjust seats and mirrors in the vehicle and to prepare the vehicle for the customer based upon preferences defined in a profile for the customer, and the seats and mirrors are adjusted based on a weight and height defined for the customer in the profile, and the vehicle settings also directing the vehicle to adjust climate control settings, to adjust GPS settings, and to adjust a station, the vehicle settings sent directly to the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for the customer based on the preferences, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer preferences and a location for the vehicle.
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12. A vehicle rental transaction method comprising:
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identifying, at a processor, a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle; and sending, from the processor, a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer via a second processor in the vehicle, the instructions for vehicle settings that direct the second processor to prepare the vehicle by adjusting climate controls within the vehicle based on the second processor communicating with a global communications network to obtain a current temperature and humidity reading for a location of the vehicle, the vehicle settings also directing the second processor for performing the following actions;
adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with customer preferences in the profile, adjusting GPS settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the profile, and honking a horn or flashing lights of the vehicle so that the customer can locate the vehicle profile, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer preferences and a location for the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification