Configurable rental vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method of wirelessly configuring a vehicle for enabling use by a user of a specified function for a specified time period, comprising:
- receiving a request at a control center from the user to configure the vehicle, the request specifying at least one function which the user wishes to have available, and generating a configuration message for wireless communication to the vehicle in response to the request, the configuration message specifying a time period for activation of the specified function; and
wirelessly receiving the configuration message at a control unit of the vehicle and activating the specified function of the vehicle for the specified time period in response to the configuration message.
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Abstract
A rental vehicle has features that can be activated or deactivated wirelessly. Additional features can be purchased and activated after a customer has paid for an initial set of features and started to use the vehicle. Configuration of the vehicle is automated by transmitting a configuration message to the vehicle.
37 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of wirelessly configuring a vehicle for enabling use by a user of a specified function for a specified time period, comprising:
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receiving a request at a control center from the user to configure the vehicle, the request specifying at least one function which the user wishes to have available, and generating a configuration message for wireless communication to the vehicle in response to the request, the configuration message specifying a time period for activation of the specified function; and wirelessly receiving the configuration message at a control unit of the vehicle and activating the specified function of the vehicle for the specified time period in response to the configuration message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for wirelessly configuring a vehicle to enable use by a user of a specified function for a specified time period, comprising:
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a mobile device of the user that is configured to transmit a request to configure the vehicle, the request specifying at least one function which the user wishes to have available; a control center that is configured to receive the request and to provide a configuration message for wireless communication to the vehicle in response to the request, the configuration message specifying a time period for activation of the specified function; and the vehicle, which is configured to wirelessly receive the configuration message and to activate the specified function of the vehicle for the specified time period in response to the configuration message.
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15. A vehicle comprising:
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functional units each arranged to be either in an activated state for providing at least one function, or in a deactivated state; and a control unit capable of being configured selectively to activate one or more of the functional units; and a wireless receiver;
whereinthe control unit is responsive to a configuration message received by the wireless receiver to activate a functional unit in order to provide the at least one function for a time period specified in the configuration message.
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16. A mobile device for configuring a rented vehicle to enable use by a user of a specified function for a specified time period, comprising:
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a receiver for a wireless communication network; and a transmitter for near-field communication (NFC); the mobile device configured to, in response to receiving a first message over the wireless communication network from a vehicle rental center, construct a second message specifying at least one function which the user wishes to have available and specifying a time period for activation of the specified function, and transmit the second message by NFC to a NFC receiver of the vehicle to configure the vehicle by activating the specified function for the specified time period.
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Specification