Commercial vehicle operation using dynamic rebranding

• US 20050209744A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ihbe, Thomas S., Daniels, Michael P., Hebert, Larry S., Fronek, Daniel R., Dietz, Timothy M., Weigel, Mark D.
• Application Number:
  US11/082,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

The disclosure describes a system and method for commercial vehicle operation using reconfigurable brand image technology to support dynamic rebranding. A vehicle may initially carry a first brand image, such as a company name, logo, or the like, associated with a first operator. The brand image is then reconfigured so that the vehicle carries a second brand image, associated with a second operator. Rebranding supports shared use of a vehicle by multiple operators, while permitting individual operators to preserve their brands. A networked system enables rebranding clients to access databases storing scheduling, branding, and accounting information. Rebranding clients access a scheduling database to determine when a particular vehicle is scheduled for operation, and whether an operator or service change will take place. The branding database permits the rebranding client to access archived brand image content. An accounting database tracks costs associated with brand image reconfiguration.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a first brand image for a vehicle;

operating the vehicle with the first brand image for a first operating segment;

establishing a second brand image for the vehicle within 48 hours of completion of the first operating segment, wherein the second brand image is different from the first brand image;

operating the vehicle with the second brand image for a second operating segment;

establishing a third brand image for the vehicle within 48 hours of completion of the second operating segment, wherein the third brand image is different from the second brand image; and

operating the vehicle with the third brand image for a third operating segment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third brand image is substantially identical to the first brand image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third brand image is different from the first brand image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a commercial aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft support vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the brand images includes an operator name and logo.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the brand images includes an airline name and logo.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second brand images represent different operators.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the brand images includes a promotional image.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a scheduling database to identify operators associated with the first, second and third operation segments; and

selecting the first, second and third brand images based on the identified operators.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling a brand output device to produce brand image media corresponding to the selected brand images.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing a content database to retrieve brand image content for the selected brand images; and

controlling a brand output device, using the retrieved brand image content, to produce brand image media corresponding to the selected brand images.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing a brand inventory database to determine whether brand image media corresponding to the selected brand images are available; and

when brand image media corresponding to one of the selected brand images is not available, controlling a brand output device to produce brand image media corresponding to the selected brand image.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending transaction information to an accounting database, wherein the transaction information associates production of the brand image media with one of a plurality of different operators.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the second brand image within 24 hours of completion of the first operation segment, and establishing a third brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the third brand image within 24 hours of completion of the second operation segment.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the second brand image within 12 hours of completion of the first operation segment, and establishing a third brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the third brand image within 12 hours of completion of the second operation segment.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the second brand image within 6 hours of completion of the first operation segment, and establishing a third brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the third brand image within 6 hours of completion of the second operation segment.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the second brand image within 3 hours of completion of the first operation segment, and establishing a third brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the third brand image within 3 hours of completion of the second operation segment.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the second brand image within 1 hour of completion of the first operation segment, and establishing a third brand image for the vehicle includes establishing the third brand image within 1 hour of completion of the second operation segment.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second brand image includes producing a graphic medium bearing the second brand image, removing from the vehicle a graphic medium bearing the first brand image, and applying to the vehicle the graphic medium bearing the second brand image.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein applying the graphic medium includes adhesively attaching the graphic medium to the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the graphic medium bearing the second brand image includes a substrate, an adhesive backing, and printed imagery.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein applying the graphic medium includes one of projecting the image, attaching the graphic medium to the vehicle using mechanical fasteners, applying the graphic medium to the vehicle using surface coatings, attaching the graphic medium to the vehicle using magnetism, attaching the graphic medium to the vehicle using static electricity, attaching the graphic medium to the vehicle using surface printing technologies, and presenting the graphic medium on the vehicle using display technology.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the operation segments is a trip to be taken by the vehicle.

26. A system comprising:

a scheduling database storing information relating to operators associated with different operation segments of a vehicle;

a content database storing brand image content associated with the operators;

a brand output device that produces brand image media using the brand image content; and

a rebranding client that accesses the scheduling database to identify one of the operators associated with one of the operation segments, accesses the content database to retrieve brand image content associated with the identified operator, and controls the brand output device to generate brand image media bearing the retrieved brand image content for the identified operator.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a brand inventory database to determine whether brand image media bearing brand image content associated with the identified operator is available,

wherein the rebranding client controls the brand output device to generate brand image media bearing the brand image content associated with the identified operator when the brand inventory database indicates that brand image media bearing brand image content associated with the identified operator is not available.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the scheduling database stores information relating to operators associated with first, second and third operation segments of the vehicle, wherein the second operation segment begins less than 48 hours after completion of the first operation segment, and the third operation segment begins less than 48 hours after completion of the second operation segment.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the scheduling database stores information relating to operators associated with first, second and third operation segments of the vehicle, wherein the second operation segment begins less than 24 hours after completion of the first operation segment, and the third operation segment begins less than 24 hours after completion of the second operation segment.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the scheduling database stores information relating to operators associated with first, second and third operation segments of the vehicle, wherein the second operation segment begins less than 6 hours after completion of the first operation segment, and the third operation segment begins less than 6 hours after completion of the second operation segment.

31. The system of claim 26, further comprising an accounting database storing transaction information that associates production of the brand image media with one of a plurality of different operators.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the vehicle is a commercial aircraft.

34. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a processor to access a scheduling database to identify one of a plurality of operators associated with one of a plurality of operation segments of a vehicle, access a content database to retrieve brand image content associated with the identified operator, and control a brand output device to generate brand image media bearing the retrieved brand image content for the identified operator.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to determine, by access to a brand inventory database, whether brand image media bearing brand image content associated with the identified operator is available, and control the brand output device to generate brand image media bearing the brand image content associated with the identified operator when the brand inventory database indicates that brand image media bearing brand image content associated with the identified operator is not available.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to identify operators associated with first, second and third operation segments of the vehicle, access the content database to retrieve brand image content associated with the identified operators, and control the brand output device to generate brand image media bearing the retrieved brand image content for the identified operators, wherein the second operation segment begins less than 48 hours after completion of the first operation segment, and the third operation segment begins less than 48 hours after completion of the second operation segment.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the second operation segment begins less than 24 hours after completion of the first operation segment, and the third operation segment begins less than 24 hours after completion of the second operation segment.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the second operation segment begins less than 6 hours after completion of the first operation segment, and the third operation segment begins less than 6 hours after completion of the second operation segment.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to send transaction information to an accounting database, wherein the transaction information associates production of the brand image media with one of a plurality of different operators.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the vehicle is a commercial aircraft.