HARDWARE AND CONTROLS FOR PERSONAL VEHICLE RENTAL

• US 20140129113A1
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Kleve, Robert Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 10,831,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 28/00 Programme-control of engines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

In a first illustrative embodiment, a processor operably programmed and configured to receive input defining one or more vehicle parameters to monitor and control during a vehicle rental. The processor may monitor and control the vehicle parameters during a vehicle rental period starting when an authorized user keylessly activates a vehicle during a defined start time. The processor may control driver behavior by limiting vehicle performance based on a predefined threshold of one or more vehicle parameters. The monitoring and control may continue until the rental period has expired or when the vehicle is returned to a predetermined geographic area designated by the vehicle owner. The processor may initiate wireless communication of the vehicle parameters to a vehicle rental administrative system through a cellular telephone located in proximity to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive input defining one or more vehicle parameters to monitor;

monitor the vehicle parameters during a vehicle rental period, wherein the rental period begins when an authorized user keylessly activates a vehicle during a defined start time and ends when the vehicle is powered down following either a predetermined end time or when the vehicle is returned to a predetermined geographic area; and

initiate communication of the vehicle parameters to a vehicle rental administrative system through a cellular telephone, located in proximity to the vehicle and in wireless communication with the processor.

2. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising a vehicle rental administrative system wherein the vehicle rental administrative system is configured to allow a selection of vehicle parameters to be monitored by the processor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the selection of vehicle parameters is done by a vehicle owner'"'"'s nomadic device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle parameters include global position coordinates.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the global position coordinates identifies where the vehicle is located at a given time during the rental period.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined geographic area is a parking location defined by a vehicle owner.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone is integrated with the processor.

8. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive an input defining one or more vehicle parameters to monitor;

monitor the vehicle parameters during a vehicle rental period; and

limit vehicle performance if a parameter exceeds a predefined threshold during the vehicle rental period, the threshold having been dynamically set for the rental period following an agreement between a vehicle owner and a renter not to exceed the threshold.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle parameter is cargo load weight.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the predefined threshold includes cargo load weight restrictions.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the cargo load weight restriction is a set numerical value.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the limit vehicle performance is a reduce engine power.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the reduce engine power is a limit on vehicle speed.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

configuring at least one processor;

receiving an input defining one or more vehicle parameters in the processor to monitor;

monitoring the vehicle parameters during a vehicle rental period, wherein the rental period begins when an authorized user keylessly activates a vehicle during a defined start time and ends when a vehicle is powered down following either a predetermined end time or when a vehicle is returned to a predetermined geographic area; and

initiating communication of the vehicle parameters to a vehicle rental administrative system through a cellular telephone, located in proximity to the vehicle and in wireless communication with the processor.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising a vehicle rental administrative system communicating the monitor vehicle parameters to a vehicle owner nomadic device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein communication to the vehicle owner is done by a server.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the vehicle owner nomadic device is a smart phone.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the input defining one or more vehicle parameters is defined by a vehicle owner.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein monitoring the vehicle parameters corresponds to at least one detected driver behavior event.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the driver behavior event includes excessive vehicle speeds.