Method for managing a transportation fleet
OwnerColin Paul Cahooninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable memory device used in substitution of an automobile key and interfaced with an automobile onboard computer and ignition system. The portable memory device contains data that, when read by the onboard computer, enables the ignition system. The portable memory device is read and write capable, thereby allowing for data to be used by the onboard computer in conjunction with several automobile systems, and allowing for data to be transferred from said systems to the portable memory device by the onboard computer, thus facilitating a method for managing a transportation fleet using portable memory devices in place of mechanical ignition keys and manual check-out and check-in procedures.
Claims20
A method for managing a transportation fleet, wherein said fleet comprises vehicles each having an ignition system that utilize a read and write capable portable memory device in lieu of an ignition key, said ignition system comprising:
- a portable memory device receiving port;
- and
- an onboard processing unit in electrical communication with said port and the ignition system;
- wherein said portable memory device is inserted into said port, thereby allowing data transfer from said processing unit for initiating the operation of the associated vehicle, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- (a) accumulating customized data relating to the use of a vehicle;
- (b) loading said customized data on a portable memory device;
- (c) using the portable memory device containing said customized data in conjunction with the operation of the vehicle.
A method for managing a transportation fleet having vehicles available for use, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) accumulating customized data relating to the use of a vehicle;
- (b) loading said customized data onto a portable memory device;
- (c) using the portable memory device containing said customized data in conjunction with the use of the vehicle;
- (d) loading use data associated with the use of the vehicle onto said portable memory device;
- and
- (e) downloading said use data from the portable memory device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.