US 9,499,128 B2 · Mobile device-enhanced user selection of specific rental vehicles for a rental vehicle reservation

Abstract

A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.

A method of linking wireless mobile computing devices with control hardware in rental vehicles to provide users of the wireless mobile computing devices with automated access to selected rental vehicles for pickup, the method comprising:

storing a rental vehicle reservation in a database in association with a customer;
storing data about a plurality of rental vehicles in a database, wherein each of a plurality of rental vehicles includes control hardware configured to automate a rental vehicle pickup process, the control hardware comprising (1) a processor, (2) a memory, (3) a wireless I/O component, (4) a sensor, and (5) a vehicle interface;
a server communicating with a wireless mobile computing device used by the customer prior to an initial pickup by the customer of a rental vehicle in accordance with the rental vehicle reservation, wherein the server communicating step comprises:
the server processing the stored rental vehicle data to identify a plurality of specific rental vehicles that are available for pickup based on the stored rental vehicle reservation for the customer;
the server communicating a list of a plurality of the identified specific rental vehicles to the customer's wireless mobile computing device for presentation thereon;
and
the server receiving a selection of a specific rental vehicle from the list from the customer's wireless mobile computing device in response to customer input via the wireless mobile computing device;
the server determining from the database of stored rental vehicle data whether the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection is still available for initial pickup by the customer;
in response to a determination that the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection is still available for initial pickup by the customer, the server (1) placing a time-limited hold on the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection, and (2) communicating a signal to the control hardware in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection, the signal including authorization information for the customer to pickup that rental vehicle;
the wireless I/O component of the control hardware in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection receiving the communicated signal from the server;
the processor of the control hardware in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection interacting with the wireless I/O component and storing the authorization information in the received signal in the memory of the control hardware in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection;
enforcing the time-limited hold by (1) if a time limit corresponding to the time-limited hold has expired before the customer has picked up the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection, releasing the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection from the time-limited hold, and (2) if a time limit corresponding to the time-limited hold has not yet expired, retaining the time-limited hold with respect to the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection;
the sensor of the control hardware in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection sensing data corresponding to the customer's wireless mobile computing device when the customer's wireless mobile computing device is in proximity to the sensor;
the processor of the control hardware in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection (1) reading the sensed data from the sensor, (2) checking for stored authorization information, (3) determining whether the customer is authorized to pickup the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection based on the sensed data and the stored authorization information, and (4) in response to a determination that the customer is authorized to pickup the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection, sending an access command instruction to the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection via the vehicle interface of the control hardware in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection;
and
actuating at least one member of the group consisting of (1) a door locking/unlocking vehicle subsystem, (2) a vehicle immobilizer subsystem, and (3) a vehicle ignition subsystem in the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection in response to the access command instruction so as to provide the customer with pickup access to the specific rental vehicle corresponding to the received selection during the time-limited hold.

13 more elements

Mobile device-enhanced user selection of specific rental vehicles for a rental vehicle reservation

Life of this patent

Mobile device-enhanced user selection of specific rental vehicles for a rental vehicle reservation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims47