Fully automated vehicle rental system

Abstract

An automated vehicle rental system with individual vehicle transmitting sensors for keeping track of vehicle mileage, fill state of vehicle fuel tank, and localized position status in a rental lot. Sensors are linked to the vehicle odometer reading and to the vehicle fuel tank float sensor with compensation for types of driving and fuel fill-ups which affect float level readings. The sensors are integrated with or are linked with communicating tags operable in a defined site for ultimate communication of stored vehicle related sensor data, vehicle location and type to a central data base for automatically completely effecting check out, charges and state of vehicle readiness for renewed rental. The transmitting sensors are adapted to avoid interference between sensors of other vehicles during multiple transmissions. Also included is an in-vehicle check out and payment device operatively linkable to the transmitting sensor of the vehicle.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . A method for managing a plurality of rental vehicles located within a rental vehicle lot having a plurality of stations including a parking station and a return station, comprising: 
 monitoring by each rental vehicle of vehicle movement into one of the plurality of stations;    remotely communicating vehicle information to a processing unit in response to initial entry into the station;    recording by the processing unit of vehicle presence in the station in response to the remote communication from the vehicle.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including: 
 acknowledging by the processing unit to the rental vehicle of receipt of the remote communication transmitted vehicle information; and    inhibiting by the rental vehicle of further transmission of the vehicle information following central rental node acknowledgment until such time as the rental vehicle moves into a different station.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the vehicle information includes monitored fuel state and distance traveled information for the rental vehicle, the method further comprising: 
 calculating charges for use of the rental vehicle based on the transmitted monitored fuel state and distance traveled information.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further including graphically presenting information concerning vehicle location within the rental vehicle lot based at least in part on the recorded vehicle presence within one of the plurality of stations.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further including graphically presenting, along with vehicle location, vehicle status information based at least in part on the remotely communicated vehicle information.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of stations includes an exit security station, and wherein remotely communicating includes transmitting rental transaction details including driver identification linked to an identification of a selected rental vehicle from the selected rental vehicle to the processing unit as the selected rental vehicle enters the exit security station, the method further including: 
 making the transmitted rental transaction details available to security personnel at the exit security station.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further including printing a copy of a rental agreement for the selected rental vehicle at the exit security station.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further including resetting a fuel and distance measurement device located within the selected rental vehicle.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further including monitoring fuel state and distance traveled using the fuel and distance measurement device.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further including transmitting the monitored fuel state and distance traveled information from the selected rental vehicle to a central rental node when the selected rental vehicle returns to the return station.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further including calculating charges for use of the selected rental vehicle based on the transmitted monitored fuel state and distance traveled information.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further including additionally transmitting the rental transaction details to the exit security station of the rental vehicle lot in a manner that does not pass through the selected rental vehicle and its memory.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the rental transaction details include credit card data for a renter of the vehicle.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the renter of the vehicle is the driver.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the rental transaction details include an identification of a type of rental agreement for the selected rental vehicle.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21  further including confirming responsive to selected rental vehicle approach to the exit security station that a rental record exists with respect to the selected rental vehicle.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 16  further including: 
 transmitting rental transaction details from a selected rental vehicle to a database when the selected rental vehicle returns to the return station.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further including calculating charges for use of the selected rental vehicle based on the transmitted rental transaction details.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the calculating includes not charging for fuel fill up if the current fuel level is inadequate but the vehicle distance traveled since a last fill up is less than a threshold.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the rental transaction details include driver identification linked to an identification of the selected rental vehicle.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the transmitting includes: 
 detecting by the selected rental vehicle itself of a return to the return station; and    responsive to such a detection, initiating a remote communication transmission of the rental information from the selected rental vehicle to a central rental node.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  further including: 
 acknowledging by the central rental node to the selected rental vehicle of receipt of the remote communication transmitted rental vehicle information; and    inhibiting by the selected rental vehicle of further transmission of the rental information following central rental node acknowledgment.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21  further including deleting the link between the driver identification and the selected rental vehicle in response to the selected rental vehicle return to the return station.  
     
     
         39 . A method for renting a rental vehicle, comprising: 
 storing rental information in a rental vehicle, the rental information including current vehicle fuel level and vehicle distance traveled while rented;    detecting by the rental vehicle itself of a return to a rental vehicle lot;    responsive to such a detection, initiating a remote communication transmission of the stored rental information from the rental vehicle to a central rental node;    acknowledging by the central rental node to the rental vehicle of receipt of the remote communication transmitted rental vehicle information;    inhibiting by the rental vehicle of further transmission of the stored rental information following central rental node acknowledgment; and    calculating by the central rental node based on the transmitted rental vehicle information of a charge incurred for use of the rental vehicle.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the stored rental information further includes rental transaction details including driver identification linked to the rental vehicle.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  further including deleting the link between driver identification and rental vehicle in response to rental vehicle return to the rental vehicle lot.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39  wherein calculating includes not charging for fuel fill up if the current fuel level is inadequate but the vehicle distance traveled since a last fill up is less than a threshold.