WO2011147413A1 - Système de location de véhicule automatique - Google Patents

Système de location de véhicule automatique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011147413A1
WO2011147413A1 PCT/DK2010/000071 DK2010000071W WO2011147413A1 WO 2011147413 A1 WO2011147413 A1 WO 2011147413A1 DK 2010000071 W DK2010000071 W DK 2010000071W WO 2011147413 A1 WO2011147413 A1 WO 2011147413A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vehicle
identification
vid
avrs
order
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK2010/000071
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2011147413A9 (fr
Inventor
Lars Birkkjaer Nielsen
Jesper Lyhne Jensen
Original Assignee
Your Global Solution Aps
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Your Global Solution Aps filed Critical Your Global Solution Aps
Priority to PCT/DK2010/000071 priority Critical patent/WO2011147413A1/fr
Publication of WO2011147413A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011147413A1/fr
Publication of WO2011147413A9 publication Critical patent/WO2011147413A9/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
    • G07F7/10—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means together with a coded signal, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/10—Services
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0042—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for hiring of objects
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C5/00—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
    • G07C5/008—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles communicating information to a remotely located station

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an automatic vehicle rental system, a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system and a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system during maintenance of the vehicles.
  • Rental of vehicles is an advantageous way of travelling from a first destination to a destination mat is not directly accessible by conventional public transportation such as bus or train.
  • vehicle rental has the benefit of being a very dynamic transportation method since the departure and arrival time is determined by the vehicle renter and is not scheduled by a time table as it is in pubic transportation.
  • a fleet of vehicles is necessary and thus a system for keeping track of the vehicles in the fleet is advantageous.
  • US 2002/0186144 describes a car rental system facilitating monitoring and control of cars in the car rental system.
  • the car rental system comprises a central reservation, management and location system, and each car comprises an onboard unit which communicates with the management system, with a GPS and the like.
  • the system monitors the rental fleet and automatically communicates with users in order to modify the demand for vehicles when facing a vehicle imbalance in the network.
  • the above described system however suffers for several drawbacks, e.g. in that it is a cost expensive system and it is a system that does not facilitate easy integration with existing vehicles.
  • the invention relates to an automatic vehicle rental system comprising: - a central database for monitoring and processing data representing a fleet of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles,
  • each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification
  • each management arrangement being located at a vehicle rental location and comprising a storage for storing vehicle identification
  • vehicle-order arrangement facilitating establishment of an order, said establishment of an order comprising:
  • the automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of said registered information so as to identify said order and a vehicle identification of a vehicle complying with the order
  • said management arrangements facilitates automatic hand out of a vehicle identification corresponding to the vehicle identification of a vehicle complying with said order
  • the renter registers and returns said vehicle identification at a management arrangement at a return vehicle rental location when returning the rented vehicle
  • said automatic vehicle rental system registers the returning of the vehicle identification and associates the returning of the vehicle identification to the order
  • said management arrangement facilitates automatic returning of said returned vehicle identification to a storage at said return vehicle rental location.
  • the above system facilitates advantageous fleet management of the fleet of vehicles due to that the management of vehicles is based on registration of vehicle identifications at the different management arrangements upon collection and return of the vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system facilitates easy and cost effective implementation with existing vehicles in that the registration of vehicles and their location can be performed based on registration of the unique vehicle identification alone. Thereby, no modifications of the vehicles are necessary. It is furthermore easy to add and remove vehicles to and from the fleet of vehicles.
  • data network should be understood as any suitable data communication network enabling appropriate communication between vehicle order arrangements, management arrangements and the central database.
  • a data network may for example comprise one or more data networks such as by optical fibre, Ethernet, LAN, Power line communication, Wireless LAN, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), 3G, a cell phone network andor any other suitable data network facilitating data communication. Likewise combinations of networks may be utilized.
  • each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification should be understood as that each vehicle access unit is physically associated to a vehicle identification.
  • the vehicle can be associated to a unique ID provided by the vehicle identification, so that by registering the unique ID of the vehicle identification, the vehicle associated to the vehicle identification can be identified.
  • the term "renter” should be understood as a person establishing an order and/or collecting and returning a vehicle. It is understood that a first renter may establish an order and another renter may collect and return the vehicle. In such cases, the renter establishing the order can preferably access identification information of the renter collecting the vehicle. Likewise, it may also be the same renter that establishes the order and collects/returns a vehicle.
  • Vehicle order arrangement is to be understood any arrangement facilitating establishment of an order to reserve a vehicle at a vehicle rental location.
  • the vehicle order arrangement may be a computer such as a personal computer (PC), a laptop, a cell phone, a tablet computer, a dedicated arrangement designed to specifically facilitate order establishment, order changing and/or order cancelling.
  • a management arrangement may in an aspect of the invention comprise a vehicle order arrangement to enable order establishment, changing and/or cancelling at a vehicle rental location.
  • the vehicle order arrangement preferably comprises an input arrangement such as a keyboard and or a mouse, a screen with an appropriate user interface, a connection to the data network.
  • a renter has established an order from a PC by utilizing a user interface at an internet browser. Thereafter, the renter meets at the collection vehicle rental location, i.e. the vehicle rental location selected during establishment of the order. The renter then registers renter identification, order information and the like to enable that the system can automatically identify the previously established order.
  • a renter meets at a vehicle rental location and establishes an order directly at the vehicle rental location, for example at a management arrangement or at another arrangement facilitating establishment of an order at the vehicle rental location.
  • the renter may then register the necessary renter information, payment information, order information and the like to establish an order.
  • the renter preferably selects a vehicle among vehicles for rent at the vehicle rental location at establishment of the order.
  • the system may automatically register the order when established and automatically hand out a vehicle identification complying with the order without the necessity of the renter inputting a renter identification and order identification after establishment of the order.
  • vehicle identification may in this example be handed out at or immediately after the order establishment.
  • the phrase "said renter registers information enabling automatic identification of said order” is to be understood as that the renter may register renter identification, order information and/or any other information enabling identification of an order.
  • the term "automatic vehicle rental system” is to be understood a system that facilitates automatic rental of vehicles without interference or need of personnel assists, or with reduced need of personnel assists.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system facilitates management of a fleet of vehicles with reduced necessity of personnel actions to hand out and receive vehicle identifications and associated vehicle access units upon hand out and return of such to/by a renter.
  • the system preferably also facilitates monitoring and control of the fleet of vehicles so as to e.g. facilitate that established orders are complied with, so as to facilitate optimization of fleet utilization and the like.
  • the system automatic reluming of vehicle identification to a storage of a management arrangement without need of personnel to handle this.
  • the management arrangement is thus adapted to e.g. facilitate automatic registration of vehicle identification and placing it at a storage for later handout after return.
  • a management arrangement facilitates automatic hand out of vehicle identification to a renter when a number of criteria is/are complied with as described later on.
  • the management arrangement preferably comprises an arrangement to detect a renter's identity, to communicate with the central database and the like. It is understood that a management arrangement may comprise a plurality of arrangements, for example a first part of a management arrangement facilitates receiving of vehicle identification and another management arrangement may facilitate handout of vehicle identification.
  • the said storage for storing vehicle identification is configured for physically storing vehicle identifications and thus the associated vehicle access units.
  • the term "fixed management arrangement" should be understood as a management arrangement arranged together with a vehicle rental location.
  • the system comprises vehicle rental locations each being fixed to a specific geographical area together with one or more management arrangements.
  • a vehicle rental location may also be established dynamically which facilitates a dynamic automatic vehicle rental system in that vehicle rental locations may easily be established dynamically at different geographical locations.
  • the system facilitates easy establishing of a vehicle rental location near or at that geographical area of the event, in that a management arrangement may be arranged at that location and be connected to the central database.
  • the geographical location of the management arrangement is preferably registered in the system, and enables hand out and return of vehicles at the new (e.g. temporary) vehicle rental location.
  • the automatic hand out of a vehicle identification is understood as that the management arrangement can automatically make a vehicle identification (and naturally the associated vehicle access unit) accessible to the renter.
  • the management arrangement comprises one or more transportation arrangements for automatically transporting received vehicle identification to a storage of a management arrangement and/or for automatically transporting vehicle identification to be handed out from a storage of a management arrangement.
  • the storage may comprise a door that may be opened by the automatic vehicle rental system so as to facilitate hand out and/or return of vehicle identifications.
  • the door to a storage comprising the vehicle identification complying with the order may be opened automatically, e.g. by an electronically controllable lock, thereby enabling hand out of the vehicle identification.
  • a vehicle identification may be associated to a plurality of orders over time and vice versa, and that a vehicle identification is preferably only finally associated to an order upon collection of the vehicle identification.
  • the system may dynamically associate vehicle identifications to an order until the renter collects a vehicle complying with the established order. The association of returning of the vehicle identification to the order facilitates that the system thereby is enabled to finalize the order. E.g. to determine the cost for the rental.
  • the monitoring and/or control of the fleet of vehicles is at least partly based on processing of data regarding registration of automatic hand out and return of vehicle identification registered by management arrangements of the automatic vehicle rental system.
  • the said vehicle access units are the original vehicle key or corresponds to the original vehicle key of each their vehicle of the fleet of vehicles.
  • An example of a vehicle key may be a car key of a car or a key for a motor cycle. This is advantageous in that vehicle keys are small objects that can easily be stored away from the vehicle. By attaching the vehicle identification to a vehicle key, no modification of the vehicle itself is needed. Furthermore, by automatically storing the vehicle keys at storages away from the vehicles, prevention of stealing of the vehicles is enhanced.
  • said vehicle identification comprises a radio frequency identification tag.
  • a radio frequency identification tag also known as a RFID tag, is an advantageous way of facilitating identification of a vehicle.
  • Each RFID tag comprises a unique ID, and this unique ID is associated to the vehicle to which the vehicle access unit belongs. Thus, by registering the unique ID of the RFID tag, the associated vehicle can be determined.
  • the said vehicle identification facilitates communication with an access arrangement to give access to the location of the rented vehicle.
  • information regarding returning of a vehicle is processed so as to determine the duration of the vehicle rental and thereby facilitating a finalization of said order.
  • the duration of the vehicle rental may be determined based on collection time and return time selected by the renter during establishment of the order.
  • said establishment of an order may further comprise defining return specific data regarding the return of said vehicle.
  • the return specific data comprises selecting a vehicle rental location among a plurality of said vehicle rental locations where the selected vehicle is to be returned after rental of said vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system can identify where the vehicle is expected to be located after the order is conducted, thereby enhancing fleet management and/or monitoring of the fleet.
  • said return specific data may comprise defining a time for returning the vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system can identify when the vehicle is expected to be located after the order is conducted, thereby further enhancing fleet management and or monitoring of the fleet.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates establishment of a forecast list of vehicles expected to be free for rental at a vehicle rental location, said forecast list being detennined at least partly based on said return specific data.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system can identify vehicles that are expected to be located at specific vehicle rental locations after being collected and returned. This may enhance fleet management and/or monitoring of the fleet.
  • the said information enabling identification of said order may comprise a code key generated by the automatic vehicle rental system and associated with said order, said code key being communicated to the renter when said order is established, and wherein said processing of said registered information so as to identify said order comprises processing of said code key.
  • the code key may be a code that the user has to input manually at the management arrangement by means of a keyboard, it may be an electronically stored code key that may be transmitted to the management arrangement wirelessly over a wireless network or the like.
  • the key code may be processed automatically without the user registering the key code.
  • generation and processing of a code key may be avoided if the user reserves a vehicle for immediate use.
  • the code key may also be associated with user data such as e.g. drivers license data, civil registration system data, name data, a user selected password generated during reservation of a vehicle and/or any other suitable data that facilitates identification of the user to enhance security. The user thereby has to register both the code key and the user data which is processed by the system so as to verify/authenticate user and rental of the reserved vehicle.
  • the code key may in an aspect of the invention also be required b the access arrangement to give access to the location of the rented vehicle VE.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of said order so as to match said order with one or more vehicles of said fleet of vehicles after the order is established, and associating a vehicle identification matching said order with the order.
  • the vehicle attached to a first order may be a vehicle with vehicle specific parameters matching another order with a collection vehicle rental location being the return rental location of the first order.
  • both orders are advantageously complied with and the "waiting period" i.e. the period between rentals of a vehicle may be reduced.
  • the said vehicle rental system may facilitate said processing of said order more than one time from the order is established to a vehicle identification matching the order is handed out at a management arrangement.
  • a vehicle identification originally associated to a first order may be automatically amended to be associated to another order so as to comply with vehicle needs at the return vehicle rental location of the other order. This may be accepted if another vehicle matching the first order is or will be present at the collection time of the first order.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of said order together with other established orders to facilitate that a vehicle matching vehicle specific parameter(s) of said order is reserved at said selected vehicle rental locations to be collected at the selected time of collection.
  • an order comprises information (vehicle specific data) regarding the needed vehicle size (e.g. for five persons), and a maximum cost for the rental.
  • the system may then correlate this information in the established order with vehicles for rental at the selected vehicle rental location for collection, and/or vehicle information of vehicles that according to other orders should be for rent at the selected vehicle rental location for collection at the time of collection.
  • the system may thereby reserve an appropriate vehicle for the order among vehicles found to comply with the order.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of a plurality of established orders to continuously correlate said orders.
  • vehicle identification may be associated with different orders over time.
  • a first order comprises some criteria to a vehicle, a selected collection vehicle rental location and a selected return vehicle rental location. Based on this information, a vehicle identification of a first vehicle complying with the first order is associated to the order. Afterwards one or more other orders, referred to as order two and order three in the following, may be established The vehicle criteria of these orders may both comply with the vehicle criteria of the first vehicle. Furthermore, the selected return vehicle rental location of the second order fits in with the selected collection rental location of the third order, and the collection vehicle rental location of the second order is the same as that of the first order, and/or the same as the present location of the first vehicle.
  • the system may associate the first vehicle to the second and third order, and associate another vehicle matching the criteria of the first order, with the first order.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of data so as to predict needs of vehicles with specific vehicle specific parameters at a vehicle rental location, and automatically associate one or more vehicles comprising matching vehicle specific parameters to an order with the said vehicle rental location as return vehicle rental location.
  • the system comes to the conclusion that vehicles with space for four or more persons is needed at a first vehicle rental location, in that a first order with the first vehicle rental location as collection vehicle rental location and with such a space criteria is established or is to be established.
  • the system may also determine that no vehicle matching such criteria is expected to be available for rent at the selected time of collection. Therefore, the system may process other orders and may thus identify a second order with the first vehicle rental location as a selected return vehicle rental location and that a vehicle identification of a vehicle matching the first order and being located at the collection vehicle rental location of the second order can be associated to the second order and still comply with other criteria (e.g. selected vehicle specific parameters) of the second order.
  • other criteria e.g. selected vehicle specific parameters
  • the automatic vehicle rental system may process the present location of the vehicles in the fleet, and associate these to established orders dynamically, thereby balancing the fleet so that an appropriate number of vehicles comprising different vehicle specific parameters are located at each vehicle rental location.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system may facilitate retrieving unique renter identification of said renter upon collection of a vehicle and correlation of said unique renter identification with drivers licence information of said renter so as to validate the renter's identity.
  • An example of unique renter identification may be that the renter registers his finger print(s), scans an eye, face detection or the like at a management arrangement at a vehicle rental location. Due to the correlation of this data with drivers license data and preferably also one or more databases enabling determination of the renter's identity based on the unique renter identification, it can be determined that the person trying to collect a vehicle identification is in fact the owner of the drivers licence and/or that the person that is intended to collect a vehicle identification corresponds to the information given during the establishment of the order.
  • said management arrangement may comprise an identification detection arrangement facilitating detection of renter identification.
  • Such an identification detection arrangement may e.g. comprise a scanning arrangement facilitating scanning of e.g. driver license and/or other personal information such as e.g. information on credit cards, medical cards, pass port or the like, and processing of the scanned data to identify the renter.
  • the identification detection arrangement may comprise a biometric detection arrangement facilitating biometric recognition of a renter. This preferably comprises detection of physiological parameters related to the renters body. For example by face recognition, eye scanning (e.g. an iris or retina scanner), fingerprint scanner, hand and palm geometry or the like or any combination thereof. Any method of handling the retrieved data to identify the renters identity by means of the data retrieved by the biometrics and/or scanning arrangement may be utilized.
  • a scanning arrangement facilitating scanning of e.g. driver license and/or other personal information such as e.g. information on credit cards, medical cards, pass port or the like
  • processing of the scanned data to identify the renter e.g. information on credit cards, medical cards, pass port or the like
  • biometric data may also be compared/correlated with retrieved driver license information (and/or other data e.g. as described above), to assure that the renter scanning the driver license is in fact the owner of the scanned driver license.
  • the identification detection arrangement facilitates enhanced security during hand out of a vehicle identification.
  • the scanning arrangement facilitates a fast and cost efficient way of identifying a renter.
  • the biometric detection arrangement facilitates a very reliable and secure way of detecting a renter in that data retrieved by biometric detection arrangement is unique to the renter's body, thus facilitating enhanced prevention of fraud.
  • said management arrangement comprises a vehicle identification reader arrangement facilitating automatic detection of vehicle identification.
  • the vehicle identification reader arrangement may comprise any appropriate means to detect vehicle identification. If a vehicle identification comprises a barcode or similar, the vehicle identification reader arrangement may comprise a barcode reader. If the vehicle identification comprises an electronic ID such as an RFID tag, the vehicle identification reader arrangement may comprise an RPID reader arrangement enabling proper registration of the data on the RFID, and so on. Preferably, the vehicle identification reader arrangement facilitates automatic detection of vehicle identification upon returning a vehicle identification to an inlet of the management arrangement and/or when handing out a vehicle identification.
  • said management arrangement comprises a storage comprising a plurality of sub storages for storing each their vehicle identification.
  • a sub storage may comprise a compartment, a hook, a magnet for interacting with a ferromagnetic material of a vehicle access unit, ferromagnetic material for interacting with a magnet of a vehicle access unit, or it may comprise any other suitable arrangement facilitating storage of a vehicle identification and the associated vehicle access unit.
  • each sub storage may comprise a sub storage identification which is registered upon delivering a vehicle identification to a sub storage so that the automatic vehicle rental system can identify at which sub storage of a management arrangement a specific vehicle identification is stored.
  • a sub storage identification which is registered upon delivering a vehicle identification to a sub storage so that the automatic vehicle rental system can identify at which sub storage of a management arrangement a specific vehicle identification is stored.
  • said system facilitates processing of vehicle identification data received from management arrangement(s) so as to establish a list of vehicles free for rental at the vehicle rental location of the management arrangement.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system may comprise vehicle stams information of vehicles of said fleet of vehicles. This facilitates easy determination of the location of a specific vehicle access unit and thus a vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system preferably stores vehicle status information of each vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, e.g. at a data storage at the central database CDB.
  • vehicle status information may e.g. comprise information regarding:
  • ⁇ a list comprising one or more orders regarding which order(s) the vehicle is presently associated for future rental
  • the automatic vehicle rental system When the automatic vehicle rental system registers the return of a vehicle identification at a management arrangement, it preferably applies this information to the vehicle status information of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle status information for a vehicle may for example be stored in a vehicle status information table comprising one or more of the above parameters for a vehicle.
  • the said vehicle status information of a vehicle at least comprises infomiation regarding the person registered to possess a vehicle identification of said vehicle.
  • vehicle status information for a vehicle may be stored in a vehicle status information array.
  • the vehicle status information of a vehicle is in this embodiment preferably arranged in a vehicle associated to the specific vehicle, and preferably, each vehicle in the fleet is associated to a vehicle status information arrangement According to an aspect of the invention, at least some of the content of said vehicle status information can be automatically updated dependent of registration vehicle identification of a vehicle at a management arrangement.
  • the system may thereby automatically register in the vehicle status information e.g. at which vehicle rental location the vehicle identification is registered, that the vehicle has been returned, that the vehicle is ready to be collected by maintenance personnel ad/or the like.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of a plurality of data so as to establish one or more fleet management scenarios. .
  • An example of a fleet management scenario may be that the system simulates association of one or vehicle identification with one or more orders and determines to which degree the fleet is utilized, for example to facilitate increased rental of a group of vehicles in the fleet of vehicles.
  • An other example may be that a fleet management scenario may be established so as to in an appropriate way distribute the vehicles between vehicle rental locations and at the same time comply with established orders. These scenarios are preferably simulated before being implemented.
  • the selected fleet scenario may be a template which can change dynamically over time dependent of orders, number of vehicles in the fleet and the like.
  • the invention also relates to a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system, said automatic vehicle rental system comprising: a central database for monitoring and processing data representing a fleet of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles, a vehicle access unit for each vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification, a plurality of geographically distributed fixed management arrangements connected by a data network for registering said vehicle identification and for handing out and/or returning said vehicle identification based on the vehicle identification, each management arrangement being located at a vehicle rental location and comprising a storage for storing vehicle identifications, said method comprising the steps of
  • the above method is an advantageous way of managing rental of vehicles in the fleet of vehicles. Due to the registration of vehicle identification at the management arrangements, the status of a vehicle can be determined by detection of the vehicle identification of the vehicle. This facilitates automatic monitoring and controls of the vehicles in the fleet due to that the automatic vehicle rental system automatically registers a vehicle identification upon hand out and return, and in that automatic hand out and return is facilitated without interference from personnel. When a renter has returned a vehicle identification and this is registered in the system, maintenance personnel may collect vehicle identification of retumed vehicles so as to perform maintenance of the vehicle.
  • One aspect o a method regarding maintenance of returned vehicles is described in the following.
  • the invention relates to a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system during maintenance of the vehicles, said automatic vehicle rental system comprising: a central database for monitoring and processing data of a fleet of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles, a vehicle access unit for each vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification, a plurality of geographically distributed fixed management arrangements connected by a data network for registering said vehicle identification and for handing out and/or returning said vehicle identification based on the vehicle identification, each management arrangement being located at a vehicle rental location and comprising a storage for storing vehicle identifications, said method comprising the steps of: - a renter registering and returning vehicle identification of a rented vehicle at a management arrangement at a return vehicle rental location, - automatically returning said vehicle identification to a storage of said management arrangement at said return vehicle rental location,
  • MMA maintenance management arrangement
  • the method of managing rental of vehicles is e.g. advantageous in that maintenance personnel can be notified of returned vehicles.
  • the notification may furthermore comprise information of the vehicle rental location which the vehicle is returned to, which management arrangement the vehicle identification is returned to, the type of vehicle, vehicle specific parameters and/or other parameters that may be relevant for maintenance personnel.
  • the renter may be informed of a maintenance completion time at which vehicle maintenance of a vehicle has to be bee completed.
  • the method of managing rental of vehicles further comprises the step of the maintenance personnel accepting the said notification by an acceptance action at said maintenance management arrangement.
  • This facilitates increased monitoring of the maintenance of a vehicle.
  • the system may also or alternatively register maintenance personnel information and associate it to a vehicle for maintenance upon the maintenance personnel collecting the vehicle identification.
  • This maintenance personnel information may be associated to the vehicle information so that the system knows who presently possess the vehicle identification.
  • it facilitates advantageous quality check of the maintenance due to that the person who has performed maintenance can be identified after returning of the vehicle identification
  • the automatic vehicle rental system may facilitate a significant reduction of tasks that has to be performed manually to achieve monitoring and/or control of the fleet.
  • personnel verifying a renters identity may be spared
  • personnel handing out and or receiving vehicle keys may be spared
  • operators of the system may be spared and the like.
  • the system facilitates easy utilization and rental of vehicles. Furthermore it facilitates easy registration and control of vehicle access units in the fleet. Furthermore due to among other things registration of the vehicle identification, the system facilitates access and print outs of log files and other advantageous data files.
  • fig. l illustrates an overview of an automatic vehicle rental system according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle access unit VAU comprising a vehicle identification
  • VID according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 3 illustrates an example of a management arrangement MA according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig.4 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding establishing of an order by means of the vehicle ordering arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a central database according to an embodiment of the invention, illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding collection of a vehicle identification at a management arrangement at a vehicle rental location.
  • fig. 7 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding return of a vehicle identification at a management arrangement at a vehicle rental location.
  • fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart regarding a method for automatically managing a plurality of returns and hand outs of a vehicle identification according to an embodiment of the invention, fig.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a storage of a management arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 10 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a maintenance management arrangement MMA
  • fig 11 illustrates a flow chart regarding maintenance/service on a vehicle
  • fig. 12 illustrates an example of an optimization of utilization of vehicles VE in the fleet FE
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an automatic vehicle rental system AVRS according to an embodiment of the invention for managing and controlling a plurality of vehicles VE of a fleet of vehicles FVE.
  • the vehicles VE are preferably motorized vehicles such as cars, motor cycles, scooters and the like.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS may also be referred to in the following as the system AVRS.
  • the vehicle rental system AVRS comprises a central database CDB facilitating communication with management arrangements MA over a data network NW to receive data from and transmit data to management arrangements MA of the vehicle rental system AVRS.
  • the data network NW may comprise one or more data networks such as optical fibre, Ethernet, LAN, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), 3G, Power line communication, Wireless LAN, GPRS, another suitable cell phone network, or any other suitable wired or wireless data network facilitating data communication.
  • data networks such as optical fibre, Ethernet, LAN, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), 3G, Power line communication, Wireless LAN, GPRS, another suitable cell phone network, or any other suitable wired or wireless data network facilitating data communication.
  • the vehicle rental system AVRS facilitates ordering of a vehicle VE among the fleet of vehicles FVE by means of vehicle ordering arrangements VOA facilitating communication with the central database CDB by means of the data network NW.
  • a vehicle ordering arrangement VOA may comprise any suitable unit, e.g. a PC, a tablet computer a laptop, it may be a mobile phone, a PDA or any other arrangement suitable of communicating with the central database CDB over one or more data networks NW wired and/or wirelessly.
  • the ordering of a vehicle VE among vehicles VE in the fleet of vehicles FVE is facilitated by means of a user interface (not illustrated) such as a user interface in a web browser, a user interface of a downloadable program to be installed on the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA or by any other appropriate user interfaces or combinations thereof.
  • a renter may access the vehicle ordering arrangements VOA over a web browser to facilitate ordering of a vehicle VE from any location with an internet connection.
  • the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA thereby facilitates that a user can place an order O regarding a vehicle VE to be collected from a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the order O is preferably after establishment stored in the central database CDP and/or in the management arrangement MA storing predicted to store the vehicle access unit VAU as described later on, in a data storage.
  • the system AVRS may generate a code key CK for later identification of the order O.
  • the system AVRS may utilize renter identification registered at a management unit to identify the order O. The order O is described in more details later on.
  • the vehicle rental system AVRS furthermore comprises a plurality of fixed management arrangements MA distributed geographically over a geographical area GA at vehicle rental locations VRL.
  • a management arrangement MA of the system facilitates automatic hand out of vehicle access units VAU comprising a vehicle identification VID, by registering the vehicle identification VID.
  • the geographical area GA may e.g. comprise a part of a contry, one or more states in a country, it may comprise one or more countries or the like.
  • a vehicle may be collected at a first vehicle rental location
  • a vehicle rental location VRL may comprise one or more fixed management arrangements MA.
  • a vehicle rental location VRL may as illustrated also comprise one or more vehicle order arrangements VOA so that a renter may establish an order O on a vehicle VE directly at the vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the fixed management arrangements MA which are distributed geographically at vehicle rental locations VRL preferably are associated to vehicle rental locations VRL.
  • a management arrangement MA associated to a vehicle rental location is preferably arranged close the vehicle rental location VRL to which it is associated, e.g. within or near the geographical area of the vehicle rental location VRL.
  • a vehicle rental location VRL preferably is a fixed geographical location.
  • one or more of the vehicle rental locations VRL may also be rental locations VRL that may be dynamically established at different geographical locations over time to facilitate complying with renter needs, e.g. doe to different larger events.
  • An event may for example be a large meeting, conference, concert, festival etc. with a larger gathering of people. Such events may be established at location which are not in favour of public transportation, and this problem may be solved by facilitating dynamic establishment of vehicle rental locations.
  • a vehicle order arrangement VOA may be located away from the geographical area GA as well as within the geographical area.
  • the central database may be located within as well as away from the geographical area.
  • the central database may also comprise a plurality of central databases facilitating communication with each other, and in such a case the plurality of databases CDM may be regarded as a central database CDB.
  • Each vehicle VE comprises a vehicle access unit VAU, being a vehicle key such as the original vehicle key of a vehicle VE or a key corresponding to the original vehicle key of a vehicle VE, i.e. a copy of the original vehicle key, to allow access to and control of a specific vehicle VE in the fleet of vehicles FVE.
  • VAU vehicle access unit
  • the vehicle access unit VAU may be a conventional vehicle key, a smart card comprising electronic identification means for identifying the vehicle access unit VAU or it may be any other type of vehicle access unit VAU.
  • vehicle access unit VAU Common to all embodiments of different types of vehicle access unit VAU is that it preferably is the original vehicle key or a key corresponding thereto, e.g. a copy of the original key. However may also be another vehicle access unit for a vehicle.
  • Each vehicle access unit VAU comprises a vehicle identification VID associated with the vehicle VE so that by identifying the vehicle identification VID, the vehicle VE associated to the vehicle identification VID can also easily be identified.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle access unit VAU comprising a vehicle identification VID.
  • the vehicle identification VID is physically associated to the vehicle access unit VAU.
  • the vehicle identification VID may be releasably attached to the vehicle access unit VAU by means of e.g. a key ring.
  • the vehicle identification VID may be attached by means of a one-time lock arrangement preventing the vehicle identification VID from being removed from the access unit VAU when attached to it without destroying the access unit VAU and/or the vehicle identification, or it may be attached to the vehicle access unit VAU by means of a lock arrangement so that only an authorized person can remove the identification VID without breaking the vehicle identification unit VID and or the accompanying vehicle access unit VAU.
  • the vehicle identification VID may fixed directly to the vehicle access unit VAU e.g. by an adhesive, by welding, by moulding or the like. Furthermore the vehicle identification may be placed within a housing of a vehicle access unit VAU, e.g. together with electronic parts for enabling wireless opening and closing of locks on the vehicle VE. It is in general understood that a vehicle identification VID may be located at any appropriate location to be physically associated with a vehicle access unit VAU.
  • the vehicle identification VID preferably comprises electronic identification means facilitating communication with a management arrangement MA to facilitate identification of the vehicle VE associated with the vehicle identification VID, i.e. the vehicle VE that may be accessed by means of the vehicle access unit VAU to which the vehicle identification is associated.
  • An example of electronic identification means may be a radio-frequency identification tag (RFID tag).
  • RFID tag may be an active Radio-frequency identification tag comprising energy storage means to facilitate autonomous transmittal of data, it may be a passive RFID requiring an external source to initiate signal transmission, it may be a battery assisted passive RFID tag which requires an external source to wake up but has significant higher forward link capability providing greater range.
  • any other appropriate electronic identification means which may be carried along with a vehicle access unit VAU and be adapted to and facilitate communication with a communication arrangement of a management arrangement MA to identify the associated vehicle VE may be utilized as a vehicle identification VID.
  • the vehicle identification VID may comprise other identification means such as for example a barcode.
  • the barcode may e.g. comprise a conventional barcode representing data in the widths and the spacings of parallel lines, it may comprise a data matrix code with e.g. a two-dimensional matrix barcode comprising black and white cells or modules arranged in a square and/or rectangular pattern, or the like.
  • the vehicle identification comprises a unique ID which is associated with a specific vehicle (VE) of the fleet of vehicles (FVE) so that by identifying the unique ID, the vehicle (VE) associated thereto can be identified.
  • VE vehicle
  • FVE fleet of vehicles
  • the vehicle identification VID may in an embodiment facilitate communication with an access arrangement (not illustrated in any figure) to give access to a location of a vehicle rental location, e.g. the location where the rented vehicle VE is parked, to enable that a renter can return the vehicle at a parking spot or the like.
  • the first example is e.g. advantageous in that the renter or other person is/are not allowed to move the vehicle without being in possession of the vehicle identification and thus the vehicle access unit.
  • An access arrangement may comprise a gate or any other another suitable type of barrier facilitating access to and/or removal of the vehicle when opening the gate barrier.
  • the gate/barrier is connected to detection means for detecting and processing vehicle identification.
  • a management arrangement MA facilitates automatic hand out and return of vehicle identification VID upon collection and return of a vehicle VE at vehicle rental locations VKL. This is described in more details in the following.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a management arrangement MA according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the management arrangement MA comprises an inlet IL for returning vehicle access units VAU with the vehicle identification VID, and an outlet OL for automatically handing out vehicle access units VAU with the vehicle identification VID.
  • the management arrangement MA comprises one or more storages VAUST for storing returned vehicle access units VAU and vehicle identification to be handed out later on by the management arrangement MA.
  • the management arrangement in fig. 3 is just one example of a management arrangement MA, and it is understood that the management arrangement MA may be altered in a multitude of ways so that it is e.g. divided into two or more arrangements, e.g. a part for handing out vehicle identification, another part for returning vehicle identification, a dedicated storage part for storing vehicle identification and the associated vehicle access units that may be arranged away from the part(s) for handing out and returning vehicle identification, together therewith and/or the like.
  • the management arrangement MA furthermore comprises a vehicle identification reader VIDR for detecting/reading vehicle identification VID of vehicle access units VAU at least upon returning of vehicle access units VAU and the accompanying vehicle identification VID.
  • the vehicle identification reader VIDR is arranged so that it automatically detects the vehicle identification when returning the vehicle access unit VAU to a management arrangement MA.
  • the vehicle identification reader VIDR is preferably arranged so that when the vehicle access unit with the vehicle identification VID is returned by delivering the vehicle access unit VAU at the inlet IL, the vehicle identification reader " VTDR automatically scans/detects the vehicle identification VID to retrieve the unique ID of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the management arrangement may also comprise one or more further vehicle identification readers VIDR arranged at the management arrangement MA at an appropriate location to enable a renter to register the vehicle access unit VAU without re imin the vehicle access unit VAU.
  • a renter may be assured that the vehicle identification is readable by the management arrangement MA when inputting the vehicle access unit VAU at the inlet IL.
  • the management arrangement may facilitate automatically hand out of a vehicle identification VID and the accompanying vehicle access unit VAU if the identification readers) VIDR cannot identify the vehicle identification.
  • a management MA may comprise a plurality of vehicle identification readers VIDR and/or more than one inlet IL and/or outlet OL so as to facilitate returning and or handing out more vehicle access units VAU at the same time.
  • the management arrangement MA furthermore may comprise a management arrangement data processor MADF for processing data, and a communication arrangement CA enabling communication with the central database CDB.
  • the processor MADP transmits the unique ED over the network NW to the central database CDB, so that the central database CDB can register that the vehicle VE has been returned.
  • a management arrangement MA preferably registers the vehicle identification VID during hand out of the vehicle access unit VAU and transmits it to the central database CDB so that the central database CDB can register that the specific vehicle is a renter's possession and/or the time of collection of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the management arrangement MA may furthermore comprise an identification detection arrangement IDDA for detectmg deterrriining a renter's identification such as characteristics unique to the renter.
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA may comprise a scanning arrangement for scanning/detecting information on a renter's driver license, passport, a digital signature on a personal mobile unit such as ' e.g. a PDA, cell phone or the like.
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA may comprise a biometric detection arrangement e.g. comprising a fingerprint scanner to detect fmgerprints of a renter, it may comprise an eye scanner, it may comprise a camera arrangement facilitating face detection of the renter and/or the like, to determine a renter's identity.
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA may comprise any arrangement comprising one or more detectors and/or scanners enabling identification of a renter.
  • An example of utilization of an identification detection arrangement IDDA is described later on.
  • the management arrangement MA may also comprise a display arrangement DISPA comprising one or more displays for informing a renter during hand out of a vehicle access unit VAU and return of a vehicle access unit VAU, to instruct the renter and to enable the renter to see the status of hand out return of the vehicle access unit.
  • the management arrangement MA may furthermore comprise a management arrangement identification MAID to identify the management arrangement MA and to be transmitted to the central database CDB during communication so that the central database CDP easily can identify at which at which management arrangement MA a vehicle identification VID has been returned or handed out.
  • the system AVRS may generate a code key CK when an order is established in by means of a vehicle ordering arrangement VOA.
  • the code key may be registered at a management arrangement to identify the previously established order O.
  • the management Arrangement MA may comprise an input arrangement LA for inputting registering a code key CK.
  • the code key CK may comprise a code to be inputted by means of a keyboard of the input arrangement IA, it may comprise a digital code that has previously been transmitted to a personal electronic unit such as a cell phone a PDA or the like of the renter upon establishment of the order and to be transmitted e.g. wirelessly by means of the personal electronic unit to the input arrangement, or the like.
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA and the input arrangement IA may be a registration arrangement facilitating both registering of user identification code keys CK as well as it may be separate arrangements at the management arrangement MA
  • the display arrangement DISPA, the identification detection arrangement IDDA, the vehicle identification reader VIDR, the input arrangement IA and the like may communicate with the management arrangement data processor MADP so to enable processing and/or transmittance to the central database CDB of detected/scanned data information, and to enable hand outs and returns of vehicle access units VAU.
  • the display arrangement DISPA, the identification detection arrangement IDDA, the vehicle identification reader VIDR, the input arrangement and the like may communicate directly with the central database without the usage of a management arrangement data processor MADP.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding estabUshing of an order O by means of the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA.
  • the renter enters/registers renter identification in the system AVRS by means of a vehicle ordering arrangement VOA.
  • the renter identification information may comprise e.g. registering name, address, telephone number, nationality, e-mail address a user number/code and/or the like.
  • the renter identification preferably furthermore comprises information from at least one of a driver license such as a driver's license number or the like, registration of pass port information, medical card information, civil registration system information or the like to identify the renter.
  • the renter identification may furthermore comprise a picture of a driver license, a pass port, a medical card, or the like.
  • the renter identification may also comprise entering inputting an earlier received login code for the system AVRS so that by entering the login code, at least a part of the renter identification is automatically retrieved due to e.g. an earlier renter registration stored in the system AVRS.
  • the renter registers payment information such as an account number, credit card information or the like to be utilized for later payment for the rental of the vehicle VE upon returning of the vehicle VE.
  • payment information may also in embodiments of the invention be utilized as a part of the renter identification.
  • the payment information may be entered by the renter during establishment of the order, and/or it may be retrieved automatically from stored information e.g. stored during an earlier rental of a vehicle and/or during establishment of a user account or the like. Combinations of entering of payment information and stored payment information may also be advantageous.
  • the at least some of the above renter identification is then preferably processed to authenticate that the above information and to determine if the renter should be allowed to rent a vehicle VE. If the renter is not authenticated, new and/or corrected renter identification may be entered.
  • the user interface of the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA at step S3 displays management arrangements MA and or their associated vehicle rental locations VRL for selection, to enable that a renter may select a vehicle rental location VRL for collection of a vehicle.
  • the user interface of the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA displays vehicle rental locations VRL for collection of a vehicle.
  • the renter may then by use of the user interface select a geographical location where a vehicle VE for rent is to be collected.
  • the displaying of the management arrangements MA and/or vehicle rental locations VRL may comprise a map showing the location of geographical distributed vehicle rental locations VRL comprising management arrangements MA so that a renter can determine an appropriate vehicle rental location VRL for collecting a selected vehicle VE.
  • the displaying of management arrangements MA may establish and display a list of management arrangements MA, preferably with information of the geographical location of the vehicle rental location VRL.
  • information may e.g. comprise that the vehicle rental location VRL is located near a specific airport at a specific location, is located at a specific city or the like.
  • the user interface may furthermore facilitate that a renter may enter a location, and the system AVRS may process the entered data to identify one or more vehicle rental locations VRL nearest the entered location.
  • the renter selects enters a time of collection of a vehicle VE, e.g. a date and a time or time span. For example the 22 September 2010 between 12:30 and 16:30 PM.
  • the system AVRS processes at least some of the information of steps S 1 - S4 so as to identify and display vehicles VE (if any) that are free for rent at the vehicle rental location VRL and/or vehicles that are assumed to be free for rent at the selected vehicle rental location VRL at the selected time or time span.
  • the system AVRS may process the above mentioned date and time span and identify that a number of vehicles which at the time of the order are rented by another renter but is registered to be returned at the selected vehicle rental location VRL one or more days before or at the collection date. The system AVRS may thereby select these vehicles to be assumed to be free for rent at the vehicle rental location VRL at the selected time.
  • the system AVRS may display vehicles VE presently free for rent at the selected vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the renter also registers the assumed date of return of the vehicle, and at vehicle rental location VRL the vehicle VE is assumed to be returned to. This facilitates enhanced management of the fleet, also known at fleet management.
  • a vehicle VE may furthermore comprise that the renter may enter/select one or more vehicle specific parameters VSP which a vehicle (VE) has to comply with to be displayed.
  • vehicle specific parameters VSP may be:
  • vehicle type e.g. car, motor cycle, scooter etc
  • ⁇ vehicle size e.g. van, station car, sports car, hatchback or the like
  • vehicle brand e.g. Opel, Chrysler, BMW, Toyota etc
  • vehicle class e.g. luxury class, economic class etc.
  • the minimum rated motor size of the vehicle e.g. a minimum rated horsepower of the vehicle
  • the renter may specify a number of criteria to the vehicle and the system AVRS processes these demands to ensure that a vehicle matching the criteria is present at the vehicle rental location VRL at the specified time.
  • the system AVRS may associate a vehicle VE matching the criteria at any suitable time.
  • An example of this may be that renter specifies that the vehicle VE has to be a vehicle in the economic class and a max cost for the rental.
  • the system AVRS processes this data to assure that a vehicle matching these criteria is ready to be collected at the given location at the given time. This facilitates the possibility of a more dynamic fleet management in that the specific vehicle identification VID may be associated with the order later on, e.g.
  • the system may associate the vehicle identification VID to the order so that the criteria is complied with.
  • the renter may also select that any vehicle is accepted, and it understood that such a selection is also understood as selecting a vehicle specific parameter VSP.
  • the renter may also select a specific vehicle for collection at a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • a vehicle identification VID may be associated with the order O already at the establishment of the order O.
  • the renter selects a vehicle VE among the vehicles available. This selection may also comprise selection of any vehicle VE. E.g that the renter accepts that any of the displayed vehicles is accepted and the system may then choose between any of the displayed vehicles.
  • the system AVRS at step S7 establishes an order O and stores it in the system AVRS, preferably in the central database CDB.
  • the established order O may thereby comprise information comprising:
  • the selected vehicle rental location VRL where the vehicle is to be collected is to be collected.
  • Vehicle identification VED if associated to the order at the time of establishing the order.
  • the system may establish a time span based on the order O, within the vehicle may be collected. E.g. two hours before and after the selected time of collection, 24 hours before and after the selected time of collection or the like.
  • the system AVRS may generate a unique code key CK to facilitate easy identification of the order O and/or to enhance security.
  • This code key CK may be registered at the management unit MA by an input arrangement IA for registering code keys upon collection of the vehicle VE and preferably also during returning of the vehicle VE to identify the order O. the system AVRS may generate such a unique code key CK as illustrated by step S8.
  • This code key is associated with the established order O.
  • the code key CK is communicated to the renter (e.g.
  • a deposit on a predefined amount of money is drawn from the renter's bank account by means of the registered payment information, as a safety precaution. If the order is cancelled by the renter close to the collection date time the system AVRS may automatically keep the whole deposit or a part of the deposit This assures that fleet management may be enhanced in that a renter will not reserve/order a vehicle VE without a serious intention of collecting it.
  • a vehicle identification VID may be associated to the order O based on the order information, during establishment of the order O, the vehicle identification VID may be associated to the order O between establishment of the order O and collection of the vehicle identification VID and/or during collection of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the system AVRS may furthermore identify alternative available vehicles VE with one or more other/deviating vehicle specific parameters VSP than the vehicle specific parameters VSP selected by the renter. This may be advantageous in that a renter may thereby automatically be informed of vehicles that may live up to needs or wishes of the renter that is not directly indicated by the information entered/selected by the renter.
  • the system AVRS may e.g. both display a list of vehicles complying with all vehicle specific parameters and other data selected/entered by the renter, and another list with alternative vehicles that has been identified as vehicles that may be relevant for the renter, and that can/will be available at the selected vehicle rental location VRL for collection.
  • the renter may select a vehicle specific parameter that defines a maximum prize for rental of a vehicle, and a vehicle class. Based on this information, the system AVRS may identify that a vehicle of a higher better class may be available for a prize near the prize selected entered by the renter.
  • a further example may be that the system cannot identify an available vehicle VE complying with all the information entered by the renter. Thus, the system may identify and display alternative vehicles to the renter.
  • a still further example may be that the system AVRS identifies that the renter for a minor extra cost can rent a vehicle VE with e.g. air condition, a better motor, being a newer model than the selected and/or the like, and display this to the renter.
  • a vehicle VE with e.g. air condition, a better motor, being a newer model than the selected and/or the like
  • Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the central database CDB.
  • the database comprises a storage CDBST for storing a list of orders O, one or more processing units CDBPU, a vehicle database FVEDAT comprising information of vehicle VE1- VEn of the fleet of vehicles FVE, and a communication unit CDBCU for communicating over the network NW with management arrangements MA and vehicle order arrangements VOA.
  • the central database CDB may furthermore facilitate communication with e.g. authorities such as police databases, banks, authorities having information of renter's economical situation, databases with drivers license information, registers with criminal records, civil registration systems and any other appropriate authorities and/or databases to collect appropriate information e.g. during the ordering and renting process.
  • authorities such as police databases, banks, authorities having information of renter's economical situation, databases with drivers license information, registers with criminal records, civil registration systems and any other appropriate authorities and/or databases to collect appropriate information e.g. during the ordering and renting process.
  • management arrangements MA can access and retrieve order information when registering a code key CK, renter information, vehicle identification VID and/or the like.
  • the central database may also store information of renters and or orders from earlier established orders for use during identification of the renter and/or for facilitating advantageous display of earlier rented vehicles to the renter.
  • the central database CDB preferably stores information regarding each vehicle VE including the location of each vehicle VE, e.g. if a vehicle VE is presently rented by a renter, if a vehicle VE is located at a vehicle rental location VRL, and/or at which management arrangement MA the vehicle identification VID and thereby the vehicle access unit VAU is located.
  • the information VE regarding each vehicle VE may also comprise information regarding if the vehicle is an active or passive member of the fleet of vehicles FVE.
  • a passive member may be if a vehicle VE is at a mechanic, if the vehicle is broken or the like, i.e. not presently for rent or rented.
  • An active member is a vehicle that is available for rent or is rented by a renter.
  • the information may comprise information regarding if a vehicle is presently serviced by maintenance personnel to be refuelled, washed cleaned and/or the like as described later on.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding collection of a vehicle access unit VAU comprising the vehicle identification VID at a management arrangement MA at a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the renter arrives at the selected vehicle rental location VRL, the renter goes to a management arrangement of the selected vehicle rental location VRL for collecting a vehicle identification VID and the associated vehicle access unit VAU.
  • a vehicle rental location VRL may comprise just one management arrangement MA as well as a plurality of management arrangements MA as described earlier. If the selected vehicle rental location VRL comprises more than one management arrangement MA e.g.
  • the renter may during or after the establishment of the order O have received information regarding at which management arrangement MA at the selected vehicle rental location VRL the vehicle identification VID can be collected.
  • the management arrangement identification MAID a point on map of the selected vehicle rental location VRL or the like.
  • the renter may register renter identification at the identification detection arrangement IDDR for detecting renter identification of the management arrangement MA.
  • This registration may e.g. be facilitated by scanning the driver licence of the renter, by means of face detection, finger print, eye scanning and/or the like as explained earlier.
  • it may comprise inputting a code key CK associated to the order O during establishment of the order O, it may comprise inputting a password selected by the renter during establishment of the order or by registering any other appropriate information or combinations of information that facilitates identification of the renter and the correct order O upon collection.
  • the system AVRS then processes the registered information to identify the correct order O.
  • the system AVRS preferably processes the renter identification registered at the management arrangement MA to verify that the registered renter information corresponds to the renter identification registered during establishment of the order (O) and preferably also to validate the renter's identity.
  • the system AVRS may processes registered drivers license data to ensure that the drivers licence is valid and/or to validate the renter's identity. This may e.g. be achieved by communication with one or more databases comprising information of valid and/or invalid driver licenses.
  • system AVRS may process the registered renter identification with renter identification registered at previous orders O to validate if a renter should be allowed to collect a vehicle. Such a processing may also be performed during establishment of an order O.
  • the system at step 11 AVRS processes the registered information so as to identify the order O and a vehicle identification VTD of a vehicle VE complying with the order O.
  • the vehicle identification VID and the vehicle access unit is handed out to the renter by releasing it from the storage VAUID of the management arrangement MA to an outlet OL of the management arrangement MA.
  • the system AVRS registers the time for handout of the vehicle identification VID.
  • this hand out time is associated to the order O for later processing to e.g. determine the duration of the vehicle rental.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding return of a vehicle access unit VAU comprising the vehicle identification VID at a management arrangement MA at a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the renter arrives at a vehicle rental location VRL to return the vehicle VE, the renter parks the vehicle and goes to a management arrangement MA of the vehicle rental location.
  • the vehicle rental location VRL at which the vehicle is returned may also be referred to as a return vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the renter at step 20 registers the vehicle identification VID at a vehicle identification reader VIDR of the management arrangement MA.
  • the registered vehicle identification VID is then processed to identify the order O associated to the vehicle VE.
  • the renter may also at step 21 register and processes renter identification and or a code key (if previously generated) by means of an identification detection arrangement IDDA andor an input arrangement IA for registering code keys.
  • the system AVRL at step 22 registers the returning of the vehicle identification VID and associates the returning of the vehicle identification to the order O.
  • This may comprise that the system AVRS calculates/detenriines cost for the rental of the vehicle VE and automatically draw the appropriate amount from the renter's account by utilizing renter payment information registered during establishment of the order O.
  • it may comprise that the amount is registered for later payment which is especially advantageous if the order is only a part of a larger order, if the renter has an account a the rental company that conducts payment at e.g. predetermined time intervals such as once a month, or the like.
  • the management arrangement MA automatically returns the returned vehicle identification VID to the storage VAUST of the management arrangement MA at the return vehicle rental location VRL.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart regarding a method for automatically managing a plurality of returns and hand outs of a vehicle identification VID according an embodiment of the invention.
  • the renter registers renter identification and/or other data as descried above to enable automatic identification of the order O at a management arrangement MA at the selected collection vehicle rental location VRL, i.e. the vehicle rental location that the renter has selected during establishment of the order.
  • the system AVRS identifies the order based on the registered data, identify the order O and a vehicle identification VID of a vehicle VE complying with the order O as described above.
  • the management arrangement MA at the collection vehicle rental location VRL hands out the vehicle identification VID from a storage VAUST of the management arrangement MA to the renter, and the renter can now use the vehicle VE.
  • the renter has arrived at the return vehicle rental location VRL.
  • This is preferably the vehicle rental location VRL that the renter selected to be the intended rental location VRL for returning of the vehicle VE.
  • the renter then registers and returns the vehicle identification at a management arrangement MA at the return vehicle rental location V L.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS registers the returning of the vehicle identification VID and associates the returning of the vehicle identification VID to the order O.
  • the vehicle identification VID is arranged, preferably automatically, in a storage VAUST of the management arrangement MA for a new handout.
  • the return vehicle rental location VRL at which the vehicle identification and the vehicle is returned is now to be regarded as a collection vehicle rental location VRL for new collection of the retuned vehicle identification VID and the associated vehicle VE.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates an example of a storage VAUST of a management arrangement MA.
  • the storage comprises a plurality of sub storages SST for storing each their vehicle identification VID and the associated vehicle access unit VAU, an inlet IL for returning vehicle identification VID, and an outlet OL for handing out vehicle identification VID.
  • a vehicle identification VID is delivered at the inlet IL, the vehicle identification VID is registered and is delivered to an appropriate sub storage SST.
  • the sub storage SST to which the vehicle identification VID is delivered to be stored may be a redetermined storage compartment SST, it may be a random storage compartment STC selected by the system AVRS when returning the vehicle identification VID or the like.
  • each sub storage SST comprises a sub storage identification which is registered upon delivering a vehicle identification VID to a sub storage SST so that the system AVRS can identify at which sub storage SST of a management arrangement MA a specific vehicle identification VID is stored.
  • a sub storage may comprise a storage compartment, it may comprise a hook for hanging a vehicle identification VID it may comprise a conveyer belt, rollers, or any other appropriate storage means.
  • the storage VAUST comprises one or more transportation arrangements for automatically transporting received vehicle identification VID to a sub storage SST and/or for automatically transporting vehicle identifications VID to be handed out from the storage VAUST.
  • a transportation arrangement may comprise e.g.
  • each sub storage SST may also comprise a storage compartment with a door, a drawer or the like (i.e. an inlet IL and/or outlet OL) which is unlocked by the system AVRS when a vehicle identification VID is to be handed out and or returned so that the renter manually may return and/or collect a vehicle identification VID to/from the storage compartment STC.
  • a storage compartment with a door, a drawer or the like i.e. an inlet IL and/or outlet OL
  • the storage VAUST may comprise any appropriate sub storages SST, transportation means, inlet(s) IL, outlets OL, one or more housings, displays and/or the like facilitating hand out, storage and/or return of vehicle identification VID.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a maintenance management arrangement MM A.
  • This maintenance management arrangement MMA facilitates management of returned vehicles VE to facilitate that service/maintenance personnel may collect vehicle identification VID of returned vehicles VE to perform maintenance on the vehicle before it is collected by another renter.
  • maintenance personnel may possess maintenance personnel identification MPI which can be registered/scanned at a management arrangement MA e.g. by the identification detection arrangement IDDA.
  • Such maintenance personnel identification may comprise a code to be inputted (like a code key as described above), digital signature associated to a mobile unit facilitating wireless communication with a management arrangement MA, it may comprise a RFID tag, a bar code, scanning of an eye, finger print and or the like.
  • the maintenance may e.g. comprise cleaning of the vehicle, wash of the vehicle, refuelling, motor check, repairs and/or the like.
  • Fig 11 illustrates a flow chart regarding maintenance service on a vehicle.
  • the renter registers and returns the vehicle identification VID of a rented vehicle, the vehicle identification VID is delivered to the storage VAUST and described earlier, and the return of the vehicle is registered in the system AVRS.
  • the maintenance personnel registers maintenance personnel identification MPI at a management arrangement e.g. as described above in relation to determining the identity of a renter before handing out a vehicle identification VID.
  • the registered information is processed and if the maintenance personnel is authenticated by the system AVRS and vehicle identification VID of a vehicle VE that has been returned but not yet serviced/maintained is present in the storage VAUST, the VID may automatically be handed out to the maintenance personnel.
  • the identity and/or the registered maintenance personnel data of the maintenance personnel may be associated to the handed out vehicle identification(S) VID to monitor who has collected the vehicle identification for maintenance of the associated vehicle VE.
  • the maintenance personnel returns and registers the vehicle identification VID at a management arrangement MA.
  • the system AVRS automatically registers the return of the vehicle identification VTD and registers the VID and/or vehicle VE as seiriced/maintained and ready for collection by a renter.
  • the management arrangement MA which the vehicle identification VID is returned to after maintenance may be the same as the management arrangement MA at which the vehicle identification VID was collected for maintenance, but it may also be another management arrangement MA than the management arrangement at which the vehicle identification VID was collected for maintenance.
  • the system AVRS may comprise a management arrangement MA with a storage VAUST for returned vehicle identification VID to be serviced, and another management arrangement MA with another storage for storing vehicle identification VID of serviced vehicles VE.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS facilitates processing of orders O so as to match orders O with one or more vehicles VE of the fleet of vehicles FVE after the order O is established, and associating a vehicle identification VID matching an order O to the order O.
  • a renter has established certain criteria to the vehicle to be rented, and the system AVRS may then process this information in relation to a plurality of orders O once or continuously to correlate the criteria with vehicle specific parameters VSP of the individual vehicles VE of the fleet of vehicles FVE, to find a suitable vehicle for the order O.
  • the vehicle identification VID (if any) associated to an order O may change over time between when the order O is established and the vehicle identification VID is collected, so as to obtain balance between orders and vehicles VE for rent at different vehicle rental locations VRL, and/or so as to optimize the utilization of vehicles VE in the fleet FE.
  • Fig. 12 illustrates an example of optimization of utilization of vehicles VE in the fleet FVE.
  • a vehicle identification VID may be associated with an order calendar comprising information of orders associated to a vehicle identification VID.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is associated with an automatically handled order calendar comprising different time spans TS1-TS6.
  • the vehicle identification VID waits to be collected by a renter at a vehicle rental location VRLl .
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is collected and the vehicle identification VIDl is registered in the system AV S to be in operation between two vehicle rental locations VRLl and VRL2 and is in this time span TS2 associated to an order Ol.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is registered as being at service to be maintained by maintenance personnel.
  • the vehicle identification VID waits to be collected at the vehicle rental location VRL2 to be collected in relation to another order 02.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is collected and the vehicle identification VEDl is registered in the system AVRS to be in operation between two vehicle rental locations VRL2 and VRL3 and is in this time span TS5 associated to another order 02.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is registered to be maintained by maintenance personnel, and so on.
  • the system AVRS may correlate a plurality of orders O established in the system, and vehicle information to optimize the utilization of vehicles in the system AVRS.
  • the system AVRS comes to the conclusion that an established third order 03 can be conducted in the waiting time at time span TS4 between the first order 01 and second order 02, in that the order 03 comprises collection of a vehicle VE and return of the vehicle at the vehicle rental location VRL2, and in that the vehicle specific parameters VSP of the order 03 complies with the vehicle specific parameters VSP of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the third order 03 may be conducted in the time span TS4.
  • Time span TS7 of the third order 03 defines the estimated time for rental of the vehicle
  • time span TS7 defines estimated time for service of the vehicle.
  • system AVRS may process a plurality of orders O and/or registrations of vehicle identifications VID at management arrangements over time to dynamically associate vehicle identifications VID to different orders O over time, thereby facilitating enhanced utilisation of the vehicles VE in the fleet FVE.
  • the system AVRS detects that another vehicle VE complying with the order 02 is expected to be returned to the vehicle rental location VRL2, and complies with information of the second order 02. Therefore the order 02 can be associated with this other vehicle VE, thereby enabling the first vehicle identification VID1 (and naturally the associated vehicle) to be associated to another order.
  • an operator of the system ACRS may input requirements that the system AVRS has to comply with. Such a requirement may as one non- limiting example comprise that the operator defines a certain type of vehicle VE that has to be located at a specific vehicle rental location at any time. The system AVRS may then processes such requirements to assure that the requirement is complied with.
  • system AVRS may process vehicle specific data VSP of established orders O so as to predict needs of a type of vehicle VE at a vehicle rental location VRL, and to automatically distribute vehicles VE accordingly, when at the same time complying with established orders O.
  • the system AVRS may gather experiential data over time to facilitate management of the fleet of vehicles. For example that a specific vehicle class often is requested at specific vehicle rental locations VRL at specific time periods such as after a weekend, after pay days, after arrival of certain flights from certain locations (especially relevant at vehicle rental locations close to airports) or the like, and may thereby try to adapt that enough vehicles VE in that vehicle class is ready for rental at the specific time periods at the specific vehicle rental locations VRL.
  • Fig.13a illustrates an embodiment of a way of handling vehicle status information VSI.
  • the status information VSI of a vehicle VE stored in a vehicle status information array in this case comprising a number of rows and columns thereby creating a vehicle status information table.
  • Other appropriate data structures than a table may however in other embodiments also or alternatively be utilized.
  • the array in fig. 13a comprises a number of vehicle status parameters VSIl-VSIn which each comprises is assigned to a content VSIl_CONT - VSIn_CONT.
  • the content VSIl_CONT of the first vehicle status parameter VSI1 may comprise information regarding the vehicle rental location at which the vehicle is located (preferably determined by the last registration of a vehicle identification).
  • the content VSI2_CONT of the second vehicle status parameter VSI2 may comprise information regarding the rental status of the vehicle. E.g. "ready for rental”, “ready for rnaintenance", "Rented” (i.e. the vehicle identification has been collected by a renter) etc.
  • the content VSl3_CONT of the second vehicle status parameter VSI3 may comprise information of an order O, e.g. an order number to which the vehicle identification of the vehicle is presently associated, and so on.
  • the content of one or more of the vehicle status parameters is automatically controlled and updated/changed based on registration of vehicle identification V1D at a management arrangement MA.
  • the array in fig. 13b illustrates a vehicle status information array comprising a plurality of vehicle status parameters VSIl-VSIn of a plurality of vehicle VEl-VEn. This facilitates fast and effective processing, correlation etc. of status information of a plurality of vehicles VEl-VEn.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS may facilitate establishment of one or more fleet management scenarios.
  • a fleet management scenario may comprise that the system AVRS processes a plurality of established orders O, vehicle status information VSI, system operator criteria (i.e. criteria established by an operator of the system AVRS) and/or the like. Based on this processing, the system AVRS may for example simulate association of one or more vehicle identifications VID to one or more orders O, to determine an optimal/advantageous utilization of one or more vehicles VE in the fleet. If the fleet management scenario is accepted by the system AVRS and/or an operator of the system, the system may associate the vehicle identification to order(s) according to the accepted fleet management scenario. It is in general understood that the association of vehicle identification VID to orders O may change dynamically over time.
  • the system may in an embodiment of the invention establish a plurality of fleet management scenarios and select implement one or more of such.
  • CDB Central database
  • MA A fixed management arrangement among a plurality of
  • VID Vehicle identification
  • VAU Vehicle access unit such as a car key or another unit enabling access to and operation of said vehicle
  • NW Network connecting vehicle ordering arrangements, management arrangements and central database
  • VOA Vehicle ordering arrangement
  • VSP Vehicle specific parameter
  • IDDA Identification detection arrangement for detecting person
  • IA Input arrangement for inputting registering a code key at the management unit
  • DISPA Display arrangement for displaying information to a renter at the management arrangement
  • MADP Management arrangement data processor
  • CA Communication arrangement of management arrangement to facilitate communication between management arrangement and central database.
  • VAUST Vehicle access unit storage of a management arrangement for storing the vehicle access unit and the comprised vehicle identification.
  • SST Sub storages of vehicle access unit storage for storing vehicle identifications.
  • VIDR Vehicle identification reader for retrieving information from the vehicle identification of a vehicle access unit.
  • the invention relates to an automatic vehicle rental system, a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system and a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system during maintenance of the vehicles.
  • Rental of vehicles is an advantageous way of travelling from a first destination to a destination that is not directly accessible by conventional public transportation such as bus or train.
  • vehicle rental has the benefit of being a very dynamic transportation method since the departure and arrival time is determined by the vehicle renter and is not scheduled by a time table as it is in pubic transportation.
  • a fleet of vehicles is necessary and thus a system for keeping track of the vehicles in the fleet is advantageous.
  • US 2002/0186144 describes a car rental system facilitating monitoring and control of cars in the car rental system.
  • the car rental system comprises a central reservation, management and location system, and each car comprises an onboard unit which communicates with the management system, with a GPS and the like.
  • the system monitors the rental fleet and automatically communicates with users in order to modify the demand for vehicles when facing a vehicle imbalance in the network.
  • the above described system however suffers for several drawbacks, e.g. in that it is a cost expensive system and it is a system that does not facilitate easy integration with existing vehicles.
  • the invention relates to an automatic vehicle rental system comprising: - a central database for monitoring and processing data representing a fleet of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles,
  • each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification
  • each management arrangement being located at a vehicle rental location and comprising a storage for storing vehicle identification
  • vehicle-order arrangement facilitating establishment of an order, said establishment of an order comprising:
  • said management arrangement facilitates communication of said registered information to said central database
  • the automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of said registered information so as to identify said order and a vehicle identification of a vehicle complying with the order
  • said management arrangements facilitates automatic hand out of a vehicle identification corresponding to the vehicle identification of a vehicle complying with said order
  • the renter registers and returns said vehicle identification at a management arrangement at a return vehicle rental location when returning the rented vehicle
  • said automatic vehicle rental system registers the returning of the vehicle identification and associates the returning of the vehicle identification to the order
  • said management arrangement facilitates automatic returning of said returned vehicle identification to a storage at said return vehicle rental location.
  • the above system facilitates advantageous fleet management of the fleet of vehicles due to that the management of vehicles is based on registration of vehicle identifications at the different management arrangements upon collection and return of the vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system facilitates easy and cost effective implementation with existing vehicles in that the registration of vehicles and their location can be performed based on registration of the unique vehicle identification 4 alone. Thereby, no modifications of the vehicles are necessary. It is furthermore easy to add and remove vehicles to and from the fleet of vehicles.
  • data network should be understood as any suitable data communication network enabling appropriate communication between vehicle order arrangements, management arrangements and the central database.
  • a data network may for example comprise one or more data networks such as by optical fibre, Ethernet, LAN, Power line communication, Wireless LAN, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), 3G, a cell phone network and/or any other suitable data network facilitating data communication. Likewise combinations of networks may be utilized.
  • each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification should be understood as that each vehicle access unit is physically associated to a vehicle identification.
  • the vehicle can be associated to a unique ID provided by the vehicle identification, so that by registering the unique ID of the vehicle identification, the vehicle associated to the vehicle identification can be identified.
  • the term "renter” should be understood as a person establishing an order and/or collecting and returning a vehicle. It is understood that a first renter may establish an order and another renter may collect and return the vehicle. In such cases, the renter establishing the order can preferably access identification information of the renter collecting the vehicle. Likewise, it may also be the same renter that establishes the order and collects/returns a vehicle.
  • Vehicle order arrangement is to be understood any arrangement facilitating establishment of an order to reserve a vehicle at a vehicle rental location.
  • the vehicle order arrangement may be a computer such as a personal computer (PC), a laptop, a cell phone, a tablet computer, a dedicated arrangement designed to specifically facilitate order establishment, order 5 changing and/or order cancelling.
  • a management arrangement may in an aspect of the invention comprise a vehicle order arrangement to enable order establishment, changing and/or cancelling at a vehicle rental location.
  • the vehicle order arrangement preferably comprises an input arrangement such as a keyboard and/or a mouse, a screen with an appropriate user interface, a connection to the data network.
  • a renter has established an order from a PC by utilizing a user interface at an internet browser. Thereafter, the renter meets at the collection vehicle rental location, i.e. the vehicle rental location selected during establishment of the order. The renter then registers renter identification, order information and the like to enable that the system can automatically identify the previously established order.
  • a renter meets at a vehicle rental location and establishes an order directly at the vehicle rental location, for example at a management arrangement or at another arrangement facilitating establishment of an order at the vehicle rental location.
  • the renter may then register the necessary renter information, payment information, order information and the like to establish an order.
  • the renter preferably selects a vehicle among vehicles for rent at the vehicle rental location at establishment of the order.
  • the system may automatically register the order when established and automatically hand out a vehicle identification complying with the order without the necessity of the renter inputting a renter identification and order identification after establishment of the order.
  • vehicle identification may in this example be handed out at or immediately after the order establishment.
  • the phrase "said renter registers information enabling automatic identification of said order” is to be understood as that the renter may register renter identification, order information and/or any other information enabling identification of an order. This is also described I more details later on. 6
  • the term "automatic vehicle rental system” is to be understood a system that facilitates automatic rental of vehicles without interference or need of personnel assists, or with reduced need of personnel assists.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system facilitates management of a fleet of vehicles with reduced necessity of personnel actions to hand out and receive vehicle identifications and associated vehicle access units upon hand out and return of such to/by a renter.
  • the system preferably also facilitates monitoring and control of the fleet of vehicles so as to e.g. facilitate that established orders are complied with, so as to facilitate optimization of fleet utilization and the like.
  • the system automatic returning of vehicle identification to a storage of a management arrangement without need of personnel to handle this.
  • the management arrangement is thus adapted to e.g. facilitate automatic registration of vehicle identification and placing it at a storage for later handout after return.
  • a management arrangement facilitates automatic hand out of vehicle identification to a renter when a number of criteria is/are complied with as described later on.
  • the management arrangement preferably comprises an arrangement to detect a renter's identity, to communicate with the central database and the like. It is understood that a management arrangement may comprise a plurality of arrangements, for example a first part of a management arrangement facilitates receiving of vehicle identification and another management arrangement may facilitate handout of vehicle identification.
  • the said storage for storing vehicle identification is configured for physically storing vehicle identifications and thus the associated vehicle access units.
  • the term "fixed management arrangement” should be understood as a management arrangement arranged together with a vehicle rental location.
  • the system comprises vehicle rental locations each being fixed to a specific geographical area together with one or more management arrangements.
  • a vehicle rental location may also be established dynamically which facilitates a dynamic automatic vehicle rental system in that vehicle rental locations may easily be established dynamically at different geographical locations.
  • the system facilitates easy establishing of a vehicle rental location near or at that geographical area of the event, in that a management arrangement may be arranged at that location and be connected to the central database.
  • the geographical location of the management arrangement is preferably registered in the system, and enables hand out and return of vehicles at the new (e.g. temporary) vehicle rental location.
  • the automatic hand out of a vehicle identification is understood as that the management arrangement can automatically make a vehicle identification (and naturally the associated vehicle access unit) accessible to the renter.
  • the management arrangement comprises one or more transportation arrangements for automatically transporting received vehicle identification to a storage of a management arrangement and/or for automatically transporting vehicle identification to be handed out from a storage of a management arrangement.
  • the storage may comprise a door that may be opened by the automatic vehicle rental system so as to facilitate hand out and/or return of vehicle identifications.
  • the door to a storage comprising the vehicle identification complying with the order may be opened 8 automatically, e.g. by an electronically controllable lock, thereby enabling hand out of the vehicle identification.
  • a vehicle identification may be associated to a plurality of orders over time and vice versa, and that a vehicle identification is preferably only finally associated to an order upon collection of the vehicle identification.
  • the system may dynamically associate vehicle identifications to an order until the renter collects a vehicle complying with the established order. The association of returning of the vehicle identification to the order facilitates that the system thereby is enabled to finalize the order. E.g. to determine the cost for the rental.
  • the monitoring and/or control of the fleet of vehicles is at least partly based on processing of data regarding registration of automatic hand out and return of vehicle identification registered by management arrangements of the automatic vehicle rental system.
  • the said vehicle access units are the original vehicle key or corresponds to the original vehicle key of each their vehicle of the fleet of vehicles.
  • An example of a vehicle key may be a car key of a car or a key for a motor cycle. This is advantageous in that vehicle keys are small objects that can easily be stored away from the vehicle. By attaching the vehicle identification to a vehicle key, no modification of the vehicle itself is needed. Furthermore, by automatically storing the vehicle keys at storages away from the vehicles, prevention of stealing of the vehicles is enhanced.
  • said vehicle identification comprises a radio frequency identification tag. 9
  • a radio frequency identification tag also known as a RFID tag, is an advantageous way of facilitating identification of a vehicle.
  • Each RFID tag comprises a unique ID, and this unique ID is associated to the vehicle to which the vehicle access unit belongs. Thus, by registering the unique ID of the RFID tag, the associated vehicle can be determined.
  • the said vehicle identification facilitates communication with an access arrangement to give access to the location of the rented vehicle.
  • information regarding returning of a vehicle is processed so as to determine the duration of the vehicle rental and thereby facilitating a finalization of said order.
  • the duration of the vehicle rental may be determined based on collection time and return time selected by the renter during establishment of the order.
  • said establishment of an order may further comprise defining return specific data regarding the return of said vehicle.
  • the return specific data comprises selecting a vehicle rental location among a plurality of said vehicle rental locations where the selected vehicle is to be returned after rental of said vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system can identify where the vehicle is expected to be located after the order is conducted, thereby enhancing fleet management and/or monitoring of the fleet.
  • said return specific data may comprise defining a time for returning the vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system can identify when the vehicle is expected to be located after the order is conducted, thereby further enhancing fleet management and/or monitoring of the fleet.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates establishment of a forecast list of vehicles expected to be free for rental at a vehicle rental location, said forecast list being determined at least partly based on said return specific data.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system can identify vehicles that are expected to be located at specific vehicle rental locations after being collected and returned. This may enhance fleet management and/or monitoring of the fleet.
  • the said information enabling identification of said order may comprise a code key generated by the automatic vehicle rental system and associated with said order, said code key being communicated to the renter when said order is established, and wherein said processing of said registered information so as to identify said order comprises processing of said code key.
  • the code key may be a code that the user has to input manually at the management arrangement by means of a keyboard, it may be an electronically stored code key that may be transmitted to the management arrangement wirelessly over a wireless network or the like.
  • the key code may be processed automatically without the user registering the key code.
  • generation and processing of a code key may be avoided if the user reserves a vehicle for immediate use.
  • the code key may also be associated with user data such as e.g. drivers license data, civil registration system data, name data, a user selected password generated during reservation of a vehicle and/or any other suitable data that facilitates identification of the user to enhance security. The user thereby has to register both the code key and the user data which is processed by the system so as to verify/authenticate user and rental of the reserved vehicle.
  • the code key may in an aspect of the invention also be required by the access arrangement to give access to the location of the rented vehicle VE.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of said order so as to match said order with one or more vehicles of said fleet of vehicles after the order is established, and associating a vehicle identification matching said order with the order.
  • the vehicle attached to a first order may be a vehicle with vehicle specific parameters matching another order with a collection vehicle rental location being the return rental location of the first order.
  • 12 both orders are advantageously complied with and the "waiting period" i.e. the period between rentals of a vehicle may be reduced.
  • the said vehicle rental system may facilitate said processing of said order more than one time from the order is established to a vehicle identification matching the order is handed out at a management arrangement.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of said order together with other established orders to facilitate that a vehicle matching vehicle specific parameter(s) of said order is reserved at said selected vehicle rental locations to be collected at the selected time of collection.
  • an order comprises information (vehicle specific data) regarding the needed vehicle size (e.g. for five persons), and a maximum cost for the rental.
  • the system may then correlate this information in the established order with vehicles for rental at the selected vehicle rental location for collection, and/or vehicle information of vehicles that according to other orders should be for rent at the selected vehicle rental location for collection at the time of collection.
  • the system 13 may thereby reserve an appropriate vehicle for the order among vehicles found to comply with the order.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of a plurality of established orders to continuously correlate said orders.
  • vehicle identification may be associated with different orders over time.
  • a first order comprises some criteria to a vehicle, a selected collection vehicle rental location and a selected return vehicle rental location. Based on this information, a vehicle identification of a first vehicle complying with the first order is associated to the order. Afterwards one or more other orders, referred to as order two and order three in the following, may be established. The vehicle criteria of these orders may both comply with the vehicle criteria of the first vehicle. Furthermore, the selected return vehicle rental location of the second order fits in with the selected collection rental location of the third order, and the collection vehicle rental location of the second order is the same as that of the first order, and/or the same as the present location of the first vehicle.
  • the system may associate the first vehicle to the second and third order, and associate another vehicle matching the criteria of the first order, with the first order.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of data so as to predict needs of vehicles with specific vehicle specific parameters at a vehicle rental location, and automatically associate one or more vehicles comprising matching vehicle specific parameters to an order with the said vehicle rental location as return vehicle rental location.
  • An example may be that the system comes to the conclusion that vehicles with space for four or more persons is needed at a first vehicle rental location, in that a first order with the first vehicle rental location as collection vehicle rental location and with such a space criteria is established or is to be established. However, the system may also determine that no vehicle matching such criteria is expected to be available for rent at the selected time of collection. Therefore, the system may process other orders and may thus identify a second order with the first vehicle rental location as a selected return vehicle rental location and that a vehicle identification of a vehicle matching the first order and being located at the collection vehicle rental location of the second order can be associated to the second order and still comply with other criteria (e.g. selected vehicle specific parameters) of the second order. Thereby, by associating the vehicle with the second order, both the first and the second order will be complied with.
  • other criteria e.g. selected vehicle specific parameters
  • the automatic vehicle rental system may process the present location of the vehicles in the fleet, and associate these to established orders dynamically, thereby balancing the fleet so that an appropriate number of vehicles comprising different vehicle specific parameters are located at each vehicle rental location.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system may facilitate retrieving unique renter identification of said renter upon collection of a vehicle and correlation of said unique renter identification with drivers licence information of said renter so as to validate the renter's identity.
  • An example of unique renter identification may be that the renter registers his finger print(s), scans an eye, face detection or the like at a management arrangement at a vehicle rental location. Due to the correlation of this data with drivers license data and preferably also one or more databases enabling determination of the renter's identity based on the unique renter identification, it can be determined that the person trying to collect a vehicle identification is in fact the owner of the drivers licence 15 and/or that the person that is intended to collect a vehicle identification corresponds to the information given during the establishment of the order.
  • said management arrangement may comprise an identification detection arrangement facilitating detection of renter identification.
  • Such an identification detection arrangement may e.g. comprise a scanning arrangement facilitating scanning of e.g. driver license and/or other personal information such as e.g. information on credit cards, medical cards, pass port or the like, and processing of the scanned data to identify the renter.
  • the identification detection arrangement may comprise a biometric detection arrangement facilitating biometric recognition of a renter. This preferably comprises detection of physiological parameters related to the renters body. For example by face recognition, eye scanning (e.g. an iris or retina scanner), fingerprint scanner, hand and palm geometry or the like or any combination thereof. Any method of handling the retrieved data to identify the renters identity by means of the data retrieved by the biometrics and/or scanning arrangement may be utilized.
  • a scanning arrangement facilitating scanning of e.g. driver license and/or other personal information such as e.g. information on credit cards, medical cards, pass port or the like
  • processing of the scanned data to identify the renter e.g. information on credit cards, medical cards, pass port or the like
  • biometric data may also be compared/correlated with retrieved driver license information (and/or other data e.g. as described above), to assure that the renter scanning the driver license is in fact the owner of the scanned driver license.
  • the identification detection arrangement facilitates enhanced security during hand out of a vehicle identification.
  • the scanning arrangement facilitates a fast and cost efficient way of identifying a renter.
  • the biometric detection arrangement facilitates a very reliable and secure way of detecting a renter in that data retrieved by biometric detection arrangement is unique to the renter's body, thus facilitating enhanced prevention of fraud. 16
  • said management arrangement comprises a vehicle identification reader arrangement facilitating automatic detection of vehicle identification.
  • the vehicle identification reader arrangement may comprise any appropriate means to detect vehicle identification. If a vehicle identification comprises a barcode or similar, the vehicle identification reader arrangement may comprise a barcode reader. If the vehicle identification comprises an electronic ID such as an RFID tag, the vehicle identification reader arrangement may comprise an RFID reader arrangement enabling proper registration of the data on the RFID, and so on. Preferably, the vehicle identification reader arrangement facilitates automatic detection of vehicle identification upon returning a vehicle identification to an inlet of the management arrangement and/or when handing out a vehicle identification.
  • said management arrangement comprises a storage comprising a plurality of sub storages for storing each their vehicle identification.
  • a sub storage may comprise a compartment, a hook, a magnet for interacting with a ferromagnetic material of a vehicle access unit, ferromagnetic material for interacting with a magnet of a vehicle access unit, or it may comprise any other suitable arrangement facilitating storage of a vehicle identification and the associated vehicle access unit.
  • each sub storage may comprise a sub storage identification which is registered upon delivering a vehicle identification to a sub storage so that the automatic vehicle rental system can identify at which sub storage of a management arrangement a specific vehicle identification is stored.
  • said system facilitates processing of vehicle identification data received from management arrangement(s) so as to establish a list of vehicles free for rental at the vehicle rental location of the management arrangement.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system may comprise vehicle status information of vehicles of said fleet of vehicles. This facilitates easy determination of the location of a specific vehicle access unit and thus a vehicle.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system preferably stores vehicle status information of each vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, e.g. at a data storage at the central database CDB.
  • vehicle status information may e.g. comprise information regarding:
  • ⁇ a list comprising one or more orders regarding which order(s) the vehicle is presently associated for future rental
  • the automatic vehicle rental system When the automatic vehicle rental system registers the return of a vehicle identification at a management arrangement, it preferably applies this information to the vehicle status information of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle status information for a vehicle may for example be stored in a vehicle status information table comprising one or more of the above parameters for a vehicle.
  • the said vehicle status information of a vehicle at least comprises information regarding the person registered to possess a vehicle identification of said vehicle.
  • vehicle status information for a vehicle may be stored in a vehicle status information array.
  • the vehicle status information of a vehicle is in this embodiment preferably arranged in a vehicle associated to the specific vehicle, and preferably, each vehicle in the fleet is associated to a vehicle status information arrangement.
  • At least some of the content of said vehicle status information can be automatically updated dependent of registration vehicle identification of a vehicle at a management arrangement.
  • the system may thereby automatically register in the vehicle status information e.g. at which vehicle rental location the vehicle identification is registered, that the vehicle has been returned, that the vehicle is ready to be collected by maintenance personnel ad/or the like.
  • said automatic vehicle rental system facilitates processing of a plurality of data so as to establish one or more fleet management scenarios.
  • An example of a fleet management scenario may be that the system simulates association of one or vehicle identification with one or more orders and determines to which degree the fleet is utilized, for example to facilitate increased rental of a group of vehicles in the fleet of vehicles.
  • An other example may be that a fleet management scenario may be established so as to in an appropriate way distribute the vehicles between vehicle rental locations and at the same time comply with established orders. These scenarios are preferably simulated before being implemented.
  • said establishment of one or more fleet management scenarios may comprise: - establishing at least two fleet management scenarios by simulating association of one or more vehicle identification with one or more orders, 20
  • the selected fleet scenario may be a template which can change dynamically over time dependent of orders, number of vehicles in the fleet and the like.
  • the invention also relates to a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system, said automatic vehicle rental system comprising: a central database for monitoring and processing data representing a fleet of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles, a vehicle access unit for each vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification, a plurality of geographically distributed fixed management arrangements connected by a data network for registering said vehicle identification and for handing out and/or returning said vehicle identification based on the vehicle identification, each management arrangement being located at a vehicle rental location and comprising a storage for storing vehicle identifications, said method comprising the steps of
  • the above method is an advantageous way of managing rental of vehicles in the fleet of vehicles. Due to the registration of vehicle identification at the management arrangements, the status of a vehicle can be determined by detection of the vehicle identification of the vehicle. This facilitates automatic monitoring and controls of the vehicles in the fleet due to that the automatic vehicle rental system automatically registers a vehicle identification upon hand out and return, and in that automatic hand out and return is facilitated without interference from personnel. When a renter has returned a vehicle identification and this is registered in the system, maintenance personnel may collect vehicle identification of returned vehicles so as to perform maintenance of the vehicle.
  • One aspect o a method regarding maintenance of returned vehicles is described in the following.
  • the invention relates to a method of managing rental of vehicles of an automatic vehicle rental system during maintenance of the vehicles, said automatic vehicle rental system comprising: a central database for monitoring and processing data of a fleet of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles, a vehicle access unit for each vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, each vehicle access unit comprising an individual vehicle identification, a plurality of geographically distributed fixed management arrangements connected by a data network for registering said vehicle identification and for handing out and/or returning said vehicle identification based on the vehicle identification, each management arrangement being located at a vehicle rental location and comprising a storage for storing vehicle identifications, said method comprising the steps of: 23
  • MMA maintenance management arrangement
  • the method of managing rental of vehicles is e.g. advantageous in that maintenance personnel can be notified of returned vehicles.
  • the notification may furthermore comprise information of the vehicle rental location which the vehicle is returned to, which management arrangement the vehicle identification is returned to, the type of vehicle, vehicle specific parameters and/or other parameters that may be relevant for maintenance personnel.
  • the renter may be informed of a maintenance completion time at which vehicle maintenance of a vehicle has to be bee completed.
  • the method of managing rental of vehicles further comprises the step of the maintenance personnel accepting the said notification by an acceptance action at said maintenance management arrangement.
  • This facilitates increased monitoring of the maintenance of a vehicle.
  • the system may also or alternatively register maintenance personnel information and associate it to a vehicle for maintenance upon the maintenance personnel collecting the vehicle identification.
  • This maintenance personnel information may be associated to the vehicle information so that the system knows who presently possess the vehicle identification.
  • it facilitates advantageous quality check of the maintenance due to that the person who has performed maintenance can be identified after returning of the vehicle identification
  • the automatic vehicle rental system may facilitate a significant reduction of tasks that has to be performed manually to achieve monitoring and/or control of the fleet.
  • personnel verifying a renters identity may be spared, personnel handing out and 25 or receiving vehicle keys may be spared, operators of the system may be spared and the like.
  • the system facilitates easy utilization and rental of vehicles. Furthermore it facilitates easy registration and control of vehicle access units in the fleet. Furthermore due to among other things registration of the vehicle identification, the system facilitates access and print outs of log files and other advantageous data files.
  • fig. 1 illustrates an overview of an automatic vehicle rental system according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle access unit VAU comprising a vehicle identification
  • VID according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 3 illustrates an example of a management arrangement MA according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 4 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding establishing of an order by means of the vehicle ordering arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a central database according
  • 26 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding collection of a vehicle identification at a management arrangement at a vehicle rental location.
  • fig. 7 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding return of a vehicle identification at a management arrangement at a vehicle rental location.
  • fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart regarding a method for automatically managing a plurality of returns and hand outs of a vehicle identification according to an embodiment of the invention,
  • fig. 9 illustrates an example of a storage of a management arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention,
  • fig. 10 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a maintenance management arrangement MMA,
  • fig 11 illustrates a flow chart regarding maintenance/service on a vehicle,
  • fig. 12 illustrates an example of an optimization of utilization of vehicles VE in the fleet FE, and
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an automatic vehicle rental system AVRS according to an embodiment of the invention for managing and controlling a plurality of vehicles VE of a fleet of vehicles FVE.
  • the vehicles VE are preferably motorized vehicles such as cars, motor cycles, scooters and the like.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS may also be referred to in the following as the system AVRS. 27
  • the vehicle rental system AVRS comprises a central database CDB facilitating communication with management arrangements MA over a data network NW to receive data from and transmit data to management arrangements MA of the vehicle rental system AVRS.
  • the data network NW may comprise one or more data networks such as optical fibre, Ethernet, LAN, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), 3G, Power line communication, Wireless LAN, GPRS, another suitable cell phone network, or any other suitable wired or wireless data network facilitating data communication.
  • the vehicle rental system AVRS facilitates ordering of a vehicle VE among the fleet of vehicles FVE by means of vehicle ordering arrangements VOA facilitating communication with the central database CDB by means of the data network NW.
  • a vehicle ordering arrangement VOA may comprise any suitable unit, e.g. a PC, a tablet computer a laptop, it may be a mobile phone, a PDA or any other arrangement suitable of communicating with the central database CDB over one or more data networks NW wired and/or wirelessly.
  • the ordering of a vehicle VE among vehicles VE in the fleet of vehicles FVE is facilitated by means of a user interface (not illustrated) such as a user interface in a web browser, a user interface of a downloadable program to be installed on the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA or by any other appropriate user interfaces or combinations thereof.
  • a renter may access the vehicle ordering arrangements VOA over a web browser to facilitate ordering of a vehicle VE from any location with an internet connection.
  • the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA thereby facilitates that a user can place an order O regarding a vehicle VE to be collected from a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the order O is preferably after establishment stored in the central database CDP and/or in the management arrangement MA storing/predicted to store the vehicle access unit VAU as described later on, in a data storage.
  • the system AVRS may generate a code key CK for later identification of the order O.
  • the system AVRS may utilize renter identification registered at a management unit to identify the order O. The order O is described in more details later on.
  • the vehicle rental system AVRS furthermore comprises a plurality of fixed management arrangements MA distributed geographically over a geographical area GA at vehicle rental locations VRL.
  • a management arrangement MA of the system facilitates automatic hand out of vehicle access units VAU comprising a vehicle identification VID, by registering the vehicle identification VID.
  • the geographical area GA may e.g. comprise a part of a contry, one or more states in a country, it may comprise one or more countries or the like.
  • a vehicle may be collected at a first vehicle rental location
  • a vehicle rental location VRL may comprise one or more fixed management arrangements MA.
  • a vehicle rental location VRL may as illustrated also comprise one or more vehicle order arrangements VOA so that a renter may establish an order O on a vehicle VE directly at the vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the fixed management arrangements MA which are distributed geographically at vehicle rental locations VRL preferably are associated to vehicle rental locations VRL.
  • a management arrangement MA associated to a vehicle rental location is preferably arranged close the vehicle rental location VRL to which it is associated, e.g. within or near the geographical area of the vehicle rental location VRL.
  • a vehicle rental location VRL preferably is a fixed geographical location.
  • one or more of the vehicle rental locations VRL may also be rental locations VRL that may be dynamically established at different geographical locations over time to facilitate complying with renter needs, e.g. doe to different larger events. Thus, it is easy to adapt user needs. 29
  • An event may for example be a large meeting, conference, concert, festival etc. with a larger gathering of people.
  • Such events may be established at location which are not in favour of public transportation, and this problem may be solved by facilitating dynamic establishment of vehicle rental locations.
  • a vehicle order arrangement VOA may be located, away from the geographical area GA as well as within the geographical area.
  • the central database may be located within as well as away from the geographical area.
  • the central database may also comprise a plurality of central databases facilitating communication with each other, and in such a case the plurality of databases CDM may be regarded as a central database CDB.
  • Each vehicle VE comprises a vehicle access unit VAU, being a vehicle key such as the original vehicle key of a vehicle VE or a key corresponding to the original vehicle key of a vehicle VE, i.e. a copy of the original vehicle key, to allow access to and control of a specific vehicle VE in the fleet of vehicles FVE.
  • VAU vehicle access unit
  • the vehicle access unit VAU may be a conventional vehicle key, a smart card comprising electronic identification means for identifying the vehicle access unit VAU or it may be any other type of vehicle access unit VAU.
  • vehicle access unit VAU Common to all embodiments of different types of vehicle access unit VAU is that it preferably is the original vehicle key or a key corresponding thereto, e.g. a copy of the original key. However may also be another vehicle access unit for a vehicle.
  • Each vehicle access unit VAU comprises a vehicle identification VID associated with the vehicle VE so that by identifying the vehicle identification VID, the vehicle VE associated to the vehicle identification VID can also easily be identified.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle access unit VAU comprising a vehicle identification VID.
  • the vehicle identification VID is physically associated to the vehicle access unit VAU.
  • the vehicle identification VID may be releasably attached to the 30 vehicle access unit VAU by means of e.g. a key ring.
  • the vehicle identification VID may be attached by means of a one-time lock arrangement preventing the vehicle identification VID from being removed from the access unit VAU when attached to it without destroying the access unit VAU and/or the vehicle identification, or it may be attached to the vehicle access unit VAU by means of a lock arrangement so that only an authorized person can remove the identification VID without breaking the vehicle identification unit VID and/or the accompanying vehicle access unit VAU.
  • the vehicle identification VID may fixed directly to the vehicle access unit VAU e.g. by an adhesive, by welding, by moulding or the like. Furthermore the vehicle identification may be placed within a housing of a vehicle access unit VAU, e.g. together with electronic parts for enabling wireless opening and closing of locks on the vehicle VE. It is in general understood that a vehicle identification VID may be located at any appropriate location to be physically associated with a vehicle access unit VAU.
  • the vehicle identification VID preferably comprises electronic identification means facilitating communication with a management arrangement MA to facilitate identification of the vehicle VE associated with the vehicle identification VID, i.e. the vehicle VE that may be accessed by means of the vehicle access unit VAU to which the vehicle identification is associated.
  • An example of electronic identification means may be a radio-frequency identification tag (RFID tag).
  • RFID tag may be an active Radio-frequency identification tag comprising energy storage means to facilitate autonomous transmittal of data, it may be a passive RFID requiring an external source to initiate signal transmission, it may be a battery assisted passive RFID tag which requires an external source to wake up but has significant higher forward link capability providing greater range. It is of cause understood that any other appropriate electronic identification means which may be carried along with a vehicle access unit VAU and be adapted to and facilitate communication with a communication arrangement of a management arrangement MA to identify the associated vehicle VE may be utilized as a vehicle identification VID. 31
  • the vehicle identification VID may comprise other identification means such as for example a barcode.
  • the barcode may e.g. comprise a conventional barcode representing data in the widths and the spacings of parallel lines, it may comprise a data matrix code with e.g. a two-dimensional matrix barcode comprising black and white cells or modules arranged in a square and/or rectangular pattern, or the like.
  • the vehicle identification comprises a unique ID which is associated with a specific vehicle (VE) of the fleet of vehicles (FVE) so that by identifying the unique ID, the vehicle (VE) associated thereto can be identified.
  • VE vehicle
  • FVE fleet of vehicles
  • the vehicle identification VID may in an embodiment facilitate communication with an access arrangement (not illustrated in any figure) to give access to a location of a vehicle rental location, e.g. the location where the rented vehicle VE is parked, to enable that a renter can return the vehicle at a parking spot or the like.
  • An access arrangement may comprise a gate or any other another suitable type of barrier facilitating access to and/or removal of the vehicle when opening the gate/barrier.
  • the gate/barrier is connected to detection means for detecting and processing vehicle identification.
  • a management arrangement MA facilitates automatic hand out and return of vehicle identification VID upon collection and return of a vehicle VE at vehicle rental locations VRL. This is described in more details in the following.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a management arrangement MA according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the management arrangement MA comprises an inlet IL for returning vehicle access units VAU with the vehicle identification VID, and an outlet OL for automatically handing out vehicle access units VAU with the vehicle identification VID.
  • the management arrangement MA comprises one or 32 more storages VAUST for storing returned vehicle access units VAU and vehicle identification to be handed out later on by the management arrangement MA.
  • the management arrangement in fig. 3 is just one example of a management arrangement MA, and it is understood that the management arrangement MA may be altered in a multitude of ways so that it is e.g. divided into two or more arrangements, e.g. a part for handing out vehicle identification, another part for returning vehicle identification, a dedicated storage part for storing vehicle identification and the associated vehicle access units that may be arranged away from the part(s) for handing out and returning vehicle identification, together therewith and/or the like.
  • the management arrangement MA furthermore comprises a vehicle identification reader VIDR for detecting/reading vehicle identification VID of vehicle access units VAU at least upon returning of vehicle access units VAU and the accompanying vehicle identification VID.
  • the vehicle identification reader VIDR is arranged so that it automatically detects the vehicle identification when returning the vehicle access unit VAU to a management arrangement MA.
  • the vehicle identification reader VIDR is preferably arranged so that when the vehicle access unit with the vehicle identification VID is returned by delivering the vehicle access unit VAU at the inlet IL, the vehicle identification reader VIDR automatically scans/detects the vehicle identification VID to retrieve the unique ID of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the management arrangement may also comprise one or more further vehicle identification readers VIDR arranged at the management arrangement MA at an appropriate location to enable a renter to register the vehicle access unit VAU without returning the vehicle access unit VAU.
  • a renter may be assured that the vehicle identification is readable by the management arrangement MA when inputting the vehicle access unit VAU at the inlet IL.
  • the management 33 arrangement may facilitate automatically hand out of a vehicle identification VID and the accompanying vehicle access unit VAU if the identification reader(s) VIDR cannot identify the vehicle identification.
  • a management MA may comprise a plurality of vehicle identification readers VIDR and/or more than one inlet IL and/or outlet OL so as to facilitate returning and/or handing out more vehicle access units VAU at the same time.
  • the management arrangement MA furthermore may comprise a management arrangement data processor MADP for processing data, and a communication arrangement CA enabling communication with the central database CDB.
  • the processor MADP transmits the unique ID over the network NW to the central database CDB, so that the central database CDB can register that the vehicle VE has been returned.
  • a management arrangement MA preferably registers the vehicle identification VID during hand out of the vehicle access unit VAU and transmits it to the central database CDB so that the central database CDB can register that the specific vehicle is a renter's possession and/or the time of collection of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the management arrangement MA may furthermore comprise an identification detection arrangement IDDA for detecting/determining a renter's identification such as characteristics unique to the renter.
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA may comprise a scanning arrangement for scanning/detecting information on a renter's driver license, passport, a digital signature on a personal mobile unit such as e.g. a PDA, cell phone or the like.
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA may comprise a biometric detection arrangement e.g. comprising a fingerprint scanner to detect fingerprints of a renter, it may comprise an eye 34 scanner, it may comprise a camera arrangement facilitating face detection of the renter and/or the like, to determine a renter's identity.
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA may comprise any arrangement comprising one or more detectors and/or scanners enabling identification of a renter.
  • An example of utilization of an identification detection arrangement IDDA is described later on.
  • the management arrangement MA may also comprise a display arrangement DISPA comprising one or more displays for informing a renter during hand out of a vehicle access unit VAU and return of a vehicle access unit VAU, to instruct the renter and to enable the renter to see the status of hand out return of the vehicle access unit.
  • the management arrangement MA may furthermore comprise a management arrangement identification MAID to identify the management arrangement MA and to be transmitted to the central database CDB during communication so that the central database CDP easily can identify at which at which management arrangement MA a vehicle identification VID has been returned or handed out.
  • the system AVRS may generate a code key CK when an order is established in by means of a vehicle ordering arrangement VOA.
  • the code key may be registered at a management arrangement to identify the previously established order O.
  • the management Arrangement MA may comprise an input arrangement IA for inputting registering a code key CK.
  • the code key CK may comprise a code to be inputted by means of a keyboard of the input arrangement IA, it may comprise a digital code that has previously been transmitted to a personal electronic unit such as a cell phone a PDA or the like of the renter upon establishment of the order and to be transmitted e.g. wirelessly by means of the personal electronic unit to the input arrangement, or the like. 35
  • the identification detection arrangement IDDA and the input arrangement LA may be a registration arrangement facilitating both registering of user identification code keys CK as well as it may be separate arrangements at the management arrangement MA
  • the display arrangement DISPA, the identification detection arrangement IDDA, the vehicle identification reader VIDR, the input arrangement LA and the like may communicate with the management arrangement data processor MADP so to enable processing and/or transmittance to the central database CDB of detected/scanned data/information, and to enable hand outs and returns of vehicle access units VAU.
  • the display arrangement DISPA, the identification detection arrangement IDDA, the vehicle identification reader VIDR, the input arrangement and the like may communicate directly with the central database without the usage of a management arrangement data processor MADP.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding establishing of an order O by means of the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA.
  • the renter enters/registers renter identification in the system AVRS by means of a vehicle ordering arrangement VOA.
  • the renter identification/information may comprise e.g. registering name, address, telephone number, nationality, e-mail address a user number/code and/or the like.
  • the renter identification preferably furthermore comprises information from at least one of a driver license such as a driver's license number or the like, registration of pass port information, medical card information, civil registration system information or the like to identify the renter.
  • the renter identification may furthermore comprise a picture of a driver license, a pass port, a medical card, or the like.
  • the renter identification may also comprise entering/inputting an earlier received login code for the system AVRS so that by entering the login code, at least a part of 36 the renter identification is automatically retrieved due to e.g. an earlier renter registration stored in the system AVRS.
  • the renter registers payment information such as an account number, credit card information or the like to be utilized for later payment for the rental of the vehicle VE upon returning of the vehicle VE.
  • payment information may also in embodiments of the invention be utilized as a part of the renter identification.
  • the payment information may be entered by the renter during establishment of the order, and/or it may be retrieved automatically from stored information e.g. stored during an earlier rental of a vehicle and/or during establishment of a user account or the like. Combinations of entering of payment information and stored payment information may also be advantageous.
  • the at least some of the above renter identification is then preferably processed to authenticate that the above information and to determine if the renter should be allowed to rent a vehicle VE. If the renter is not authenticated, new and/or corrected renter identification may be entered.
  • the user interface of the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA at step S3 displays management arrangements MA and/or their associated vehicle rental locations VRL for selection, to enable that a renter may select a vehicle rental location VRL for collection of a vehicle.
  • the user interface of the vehicle ordering arrangement VOA displays vehicle rental locations VRL for collection of a vehicle.
  • the renter may then by use of the user interface select a geographical location where a vehicle VE for rent is to be collected.
  • the displaying of the management arrangements MA and/or vehicle rental locations VRL may comprise a map showing the location of geographical distributed vehicle rental locations VRL comprising management arrangements MA so that a renter can determine an appropriate vehicle rental location VRL for collecting a selected vehicle VE.
  • the displaying of management arrangements MA may establish and display a list of 37 management arrangements MA, preferably with information of the geographical location of the vehicle rental location VRL.
  • information may e.g. comprise that the vehicle rental location VRL is located near a specific airport at a specific location, is located at a specific city or the like.
  • the user interface may furthermore facilitate that a renter may enter a location, and the system AVRS may process the entered data to identify one or more vehicle rental locations VRL nearest the entered location.
  • the renter selects/enters a time of collection of a vehicle VE, e.g. a date and a time or time span. For example the 22 September 2010 between 12:30 and 16:30 PM.
  • the system AVRS processes at least some of the information of steps Sl- S4 so as to identify and display vehicles VE (if any) that are free for rent at the vehicle rental location VRL and/or vehicles that are assumed to be free for rent at the selected vehicle rental location VRL at the selected time or time span.
  • the system AVRS may process the above mentioned date and time span and identify that a number of vehicles which at the time of the order are rented by another renter but is registered to be returned at the selected vehicle rental location VRL one or more days before or at the collection date. The system AVRS may thereby select these vehicles to be assumed to be free for rent at the vehicle rental location VRL at the selected time.
  • the system AVRS may display vehicles VE presently free for rent at the selected vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the renter also registers the assumed date of return of the vehicle, and at vehicle rental location VRL the vehicle VE is assumed to be returned to. This facilitates enhanced management of the fleet, also known at fleet management.
  • a vehicle VE may furthermore comprise that the renter may enter/select one or more vehicle specific parameters VSP which a 38 vehicle (VE) has to comply with to be displayed.
  • vehicle specific parameters VSP may be:
  • ⁇ vehicle size e.g. van, station car, sports car, hatchback or the like
  • vehicle brand e.g. Opel, Chrysler, BMW, Toyota etc
  • vehicle class e.g. luxury class, economic class etc.
  • the minimum rated motor size of the vehicle e.g. a minimum rated horsepower of the vehicle
  • the renter may specify a number of criteria to the vehicle and the system AVRS processes these demands to ensure that a vehicle matching the criteria is present at the vehicle rental location VRL at the specified time.
  • the system AVRS may associate a vehicle VE matching the criteria at any suitable time.
  • An example of this may be that renter specifies that the vehicle VE has to be a vehicle in the economic class and a max cost for the rental.
  • the system AVRS processes this data to assure that a vehicle matching these criteria is ready to be collected at the given location at the given time. This facilitates the possibility of a more dynamic fleet management in that the specific vehicle identification VID may be associated with the order later on, e.g.
  • the system may associate the vehicle identification VID to the order so that the criteria is complied with.
  • the renter may 39 also select that any vehicle is accepted, and it understood that such a selection is also understood as selecting a vehicle specific parameter VSP.
  • the renter may also select a specific vehicle for collection at a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • a vehicle identification VID may be associated with the order O already at the establishment of the order O.
  • the renter selects a vehicle VE among the vehicles available. This selection may also comprise selection of any vehicle VE. E.g that the renter accepts that any of the displayed vehicles is accepted and the system may then choose between any of the displayed vehicles.
  • the system AVRS at step S7 establishes an order O and stores it in the system AVRS, preferably in the central database CDB.
  • the established order O may thereby comprise information comprising:
  • VID Vehicle identification VID if associated to the order at the time of establishing the order.
  • the system may establish a time span based on the order O, within the vehicle may be collected. E.g. two hours before and after the selected time of collection, 24 hours before and after the selected time of collection or the like.
  • the system AVRS may generate a unique code key C to facilitate easy identification of the order O and/or to enhance security.
  • This code key CK may be registered at the management unit MA by an input arrangement IA for registering code keys upon collection of the vehicle VE and preferably also during returning of the vehicle VE to identify the order O. the system AVRS may generate such a unique code key CK as illustrated by step S8. This code key is associated with the established order O.
  • the code key CK is communicated to the renter (e.g.
  • a deposit on a predefined amount of money is drawn from the renter's bank account by means of the registered payment information, as a safety precaution. If the order is cancelled by the renter close to the collection date/time the system AVRS may automatically keep the whole deposit or a part of the deposit. This assures that fleet management may be enhanced in that a renter will not reserve/order a vehicle VE without a serious intention of collecting it.
  • a vehicle identification VID may be associated to the order O based on the order information, during establishment of the order O, the vehicle identification VID may be associated to the order O between establishment of the order O and collection of the vehicle identification VID and/or during collection of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the system AVRS may furthermore identify alternative available vehicles VE with one or more other/deviating vehicle specific parameters VSP than the vehicle specific parameters VSP selected by the renter. This may be advantageous in that a renter may thereby automatically be informed of vehicles that may live up to needs or wishes of the renter that is not directly indicated by the information entered/selected by the renter.
  • the system AVRS may e.g. both display a list of vehicles complying with all vehicle specific parameters and other data selected/entered by the renter, and another list with alternative vehicles that has been identified as vehicles that may be relevant for the renter, and that can/will be available at the selected vehicle rental location VRL for collection.
  • Another example may be that the renter may select a vehicle specific parameter that defines a maximum prize for rental of a vehicle, and a vehicle class. Based on this information, the system AVRS may identify that a vehicle of a higher/better class may be available for a prize near the prize selected/entered by the renter.
  • a further example may be that the system cannot identify an available vehicle VE complying with all the information entered by the renter. Thus, the system may identify and display alternative vehicles to the renter.
  • a still further example may be that the system AVRS identifies that the renter for a minor extra cost can rent a vehicle VE with e.g. air condition, a better motor, being a newer model than the selected and/or the like, and display this to the renter.
  • a vehicle VE with e.g. air condition, a better motor, being a newer model than the selected and/or the like
  • Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the central database CDB.
  • the database comprises a storage CDBST for storing a list of orders O, one or more processing units CDBPU, a vehicle database FVEDAT comprising information of vehicle VE1- VEn of the fleet of vehicles FVE, and a communication unit CDBCU for communicating over the network NW with management arrangements MA and 42 vehicle order arrangements VOA.
  • the central database CDB may furthermore facilitate communication with e.g. authorities such as police databases, banks, authorities having information of renter's economical situation, databases with drivers license information, registers with criminal records, civil registration systems and any other appropriate authorities and/or databases to collect appropriate information e.g. during the ordering and renting process.
  • authorities such as police databases, banks, authorities having information of renter's economical situation, databases with drivers license information, registers with criminal records, civil registration systems and any other appropriate authorities and/or databases to collect appropriate information e.g. during the ordering and renting process.
  • management arrangements MA can access and retrieve order information when registering a code key CK, renter information, vehicle identification VID and/or the like.
  • the central database may also store information of renters and/or orders from earlier established orders for use during identification of the renter and/or for facilitating advantageous display of earlier rented vehicles to the renter.
  • the central database CDB preferably stores information regarding each vehicle VE including the location of each vehicle VE, e.g. if a vehicle VE is presently rented by a renter, if a vehicle VE is located at a vehicle rental location VRL, and/or at which management arrangement MA the vehicle identification VID and thereby the vehicle access unit VAU is located.
  • the information VE regarding each vehicle VE may also comprise information regarding if the vehicle is an active or passive member of the fleet of vehicles FVE.
  • a passive member may be if a vehicle VE is at a mechanic, if the vehicle is broken or the like, i.e. not presently for rent or rented.
  • An active member is a vehicle that is available for rent or is rented by a renter.
  • the information may comprise information regarding if a vehicle is presently serviced by maintenance personnel to be refuelled, washed cleaned and/or the like as described later on. 43
  • Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding collection of a vehicle access unit VAU comprising the vehicle identification VID at a management arrangement MA at a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • a vehicle rental location VRL may comprise just one management arrangement MA as well as a plurality of management arrangements MA as described earlier. If the selected vehicle rental location VRL comprises more than one management arrangement MA e.g.
  • the renter may during or after the establishment of the order O have received information regarding at which management arrangement MA at the selected vehicle rental location VRL the vehicle identification VID can be collected. E.g. by receiving information of the management arrangement identification MAID, a point on map of the selected vehicle rental location VRL or the like.
  • the renter may register renter identification at the identification detection arrangement IDDR for detecting renter identification of the management arrangement MA.
  • This registration may e.g. be facilitated by scanning the driver licence of the renter, by means of face detection, finger print, eye scanning and/or the like as explained earlier.
  • it may comprise inputting a code key CK associated to the order O during establishment of the order O, it may comprise inputting a password selected by the renter during establishment of the order or by registering any other appropriate information or combinations of information that facilitates identification of the renter and the correct order O upon collection.
  • the system AVRS then processes the registered information to identify the correct order O. 44
  • the system AVRS preferably processes the renter identification registered at the management arrangement MA to verify that the registered renter information corresponds to the renter identification registered during establishment of the order (O) and preferably also to validate the renter's identity.
  • the system AVRS may processes registered drivers license data to ensure that the drivers licence is valid and/or to validate the renter's identity. This may e.g. be achieved by communication with one or more databases comprising information of valid and/or invalid driver licenses.
  • system AVRS may process the registered renter identification with renter identification registered at previous orders O to validate if a renter should be allowed to collect a vehicle. Such a processing may also be performed during establishment of an order O.
  • the system at step 11 AVRS processes the registered information so as to identify the order O and a vehicle identification VID of a vehicle VE complying with the order O.
  • the vehicle identification VID and the vehicle access unit is handed out to the renter by releasing it from the storage VAUID of the management arrangement MA to an outlet OL of the management arrangement MA.
  • the system AVRS registers the time for handout of the vehicle identification VID.
  • this hand out time is associated to the order O for later processing to e.g. determine the duration of the vehicle rental.
  • the renter can now collect the vehicle access unit VAU with the vehicle identification VID, go to the vehicle VE and start using it. 45
  • Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a flow chart regarding return of a vehicle access unit VAU comprising the vehicle identification VID at a management arrangement MA at a vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the renter at step 20 registers the vehicle identification VID at a vehicle identification reader VIDR of the management arrangement MA. This is preferably achieved by delivering the vehicle identification at an inlet IL of the management unit MA, and the management arrangement automatically registers the returned vehicle identification by means of a vehicle identification reader VIDR.
  • the registered vehicle identification VID is then processed to identify the order O associated to the vehicle VE.
  • the renter may also at step 21 register and processes renter identification and/or a code key (if previously generated) by means of an identification detection arrangement IDDA and/or an input arrangement IA for registering code keys.
  • the system AVRL at step 22 registers the returning of the vehicle identification VID and associates the returning of the vehicle identification to the order O.
  • This may comprise that the system AVRS calculates/determines cost for the rental of the vehicle VE and automatically draw the appropriate amount from the renter's account by utilizing renter payment information registered during establishment of the order O.
  • it may comprise that the amount is registered for later payment which is especially advantageous if the order is only a part of a larger order, if the renter has an account a the rental company that conducts payment at e.g. predetermined time intervals such as once a month, or the like.
  • the management arrangement MA automatically returns the returned vehicle identification VID to the storage VAUST of the management arrangement MA at the return vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the system AVRS upon returning of the vehicle identification automatically registers the time of return of the vehicle identification VID. This information may be utilized when determining the duration of the rental of the vehicle to determine the amount that the renter has to pay for the rental.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart regarding a method for automatically managing a plurality of returns and hand outs of a vehicle identification VID according an embodiment of the invention.
  • the renter registers renter identification and/or other data as descried above to enable automatic identification of the order O at a management arrangement MA at the selected collection vehicle rental location VRL, i.e. the vehicle rental location that the renter has selected during establishment of the order.
  • the system AVRS identifies the order based on the registered data, identify the order O and a vehicle identification VID of a vehicle VE complying with the order O as described above.
  • the management arrangement MA at the collection vehicle rental location VRL hands out the vehicle identification VID from a storage VAUST of the management arrangement MA to the renter, and the renter can now use the vehicle VE.
  • the renter has arrived at the return vehicle rental location VRL.
  • This is preferably the vehicle rental location VRL that the renter selected to be the intended rental location VRL for returning of the vehicle VE.
  • the renter registers and 47 returns the vehicle identification at a management arrangement MA at the return vehicle rental location VRL.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS registers the returning of the vehicle identification VID and associates the returning of the vehicle identification VID to the order O.
  • the vehicle identification VID is arranged, preferably automatically, in a storage VAUST of the management arrangement MA for a new handout.
  • the return vehicle rental location VRL at which the vehicle identification and the vehicle is returned is now to be regarded as a collection vehicle rental location VRL for new collection of the retuned vehicle identification VID and the associated vehicle VE.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates an example of a storage VAUST of a management arrangement MA.
  • the storage comprises a plurality of sub storages SST for storing each their vehicle identification VID and the associated vehicle access unit VAU, an inlet IL for returning vehicle identification VID, and an outlet OL for handing out vehicle identification VID.
  • a vehicle identification VID is delivered at the inlet IL, the vehicle identification VID is registered and is delivered to an appropriate sub storage SST.
  • the sub storage SST to which the vehicle identification VID is delivered to be stored may be a predetermined storage compartment SST, it may be a random storage compartment STC selected by the system AVRS when returning the vehicle identification VID or the like.
  • each sub storage SST comprises a sub storage identification which is registered upon delivering a vehicle identification VID to a sub storage SST so that the system AVRS can identify at which sub storage SST of a management arrangement MA a specific vehicle identification VID is stored.
  • a sub storage may comprise a storage compartment, it may comprise a hook for hanging a vehicle identification VID it may comprise a conveyer belt, rollers, or any other appropriate storage means.
  • the storage VAUST comprises one or more transportation arrangements for automatically transporting received vehicle identification VID to a sub storage SST and/or for automatically transporting vehicle identifications VID to be handed out from the storage VAUST.
  • a transportation arrangement may comprise e.g. conveyer belts, rollers, rotatably arranged hooks, magnets and/or any other appropriate arrangement or combinations thereof.
  • the transportation arrangement(s) is/are electrically driven but it/they may also be e. driven by e.g. hydraulics or any other suitable drive arrangement/means.
  • each sub storage SST may also comprise a storage compartment with a door, a drawer or the like (i.e.
  • an inlet IL and/or outlet OL which is unlocked by the system AVRS when a vehicle identification VID is to be handed out and or returned so that the renter manually may return and/or collect a vehicle identification VID to/from the storage compartment STC.
  • the storage VAUST may comprise any appropriate sub storages SST, transportation means, inlet(s) IL, outlets OL, one or more housings, displays and/or the like facilitating hand out, storage and/or return of vehicle identification VID.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a maintenance management arrangement MMA.
  • This maintenance management arrangement MMA facilitates management of returned vehicles VE to facilitate that service/maintenance personnel may collect vehicle identification VID of returned vehicles VE to perform maintenance on the vehicle before it is collected by another renter.
  • maintenance personnel may possess maintenance personnel identification MPI which can be registered/scanned at a management arrangement MA e.g. by the identification detection arrangement IDDA.
  • Such maintenance personnel identification may comprise a code to be inputted (like a code key as 49 described above), digital signature associated to a mobile unit facilitating wireless communication with a management arrangement MA, it may comprise a RFID tag, a bar code, scanning of an eye, finger print and/or the like.
  • the maintenance may e.g. comprise cleaning of the vehicle, wash of the vehicle, refuelling, motor check, repairs and/or the like.
  • Fig 11 illustrates a flow chart regarding maintenance/service on a vehicle.
  • the renter registers and returns the vehicle identification VID of a rented vehicle, the vehicle identification VID is delivered to the storage VAUST and described earlier, and the return of the vehicle is registered in the system AVRS.
  • the maintenance personnel registers maintenance personnel identification MPI at a management arrangement e.g. as described above in relation to determining the identity of a renter before handing out a vehicle identification VID.
  • the registered information is processed and if the maintenance personnel is authenticated by the system AVRS and vehicle identification VID of a vehicle VE that has been returned but not yet serviced/maintained is present in the storage VAUST, the VID may automatically be handed out to the maintenance personnel.
  • the identity and/or the registered maintenance personnel data of the maintenance personnel may be associated to the handed out vehicle identification(S) VID to monitor who has collected the vehicle identification for maintenance of the associated vehicle VE. 50
  • step S43 the maintenance personnel returns and registers the vehicle identification VID at a management arrangement MA.
  • the system AVRS automatically registers the return of the vehicle identification VID and registers the VID and/or vehicle VE as serviced/maintained and ready for collection by a renter.
  • the management arrangement MA which the vehicle identification VID is returned to after maintenance may be the same as the management arrangement MA at which the vehicle identification VID was collected for maintenance, but it may also be another management arrangement MA than the management arrangement at which the vehicle identification VID was collected for maintenance.
  • the system AVRS may comprise a management arrangement MA with a storage VAUST for returned vehicle identification VID to be serviced, and another management arrangement MA with another storage for storing vehicle identification VID of serviced vehicles VE.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS facilitates processing of orders O so as to match orders O with one or more vehicles VE of the fleet of vehicles FVE after the order O is established, and associating a vehicle identification VID matching an order O to the order O.
  • a renter has established certain criteria to the vehicle to be rented, and the system AVRS may then process this information in relation to a plurality of orders O once or continuously to correlate the criteria with vehicle specific parameters VSP of the individual vehicles VE of the fleet of vehicles FVE, to find a suitable vehicle for the order O.
  • the vehicle identification VID (if any) associated to an order O may change over time between when the order O is established and the vehicle identification VID is collected, so as to obtain balance between orders and vehicles VE for rent at different vehicle rental locations VRL, and/or so as to optimize the utilization of vehicles VE in the fleet FE. 51
  • Fig. 12 illustrates an example of optimization of utilization of vehicles VE in the fleet FVE.
  • a vehicle identification VID may be associated with an order calendar comprising information of orders associated to a vehicle identification VID.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is associated with an automatically handled order calendar comprising different time spans TS1-TS6.
  • the vehicle identification VID waits to be collected by a renter at a vehicle rental location VRL1.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is collected and the vehicle identification VIDl is registered in the system AVRS to be in operation between two vehicle rental locations VRL1 and VRL2 and is in this time span TS2 associated to an order Ol.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is registered as being at service to be maintained by maintenance personnel.
  • the vehicle identification VID waits to be collected at the vehicle rental location VRL2 to be collected in relation to another order 02.
  • the vehicle identification VIDl is collected and the vehicle identification VIDl is registered in the system AVRS to be in operation between two vehicle rental locations VRL2 and VRL3 and is in this time span TS5 associated to another order 02.
  • the system AVRS may correlate a plurality of orders O established in the system, and vehicle information to optimize the utilization of vehicles in the system AVRS.
  • the system AVRS comes to the conclusion that an established third order 03 can be conducted in the waiting time at time span TS4 between the first order Ol and second order 02, in that the order 03 comprises collection of a vehicle VE and return of the vehicle at the vehicle rental location VRL2, and in that the vehicle specific parameters VSP of the order 03 complies with the vehicle specific parameters VSP of the vehicle identification VID.
  • the third order 03 may be conducted in the time span TS4.
  • Time span TS7 of the third order 03 defines the estimated time for rental of the vehicle
  • time span TS7 defines estimated time for service of the vehicle.
  • system AVRS may process a plurality of orders O and/or registrations of vehicle identifications VID at management arrangements over time to dynamically associate vehicle identifications VID to different orders O over time, thereby facilitating enhanced utilisation of the vehicles VE in the fleet FVE.
  • Another example that is not illustrated may be that the system AVRS detects that another vehicle VE complying with the order 02 is expected to be returned to the vehicle rental location VRL2, and complies with information of the second order 02. Therefore the order 02 can be associated with this other vehicle VE, thereby enabling the first vehicle identification VID1 (and naturally the associated vehicle) to be associated to another order.
  • an operator of the system ACRS may input requirements that the system AVRS has to comply with.
  • a requirement may as one non- limiting example comprise that the operator defines a certain type of vehicle VE that has to be located at a specific vehicle rental location at any time.
  • the system AVRS may then processes such requirements to assure that the requirement is complied with. 53
  • system AVRS may process vehicle specific data VSP of established orders O so as to predict needs of a type of vehicle VE at a vehicle rental location VRL, and to automatically distribute vehicles VE accordingly, when at the same time complying with established orders O.
  • the system AVRS may gather experiential data over time to facilitate management of the fleet of vehicles. For example that a specific vehicle class often is requested at specific vehicle rental locations VRL at specific time periods such as after a weekend, after pay days, after arrival of certain flights from certain locations (especially relevant at vehicle rental locations close to airports) or the like, and may thereby try to adapt that enough vehicles VE in that vehicle class is ready for rental at the specific time periods at the specific vehicle rental locations VRL.
  • Fig.13a illustrates an embodiment of a way of handling vehicle status information VSI.
  • the status information VSI of a vehicle VE stored in a vehicle status information array in this case comprising a number of rows and columns thereby creating a vehicle status information table.
  • Other appropriate data structures than a table may however in other embodiments also or alternatively be utilized.
  • the array in fig. 13a comprises a number of vehicle status parameters VSIl-VSIn which each comprises/ is assigned to a content VSII CONT - VSIn CONT.
  • the content VSII CONT of the first vehicle status parameter VSIl may comprise information regarding the vehicle rental location at which the vehicle is located (preferably determined by the last registration of a vehicle identification).
  • the content VSI2 CONT of the second vehicle status parameter VSI2 may comprise information regarding the rental status of the vehicle. E.g. "ready for rental", “ready for maintenance", “Rented” (i.e. the vehicle identification has been collected by a renter) etc.
  • the content VSI3 CONT of the second vehicle status parameter VSI3 54 may comprise information of an order O, e.g. an order number to which the vehicle identification of the vehicle is presently associated, and so on.
  • the content of one or more of the vehicle status parameters is automatically controlled and updated/changed based on registration of vehicle identification VID at a management arrangement MA.
  • the array in fig. 13b illustrates a vehicle status information array comprising a plurality of vehicle status parameters VSIl-VSIn of a plurality of vehicle VEl-VEn. This facilitates fast and effective processing, correlation etc. of status information of a plurality of vehicles VEl-VEn.
  • the automatic vehicle rental system AVRS may facilitate establishment of one or more fleet management scenarios.
  • a fleet management scenario may comprise that the system AVRS processes a plurality of established orders O, vehicle status information VSI, system operator criteria (i.e. criteria established by an operator of the system AVRS) and/or the like. Based on this processing, the system AVRS may for example simulate association of one or more vehicle identifications VID to one or more orders O, to determine an optimal/advantageous utilization of one or more vehicles VE in the fleet. If the fleet management scenario is accepted by the system AVRS and/or an operator of the system, the system may associate the vehicle identification to order(s) according to the accepted fleet management scenario. It is in general understood that the association of vehicle identification VID to orders O may change dynamically over time.
  • the system may in an embodiment of the invention establish a plurality of fleet management scenarios and select/implement one or more of such.
  • CDB Central database
  • MA A fixed management arrangement among a plurality of
  • VID Vehicle identification
  • VAU Vehicle access unit such as a car key or another unit enabling access to and operation of said vehicle
  • NW Network connecting vehicle ordering arrangements, management arrangements and central database
  • VOA Vehicle ordering arrangement
  • VSP Vehicle specific parameter
  • IDDA Identification detection arrangement for detecting person
  • LA Input arrangement for inputting/registering a code key at the
  • DISPA Display arrangement for displaying information to a renter at the management arrangement
  • MADP Management arrangement data processor
  • CA Communication arrangement of management arrangement to facilitate communication between management arrangement and central database.
  • VAUST Vehicle access unit storage of a management arrangement for storing the vehicle access unit and the comprised vehicle identification.
  • SST Sub storages of vehicle access unit storage for storing vehicle identifications.
  • VIDR Vehicle identification reader for retrieving information from the vehicle identification of a vehicle access unit.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de location de véhicule automatique (AVRS) comprenant une base de données centrale (CDB) pour suivre et traiter des données représentant une flotte de véhicules (FVE) comprenant une pluralité de véhicules (VE), une unité d'accès au véhicule (VAU) pour chaque véhicule (VE) de la flotte de véhicules (FVE), chaque unité d'accès au véhicule (VAU) comprenant une identification de véhicule individuelle (VID), une pluralité de systèmes de gestion (MA) fixes répartis géographiquement connectés par un réseau (NW) de données pour enregistrer ladite identification du véhicule (VID) et pour distribuer et/ou retourner ladite identification du véhicule (VID) d'après l'identification du véhicule (VID). Chaque système de gestion (MA) est situé dans un lieu de location de véhicule (VRL) et comprend une mémoire (VAUST) pour enregistrer l'identification d'un véhicule (VID). Le système comprend également un système de commande de véhicule (VOA) pour la réservation des véhicules (VE) dans ladite flotte de véhicules (FVE) en communiquant avec ladite base de données centrale (CDB) par le biais dudit réseau (NW) de données.
PCT/DK2010/000071 2010-05-28 2010-05-28 Système de location de véhicule automatique WO2011147413A1 (fr)

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DE102012009019A1 (de) 2012-05-05 2013-11-07 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Fahrzeugs sowie entsprechende Betriebseinrichtung und Fahrzeug
WO2016051692A1 (fr) * 2014-10-01 2016-04-07 株式会社デンソー Système de partage de voiture et dispositif monté sur véhicule pour système de partage de voiture
JP2016071834A (ja) * 2014-10-01 2016-05-09 株式会社デンソー カーシェアリングシステム及びカーシェアリングシステム用の車載装置
WO2016128191A1 (fr) * 2015-02-13 2016-08-18 Sapfi Kapital Management Gmbh Système d'identification d'un utilisateur d'une voiture de location
JP2017073158A (ja) * 2016-11-30 2017-04-13 株式会社ワイティーエム レンタル・システムおよびレンタル方法
WO2017163136A1 (fr) * 2016-03-23 2017-09-28 Olinsky Kevin Lester Dispositif, système et procédé pour la gestion de location et/ou flotte de véhicules
CN107943029A (zh) * 2017-11-15 2018-04-20 苏州佳世达电通有限公司 运输方法及运输系统
WO2018143932A1 (fr) * 2017-01-31 2018-08-09 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Navette dynamique configurée par entrée d'utilisateur
CN111224774A (zh) * 2018-11-27 2020-06-02 天地融科技股份有限公司 一种使用租用车辆的认证方法、系统及第三方平台
CN112435406A (zh) * 2020-12-07 2021-03-02 智谷云科技(苏州)有限公司 一种基于无线通信的汽车租赁定位系统
WO2021163816A1 (fr) * 2020-02-21 2021-08-26 Blouin Sebastien Système et procédé de gestion de la location d'un véhicule
CN113706788A (zh) * 2021-09-01 2021-11-26 宁波小遛共享信息科技有限公司 一种共享车辆还车时间的确定方法、装置及计算机设备
JP2023040993A (ja) * 2020-12-27 2023-03-23 株式会社ワイティーエム 駐車エリア管理システム

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DE102012009019A1 (de) 2012-05-05 2013-11-07 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Fahrzeugs sowie entsprechende Betriebseinrichtung und Fahrzeug
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JP2016071834A (ja) * 2014-10-01 2016-05-09 株式会社デンソー カーシェアリングシステム及びカーシェアリングシステム用の車載装置
WO2016128191A1 (fr) * 2015-02-13 2016-08-18 Sapfi Kapital Management Gmbh Système d'identification d'un utilisateur d'une voiture de location
WO2017163136A1 (fr) * 2016-03-23 2017-09-28 Olinsky Kevin Lester Dispositif, système et procédé pour la gestion de location et/ou flotte de véhicules
JP2017073158A (ja) * 2016-11-30 2017-04-13 株式会社ワイティーエム レンタル・システムおよびレンタル方法
WO2018143932A1 (fr) * 2017-01-31 2018-08-09 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Navette dynamique configurée par entrée d'utilisateur
CN107943029A (zh) * 2017-11-15 2018-04-20 苏州佳世达电通有限公司 运输方法及运输系统
CN111224774A (zh) * 2018-11-27 2020-06-02 天地融科技股份有限公司 一种使用租用车辆的认证方法、系统及第三方平台
WO2021163816A1 (fr) * 2020-02-21 2021-08-26 Blouin Sebastien Système et procédé de gestion de la location d'un véhicule
CN112435406A (zh) * 2020-12-07 2021-03-02 智谷云科技(苏州)有限公司 一种基于无线通信的汽车租赁定位系统
JP2023040993A (ja) * 2020-12-27 2023-03-23 株式会社ワイティーエム 駐車エリア管理システム
CN113706788A (zh) * 2021-09-01 2021-11-26 宁波小遛共享信息科技有限公司 一种共享车辆还车时间的确定方法、装置及计算机设备

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