Cellular mobile radiotelephone-based system for rental of mobile equipment
US4965821A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1988 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/32
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system utilizing a cellular mobile radiotelephone and the public switching telecommunication network (PSTN) for entering into rental agreements and for accruing and billing the resulting rental charges associated with the rental of equipment, such as automobiles. The automobiles to be rented incorporate credit-card-activated, intelligent, cellular mobile radiotelephones. Upon entry into the automobile, a customer slides a card through a card reader included therein. The card reader transfers data encoded on the card to the radiotelephone whereupon the radio telephone establishes, via the PSTN, a communications link with a processor. In response to processor-originated voice prompts that the radiotelephone conveys to the customer, the customer then uses a keypad of the radiotelephone to enter data necessary to compose the rental agreement. Based on this data, as well as a renter profile included in a database accessible by the processor, the processor causes a rental agreement form to be printed at a location near the automobile. The customer then needs only to sign the completed written contract form at the exit location in order to drive away with the rental automobile. Upon ret…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.