Hire vehicle transportation system

US5726885A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimler-Benz AG · DE

Inventors

• Konrad Klein · Dortmund, DE
• Gunter Metsch · Asperg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 23, 1995
• Grant date: Mar 10, 1998
• Expiry date: Aug 23, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G1/127
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention provides a hire vehicle transport system of the type in which a plurality of usable vehicles are available for hire at one or more collection and return points, and a control center performs control and monitoring functions. The collection and return points are equipped with automatic collection and return machines which issue, to authorized persons, driving authorizations for the vehicles parked at the respective collection and return point in the form of associated vehicle keys and take back again the keys of the vehicles parked there at the end of the journey. The automatic collection and return machines have a data exchange link with the control center. According to the invention, the control center is configured as a disposition center which ascertains the individual availability of vehicles at the collection and return points and makes reservations for individual vehicles using the availability analysis. At the same time, the control center can carry out spontaneous vehicle hire procedures for vehicles which have not been reserved.