Customer vehicle management systems and methods
US9916706B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2017 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J2310/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A customer vehicle management system includes fob devices that each include a customer portion and a key portion, that are separable and may be magnetically interlocked with a charging and communication link between them. The system provides dynamic association of fob customer portions, fob key portions and docking units housed within a cabinet. Customer portions are deployed to a customer (driver) who may later request retrieval of a vehicle the keys of which were left with an operator (valet). Vehicle requests are made through a wireless link. A communications and management module within a fob and key storage cabinet receives the request signal and activates an indicator on a docking unit associated with the customer portion and where an associated key portion is docked. The operator may then retrieve vehicle keys associated with the customer portion from which the request was made.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.