초록 ▼

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 incor

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 return of the automobile, the customer enters a predetermined return code, which results in another call to the processor. Again, in response to processor-originated voice prompts, the customer enters data on the radiotelephone keypad in order to calculate rental charges. These charges are then automatically debited to an account indicated by the customer, and a written receipt is presented to the customer.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for generating written documents for the rental of equipment having a cellular mobile radiotelephone (CMR) with a keypad and having a card reader coupled to said CMR, said CMR being coupled to a communications network, and said system comprising: a transient use processor (TUP) coupled to s

A system for generating written documents for the rental of equipment having a cellular mobile radiotelephone (CMR) with a keypad and having a card reader coupled to said CMR, said CMR being coupled to a communications network, and said system comprising: a transient use processor (TUP) coupled to said CMR and to said card reader, said TUP being programmed to: (a) obtain identification information from a programmed card read by said card reader, (b) obtain a first set of contract parameters entered from said keypad, and (c) cause said CMR to transmit, through said communications network, said identification information and said first set of contract parameters; a printing device coupled to said communications network; a memory device configured to include a personal profile database; and a system administration computer (SAC), coupled to said communications network and in data communication with said memory device, said SAC being programmed to: (a) send, through said communications network to said CMR, voice prompts intended to request specific ones of said first set of contract parameters, (b) receive said identification information and said first set of contract parameters from said communications network, (c) obtain, from said personal profile database, a second set of contract parameters, and (d) send, to said printing device, said first and second sets of contract parameters for printing a written contract form at said printing device.