Abstract:
Techniques for completing pre-arranged transactions which improve customer service. An example method includes receiving a signal from a beacon by a mobile communication device, sending a first message containing an identifier by the mobile communication device, and receiving a second message containing information for completing the transaction by the mobile communication device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This present invention relates to techniques for providing facilitating communication between customers and businesses at business locations, and more specifically to techniques for completing pre-arranged transactions. 
         [0002]    Using the convenience of the Internet and the World Wide Web (Web), customers may initiate transactions remotely from business locations and then complete the transactions when they arrive at the business locations. For example, customers may reserve hotel rooms, rental cars, restaurant times, and seats at entertainment venues. 
         [0003]    When customers arrive at and/or depart from business locations, they are often expected to take whatever steps are necessary to complete the transactions. However, the steps are not streamlined and customers may not be familiar with them. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide techniques for completing pre-arranged transactions that are more efficient and provide improved customer service. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, techniques for completing pre-arranged transactions are provided. 
         [0006]    An example method includes receiving a signal from a beacon by a mobile communication device, sending a first message containing an identifier by the mobile communication device, and receiving a second message containing information for completing the transaction by the mobile communication device. 
         [0007]    An example method of completing a pre-arranged vehicle rental transaction includes receiving signals from one or more beacons at a vehicle rental lot by a mobile communication device of a customer, sending a first message containing an identifier that distinguishes the customer from other customers at the vehicle rental lot to a vehicle rental transaction server by the mobile communication device, and receiving a second message containing sufficient information for the customer to proceed directly to a vehicle identified by the vehicle identification information. 
         [0008]    The example method of completing the pre-arranged vehicle rental transaction may further include receiving additional signals from the one or more beacons after returning to the vehicle rental lot by the mobile communication device, sending a third message containing the identifier to the vehicle rental transaction server by the mobile communication device, and receiving a fourth message containing an indication that the vehicle rental transaction is complete by the mobile communication device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention may take form in various components and arrangement of components and in various methods. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating example embodiments and alternatives and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example transaction system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example vehicle rental pick-up method. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example vehicle rental drop-off method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an example transaction system  10  includes a beacon  20  at a business establishment for facilitating interaction and/or communication between the business and customers. More specifically beacon  10  facilitates communication between a mobile communication device  30  of a customer and a server  40 . 
         [0014]    Beacon  20  may include a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard beacon. Beacon  20  transmits a wireless signal, which may include a 2.4 GHz signal. Other types of wireless beacons are also envisioned. The signal may include information, such as an identifier associated with beacon  20  should the business wish to locate the customer and the business establishment has many beacons  20 . 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, one or more beacons  20  may be located at a business entrance. In other embodiments, beacons  20  may be located elsewhere in the business establishment, such as at product or service delivery points. 
         [0016]    In one an example embodiment, the business establishment is a vehicle rental facility and transaction system is a vehicle rental transaction system. 
         [0017]    To pre-stage a vehicle rental transaction, a customer completes a reservation for a vehicle. In one example, the customer connects via network  50  to server  40  using mobile communication device  30 , a personal computer, a vehicle rental kiosk, or other computing device. For this purpose, server  40  may be a web server computer. 
         [0018]    In another example, the customer makes the reservation over the phone and provides customer identification and payment information, loyalty or rewards card information, and/or reservation times to a rental car company, travel agent, or other representative. Other channels are also envisioned. 
         [0019]    Server  40  executes vehicle rental software  42  which maintains transaction records  44  containing the details of vehicle rental transactions. For example, vehicle rental software  42  may record customer identification and payment information, loyalty or rewards card information, record reservation times from the customer, and process payment from the customer. 
         [0020]    During the vehicle rental transaction, vehicle rental transaction software  42  may obtain and use customer information from a previously created customer profile  48 . Customers may register with a rental car company to store their information in customer profiles  48 . For example, customer profile  48  may contain driver&#39;s license information, credit card information, preferences for electronic receipts, preferences for messages and alerts to mobile communication device  30 , e.g., phone number, email address, pick-up and drop-off preferences including preferences for interacting with beacon  20 , and/or customer preferences for vehicles, including vehicle features and settings. 
         [0021]    Vehicle rental software  42  receives a message from mobile communication device  30  indicative of the arrival of a customer carrying mobile communication device  30 . In response to the message, vehicle rental transaction software  42  may identify an available vehicle from vehicle inventory data  46  and associate it with the customer by making an entry in the customer&#39;s transaction record  44 . Vehicle rental software  42  may then send a message to mobile communication device  30  containing information about the vehicle including its location, e.g., parking spot number. 
         [0022]    Server  40  includes one or more processors, memory, and program storage, and may execute an operating system such as a Microsoft or Linux operating system. The processor executes software which is stored in a computer readable medium, such as a memory. For example, server  40  may execute web server software and be connected to the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) and provide web content, including web pages, during pre-staging and otherwise. 
         [0023]    The functions of server  40  may be provided by one or more computers “in the cloud”. Server computer  14  may be located at the vehicle rental location or offsite. 
         [0024]    Network  50  may include any combination of wireless or wired networks, including local area, wide area, virtual private, and global communication networks, such as the Internet. 
         [0025]    Mobile communication device  30  may include a smart phone, personal digital assistant, or other portable communication device. Mobile communication device  30  may include one or more processors, memory, program storage, a display, an input device (which may be combined with the display as a touch screen, and cellular and network communication circuitry. Mobile communication device  30  may execute an operating system such as a Microsoft, Google, or Apple operating system. The processor executes software which is stored in a computer readable medium, such as a memory. For example, mobile communication device  30  may execute web browser software for connecting to web server software executed by server  40 . 
         [0026]    Mobile communication device  30  also includes wireless circuitry  32  and executes communication software  34 . 
         [0027]    Wireless circuitry  32  receives signals from beacon  20  when mobile communication device  30  is within communication range of beacon  20  and wireless circuitry  32 . In an example embodiment in which beacon  20  includes BLE circuitry, wireless circuitry  32  is also BLE circuitry. 
         [0028]    Communication software  34  determines whether wireless circuitry  32  is receiving signals from beacon  20 . When wireless circuitry  32  is receiving signals from beacon  20 , communication software  34  sends a message to server  40  containing a customer, transaction, or other identifier. 
         [0029]    In one example embodiment, communication software  34  both detects beacon  20  and facilitates communication between mobile communication device  30  and service computer  40 . Communication software  34  sends and receives messages from server  40 . 
         [0030]    In another example embodiment, communication software  34  may only detect beacon  20  and send an initial message to service  40 . Further communication between mobile communication device  30  and server  40  may then be carried out using simple message service (text) message addressed to the phone number of mobile communication device  30  or using other communication features that are built-in to mobile communication device  30 . 
         [0031]    For example, vehicle rental transaction software  42  determines that the customer is picking up a vehicle, vehicle rental transaction software  42  may send information about a vehicle designated by vehicle rental transaction software  42  for the customer, including the vehicle&#39;s location, through communication software  34  or via an instant messaging application of mobile communication device. 
         [0032]    If vehicle rental transaction software  42  determines that the customer is dropping off a vehicle, vehicle rental transaction software  42  may interact with communication software  34  to obtain mileage, fuel level, parking spot, and/or other information and provide an electronic receipt or through communication software  34  or via the instant messaging or other application. 
         [0033]    In one example embodiment, the vehicle rental establishment provides or otherwise makes communication software  34  available to customers who wish to take advantage of the enhanced customer service it provides. For example, the vehicle rental establishment may provide communication software  34  and associated services to a preferred class of customers only, as opposed to other classes of customers. 
         [0034]    The customer causes mobile communication device  30  smartphone to download communication software  34  as a native mobile application. The customer uses the mobile application to establish a connection between the mobile application and services offered by server  40  in the cloud. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an example vehicle pick-up method is illustrated. A vehicle rental transaction customer may execute communication software  34  upon arrival at a vehicle rental lot to begin monitoring for a signal from beacon  20 . 
         [0036]    In step  60 , communication software  34  executes. 
         [0037]    In step  62 , communication software  34  waits for a signal from beacon  20 . If communication software  34  determines that wireless circuitry  32  has received a signal from beacon  20 , operation proceeds to step  64 . 
         [0038]    In step  64 , communication software  34  sends a message to server  40  through network  50  containing a customer, transaction, or other identifier that distinguishes the customer from other customers who might also be on the vehicle rental lot and using communication software  34 . 
         [0039]    Server  40  receives the message from mobile communication device  30 . In response to the message, vehicle rental transaction software  42  accesses the customer&#39;s transaction record  44 , determines that the customer is picking up a vehicle, and identifies an available vehicle from vehicle inventory data  46  and associates it with the customer by making an entry in the customer&#39;s transaction record  44 . Vehicle rental software  42  then sends a message to mobile communication device  30  containing vehicle identification information, the vehicle&#39;s location and optionally other information. 
         [0040]    For example, the message may contain information describing the vehicle. As another example, the message may contain instructions for departing the vehicle rental lot. As another example, the message may include points of interest. As yet another example, the message may include promotional offers. 
         [0041]    In step  66 , mobile communication device  30  receives the response message from server computer  34  through network  50 . 
         [0042]    Mobile communication device  30  may receive the information through communication software  34  or via a text, email, or other message from server  40 . 
         [0043]    The customer proceeds to the vehicle location and drives towards the vehicle rental lot exit. 
         [0044]    Advantageously, the customer does not need to stop at an intermediate location, such as a vehicle rental office, a customer rental vehicle location board, or other location. After communication software  34  provides the rental vehicle location to the customer, the customer may proceed directly to the vehicle. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an example vehicle drop-off method is illustrated. Upon returning to a vehicle rental lot to return a vehicle, a vehicle rental transaction customer may proceed directly to a drop-off point and park the vehicle. The customer may execute communication software  34  using mobile communication device  30  to begin monitoring for a signal from beacon  20 . 
         [0046]    In step  70 , communication software  34  executes. 
         [0047]    In step  72 , communication software  34  waits for a signal from beacon  20 . If communication software  34  determines that wireless circuitry  32  has received a signal from beacon  20 , operation proceeds to step  74 . 
         [0048]    In step  74 , communication software  34  sends a message to server  40  through network  50  containing a customer, transaction, or other identifier that distinguishes the customer from other customers who might also be on the vehicle rental lot and using communication software  34 . 
         [0049]    Server  40  receives the message from mobile communication device  30 . In response to the message, vehicle rental transaction software  42  accesses the customer&#39;s transaction record  44  and determines that the customer is returning a vehicle. Depending on the terms of the transaction, vehicle rental transaction software  42  may send a message to mobile communication device  30  prompting the customer to enter completion information, such as mileage, fuel level, parking spot, and/or other information, using communication software  34 . 
         [0050]    In step  76 , mobile communication device  30  receives a request for mileage, fuel level, parking spot, and/or other information. 
         [0051]    Communication software  34  may receive other requests, like survey requests. Communication software  34  may also receive promotional and/or other materials from server  40 . 
         [0052]    Mobile communication device  30  may receive the request and the promotional and/or other materials through communication software  34  or via a text, email, or other message from server  40 . 
         [0053]    The customer enters the mileage, fuel level, parking spot, and/or other information into communication software  34  or into another communication application, such as an instant messaging or email application. 
         [0054]    In step  78 , mobile communication device  30  sends the requested information to server  40 . 
         [0055]    Mobile communication device  30  may send this information through communication software  34  or via a text, email, or other message application to server  40 . 
         [0056]    Vehicle rental transaction software  42  makes an entry in the customer&#39;s transaction record  44 , processes payment using payment information in the customer&#39;s transaction record  44  or the customer&#39;s profile  40 , and sends the customer an indication of completion of the transaction, such as an electronic receipt, through an email address in the customer&#39;s transaction record  44  or the customer&#39;s profile  40 . 
         [0057]    In step  80 , mobile communication device  30  receives the receipt from server  40 . 
         [0058]    Mobile communication device  30  may receive the receipt through communication software  34  or via a text, email, or other message from server  40 . 
         [0059]    The customer may then depart the rental car lot. 
         [0060]    Advantageously, the customer does not need to stop at an intermediate location, such as a vehicle rental office or wait for vehicle rental lot employee to obtain mileage and fuel information and to provide a receipt. After communication software  34  provides the receipt, the customer may leave the vehicle rental lot. 
         [0061]    Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.