Abstract:
A vehicle management method and system is able to monitor and manage a fleet of vehicles with high efficiency and low cost. The management method includes the steps of providing a radio transmitter connected to a vehicle navigation system in each vehicle, providing a radio transmitter connected to a facility computer in a vehicle management facility, receiving information regarding use of a vehicle by the vehicle navigation system from the facility computer which is transmitted through the radio transmitters, monitoring usage of the vehicle and storing data thereof in a memory, and sending the stored data to the facility computer through the radio transmitters.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a vehicle management system, and more particularly, to a vehicle data monitoring and management system to be used for vehicle fleet management in a rental car business and the like. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In businesses involving a fleet of vehicles, there is a need to monitor and manage data concerning the usage and condition of each vehicle. One of the items that is commonly monitored is the distance or mileage that the vehicle has traveled. Depending on the purpose for which the vehicles is being used, the usage and condition of a vehicle is either recorded at fixed time intervals or is recorded after specific events. In a car rental business, for example, recordation of the condition and usage of a vehicle is made at the start and the end of the car rental. Other typical item to be monitored and recorded is an amount of gasoline used during the rent. 
   The process of monitoring such condition and usage of a vehicle is time consuming. Also, errors in recording the usage and condition of a vehicle are common. Typically, a user opens the vehicle, and looks at the odometer and fuel indicator to determine visually the indicated mileage and amount of gas used and writes the readings down on a paper. The mileage and amount of gas used are then typically entered manually into a computer. This process is repeated for each vehicle. Errors commonly occur from incorrectly reading the small numbers or indicator on the vehicle or from incorrectly writing down the numbers, or from incorrectly entering the numbers into the computer. Thus, the process for monitoring data of usage and condition is time consuming and expensive, particularly for businesses that maintain large fleets of vehicles. This is also time consuming for users or customers in renting and returning vehicles. 
   Although the present invention is described mainly with respect to a vehicle management system concerning the rental car facility, the application of the present invention is not limited to such a car rental business. The present invention is also applicable to taxi cab fleet management, delivery truck fleet management, and other vehicle fleet management industries. 
   As noted above, in the business involving a fleet of vehicles such as an automobile rental business, the mileage and gas usage must be monitored and recorded every time when the car is rented and returned. Other items that relate to the condition of the vehicle that must be monitored includes the fluid levels (engine oil, brake oil, coolant, etc.) of a vehicle, whether the vehicle is operating properly, whether the vehicle has been damaged in a collision, and whether the vehicle requires service. 
   Typically, each time a vehicle is rented, the automotive rental facility must ascertain the mileage of the vehicle and the amount of gas in the vehicle. In addition, once the vehicle is returned, the automotive rental facility must again determine the mileage of the vehicle, the amount of gas in the vehicle, and whether the vehicle is operating properly. The vehicle is also inspected for damage due to collision. This inspection typically involves visually inspecting the exterior of the vehicle by a rental facility personnel, which also involves human errors such as overlooking the small damages. 
   Once the required information is determined, it is entered into a computer. The computer subtracts the mileage of the vehicle when it was rented from the mileage of the vehicle after the vehicle is returned to determine the distance traveled during the rental. Similarly, the amount of gas in the vehicle when the vehicle was rented is subtracted from the amount of gas in the vehicle when the vehicle is returned to determine the amount of gas used. The user is typically charged on the basis of the period of time that the vehicle was rented, the number of miles traveled, and the amount of gas used. An invoice is then printed. The foregoing process of obtaining the required information is time consuming and expensive. In addition, the renter must wait while the required information is being gathered, entered into the computer, and processed. 
   Typically, the vehicle is again inspected as it is being cleaned and is checked to assure that it is operating properly. This check typically consists of verifying that fluid levels of oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, etc. are within acceptable ranges. Typically, the vehicle is run for a short time to verify that the vehicle is operating properly. This inspection process is also time consuming and expensive. 
   Thus, there is a need of a new and efficient way to easily obtain information on the condition and usage of a vehicle. More particularly, a method and apparatus is needed for easily and cost effectively obtaining accurate information pertaining to the usage and condition of a vehicle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle management method and system which is capable of easily obtaining information on the condition and usage of a vehicle, thereby managing the fleet of vehicles with high efficiency and low cost. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle management method and system which is capable of easily and quickly conducting a check-out and return process involved in a rental car business. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle management method and system which facilitates communication between a computer in a rental car facility and a navigation system in a rental vehicle through wireless communication means such as Bluetooth transceivers. 
   In the present invention, the vehicle management method and system includes a vehicle navigation system and a radio transmitter such as a Bluetooth transceiver provided in each vehicle, and a radio transmitter connected to a vehicle management facility computer. The vehicle management method and system of the present invention is capable of monitoring and managing the fleet of vehicles with high efficiency and low cost. The vehicle management method includes the steps of providing a radio transmitter connected to a vehicle navigation system in each vehicle, providing a radio transmitter connected to a facility computer in a vehicle management facility, receiving information regarding use of a vehicle by the vehicle navigation system from the facility computer which is transmitted through the radio transmitters, monitoring usage of the vehicle and storing data thereof in a memory, and sending the stored data to the facility computer through the radio transmitters. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of an apparatus to be installed in each vehicle in the vehicle management system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a basic concept of the vehicle management system of the present invention involving a vehicle navigation system and a radio communication system. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a structure of a vehicle navigation system which additionally includes a rental car management function and a radio transmission function. 
       FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram showing an example of structure involving a rental vehicle facility using the vehicle management system of the present invention, and  FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram showing an example of communication between the gate of the rental facility and the rental car. 
       FIGS. 5A–5C  are schematic diagrams showing display examples of vehicle navigation system including the rental car management function in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing an example of vehicle rental process in the vehicle management system of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The vehicle management system will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the application of rental car management, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to such a specific application. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  schematically show basic concept of the apparatus installed in each vehicle in the vehicle management system of the present invention. In the present invention, each vehicle is provided with a navigation system with a Bluetooth transceiver or other RF wireless communication method as an embedded or peripheral device. Each vehicle may also be provided with optional hardwired data bus connection for vehicle diagnostics information such as for sensing vehicle speed, engine speed, fluid levels, distance traveled, air bag deployment, engine trouble codes, etc. Preferably, the vehicle user may carry a Bluetooth or other wireless standards compatible cellular phone. 
   In the application of rental car management, a rental car facility may include a computer system for collection of general information such as customer profile, vehicle information, rental terms, payment information, etc. Further, the rental car facility includes a radio transmitter such as a Bluetooth transceiver connected to the computer system for communication of general information with the rental car equipped with navigation system with the radio transmitter  16  such as a Bluetooth transceiver. 
   In the example of  FIG. 1 , the navigation system includes a navigator display  12  and a navigator controller  14 . A radio transmitter  16 , preferably, a Bluetooth transmitter (transceiver) or an IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN transmitter, or a HomeRF transmitter is connected to the navigation system.  FIG. 1  also shows a cellular phone  18  owned by the user or rental facility which preferably be configured to be compatible with the Bluetooth or other radio communication protocol noted above. As is well known in the art, the navigator display  12  shows a locator map display indicating a map image and a current vehicle position or a route guidance display indicating an intersection and a direction to turn for guiding the driver to the destination. 
   Here, Bluetooth technology provides a universal radio interface in the 2.45 GHz frequency band that enables portable electronic devices to connect and communicate wirelessly via short-range ad hoc networks. The Bluetooth technology is described in Haarstsen “Bluetooth—The Universal Radio Interface for Ad Hoc, Wireless Connectivity”, Ericsson Review No. 3, 1998, pp. 110–117, and also in “www.bluetooth.com” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   Another example of such a wireless communication method is IEEE 802.11b (also known as “Wi-Fi” or “wireless ethernet”) standard. This method has a speed of 11 Megabyte per second with a frequency sharing of direct sequence spread spectrum method. The details of this standard are described in “www.wirelessethernet.com”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A further example is a HomeRF standard. This method has a speed of 1, 2 or 10 Megabyte per second with a frequency sharing of wideband frequency hopping method. The details are described in “www.homerf.org”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the navigation system is capable of determining the current vehicle position with use of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites  32 . Thus, when the vehicle is approaching the rental car facility  26  for returning the vehicle, for example, the navigation system is able to detect whether the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the rental car facility  26 . When the vehicle is in the predetermined distance, the navigation system instructs the radio transmitter (Bluetooth transceiver)  16  to send a signal to the radio transmitter in the rental car facility  26 , thereby starting the communication between the rental car and the rental car facility. 
     FIG. 3  shows an example of structure in the navigation system including the vehicle management function of the present invention. In the block diagram of  FIG. 3 , the navigation system includes a map storage medium  41  such as a CD-ROM or DVD (hereafter “DVD”) for storing map information, a DVD control unit  42  for controlling an operation for reading the map information from the DVD, a position measuring device  43  for measuring the present vehicle position which has a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a moving distance, a gyroscope for detecting a moving direction, a microprocessor for calculating a position, a GPS receiver, and etc. 
   The navigation system includes a map information memory  44  for storing the map information which is read out from the DVD  41 , a database memory  45  for storing database information such as point of interest (POI) information which is read out from the DVD  41 . The navigation system includes a remote controller  47  for executing a menu selection operation, an enlarge/reduce operation, a destination input operation, etc. and a remote controller interface  48 . 
   The navigation system further includes a processor (CPU)  49  for controlling an overall operation of the navigation system, a ROM  50  for storing various control programs such as a route search program and a map matching program necessary for navigation control, a RAM  51  for storing a processing result such as a guide route, a voice guiding unit  52  for guiding a traveling direction at a crossroad with spoken instructions, a display controller  53  for generating map images (a map guide image and an arrow guide image) on the basis of the map information, a VRAM  54  for storing the images generated by the display controller, a menu/list generating unit  55  for generating menu image/various list images, a synthesizing unit  56  for synthesizing images from the VRAM  54  and the menu/list generating unit  55 , a monitor (display)  57 , and a bus  58  for interfacing the above units in the system. 
   The navigation system further includes a rental car information memory  62  for storing information related to the rental vehicle management, a radio transmitter  16  which is typically a short-range wireless transceiver, preferably a Bluetooth transceiver or other wireless transmitter and means (not shown) for receiving signals from various sensors in the vehicle for monitoring the vehicle parameters including mileage, gas levels, oil levels, etc. Preferably, the vehicle further includes an air bag sensor or a shock sensor to detect an accident encountered by the rental vehicle. 
   Based on the structure of the present invention described above, the method of managing the vehicle fleet data is described below. An example of process for checking out the vehicle from the rental facility is shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . A user (customer) makes a reservation for a rental car through any traditional means such as through Internet, phone call, travel agent, walk-in, etc. The rental terms and user information are collected and stored in a computer database in an office  66  of the rental car facility  26  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
   The rental car facility  26  is equipped with a radio transmitter such as a Bluetooth transceiver  74  or a radio transmitter based on the wireless communication method noted above. The Bluetooth transceiver  74  is connected to the computer  72 . The Bluetooth transceiver  74  is a short-range wireless transceiver which has a covering range of 100 meters, for example, thereby enabling to communicate any vehicles in the parking lot  64  of the rental car facility  26 . Thus, the computer  72  may send the rental terms and user profiles to the appointed car in the parking lot  64  before the user coming. 
   The user arrives at the rental car facility  26  and the identification is verified via traditional means such as by a driver&#39;s license, credit card and/or membership card, etc. The user receives the vehicle in, for example, either standard service or enhanced service. In the standard service, the user is given the parking location coordinates of the vehicle and walks to the location of the parking lot  64  where the vehicle  22  waits. The user drives the vehicle  22  to a check-out gate  68  for final cross reference identification and check-out. In the enhanced service, a rental facility personnel delivers the vehicle to the customer at a pre-determined pickup point. 
   With the vehicle driven to the check-out gate  68 , a check-out personnel activates wireless transfer of information between the vehicle  22  and rental facility computer  72  via the Bluetooth transceivers. RF communication between the rental facility computer  72  and the vehicle  22  exchanges, among others, the following types of information: 
   (1) Customer information including name, company, address, phone numbers, emergency contact information, (2) rental term information including rental location, rental date, return date, rate plan, insurance options, (3) vehicle make, model, year, license information, optional equipment such as navigation, cellular phone, telematics, etc., current mileage on vehicle, current fuel level on vehicle, other vehicle diagnostics information such as fluid levels of brake oil, engine oil, transmission oil, and coolant, (4) payment information including credit card number, authorization information, expiration date, and (5) other information as needed by the rental car facility or as requested by the customer such as destination address, today&#39;s plan, special POI (point of interest), etc. 
   After the verification and data transmission process is completed at the check-out gate  68 , a check-out signal may be exchanged between vehicle and the rental facility to define the rental start time. The user drives the vehicle  22  to his destination. During the rental period, if the user wants to change the rental term such as the return date, he may call the rental facility  26  via the cellular phone. The modified rental term is stored in the rental facility computer  72 . In the case where the cellular phone is Bluetooth enabled, the modified rental term may be automatically stored in the rental facility computer  72  and the rental car information memory  62  in the navigation system. 
   While driving the rental vehicle, if the vehicle is damaged by a collision, for example, the vehicle navigation system can store information regarding an accident event. If the damage is significant, for example, causing deployment of the vehicle safety air bags, the navigation system determines this from a signal from the air bag sensor or the shock sensor. Thus, the navigation system automatically stores this event information in the rental car information memory  62  ( FIG. 3 ) in the navigation system. 
   Because the navigation system has a GPS receiver, it can store the time, date and location (coordinates, current street, city, etc.) of the accident event. Also, the navigation system can store origin and destination data input by the user prior to the accident. The navigation system further stores the information concerning the direction (north, south, etc.) of the vehicle immediately before the accident. If the accident is a major one, the user may be incoherent. Therefore, the accident event information stored in the navigation system contains information beneficial to all parties such as the rental car company, insurance companies, police, and all parties involved in the accident. 
   If the damage is not significant, for example, not causing deployment of the vehicle safety air bags, and the user is coherent, he/she can contact the rental car facility on further instructions on reporting the accident. The rental car facility can dictate that the user simply check an option in the navigation system to indicate that the car has been damaged (insignificantly) however requires attention once the vehicle is returned. 
   If, during the rental period, the vehicle is subject to theft or vandalism, a menu option in the navigation system can store information about the theft or vandalism so that it can be automatically reported via Bluetooth transceiver once the vehicle is returned to the rental car facility. 
   If, during the rental period, the driver is caught because of a parking and/or traffic violation, a menu option in the navigation system can be selected to store information about the parking and/or traffic violation so that it can be automatically reported via the Bluetooth transceiver once the vehicle is returned to the rental car facility. 
   If infrastructure allows, and the customer owns or is using a Bluetooth enabled phone as noted above, he/she can contact the rental facility. Thus, the rental facility can automatically download and upload information to and from the vehicle navigation system Bluetooth transceiver to update or change the information as needed. This applies to the information involved in the accident, theft or vandalism and parking and/or traffic violation. 
   Further, the communication through the Bluetooth enabled phone with the rental facility promotes the information transfer in such situations as follows: (1) If the original customer wants to add a driver (additional authorized operator) to the rental contract, he/she may do so via the Bluetooth enabled phone, (2) if the customer wishes to extend or shorten the rental period term, he/she may do so via the Bluetooth enabled phone, and (3) if the customer wants to change the rental return location, he/she may do so via the Bluetooth enabled phone. 
   When returning the vehicle, the user drives the car to the rental car facility. Since the navigation system can calculate proximity of the rental car facility from the current vehicle position, it can determine when to “turn on” the Bluetooth transceiver  16 . Once the vehicle is within a predetermined distance (wireless communication range) from the rental car facility&#39;s Bluetooth transceiver(s), a Bluetooth device discovery process starts. 
   The Bluetooth discovery process ensues and collects all pertinent information such as the customer information, rental term information, vehicle information, usage and condition information, payment information, and other information. Such information is stored in the computer in the rental car facility. A return signal may be exchanged between the vehicle and the rental facility to define the rental stop time. The user proceeds into the rental facility check-in lanes and payment transactions are conducted automatically based on the stored information in the navigation system. 
   During the rental period, if the vehicle incurs an accident and damage, theft and/or vandalism, a parking and/or traffic violation, rental facility personnel are notified by the computer which stores such accident information received through the Bluetooth transceivers. The rental facility personnel will assist the customer in evaluating such incidents to determine whether further actions (damage assessment, payment of fines, etc.) are required by the customer. 
   To conduct the payment transactions above, the data relating to the usage and condition of the rental vehicle is processed by the computer. For example, the distance traveled by the vehicle between the rental start time (check-out) and the rental stop time (car return) is calculated. Also, the amount of gas used during the particular rental is determined by the difference of gas levels between the rental start time and the rental stop time. Further, any damages in the vehicle will be examined by rental facility personnel. Based on the usage and condition and damages, the rental facility computer determines the amount of payment, which is transmitted to the vehicle navigation system through the Bluetooth transceiver. 
   If a paper proof of the rental transaction is required, the user can pre-select to do so by requesting the paper proof through the navigation system&#39;s menu selections. The rental facility personnel can print out or the computer automatically prints out a receipt of transaction and delivers it to the user once he/she arrives. 
   Once the rental facility reclaims the vehicle from the renter, the rental facility maintenance personnel may prepare the vehicle for the next renting driver (wash vehicle, re-fill with gasoline, clear navigation system memory, etc.). In order to expedite delivery of the vehicle to the next driver, the location (location coordinates as determined by the navigation system GPS receiver are cross-referenced with the facility&#39;s parking location coordinates) of the parked vehicle is delivered to the facility. This is done by the rental facility vehicle maintenance personnel or automatically through the Bluetooth transceivers to the rental facility computer for easy location of the vehicle. 
     FIGS. 5A–5C  show display examples of menus in the vehicle navigation system including the rental car management function of the present invention. These are merely examples for an illustration purpose only.  FIG. 5A  shows an example of main menu  82  which includes menu items of “Destination”, “Rental Car”, “Information”, “Set Up” and “Edit”. Most of the items are well known and commonly used in car navigation systems, however, the menu item “Rental Car” is unique to the navigation system of the present invention. 
   When the user selects the “Rental Car” menu, a rental car process described above starts, thereby showing a break down menu  84  of  FIG. 5B . In the example of  FIG. 5B , the rental car menu includes menu items of “User Information”, “Rental Term”, “Usage and Condition”, “Accident and Violation”, and “Payment”. 
   The “User Information” menu is provided for entering and confirming the information regarding the user such as name, address, phone number, credit card information and the like. The “Rental Term” menu is provided for entering, modifying and confirming various conditions for car rental such as a rental time length, type of car to rent, rental rate and the like. The “Usage and Condition” menu is provided for confirming data involved in using the car during the rental such as mileage, amount of gas used, damages and the like. The “Accident and Violation” menu is provided for recording and confirming data involving an accident event, theft, traffic violation and the like. The “Payment” menu is provided for finalizing the rental process by confirming the amount of charges and method of payment and authorizing the payment by the user. 
   If the user selects the “Usage and Condition” menu when returning the car, for example, the navigation system moves to a “Usage and Condition” screen  86  such as shown in  FIG. 5C . In the example of  FIG. 5C , the navigation system displays the data concerning the usage and condition of the car resulted from the usage during the rental by the user. Typically, such data is made based on the information from the navigation system through the Bluetooth transceiver  16  and calculated by the rental facility computer  72 . The computer sends the calculated data to the navigation system through the Bluetooth transceivers for confirmation by the user in the screen  86 . In this example, the “Usage and Condition” screen  86  shows the time length of the rental, distance traveled by the rental car, the amount of gasoline used during the rental, damages of the car and the like. 
     FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing an example of vehicle rental process in the vehicle management system of the present invention. At step  101 , the vehicle management system receives rental request by a user including user information, rental terms such as a rental time period, type of car, rate, and the like, which are recorded in the rental facility computer. When the user comes to the rental facility, the user information, payment condition, and rental term are confirmed in step  102 . Through the Bluetooth transceivers, the rental facility computer and the navigation system in the rental car exchange data at the check-out gate, for example. The rental facility computer sends the data including the rental term, user information and the like while the navigation system sends the data including the current odometer reading, fluid levels and the like. 
   After exchanging the data in step  103 , the rental starts at step  104  by, for example sending a rental start signal to the navigation system. During the rental, in step  105 , the navigation system in the rental car monitors and records the condition and usage of the car including vehicle position, direction, time and destination. The navigation system automatically records an accident in such a case when a signal is received from the shock sensor or air bag sensor provided in the car. 
   At the end of the rental, the user drives the car to the rental facility. When the car reaches a range where the Bluetooth communication is possible, at step  106 , the navigation system instructs the Bluetooth transceiver to send the data such as the usage and condition data to the rental facility computer. In step  107 , the rental facility computer receives the data from the rental car and calculates the data to finalize the rental procedure. The rental facility computer sends the calculated data to the navigation system to be confirmed by the user. The rental facility computer calculates the charges to the user at step  108 . In response to the payment by the user, the rental facility computer prints a receipt in step  109 , and the rental process ends. 
   Although only a preferred embodiment is specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing the spirit and intended scope of the invention.