Extended Web Enabled Multi-Featured Business To Business Computer System For Rental Vehicle Services

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for use in connection with managing rental vehicle reservations where the authorization periods for rental vehicle reservations can be automatically extended in response to various conditions being met. In an exemplary embodiment, an authorization period for a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle can be automatically extended based on vehicle repair data for the disabled vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, an authorization period for a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle can be automatically extended if an extension request is within certain predetermined limits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising:
 creating a transaction corresponding to the rental vehicle reservation for the replacement vehicle corresponding to the disabled vehicle, the transaction having an authorization period;   receiving vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle;   determining whether the authorization period will need an extension based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data; and   in response to a determination that the authorization period will need an extension, automatically extending the authorization period for the transaction; and   wherein the method steps are performed by a processor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the received vehicle repair data comprises a number of labor hours relating to repair work for the disabled vehicle, the method further comprising:
 the processor converting the labor hours to a number of days for the repair work; and 
 wherein the determining step comprises the processor comparing the authorization period for the transaction with the number of days for the repair work to determine whether the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed; and 
 wherein the automatically extending step comprises, the processor, in response to a determination that the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed, automatically extending the authorization period for the transaction. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the automatically extending step further comprises the processor defining the extended authorization period such that the extended authorization period coincides with the number of days for the repair work. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the labor hours from an insurance company that is managing the transaction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 the processor updating the transaction to reflect a rental contract being opened for the transaction, the rental contract having the authorization period; and 
 the processor performing the receiving step, the converting step, the determining step, and the automatically extending step while the rental contract is open for the transaction. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the transaction comprises a plurality of the transactions, the transactions having a plurality of operational activity phases, the operational activity phases comprising a reservation phase, an open rental phase and a closed rental phase, the method further comprising:
 the processor communicating data about the transactions over the Internet to a plurality of remote computers for populating a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display on the remote computers; 
 the processor accepting input over the Internet through the provided GUI screens, the accepted input comprising a plurality of instructions to perform a plurality of management actions on the transactions; 
 the processor performing the management actions on the transactions in response to the accepted input; and 
 the processor performing the communicating step, the accepting step, and the management actions performing step with respect to the transactions during each of the operational activity phases. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the processor defining an administrative control over the transactions such that a plurality of users employed by different entities can share in managing at least one of the transactions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the received vehicle repair data comprises a status update for repair work to the disabled vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the status update comprises an estimated completion date for the repair work. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the determining step comprises the processor comparing the authorization period for the transaction with the estimated completion date to determine whether the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed, and wherein the automatically extending step comprises, the processor, in response to a determination that the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed, automatically extending the authorization period for the transaction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the disabled vehicle is undergoing the repair work at a repair facility, and wherein the receiving step comprises the processor receiving the estimated completion date from the repair facility. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the automatically extending step further comprises the processor defining the extended authorization period such that the extended authorization period coincides with the estimated completion date. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the disabled vehicle is undergoing the repair work at a repair facility, and wherein the receiving step comprises the processor receiving the estimated completion date from the repair facility. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 the processor further conditioning performance of the automatically extending step based on whether the repair facility qualifies as a pre-selected repair facility. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the disabled vehicle is undergoing repair work at a repair facility, and wherein the receiving step comprises the processor receiving the vehicle repair data from the repair facility. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 the processor further conditioning performance of the automatically extending step based on whether the repair facility qualifies as a pre-selected repair facility. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the processor storing the transaction in a master database of reservation data; 
 the processor providing a synching function so that a mobile computer may be selectively connected to the master database and, under operator command, a database in the mobile computer containing reservation data may be uploaded to the master database; 
 comparing the data from the two databases; and 
 choosing to store data from each according to a synch protocol at least partially specified by a user. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the processor permitting an entry of user satisfaction data and transmitting the user satisfaction data to an authority for response thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the processor providing (1) a menu of action items with to a plurality of the transactions for selective entry and processing by a user thereof and (2) a command template through which a user may execute a plurality of entered action items all together without further user action. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the processor providing a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens to a remote computer over the Internet through a stateless connection, the GUI screens configured to solicit user input for creating and managing the transaction. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory;   wherein the processor and memory are configured to (1) create a transaction corresponding to the rental vehicle reservation for the replacement vehicle corresponding to the disabled vehicle, the transaction having an authorization period, (2) receive vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle, (3) determine whether the authorization period will need an extension based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data, and (4) in response to a determination that the authorization period will need an extension, automatically extend the authorization period for the transaction.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the received vehicle repair data comprises a number of labor hours relating to repair work for the disabled vehicle, and wherein the processor and memory are further configured to (1) convert the labor hours to a number of days for the repair work, (2) compare the authorization period for the transaction with the number of days for the repair work to determine whether the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed, and (3) in response to a determination that the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed, automatically extend the authorization period for the transaction. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the processor and memory are further configured to perform the automated extension by defining the extended authorization period such that the extended authorization period coincides with the number of days for the repair work. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the processor and memory are further configured to receive the labor hours from an insurance company that is managing the transaction. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the processor and memory are further configured to (1) update the transaction to reflect a rental contract being opened for the transaction, the rental contract having the authorization period, and (2) perform the vehicle repair data receiving operation, the conversion operation, the determining operation, and the automated extension while the rental contract is open for the transaction. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the transaction comprises a plurality of the transactions, the transactions having a plurality of operational activity phases, the operational activity phases comprising a reservation phase, an open rental phase and a closed rental phase, the method further comprising, and wherein the processor and memory are further configured to (1) communicate data about the transactions over the Internet to a plurality of remote computers for populating a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) screens for display on the remote computers, (2) accept input over the Internet through the provided GUI screens, the accepted input comprising a plurality of instructions to perform a plurality of management actions on the transactions, (3) perform the management actions on the transactions in response to the accepted input, and (4) perform the communication operation, the input acceptance operation, and the management actions with respect to the transactions during each of the operational activity phases. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the received vehicle repair data comprises a status update for repair work to the disabled vehicle. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the status update comprises an estimated completion date for the repair work. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the processor and memory are further configured to (1) compare the authorization period for the transaction with the estimated completion date to determine whether the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed, and (2) in response to a determination that the authorization period is expected to end prior to the repair work being completed, automatically extend the authorization period for the transaction. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the disabled vehicle is undergoing the repair work at a repair facility, and wherein the processor and memory are further configured to receive the estimated completion date from the repair facility. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the processor and memory are further configured to perform the automated extension by defining the extended authorization period such that the extended authorization period coincides with the estimated completion date. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the disabled vehicle is undergoing the repair work at a repair facility, and wherein the processor and memory are further configured to receive the estimated completion date from the repair facility. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the processor and memory are further configured to further condition performance of the automated extension based on whether the repair facility qualifies as a pre-selected repair facility. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the disabled vehicle is undergoing repair work at a repair facility, and wherein the processor and memory are further configured to receive the vehicle repair data from the repair facility. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the processor and memory are further configured to further condition performance of the automated extension based on whether the repair facility qualifies as a pre-selected repair facility. 
     
     
         36 . A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising the following steps performed by a computer system:
 receiving vehicle repair data related to the disabled vehicle into a computer program; and   automatically computing with the computer program a duration-related parameter relating to the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the received vehicle repair data comprises a number of labor hours relating to repair work for the disabled vehicle, and wherein the automatically computing step comprises the computer system converting the labor hours to a number of days for the repair work, the number of days for the repair work serving as the duration-related parameter. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the computer system using the number of days for the repair work to manage an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the computer system using the number of days for the repair work to automatically manage an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation during an open rental contract phase for the rental vehicle reservation. 
     
     
         40 . A computer-implemented method for managing a rental vehicle reservation for a replacement vehicle corresponding to a disabled vehicle, the method comprising:
 creating a transaction corresponding to the rental vehicle reservation for the replacement vehicle corresponding to the disabled vehicle, the transaction having an authorization period;   receiving a request for an authorization period extension with respect to the transaction;   determining whether the authorization period extension would cause the transaction to be authorized by more than a pre-determined limit with respect to the authorization period; and   in response to a determination that the authorization period extension would not cause the transaction to be authorized by more than the pre-determined limit with respect to the authorization period, automatically granting the authorization period extension request; and   wherein the method steps are performed by a processor.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the determining step comprises the processor determining whether the authorization period extension would cause the transaction to be authorized by more than a pre-determined percentage of an initial authorization period for the transaction. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising:
 the processor, in response to a determination that the authorization period extension would cause the transaction to be authorized by more than the pre-determined percentage of the initial authorization period for the transaction, (1) automatically extending the authorization period for the transaction up to the pre-determined percentage of the initial authorization period, and (2) automatically sending a modified authorization period extension request to a manager for the transaction, the modified authorization period extension request being a request to further extend the transaction for a remainder of the authorization period extension from the received request.