US Patent:
20020022979, Feb 21, 2002
Inventors:
Richard Whipp - Fort Wayne IN, US
Charles Klerner - Fort Wayne IN, US
International Classification:
G06F017/60
Abstract:
An automated vehicle release system including a centralized data management system and a vehicle to be released to one of a plurality of users. The vehicle may have original equipment window glass, a local computer in wireless communication with the centralized data management system, and an interactive interface including the window glass and a touch sensor associated with the window glass. The touch sensor is in communication with the local computer, and the interactive interface is accessible by the user from outside the vehicle and through the window glass. The centralized data management system receives data entered into the local computer by the user via the interactive interface. Release of the vehicle to the user is authorized by the centralized data management system in response to the data entered by the user and is actuated by the local computer in response to an authorization signal received from the centralized data management system. Alternatively, instead of the vehicle having an interactive interface including the window glass, a user interface to the system may include a communication device separate from and located outside the vehicle and in selective communication with the local computer or the centralized data management system, release of the vehicle to the user through the local computer being in response to the data received from the communication device and the local computer having received the authorization signal from the centralized data management system.