Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media provide for allocating vehicle resources to future vehicle requirements. In some embodiments, allocating a vehicle resource to a vehicle requirement may be based on an iterative analysis of candidate vehicle resources using one or more of: a suitability of a candidate vehicle resource to fulfil the vehicle requirement, a journey time from a vehicle location to a start location, and/or a start time for the vehicle requirement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a networked vehicle resource sharing facility, the method and system detect inputs corresponding to vehicle booking requests, where each of the vehicle booking requests identifies location data and calculates identity of multiple locations corresponding to other vehicle booking requests. Drop-off locations may be distinct from drop-off location specified in each of the other vehicle booking requests. The system accesses a data structure storing user authorisations for using assets for sharing and other qualifying criteria. Customers are automatically selected customers to share a vehicle and a route is calculated based on global optimization criteria.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a networked vehicle resource sharing facility, the method and system provide for: (a) detecting a plurality of inputs corresponding to vehicle booking requests, wherein each of the plurality of vehicle booking requests contains data identifying a drop-off location and a pick-up location that is distinct from the pick-up location of each of the other customers; (b) accessing a data structure containing stored data relating to user authorisations for using the vehicle-sharing facility to verify whether each of the vehicle booking requests relates to a customer authorised to use the vehicle-sharing facility; and for those vehicle booking requests relating to customers identified as being authorised to use the vehicle-sharing facility: (c) automatically selecting customers to share a vehicle and calculating a suggested route for the vehicle using the pick-up location and drop-off locations of the customers and one or more stored vehicle-share criteria.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus are provided for controlling the availability of start-time deferment of a pre-booked vehicle journey.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media provide for allocating vehicle resources to future vehicle requirements based on priority environments, such as in or near ‘hot spots,’ or other priority locations, where requests for vehicle resources are or are expected to be particularly high. In one embodiment, a vehicle resource allocation system allocates vehicles to requested locations such that vehicles of a fleet become more readily available to a hot spot, without requiring vehicles to be directed specifically to the hot spot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a networked vehicle resource sharing facility, the method and system provide defining a geographical area as a work region; storing, in a data structure, data relating to vehicle hire bookings beginning inside the work region, wherein the booking information for each booking includes a default delay time; applying a rule to determine that an additional delay condition or fully booked condition is satisfied within the work region; and in response to positively determining, automatically introducing an additional delay or a fully booked setting, respectively, to at least some of the vehicle hire bookings inside the work region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a networked vehicle resource sharing facility, the method and system provide for: defining a geographical area as a work region; storing, in a data structure, data relating to vehicle hire bookings beginning inside the work region, wherein the booking information for each booking includes a default delay time; applying a rule to determine that an additional delay condition or fully booked condition is satisfied within the work region; and in response to positively determining, automatically introducing an additional delay or a fully booked setting, respectively, to at least some of the vehicle hire bookings inside the work region.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media provide for allocating vehicle resources to future vehicle requirements. In some embodiments, allocating a vehicle resource to a vehicle requirement may be based on an iterative analysis of candidate vehicle resources using one or more of: a suitability of a candidate vehicle resource to fulfil the vehicle requirement, a journey time from a vehicle location to a start location, and/or a start time for the vehicle requirement.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media provide for allocating vehicle resources to future vehicle requirements. In some embodiments, allocating a vehicle resource to a vehicle requirement may be based on an iterative analysis of candidate vehicle resources using one or more of: a suitability of a candidate vehicle resource to fullfill the vehicle requirement, a journey time from a vehicle location to a start location, and/or a start time for the vehicle requirement.

Abstract: A method or apparatus for connecting a telephone call between a vehicle driver and a customer, the method comprising receiving a driver request message from a device associated with the vehicle driver to place a telephone call between the vehicle driver and a customer; using the driver request message to match the vehicle driver with a job allocation record in at least one database and identifying from the record the identity of the customer; retrieving a telephone number relating to the device associated with the vehicle driver and retrieving a customer telephone number from the at least one database; and causing a telephony service to use the telephone numbers to place the telephone call between the vehicle driver and the customer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media provide for allocating vehicle resources to future vehicle requirements based on priority environments, such as in or near ‘hot spots,’ or other priority locations, where requests for vehicle resources are or are expected to be particularly high. In one embodiment, a vehicle resource allocation system allocates vehicles to requested locations such that vehicles of a fleet become more readily available to a hot spot, without requiring vehicles to be directed specifically to the hot spot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a networked vehicle resource sharing facility, the method and system detect inputs corresponding to vehicle booking requests, where each of the vehicle booking requests identifies location data and calculates identity of multiple locations corresponding to other vehicle booking requests. Drop-off locations may be distinct from drop-off location specified in each of the other vehicle booking requests. The system accesses a data structure storing user authorisations for using assets for sharing and other qualifying criteria. Customers are automatically selected customers to share a vehicle and a route is calculated based on global optimization criteria.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a networked vehicle resource sharing facility, the method and system provide for: defining a geographical area as a work region; storing, in a data structure, data relating to vehicle hire bookings beginning inside the work region, wherein the booking information for each booking includes a default delay time; applying a rule to determine that an additional delay condition or fully booked condition is satisfied within the work region; and in response to positively determining, automatically introducing an additional delay or a fully booked setting, respectively, to at least some of the vehicle hire bookings inside the work region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a networked vehicle resource sharing facility, the method and system provide for: (a) detecting a plurality of inputs corresponding to vehicle booking requests, wherein each of the plurality of vehicle booking requests contains data identifying a drop-off location and a pick-up location that is distinct from the pick-up location of each of the other customers; (b) accessing a data structure containing stored data relating to user authorisations for using the vehicle-sharing facility to verify whether each of the vehicle booking requests relates to a customer authorised to use the vehicle-sharing facility; and for those vehicle booking requests relating to customers identified as being authorised to use the vehicle-sharing facility: (c) automatically selecting customers to share a vehicle and calculating a suggested route for the vehicle using the pick-up location and drop-off locations of the customers and one or more stored vehicle-share criteria.