Patents by Inventor Derik Reiser
Derik Reiser has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11833997Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
-
Publication number: 20230306794Abstract: A system is described that wirelessly connects vehicles with a remote computer system using a vehicle control unit that is re-usable with different vehicles. The vehicle control unit can be detachably connectable with different vehicles over time to support rental transactions of the vehicles to which it is connected. Pairing techniques are described for linking the vehicle control unit with the vehicle to which it is connected. Furthermore, to re-use that vehicle control unit with a different vehicle, an unpairing process can be used to de-link the vehicle control unit from a first vehicle; and that vehicle control unit can then be paired with a different vehicle. To support the rental transactions, the remote computer system can send wireless signals to the vehicle control unit to control one or more vehicle functions of the paired vehicle to which the vehicle control unit is connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
-
Publication number: 20230303033Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
-
Patent number: 11694481Abstract: An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
-
Publication number: 20210407217Abstract: An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
-
Patent number: 11037375Abstract: An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
-
Patent number: 10850705Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for permitting a person to keylessly start a vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the person to possess a smart key.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.Inventor: Derik Reiser
-
Publication number: 20200134932Abstract: An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
-
Patent number: 10515489Abstract: An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
-
Publication number: 20190315313Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for permitting a person to keylessly start a vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the person to possess a smart key.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventor: Derik Reiser
-
Patent number: 10308219Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for permitting a person to keylessly start a vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the person to possess a smart key.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.Inventor: Derik Reiser
-
Publication number: 20170316621Abstract: An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
-
Publication number: 20170294114Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for permitting a person to keylessly start a vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the person to possess a smart key.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventor: Derik Reiser
-
Patent number: 9701281Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for permitting a person to keylessly start a vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the person to possess a smart key.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.Inventor: Derik Reiser
-
Publication number: 20140266594Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for permitting a person to keylessly start a vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the person to possess a smart key.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: The Crawford Group, Inc.Inventor: Derik Reiser
-
Publication number: 20140278607Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: The Crawford Group, Inc.Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
-
Publication number: 20080133281Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for creating vehicle rental reservations from electronic communications. In an embodiment wherein the electronic communications comprise facsimile communications, optical character recognition (OCR) is employed to automatically extract the relevant data for a rental vehicle reservation from the received facsimiles. This automatically extracted reservation data can then be automatically loaded into the reservation computer system of a rental vehicle service provider to thereby book a rental vehicle reservation therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: THE CRAWFORD GROUP, INC.Inventors: Jeremy W. Bolt, Jerry L. Bradshaw, Russell E. Dittmar, M. Derik Reiser, Chris J. Tellegen