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: 11833997
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20230306794
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
  • Publication number: 20230303033
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Patent number: 11694481
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
  • Publication number: 20210407217
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
  • Patent number: 11037375
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
  • Patent number: 10850705
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20200134932
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
  • Patent number: 10515489
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
  • Publication number: 20190315313
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventor: Derik Reiser
  • Patent number: 10308219
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20170316621
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan, Derik Reiser, Jeffrey T. Lauman
  • Publication number: 20170294114
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Derik Reiser
  • Patent number: 9701281
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20140266594
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20140278607
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20080133281
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: THE CRAWFORD GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Bolt, Jerry L. Bradshaw, Russell E. Dittmar, M. Derik Reiser, Chris J. Tellegen