Lesley A Mottla

US Patent:

20130246102, Sep 19, 2013

Filed:

Dec 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/726847

Inventors:

Jonathan Wolfe - Cambridge MA, US
Lesley Mottla - Rockport MA, US

Assignee:

ZIPCAR INC. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06Q 10/02

US Classification:

705 5

Abstract:

A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing late return detection of a shared vehicle is presented. A computer system determines an end time of a first reservation of a shared vehicle by a first member of a vehicle sharing service. Then a location of the shared vehicle is determined at a first predetermined time before the end time of the first reservation. Based on the end time of the first reservation and the location of the shared vehicle, a potential late return of the shared vehicle is determined. If the shared vehicle return will be late, then at least one of the first member and a representative of the vehicle sharing service are notified so appropriate actions can be taken.

US Patent:

20110060480, Mar 10, 2011

Filed:

Jun 8, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/796574

Inventors:

Lesley Mottla - Rockport MA, US
Douglas Williams - Acton MA, US
Jonathan E. Wolfe - Pasadena CA, US
Gregory Ramsperger - Somerville MA, US
David J. Goldman - North Andover MA, US
Syed N. Ghalib - Revere MA, US
Lisa Rigano - Boston MA, US
Lucas P. Schneider - Bethesda MD, US

Assignee:

Zipcar, Inc. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
H04W 12/06
G06F 7/04
G06Q 10/00
G01C 21/00

US Classification:

701 2, 340 551, 340 554, 705 5, 701208

Abstract:

Methods, systems, and devices for reserving a reservable asset using a mobile device. A mobile device communicates directly with a vehicle-associated control module or through a reservation server using either a TCP/IP communications channel or near-field communications. A member enters a request using the user interface provided by the mobile-device application. The identity of the member is validated the vehicle-associated control module executes the request by sending a signal to a computer or sensor in the vehicle through the vehicle wiring or the vehicle CANbus. The request can be a function, such as unlocking the vehicle doors, illuminating the interior or exterior lights, honking the horn, or activating a panic alarm.

US Patent:

20150294403, Oct 15, 2015

Filed:

Apr 14, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/686219

Inventors:

- Boston MA, US
David Lambert - Boston MA, US
Dylan Spencer - Medford MA, US
Chris Wheeler - Cambridge MA, US
Griffin Mahoney - Cambridge MA, US
Russen Guggemos - Medford MA, US
James Martineau - Somerville MA, US
Guido Bartoloni - Boston MA, US
Miles Hoffman - Cambridge MA, US
Chris Chu - Boston MA, US
Alex Moore-Niemi - Cambridge MA, US
Lesley Mottla - Rockport MA, US
Al Seely - Burlington MA, US
Scott Rudberg - Newton MA, US

International Classification:

G06Q 30/06

Abstract:

The disclosed technology relates generally to methods and systems for sharing vehicles between fleets. Vehicle sharing services typically experience the most use during the weekend. Thus, many vehicles used by vehicle sharing services sit idle during the week. Meanwhile, vehicle rental companies experience the most demand during the week and their vehicles are underutilized during the week. The disclosed technology, in certain embodiments, provides systems and methods for sharing vehicles between a vehicle sharing entity and a vehicle renting entity. This allows the entities to lower fleet costs and obtain better fleet utilization by moving vehicles between fleets when one entity anticipates a spike in demand. For example, the ability for the vehicle sharing service to utilize a rental vehicle agency's excess weekend inventory will allow them to meet its strong weekend demand without the need for purchasing and maintaining additional vehicles.