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Abstract

A system utilizing a cellular mobile radiotelephone and the public switching telecommunication network (PSTN) for entering into rental agreements and for accruing and billing the resulting rental charges associated with the rental of equipment, such as automobiles. The automobiles to be rented incorporate credit-card-activated, intelligent, cellular mobile radiotelephones. Upon entry into the automobile, a customer slides a card through a card reader included therein. The card reader transfers data encoded on the card to the radiotelephone whereupon the radio telephone establishes, via the PSTN, a communications link with a processor. In response to processor-originated voice prompts that the radiotelephone conveys to the customer, the customer then uses a keypad of the radiotelephone to enter data necessary to compose the rental agreement. Based on this data, as well as a renter profile included in a database accessible by the processor, the processor causes a rental agreement form to be printed at a location near the automobile. The customer then needs only to sign the completed written contract form at the exit location in order to drive away with the rental automobile. Upon return of the automobile, the customer enters a predetermined return code, which results in another call to the processor. Again, in response to processor-originated voice prompts, the customer enters data on the radiotelephone keypad in order to calculate rental charges. These charges are then automatically debited to an account indicated by the customer, and a written receipt is presented to the customer.

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First Claim