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.

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.

A positioned location adjustment method and apparatus. The method includes: a first vehicle sends a request message to a plurality of reference vehicles, where the request message includes current location information of the first vehicle; the first vehicle receives a response message from the reference vehicle, where the response message includes positioned location information of the reference vehicle, a positioning error value of the reference vehicle, and vehicle identifier information of the reference vehicle; the first vehicle determines a second vehicle from the plurality of reference vehicles based on the positioning error value of the reference vehicle; and the first vehicle adjusts the first positioned location information based on positioned location information of the second vehicle and vehicle identifier information of the second vehicle, to obtain second positioned location information. According to the embodiments, positioning precision and accuracy can be improved.

A positioned location adjustment method and apparatus. The method includes: a first vehicle sends a request message to a plurality of reference vehicles, where the request message includes current location information of the first vehicle; the first vehicle receives a response message from the reference vehicle, where the response message includes positioned location information of the reference vehicle, a positioning error value of the reference vehicle, and vehicle identifier information of the reference vehicle; the first vehicle determines a second vehicle from the plurality of reference vehicles based on the positioning error value of the reference vehicle; and the first vehicle adjusts the first positioned location information based on positioned location information of the second vehicle and vehicle identifier information of the second vehicle, to obtain second positioned location information. According to the embodiments, positioning precision and accuracy can be improved.

An indoor positioning method based on image visual features. A Wi-Fi signal strength value of a Wi-Fi tag closest to a current location of a mobile device is matched with a signal strength list in a map database to obtain a first location of a first Wi-Fi tag with the greatest matching degree. A SURF descriptor of an image of the Wi-Fi tag closest to the current location of the mobile device is matched with SURF descriptors recorded in the signal strength list in the map database to discover an image of a Wi-Fi tag with the greatest matching degree, thereby obtaining a second location of a second Wi-Fi tag corresponding to the image of the Wi-Fi tag with the greatest matching degree. A three location of a three Wi-Fi tag is obtained according to a homography matrix corresponding to the image of the Wi-Fi tag with the largest matching degree and an empirical value of a positioning error. Positioning information of the mobile device is obtained according to the first location, the second location and the third location.

An indoor positioning method based on image visual features. A Wi-Fi signal strength value of a Wi-Fi tag closest to a current location of a mobile device is matched with a signal strength list in a map database to obtain a first location of a first Wi-Fi tag with the greatest matching degree. A SURF descriptor of an image of the Wi-Fi tag closest to the current location of the mobile device is matched with SURF descriptors recorded in the signal strength list in the map database to discover an image of a Wi-Fi tag with the greatest matching degree, thereby obtaining a second location of a second Wi-Fi tag corresponding to the image of the Wi-Fi tag with the greatest matching degree. A three location of a three Wi-Fi tag is obtained according to a homography matrix corresponding to the image of the Wi-Fi tag with the largest matching degree and an empirical value of a positioning error. Positioning information of the mobile device is obtained according to the first location, the second location and the third location.

A method of generating a context-rich parking event of a target vehicle taken by a patrol vehicle; including obtaining a plate read event identifying an identifier of the target vehicle; initiating a collection of a first context image of a first view of the target vehicle; obtaining of geolocation information; obtaining temporal information; verifying if at least one condition is met by calculating if at least one of: a temporal constraint threshold is reached by using the temporal information; and a position constraint threshold is reached by using the geolocation information; initiating a collection by the patrol vehicle of a second context image of a second view of the target vehicle; and causing an association between the second context image and the plate read event to generate the context-rich parking event.

A method of generating a context-rich parking event of a target vehicle taken by a patrol vehicle; including obtaining a plate read event identifying an identifier of the target vehicle; initiating a collection of a first context image of a first view of the target vehicle; obtaining of geolocation information; obtaining temporal information; verifying if at least one condition is met by calculating if at least one of: a temporal constraint threshold is reached by using the temporal information; and a position constraint threshold is reached by using the geolocation information; initiating a collection by the patrol vehicle of a second context image of a second view of the target vehicle; and causing an association between the second context image and the plate read event to generate the context-rich parking event.

The embodiments described herein provide ranging and location determination capabilities in RF-opaque environments, such as a jungle, that preclude the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or laser ranging systems, utilizing transponders and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers located on aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles operate above the RF-opaque environment, and communicate with a ranging device within the RF-opaque environment on frequencies that propagate in the RF-opaque environment. The ranging device transmits RF signals to the transponders, which are received by the transponders and re-broadcasted back to the ranging device on a different frequency. The aerial vehicles also provide their coordinates to the ranging device using their GPS receivers. The ranging device uses information about the transmitted and received RF signals and the GPS coordinates of the aerial vehicles to calculate a perpendicular distance to a property line from the ranging device, and/or to calculate a coordinate location of the ranging device.

The embodiments described herein provide ranging and location determination capabilities in RF-opaque environments, such as a jungle, that preclude the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or laser ranging systems, utilizing transponders and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers located on aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles operate above the RF-opaque environment, and communicate with a ranging device within the RF-opaque environment on frequencies that propagate in the RF-opaque environment. The ranging device transmits RF signals to the transponders, which are received by the transponders and re-broadcasted back to the ranging device on a different frequency. The aerial vehicles also provide their coordinates to the ranging device using their GPS receivers. The ranging device uses information about the transmitted and received RF signals and the GPS coordinates of the aerial vehicles to calculate a perpendicular distance to a property line from the ranging device, and/or to calculate a coordinate location of the ranging device.