Definition: the semantic community that is the group of people who work in the business of renting cars
Car Rental Business
Definition: the body of shared meanings that is the set of concepts that are generally accepted as important across The Car Rental Industry
Necessity: Car Rental Business is relevant to The Car Rental Industry.
Necessity: Car Rental Business is relevant to The EU-Rent Community.
EU-Rent
Definition: the international car rental company that trades as “EU-Rent.”
EU-Rent Car Rental Business
Definition: the body of shared meanings that is the set of concepts that are important to The EU-Rent Community
Necessity: EU-Rent Car Rental Business is relevant to The EU-Rent Community.
The EU-Rent Community
Definition: the semantic community that comprises all employees of EU-Rent and all others who share their body of concepts and use their vocabularies
Necessity: The EU Rent Community is a subcommunity of The Car Rental Industry
EU-Rent HQ Staff
Definition: the community that is the set of employees of EU-Rent HQ
Necessity: The EU-Rent HQ Staff is a subcommunity of the EU-Rent community.
EU-Rent HQ
Definition: the organization unit that is EU-Rent’s world headquarters and management company
Description: EU-Rent HQ sets global policy and owns the world wide reservations system.
EU-Rent operating company
Definition: operating company of EU-Rent
Synonym: operating company
Note: Has pre-defined population (below)
EU-Rent site
Concept Type: role
Definition: location used by EU-Rent
Car Movement
car movement
Definition: planned movement of a rental car of a specified car group from a sending branch to a receiving branch
Reference Scheme: movement-id
Description: A car movement meets the business requirement that a car of a given group has to be moved between branches (“we need to move a full-size car from the London City branch to the Heathrow Airport branch”). A specific car will be assigned to it at some time, not necessarily when the requirement is first identified.
Note: car movements play roles in both ‘rental’ and ‘car transfer’ and car movements are scheduled in these roles.
directional movement type
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘car movement’ and that classifies a car movement based on whether the car is moved to a different branch or not
geographical movement type
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘one-way car movement’ and that classifies a one-way car movement based on whether it crosses local area or international boundaries
in-country car movement
Concept Type: geographical movement type
Definition: one-way car movement that is not in area and is not international
Note: This means that the movement is between two local areas in the same country.
Necessity: in-country car movement is included in Movements by Geography.
international car movement
Concept Type: geographical movement type
Definition: one-way car movement that is international
Necessity: international car movement is included in Movements by Geography.
local car movement
Concept Type: geographical movement type
Definition: one-way car movement that is in area
Necessity: local car movement is included in Movements by Geography.
movement-id
Concept Type: role
Definition: text that is assigned by EU Rent as unique identifier of car movement
Note: A given car could be moved more than once between the same two branches, perhaps even on the same day. Movement-id is needed to provide a reliable reference scheme.
Movements by Direction
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘car movement’ and subdivides car movements based on directional movement type
Necessity: Movements by Direction contains the categories ‘one-way movement’ and ‘round-trip movement.’
Movements by Geography
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘one-way car movement’ and subdivides one-way car movements based on geographical movement type
Necessity: Movements by Geography contains the categories ‘in-country car movement’ and ‘international car movement’ and ‘local car movement.’
one-way car movement
Concept Type: directional movement type
Definition: car movement that is not round-trip
Necessity: one-way car movement is included in Movements by Direction.
sending branch
Concept Type: role
Definition: branch that is the origin of a car movement
receiving branch
Concept Type: role
Definition: branch that is the destination of a car movement
round-trip car movement
Concept Type: car movement that is round-trip
Necessity: directional movement type
Definition: round-trip car movement is included in Movements by Direction.
Car Transfers
car transfer
Definition: logistical action by EU-Rent, transferring a rental car between branches on a given day
in-country car transfer
Definition: car transfer that includes an in-country car movement
international return
Definition: car transfer that includes an international car movement
local car transfer
Definition: car transfer that includes a local car movement
transfer date
Concept Type: role
Definition: date that a car transfer is scheduled for
Note: The transfer date is usually scheduled in advance. The pick-up date-time and drop-off date-time are the actual times during the day, notified when the transfer is completed.
transfer drop-off branch
Concept Type: role
Definition: branch at which the transferred car of a car transfer is dropped off
transfer drop-off date-time
Concept Type: role
Definition: date-time when the transferred car of a car transfer is actually dropped off
transfer pick-up branch
Concept Type: role
Definition: branch from which the transferred car of a car transfer is picked up
transfer pick-up date-time
Concept Type: role
Definition: date-time when the transferred car of a car transfer is actually picked up
transferred car
Concept Type: role
Definition: rental car relocated by a car transfer
EU-Rent Locations
agency
Concept Type: branch type
Definition: branch that does not have an EU-Rent location and has minimal car storage and has on-demand operation
Necessity: the concept ‘agency’ is included in Branches by Type.
agent
Definition: organization external to EU-Rent that carries out car rental business on behalf of EU-Rent
Example: Hotel, travel agent.
airport branch
Concept Type: branch type
Definition: branch that has an EU-Rent location and has large car storage and has 24-7 operation
Note: This kind of branch is usually at or near a major airport or rail terminal and has sufficient staff to have specialized roles in the workflow.
Necessity: the concept ‘airport branch’ is included in Branches by Type.
branch type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘branch’ and that classifies a branch based on hours of operation and car storage capacity
branch
Concept Type: organization function
Definition: rental organization unit that has rental responsibility
Necessity: the concept ‘branch’ is included in Organization Units by Function.
Branches by Type
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘branch’ and subdivides branches based on branch type
Necessity: Branches by Type contains the categories ‘airport branch’ and ‘city branch’ and ‘agency.’
car storage capacity
Concept Type: role
Definition: number of rental cars that can be stored at the EU-Rent site that is the base for a branch
Note: Some of the capacity at a branch’s site might be taken up by cars that are not available for rental, e.g., cars awaiting service or transfer to other branches; hotel guests’ cars.
city branch
Concept Type: branch type
Definition: branch that has an EU-Rent location and has moderate car storage and has long business hours
Note: This kind of branch is usually in a city center and has small numbers of staff who are interchangeable in the workflow.
Necessity: The concept ‘city branch’ is included in Branches by Type.
country of registration
Concept Type: role
Definition: country in which something is registered with the relevant authorities
country
Source: MWU (1,2b) [“country”]
Note: Has pre-defined population (below)
EU-Rent Logo
Definition: upper-case ‘EU’ followed by a hyphen followed by upper-case ‘R’ followed by lower-case ‘ent’ all in the company’s custom-designed font and using the company’s standard color on a white ground
European Union
Definition: the geopolitical area that is composed of Sweden and Germany and Ireland and UK and ...
hours of operation
Definition: the times during which a facility is open for business
Example: 24 hours per day, 7 days a week; 7:00 am to 8:00 pm; on demand.
insurer
Source: MWU [“insurer’]
local area
Concept Type: organization function
Definition: rental organization unit that has area responsibility
Description: A local area contains a number of branches for rental car pick-up and return and a number of service depots that maintain and repair EU-Rent’s rental cars.
Necessity: service depot is included in Organization Units by Function.
name
Concept Type: role
General Concept: text
Source: MWU (1a) [“name”]
operating company
See: EU-Rent operating company
operating country
Concept Type: role
Definition: country in which EU-Rent does business
Necessity: Each operating country has exactly one currency
organization function
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘rental organization unit’ and that classifies a rental organization unit by its functional role in EU-Rent
Organization Units by Function
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘rental organization unit’ and subdivides rental organization units based on organization function
Necessity: Organization Units by Function contains the categories ‘branch’ and ‘local area’ and ‘service depot’.
rental organization unit
Concept Type: role
Definition: organization unit that operates part of EU-Rent’s car rental business
service depot
Concept Type: organization function
Definition: rental organization unit that has servicing responsibility
Necessity: service depot is included in Organization Units by Function.
Scandinavia
Definition: the geographic area that is composed of Sweden and ...
Car Specifications
car body style
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘car model’ and that classifies a car model based on industry-defined criteria
Source: CRISG (2a) [“body style”]
car group
Source: CRISG [“rate group”]
Note: Different models of car are offered for rental, organized into groups which establish a price point.
Necessity: Each car model that is included in a car group is charged at the rental rates of the car group.
car manufacturer
Definition: producer of cars that EU-Rent has decided to do business with
Note: Has pre-defined population (below)
car model
Source: CRISG [“car model”]
Note: Has pre-defined population (below)
Note: Cars of a given model are all built to the same specification, e.g., body style, engine size, fuel type. EU-Rent bases its model names on those assigned by the car manufacturers, but sometimes has to extend them to distinguish models with different engine sizes and numbers of doors.
Reference Scheme: name of car model
convertible
Concept Type: car body style
Source: CRISG [“convertible”]
Necessity: convertible is included in Models by Body Style.
coupe
Concept Type: car body style
Source: CRISG [“coupe”]
Necessity: coupe is included in Models by Body Style.
engine capacity
Concept Type: role
Definition: number that indicates the engine cylinder capacity in cubic centimeters
Source: CRISG [“engine size”]
fuel type
Source: CRISG [“fuel type”]
Note: Has pre-defined population (below)
Models by Body Style
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘car model’ and subdivides car models based on car body style
Necessity: Models by Body Style contains the categories ‘convertible’ and ‘coupe’ and ‘sedan’.
passenger capacity
Concept Type: role
Definition: number that is the count of adults, including the driver, that the car can comfortably hold
sedan
Concept Type: car body style
Source: CRISG [“sedan”]
Necessity: sedan is included in Models by Body Style.
upgrade car group
Concept Type: role
Definition: car group from which cars may be offered for rental if there are no cars available in another requested car group
Rentals
accepted request for pick-up
Definition: request for pick up that is accepted by EU-Rent
Necessity: The request for pick-up matches exactly one rental.
Necessity: The renter presents a valid credit card.
Necessity: The renter provides current contact details.
Necessity: Each driver of the rental has a valid driver license.
actual pick-up date-time
Concept Type: role
General Concept: date-time
Definition: date-time when the rented car of a rental is picked up by the renter
actual return date-time
Concept Type: role
General Concept: date-time
Definition: date-time when a rented car is returned to EU-Rent
current contact details
Concept Type: role
Definition: contact details that have been confirmed as up-to-date by the renter
optional extra
Definition: Item that may be added to a rental at extra charge if the renter so chooses
Necessity: The pick-up branch of a rental is not changed.
Note: If the renter wishes to change the pick-up branch of a rental, EU-Rent regards it as a cancellation and a new rental.
rejected request for pick-up
Definition: request for pick up that is rejected by EU-Rent
rental contract document
Definition: information artifact that is the manifestation of a rental
rental duration
Concept Type: role
Definition: duration used to calculate a rental charge
rental period
Concept Type: role
Definition: variable period that is included in a rental
rented car
Concept Type: role
Definition: rental car that is assigned a rental
request for pick-up
Definition: request from a renter to pick up the rental car of a rental that has been reserved by him
requested car group
Concept Type: role
Definition: car group that is requested for a rental
Necessity: At a given date-time each rental has exactly one requested car group.
return branch
Concept Type: role
Definition: branch stipulated in the rental contract for return of the rented car
Note: If the renter does not return the car to the location of this branch, a penalty charge will be levied.
Necessity: Each rental has exactly one return branch at a given date-time.
Possibility: The return branch of a rental is changed before the actual return date-time of the rental.
scheduled pick-up date-time
Definition: date-time at which a rented car is scheduled to be picked up from EU-Rent
Note: The possibilities and necessities for changing the start date-time of variable period apply to scheduled pick-up date-time of rental.
scheduled return date-time
Definition: date-time at which a rented car is scheduled to be returned to EU-Rent
Note: The possibilities and necessities for changing the end date-time of variable period apply to scheduled return date-time.
valid credit card
Concept Type: role
Definition: credit card that is acceptable for payment of the rental charges of the rental for which it is presented
Necessity: The card is of a type that EU-Rent accepts.
Necessity: “Expiry date” on the valid credit card is after the scheduled end date-time of the rental.
Necessity: “Cardholder” is the person presenting the card.
Note: This entry is informally defined in order to limit the case study size.
valid driver license
Concept Type: role
Definition: driver license that is acceptable for the rental for which it is presented
Necessity: “Expiry date” on the valid driver license is after the scheduled end date-time of the rental.
Necessity: “Driver” is the person presenting the license.
Necessity: The rented car falls within “vehicle types.”
Necessity: The license is legally acceptable in the country of the pick-up branch.
Note: This entry is informally defined in order to limit the case study size.
Rental Categorization
advance rental state
Concept Type:characteristic type
advance rental
Concept Type: booking mode
Definition: rental that is contracted with EU-Rent on or earlier than the day before the scheduled pickup date-time of the rental
Necessity: Each advance rental specifies exactly one car group at a given date-time.
Possibility: The car group specified for an advance rental is changed before the actual pick-up date-time of the advance rental.
Necessity: The car group specified for an advance rental is not changed after the actual pick-up date-time of the advance rental.
Necessity: The concept ‘advance rental’ is included in Rentals by Booking Mode.
booking date-time
Concept Type: role
Definition: date-time when rental booking is accepted by EU-Rent
booking mode
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘rental’ and that classifies a rental whether it is booked in advance or not
in-country one-way rental
Concept Type: rental movement type
Definition: one-way rental that includes an in-country car movement
Note: This type of rental is between branches in different local areas in the same country.
Necessity: The concept ‘in-country one-way rental’ is included in In-Country Rentals by Direction.
in-country rental type
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘in-country rental’ and that classifies an in-country rental based on whether it is round trip, within a local area or between local areas in the same country
in-country rental
General Concept: rental
In-country Rentals by Direction
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘rental’ and subdivides rentals based on movement type
Necessity: In-Country Rentals by Direction contains the categories ‘round-trip rental’ and ‘local one-way rental’ and ‘in-country one-way rental.’
international rental
Concept Type: rental movement type
Definition: one-way rental that includes an international car movement
Note: This type of rental is between branches in different countries.
Necessity: The concept international rental is included in Rentals by Movement Type.
international inward rental
Concept Type: international rental type
Definition: international rental that has country of the return branch of the rental that is the country of registration of the rented car of the rental
International Rentals by Direction
Definition: segmentation that is for international rental and subdivides rental based on international rental type
Necessity: International Rentals by Direction contains the categories ‘international inward rental’ and ‘international outward rental.’
international outward rental
Concept Type: international rental type
Definition: international rental that has country of the pick-up branch of the rental that is the country of registration of the rented car of the rental
international rental type
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘international rental’ and that classifies an international rental based on whether its direction is to or from the country of registration of the rented car
local one-way rental
Concept Type: rental movement type
Definition: one-way rental that includes a local car movement
Note: This type of rental is between branches within a local area.
Necessity: The concept local one-way rental is included in In-Country Rentals by Direction.
one-way rental
Concept Type: rental that includes a one-way car movement
rental booking
Source: CRISG [“reservation”]
Synonym: reservation
Definition: acceptance by EU-Rent of a request from a renter for an advance rental.
Note: The request informs EU-Rent of the car group required, the scheduled pick-up date-time and scheduled return date-time, and the pick-up branch and return branch, and provides details of the renter. Optionally, a specific car model within the required car group may be requested.
rental movement type
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘rental’ and that classifies a rental based on
whether it is within a country or between countries
rental state
Concept Type: characteristic type
Rentals by Booking Mode
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘rental’ and subdivides rentals based on booking mode
Necessity: Rentals by Booking Mode contains the categories ‘advance rental’ and ‘walk-in rental.’
Rentals by Movement Type
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘rental’ and subdivides rentals based on rental movement type
Necessity: Rentals by Movement Type contains the categories ‘in-country rental’ and ‘international rental.’
reservation
Synonym: rental booking
round-trip rental
Concept Type: rental movement type
Definition: rental that includes a round-trip car movement
Note: In this type of rental the pick-up branch is the return branch.
Necessity: The concept round-trip rental is included in In-Country Rentals by Direction.
walk-in rental
Concept Type: booking mode
Definition: rental that is contracted with EU-Rent on the day that the car is picked up
Necessity: The concept walk-in rental is included in Rentals by Booking Mode.
Rental Pricing
actual rental charge
Definition: rental charge that is calculated at end of rental
additional charge type
Concept Type: categorization type
Definition: concept that specializes the concept ‘additional charge’ and that classifies an additional charge based on why it was incurred-option selected by the renter, additional driver, or penalty charge
additional charge
Definition: charge included in rental charge in addition to lowest rental price
Additional Charges by Charge Type
Definition: segmentation that is for the concept ‘additional charge’ and subdivides additional charges using additional charge type
Necessity: Additional Charges by Basis contains the categories ‘extras charge’ and ‘driver charge’ and ‘penalty charge.’
base rental price
Concept Type: role
Definition: price charged for the use of the rented car of a rental, before any additional charges are added
Description: The base rental price is the sum of the rental rates for the requested car model for the RTUs (rental time units) that make up the rental duration. The base rental price can be calculated in money or loyalty club points. The rental duration is broken down into integral numbers of RTUs, working from the largest RTU towards the smallest (see example).
Necessity: If the rental duration is not for an exact number of days, the final part-day is charged as a Rental Day.
Note: Hourly tariff lines are used only for calculating late charges.
Example: A 10-day rental is broken down into four rental time units: 1 x week + 3 x 1-day. The base rental price is the sum of the prices for the four RTUs.