Rate and distribution system

• US 20040181437A1
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Colman, Renee
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The rate and distribution system of the present invention enables an user to more accurately and quickly generate specific rental rates employing a browser-based system. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rate and distribution system includes an interactive graphical mapping interface depicting the geographic location of the entities of an equipment rental business. The mapping interface preferably comprises a touchscreen and is configured to allow an user to define a region by selecting it on the map. Upon defining a region, the system enables the user to set a rental rate for the defined region. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the system enables the user to identify the equipment category to which the rate applies and select a future effective date for the rate.

Claims

1. A method for setting rates, comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive graphical mapping interface;

defining a region on the graphical mapping interface; and

setting a rate for the region defined.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rate is set for a future effective date.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of identifying an equipment category for which the rental rate is set.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the region is geographically non-continuous.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical mapping interface is touch-based and the region is defined by selecting the region on the graphical mapping interface.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the region is defined by selecting a radius about a reference city.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the region is defined by drawing a non-circular boundary about a reference city.

8. A method for setting rates, comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical mapping interface;

defining a first region on the graphical mapping interface and designating the first region as a region of origin;

defining a second region on the graphical mapping interface and designating the second region as a destination region; and

setting a rental rate for a route originating in the region of origin and terminating in the destination region.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the rental rate is set for a future effective date.

10. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of defining an equipment category for which the rate is set.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the region of origin and the destination region is geographically non-continuous.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the graphical mapping interface is touch-based and at least one of the region of origin and the destination region is defined by selecting the region on the graphical mapping interface.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the region of origin and the destination region is defined by selecting a radius about a reference city.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the region of origin and the destination region is defined by drawing a non-circular boundary about a reference city.

15. A rate system comprising:

a network having a computer-server and a terminal in data communication with the computer-server;

a browser-based system accessible to users via the terminal, wherein the browser-based system is configured to;

a) display an interactive graphical mapping interface;

b) enable the user to define a region using the graphical mapping interface; and

c) enable the user to set a rental rate for the region.

16. The rate system of claim 15 wherein the browser-based system is further configured to display market information regarding the defined region.

17. A rate system for facilitating rate selection for a business having a plurality of entities, the rate system comprising:

a network having a computer-server and a terminal in data communication with the computer-server;

a browser-based system accessible to users via the terminal, wherein the browser-based system is configured to;

a) display a graphical mapping interface depicting the geographic location of the entities of the equipment rental business;

b) enable the user to define a region using the graphical mapping interface, the region including at least one entity, wherein the region is capable of including non-neighboring entities; and

c) enable the user to set a rental rate for the region.

18. The rate system of claim 17 wherein the graphical mapping interface comprises a touchscreen.

19. The rate system of claim 18 wherein the region is defined by activating the touchscreen using a stylus.

20. The rate system of claim 17 comprising a edit city feature configured to enable users to redefine city boundaries.

21. A method for setting rates for a plurality of entities, comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive graphical mapping interface comprising the geographical location of the plurality of entities;

defining a region on the graphical mapping interface, wherein the region comprises the geographical location of at least one of the plurality of entities;

importing the at least one of the plurality of entities into a working set index;

refining the region by editing the entities in the working set index; and

setting a rate for the region defined.

22. A rate system comprising:

a network having a computer-server and a terminal in data communication with the computer-server;

a browser-based system accessible to users via the terminal, wherein the browser-based system comprises;

a) means for displaying an interactive graphical mapping interface;

b) means for defining a region using the graphical mapping interface; and

c) means for setting a rental rate for the region.

23. The rate system of claim 22 wherein the interactive graphical mapping interface comprises a rate setting input interface.

24. The rate system of claim 22 wherein the graphical mapping interface comprises an rate effective date input interface.

25. A rate system comprising:

a network having a computer-server and a terminal in data communication with the computer-server;

a browser-based system accessible to users via the terminal, wherein the browser-based system comprises;

a) means for displaying an interactive graphical mapping interface;

b) means for defining a region using the graphical mapping interface;

c) designating the region one of a region of origin or a destination origin; and

d) means for setting a rate for one of the region of origin, the destination region and a route from the region of origin to the destination region.

26. A method for setting rental rates, comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive graphical mapping interface;

defining a region on the graphical mapping interface;

displaying market information for the region defined; and

setting a rental rate for the region defined.