Automated self-storage reservation and management system

• US 20060206342A1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Shoen, Edward J., O'Connor, Dennis, Bierman, Chris, Royer, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

An automated self-storage reservation and management system is disclosed. The system enables customers to make a reservation for a self-storage unit, view a map for a storage facility, enter or update customer information, make a payment, view payment history and print receipts. Facility personnel can utilize the system to manage inventory and client accounts, generate reports, track sales, vacancies and delinquencies. The automated system preferably includes a communications feature that enables facility personnel to communicate with each other or with customers regarding customer accounts. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, the system automatically generates notices to customers or facility personnel.

Claims

1. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers; and

a reporting feature in communication with the inventory information capture and the customer information capture, wherein the reporting feature includes a revenue report.

13. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the reporting feature includes an audit report.

14. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the reporting feature includes a cash intake report.

15. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the reporting feature comprises data configured to be exported to an external financial database.

17. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the reporting feature comprises a receipt for self-storage transactions.

18. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the reporting feature comprises a vacancy report.

19. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the reporting feature comprises a facility utilization report.

2. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers; and

a rental transaction feature in communication with the inventory information capture and customer information capture, wherein the rental transaction feature creates a rental agreement using information from the inventory information capture and the customer information capture, and wherein the rental agreement involves a plurality of self-storage units.

6. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 wherein the customer information capture includes an authorized access identifier.

7. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 wherein the customer information capture includes an emergency contact identifier.

8. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 wherein the customer information capture includes a payment history.

9. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 wherein the customer information capture includes a credit card identifier.

10. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of storage units comprises a first storage unit and a second storage unit, an automatic payment feature applied to the first storage unit, and an invoicing feature applied to the second storage unit.

11. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 comprising a transfer feature that transfers a customer from an occupied room to a vacant room.

12. The automated self-storage management system of claim 11 comprising a fee calculator that calculates a prorated rent for the occupied room and a prorated rent for the vacant room.

16. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 wherein the inventory information capture comprises a map.

20. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 further comprising a communication feature configured to allow communication between users.

21. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 further comprising a letter generation feature.

22. The automated self-storage management system of claim 21 wherein upon occurrence of a predetermined criteria, the system generates a customer letter.

23. The automated self-storage management system of claim 22 wherein the letter pertains to an overdue fee.

24. The automated self-storage management system of claim 22 wherein the letter pertains to a rate increase.

25. The automated self-storage system of claim 22 wherein the letter pertains to an eviction.

3. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers; and

an automatic payment feature in communication with the inventory information capture and customer information capture, the automatic payment feature having a credit card information capture to receive information regarding a credit card to be charged, wherein the automatic payment feature periodically applies rental charges to the credit card.

4. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers;

a rental transaction feature in communication with the inventory information capture and the customer information capture; and

an inventory management feature in communication with the inventory information capture, wherein the inventory management feature enables the user to modify the information pertaining to self-storage units.

5. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers;

a rental transaction feature in communication with the inventory information capture and the customer information capture; and

a rate setting feature in communication with the inventory information capture, wherein the rate setting feature communicates a rental rate to the inventory information capture.

26. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers; and

an auction manager feature in communication with inventory information capture and customer information capture.

27. The automated management system of claim 26 wherein the auction manager comprises a customer notifier that generates a notice to customers regarding an auction.

28. The automated management system of claim 26 wherein the auction manager comprises a facility notifier that generates a notice to a plurality of facilities regarding an auction.

29. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers; and

an auction manager feature in communication with inventory information capture and customer information capture, wherein the auction manager comprises a customer notifier that generates a notice to customers regarding an auction and a facility notifier that generates a notice to a plurality of facilities regarding an auction.

31. An automated self-storage management system for enabling a user to conduct self-storage transactions, the system comprising:

an inventory information capture having information pertaining to self-storage units;

a customer information capture having information pertaining to customers;

a rental transaction feature configured to create a rental agreement using information form the inventory information capture and the customer information capture, wherein the rental agreement involves a plurality of self-storage units, and

a reporting feature in communication with the inventory information capture and the customer information capture, wherein the reporting feature includes a revenue report.