Rental property caching and searching system and process

• US 6,671,697 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthur Thibodeau Revocable Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Arthur Thibodeau
• Inventors: Thibodeau, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Amsbury, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US09/677,225
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/104.1, 705/10, 705/26, 709/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A computer system and computer-implemented process for determining availability of rental property is disclosed. The computer implemented process includes inputting and storing data representing multiple sets of attributes for each of a plurality of rental property addresses and creating a plurality of records, one for each set of attributes for each of the plurality of rental property addresses. The process further comprises combining the plurality of records into one searchable master table, and periodically updating the plurality of records by inputting updated data for one or more of the multiple sets of attributes for the plurality of rental property addresses. To search for property availability, the user inputs one or more search parameters based on one or more desired attribute sets from the multiple sets of attributes to build a search query to search the master table for records of available rental property addresses. Matching rental property is displayed. The process and software may also include providing a web-based hyperlink for each available rental property address that sends a user to a predetermined web address.

Claims

1. A method for predetermining which of a number of rental properties are both available and suited to the needs of a typically short-term renter of real property comprising the steps:

a) with the use of a data processor, predetermining for each of the said real properties;

i) the number of consecutive days for which the property can be rented beginning on any day of any year;

ii) the cost adjusted for seasonal changes for renting the property beginning on any day of any year;

iii) the minimum number of days for which the property can be rented;

iv) the maximum number of days for which the property can be rented;

v) the multiple of days that the property can be rented; and

vi) the days on which the property can be rented (that is, the days on which a guest may arrive);

b) with the use of a data processor, utilizing the information obtained in step (a) above to create a single indexed master search database table having fields representative of all of the information obtained in step (a) including;

i) a property id field that identifies the property;

ii) a start day field that represents the arrival date;

iii) a freedays field that represents how many consecutive days that can be rented are available from the arrival date forward and setting the freedays field to zero if the property cannot be rented on the arrival date;

iv) a modulus field that represents the multiples of days that the property can be rented;

v) a mindays field that represents the minimum number of days that the property can be rented;

vi) an unlimited number of day(n) fields where n represents the number of days that are to be rented; and

vii) a total rent value that represents the rent to be paid calculated by the n each day(n) field;

c) inserting into the freedays field the correct number of days that a property can be rented;

d) inserting into the property id field information identifying the property;

e) inserting into the mindays field the correct minimum number of days that a property can be rented;

f) inserting into the modulus field the multiples of days for which the property can be rented;

g) inserting into the start day field the day of the year on which the renter can start renting the property;

h) inserting into each day(n) field the total rent value; and

i) with the use of a data processor, extracting from said single indexed master search database table the identity of a selected number of properties which are both available and suited to said needs onto a results screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) includes predetermining for each of the said real properties the presence or absence of selected amenities such as, but not limited to, the number of bedrooms, hot tub, swimming pool, telephone, and air conditioning, step (b) includes fields representative of all the information obtained in step (b) related to said selected amenities and step (i) includes extracting from said single indexed master search database table, the identity of all properties which suit said availability and suitability needs including said selected amenities.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (i) said extracting is prompted by a query directed to said single indexed master search database table.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) also includes predetermining:

i) the dates on which the renter is willing to arrive;

ii) the maximum amount of rent the renter is willing to pay; and

iii) the number of bedrooms and baths needed; and

in said step (b);

i) said startday field represents a range of dates on which the renter is willing to arrive; and

ii) said freedays field represents how many consecutive days can be rented for each of said range of dates.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein in step (i) said extracting is prompted by a query directed to said single indexed master search database table.

6. The method of claim 1, including the step of periodically updating said single indexed master search database table to reflect new reservations and cancellations affecting any of said rental properties.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the results screen includes a hyperlink to said properties that will direct a user to a record for said properties which match said needs.

7. Apparatus for determining which of a number of rental properties are both available and suited to the needs of a typically short-term renter of real property comprising:

a) means for storing;

i) the number of consecutive days for which the property can be rented beginning on any day of any year;

ii) the cost adjusted for seasonal changes for renting the property beginning on any day of any year for the number of days that the renter wishes to stay in the property;

iii) the minimum number of days for which the property can be rented;

iv) the maximum number of days for which the property can be rented;

v) the multiple of days that the property can be rented; and

vi) the days on which the property can be rented;

b) mcans for creating a single indexed master search database table having fields representative of;

i) a property id field that identifies the property;

ii) a start day field that represents the arrival date;

iii) a freedays field that represents how many consecutive days that can be rented are available from the arrival date forward and setting the freedays field to zero if the property is not available on the arrival date;

iv) a modulus field that represents the multiples of days that the property can be rented;

v) a mindays field that represents the minimum number of days that the property can be rented;

vi) an unlimited number of day(n) fields where n represents the number of days that are to be rented; and

(vii) wherein each day(n) field contains a rental value calculated based on said number of days that are to be rented based on the n in said day(n) field and starting on said arrival date in said start day field;

c) means for inserting into the freedays field the correct number of days that a property can be rented;

d) means for inserting into the property id field information identifying the property;

e) means for inserting into the mindays field the correct minimum number of days that a property can be rented;

f) means for inserting into the modulus field the multiples of days for which the property can be rented;

g) means for inserting into the start day field the day of the year on which the renter can start renting the property;

h) means for inserting the correct, appropriate rent value into each day(n) field; and

i) means for extracting from said single indexed master search database table the identity of a selected number of properties which are both available and suited to said needs.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including means for storing and extracting for each of the said real properties the presence or absence of selected amenities such as, but not limited to, the number of bedrooms, hot tub, swimming pool, telephone, and air conditioning.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including means for prompting a query of the primary data bits directed to said single indexed master search database table.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including means for storing and extracting:

i) approximate range of dates or an exact date on which the renter is willing to arrive;

ii) the maximum amount of rent the renter is willing to pay;

iii) the number of bedrooms and baths needed; and

iv) the length of stay of the renter.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including means for inserting a hyperlink that will direct a user to a record for each said property which matches said needs.

11. Utilizing a data processor, a method for creating and utilizing a rental property database for storing a plurality of variable attributes related to a typically large number of rental properties typically rented for a short term to enable rapid searching and retrieval of available properties having certain desired attrbutes, said method comprising:

(i) compiling a single master search database table indexed in correspondence with the nature of said attributes and having a plurality of periodically updated fields in which all of the information associated with and necessary for selecting said attributes is stored, and from which it can be retrieved;

(ii) inputting to said table a search query of certain variable attributes to search a plurality of rental properties;

(iii) by use of said table comparing the attributes of each said property in said table with the inputted search query, and (iv) disregarding properties in said table which do not match said search query; and

(v) displaying all properties in said table that match said search query.

12. The method of creating said rental property single master search database table so indexed as described in claim 11, wherein said information is supplied by a plurality of files comprised of said variable attributes.

13. The method of creating said rental property single master search database table so indexed as described in claim 11, wherein said fields are comprised of:

a) a property identification field;

b) a startday field representing the day of the year that represents the arrival date;

c) a freedays field that represents how many consecutive days that can be rented are available from the date in the startday field;

d) a modulus field representing multiples of the number of days rented allowed;

e) a mindays field that represents the minimum number of days that a rental property can be rented; and

f) a plurality of multiple day(n) fields where n represents the number of days that are to be rented.

14. The method of creating said rental property single master search database table so indexed as described in claim 11, wherein said single master search database table can be searched by various search fields, said search fields comprising:

a) type of activity;

b) destination by state;

c) start date; and

d) length of stay.

15. The method of creating said rental property single master search database table so indexed as described in claim 14, wherein the search results can be narrowed according to location.

16. The method of creating said rental property single master search database table so indexed as described in claim 14, wherein the search results can be narrowed according to number of bedrooms.

17. The method of creating said rental property single master search database table so indexed as described in claim 14, wherein the search results can be narrowed according to price.

21. A method as in claim 11 wherein said display of properties includes a hyperlink that will direct a user to a record for an available property which match said search query.

18. A method for predetermining which of a number of rental properties are both available and suited to the needs of a typically short-term renter of real property comprising the steps:

a) with the use of a data processor, predetermining, including making any necessary calculations for each of the said rental properties;

i) the number of consecutive days for which the property can be rented beginning on any day of any year;

ii) the cost adjusted for seasonal changes for renting the property beginning on any day of any year for the number of days requested by the user'"'"'s query;

iii) the minimum number of days for which the property can be rented;

iv) the maximum number of days for which the property can be rented;

v) the multiple of days that the property can be rented; and

vi) the days on which the property can be rented (that is, the days on which a guest may arrive);

b) with the use of a data processor, storing the said predetermined information obtained in step (a) above in a single master search database table storage means indexed in correspondence with the nature of said information and having fields representative of all of the information obtained in step (a) including;

i) a property id field that identifies the available property;

ii) a start day field that represents the arrival date;

iii) a freedays field that represents how many consecutive days that can be rented are available from the arrival date forward and setting the freedays field to zero if the property is not available on the arrival date;

iv) a modulus field that represents the multiples of days that the available property can be rented;

v) a mindays field that represents the minimum number of days that the available property can be rented;

vi) an unlimited number of day(n) fields where n represents the number of days that arc to be rented; and

vii) a total rent value that represents the rent to be paid calculated by the n in each day(n) field;

c) inserting into the freedays field the correct number of days that a property can be rented;

d) inserting into the property id field information identifying the available property;

e) inserting into the mindays field the correct minimum number of days that a property can be rented;

f) inserting into the modulus field the multiples of days for which the property can be rented;

g) inserting into the start day field the day of the year on which the renter can start renting the property;

h) inserting into each day(n) field the correct, appropriate rent value; and

i) following steps (a), (b) (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h), with the use of a data processor, extracting directly from said single master search database table storage means so indexed, and without further calculation or processing, the identity of a selected number of properties which are both available and suited to said needs.

22. A method as in claim 18 wherein the selected number of properties is displayed with a hyperlink that will direct a user to a record for said property.