Rate and distribution system

• US 7,676,376 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cumarasegaran; Vern
• Application Number:
  US10/386,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,556 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• 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 rental rates, comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive graphical mapping interface comprising a computer configured to display a geographic and interactive map, whereby an administrator defines a region having an area of origin and a destination area on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

after defining the region on the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool and the computer, the administrator interactively uses the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and sets a rental rate;

setting the rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for the region defined by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the rental rate; and

saving the region defined and the rental rate set corresponding to the region defined.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rental 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 comprising a computer configured to display a geographic and interactive map, whereby an administrator defines a region having a first region and a second region on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

defining the first region on the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool and the computer and designating the first region as a region of origin;

defining the second region on the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool and the computer and designating the second region as a destination region;

interactively using the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and setting a rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for a route originating in the region of origin and terminating in the destination region by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the rental rate; and

saving the first region and the second region defined and the rental rate set corresponding to the first region and the second region defined.

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 comprising the computer-server and the terminal configured to display a geographic and interactive map, whereby an administrator defines a region having an area of origin and a destination area on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

b) enable the administrator to define the region using the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool, the computer-server, and the terminal interactively1 whereby the administrator interactively uses the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and sets an equipment rental rate;

c) enable the administrator to set the equipment rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for the region by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the equipment rental rate; and

d) enable the administrator to save the region and the equipment rental rate corresponding to 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 comprising the computer-server and the terminal configured to display a geographic and interactive map, the graphical mapping interface depicting the geographic location of the entities of the equipment rental business, and whereby an administrator defines a region having an area of origin and a destination area on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

b) enable the administrator to define the region using the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface interactively, whereby the administrator interactively uses the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and sets an equipment rental rate, the region including at least one entity, wherein the region is capable of including non-neighboring entities;

c) enable the administrator to set the equipment rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for the region by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the equipment rental rate; and

d) enable the administrator to save the region and the equipment rental rate corresponding to 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 user manipulates a view on the touchscreen using a selection tool to define the region.

20. The rate system of claim 17 comprising an 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 a computer configured to display a geographic and interactive map comprising the geographical location of the plurality of entities, whereby an administrator defines a region having an area of origin and a destination area on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

after defining the region on the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool and the computer, the administrator interactively uses the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and sets an equipment rental rate, wherein the region comprises the geographical location of at least one of the plurality of entities;

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

using the computer, refining the region by editing the entities in the working set index;

setting the equipment rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for the region defined by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the equipment rental rate; and

saving the region defined and the equipment rental rate set corresponding to 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 comprising the computer-server and the terminal configured to display a geographic and interactive map, whereby an administrator defines a region having an area of origin and a destination area on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

b) means for defining the region using the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool, the computer-server, and the terminal, whereby the administrator interactively uses the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and sets an equipment rental rate;

c) means for setting the equipment rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for the region by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the equipment rental rate; and

saving the region defined and the equipment rental rate set corresponding to the region defined.

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 comprising the computer-server and the terminal configured to display a geographic and interactive map, whereby an administrator defines a region on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

b) means for defining the region using the a hic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool, the computer-server, and the terminal, whereby the administrator interactively uses the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and sets a rental rate;

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

d) means for setting the rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for one of the region of origin, the destination region and a route from the region of origin to the destination region by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the rental rate; and

e) saving the region defined and the rental rate set corresponding to the region defined.

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

providing an interactive graphical mapping interface comprising a computer configured to display a geographic and interactive map, whereby an administrator defines a region having an area of origin and a destination area on the geographic and interactive map by interactively using a selection tool on the graphical mapping interface;

defining the region on the geographic and interactive map of the graphical mapping interface using the selection tool and the computer, whereby the administrator interactively uses the selection tool on the graphical mapping interface and sets an equipment rental rate;

using the graphical mapping interface, displaying market information for the region defined;

setting the equipment rental rate for one or more pieces of equipment for the region defined by using at least one of a neighborhood, a city, a state, a geographical region, a current rate, and a rate history to determine the equipment rental rate; and

saving the region defined and the equipment rental rate set corresponding to the region defined.