Method and medium for determining whether insurance is required for storage reservation

• US 8,306,875 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avner Schneur
• Original Assignee: Avner Schneur
• Inventors: Schneur, Avner
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, MATTHEW E
• Application Number:
  US13/442,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/27.2, 705/7.11, 705/7.25, 715/769
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A user interface being configured to display a plurality of icons representing physical items, display a drag region, provide an option for the user to select items for storage in a storage unit by dragging and dropping the icons onto the drag region, display an estimated amount of storage space to store the selected items, display an estimated cost to store the selected items, provide at least one or an option for the user to self-deliver the selected items, provide an option for the user to select options associated with the storage of the selected items, receive identify information from the user, receive payment information from the user, and provide a confirmation to the user.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to provide a user interface to a user, the user interface being configured to:

display a plurality of items representing physical items at least some of which may be stored in a storage unit;

display a drag region representing the storage unit;

receive instructions from the user to move one or more selected items from the plurality of items into the drag region;

calculate an estimated amount of space needed to store the one or more selected items and an estimated cost to store the one or more selected items, wherein the calculation is based on dimensions of the one or more selected items and dimensions of the storage unit;

determine whether the estimated amount of storage space exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

allowing, by the user interface, the user to transmit payment information to the storage unit without buying insurance if the estimated amount of storage space does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, and preventing, by the user interface, the user from transmitting payment information for the storage unit until buying insurance if the estimated amount of storage space exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

2. The non-transitory computer storage device of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one of an option for the user to arrange for pickup of the one or more selected items and an option to allow the user to self-deliver the one or more selected items.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured such that the user interface is configured to display a list of storage locations for the user to pick from.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured such that the user interface is configured to provide an option for the user to select a quantity of the one or more selected items.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured such that the user interface is configured to prompt the user to purchase insurance for the one or more selected items.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 5, wherein the instructions are further configured such that the user interface is configured to prompt the user with multiple levels of insurance.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured such that the processor prompts the user to call a provider of the storage unit if a volume of the one or more selected items exceeds a threshold.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured such that the user interface is configured to prevent the user from proceeding until at least one predetermined condition is satisfied.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the at least one predetermined condition is selected from the group consisting of a purchase of insurance, an acceptance of terms and conditions, an authentication of the user, and an approval of payment information.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the at least one predetermined condition is the purchase of insurance, and wherein the user is prompted to choose between at least one of multiple amounts of insurance and different types of insurance.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured such that the user interface is configured to provide an option to the user to upload images for each of the one or more selected items.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to calculate the estimated amount of storage space needed to store the one or more selected items.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to calculate the estimate amount of storage space needed to store the one or more items as a function of an estimated volume associated with each selected item, and an adjustment factor.

14. A method for reserving storage space, the method comprising:

storing instructions on a non-transitory computer readable storage device for execution by a processor to provide a user interface to a user;

displaying on the user interface a plurality of items representing physical items, at least some of which may be stored in a storage unit;

displaying a drag region on the user interface representing the storage unit;

selecting one or more items from among the plurality of items and moving the selected one or more items into the drag region;

calculating an estimated amount of space needed to store the one or more selected items and an estimated cost to store the one or more selected items, wherein the calculation is based on dimensions of the one or more selected items and dimensions of the storage unit;

determining, using the computer processor, whether the estimated amount of storage space exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

allowing, by the user interface, the user to transmit payment information to the storage unit without buying insurance if the estimated amount of storage space does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, and preventing, by the user interface, the user from transmitting payment information for the storage unit until buying insurance if the estimated amount of storage space exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one of an option for the user to arrange for pickup of the one or more selected items and an option to allow the user to self-deliver the one or more selected items.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising prompting the user to purchase insurance for the one or more selected items.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising prompting the user with multiple levels of insurance.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising preventing the user from proceeding until at least one predetermined condition is satisfied.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined condition is selected from a group consisting of a purchase of insurance, an acceptance of terms and conditions, an authentication of the user, and an approval of payment information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined condition is the purchase of insurance, and wherein the user is prompted to choose between at least one of multiple amounts of insurance and different types of insurance.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing an option to the user to upload images for each of the one or more selected items.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising calculating the estimated amount of storage space needed to store the one or more items as a function of an estimated volume associated with each selected item, and an adjustment factor.