Automated self-storage reservation and management system

• US 8,571,901 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• 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., Royer, Bruce, Bierman, Chris, O'Connor, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, SHANNON S
• Application Number:
  US10/087,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,261 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/5
• US Class Current: 705/5
• 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:

a business network of a plurality of self-storage facilities, wherein the user is personnel of each self-storage facility and uses the business network to access inventory information and customer information of the plurality of self-storage facilities to generate reports for managing the operation of each self-storage facility;

a server having a room inventory database and accessible to the user via a computer-terminal coupled to the server, wherein the user inputs the inventory information into the room inventory database via the computer-terminal and an inventory information capture and the user accesses the inventory information pertaining to self-storage units located in the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network;

the server accessible to the user via the computer-terminal coupled to the server, wherein the user inputs the customer information into the server via the computer-terminal and a customer information capture and the user accesses the customer information pertaining to customers of the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network; and

the server having a reporting feature in communication with the inventory information capture and the customer information capture and accessible to the user via the computer-terminal coupled to the server,

via the reporting feature, wherein the user extracts and analyzes the inventory information from the room inventory database pertaining to self-storage units located in the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network,

via the reporting feature, wherein the user extracts and analyzes the customer information from the server, and

via the reporting feature, wherein the user generates reports using the analysis of the inventory information and the customer information for managing the operation of the storage facility, including reports for revenue, unit availability, reservations, open contracts, rent rolls and credit card information.

10. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the user generates an audit report via the reporting feature.

11. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the user generates a cash intake report via the reporting feature.

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

14. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the user generates a receipt for self-storage transactions.

15. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein the user generates a vacancy report via the reporting feature.

16. The automated self-storage management system of claim 1 wherein via the reporting feature the user generates a facility utilization report including facility revenue and occupancy information for evaluating the effect of a rental rate change on facility revenue.

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

a business network of a plurality of self-storage facilities, wherein the user is personnel of each self-storage facility and uses the business network to access inventory information and customer information of the plurality of self-storage facilities to generate reports for managing the operation of each self-storage facility;

a server having a room inventory database and accessible to the user via a computer-terminal coupled to the server, wherein the user inputs the inventory information into the room inventory database via the computer-terminal and an inventory information capture and the user accesses the inventory information pertaining to self-storage units located in the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network;

the server accessible to the user via the computer-terminal coupled to the server, wherein the user inputs the customer information into the server via the computer-terminal and a customer information capture and the user accesses the customer information pertaining to customers of the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network;

wherein one or both of the inventory information capture and customer information capture include information for managing the operation of the plurality of self-storage facilities, including information on revenue, cash summaries, unit availability, facility utilization, reservations, open contracts, rent rolls and credit card information; and

the server having a rental transaction feature in communication with the inventory information capture and customer information capture and accessible to the user via the computer-terminal coupled to the server,

via the rental transaction feature, wherein the user creates a rental agreement using the inventory information and the customer information, and wherein the rental agreement involves a plurality of self-storage units.

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

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

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

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

7. 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.

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

9. The automated self-storage management system of claim 8 comprising a fee calculator that calculates a prorated rent for the occupied room and a prorated rent for the vacant room.

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

17. The automated self-storage management system of claim 2 wherein communication between users is facilitated via a communication feature.

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

19. The automated self-storage management system of claim 18 wherein upon occurrence of a predetermined criteria, the system generates a customer letter.

20. The automated self-storage management system of claim 19 wherein the letter pertains to an overdue fee.

21. The automated self-storage management system of claim 19 wherein the letter pertains to a rate increase.

22. The automated self-storage system of claim 19 wherein the letter pertains to an eviction.

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

a business network of a plurality of self-storage facilities, wherein the user is personnel of each self-storage facility and uses the business network to access inventory information and customer information of the plurality of self-storage facilities to generate reports for managing the operation of each self-storage facility;

a server having a room inventory database and accessible to the user via a computer-terminal coupled to the server, wherein the user inputs the inventory information into the room inventory database via the computer-terminal and an inventory information capture and the user accesses the inventory information pertaining to self-storage units located in the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network;

the server accessible to the user via the computer-terminal coupled to the server, wherein the user inputs the customer information into the server via the computer-terminal and a customer information capture and the user accesses the customer information pertaining to customers of the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network;

the server having a rental transaction feature in communication with the inventory information capture and customer information capture and accessible to the user via the computer-terminal coupled to the server,

via the rental transaction feature, the user creates a rental agreement using the inventory information and the customer information, wherein the rental agreement involves a plurality of self-storage units, and

the server having a reporting feature in communication with the inventory information capture and the customer information capture and accessible to the user via the computer-terminal coupled to the server,

via the reporting feature, wherein the user extracts and analyzes the inventory information from the room inventory database pertaining to self-storage units located in the plurality of self-storage facilities of the business network and extracts and analyzes the customer information from the server and generates reports using the analysis of the inventory information and the customer information for managing the operation of the storage facility, including reports for revenue, cash summaries, unit availability, facility utilization, reservations, open contracts, rent rolls and credit card information.