Method, medium, and system for sending notifications to property managers regarding vacancies

• US 8,650,091 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rentalvalet, LLC, Rentvalet, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rentvalet, LLC
• Inventors: Pohl, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, MATTHEW E
• Application Number:
  US13/454,252
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/307
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

Consumers who are interested in various rental properties can create a list of those properties, and notifications of that interest can be sent to the property managers associated with those properties. A system could be implemented to send multiple notifications (e.g., to each manager of a property on the list) with a single request by the consumer. Such notifications can be used to provide property managers with information used to screen applicants, and/or can allow property managers to seek to access additional information about the consumer. Whether any additional information has been accessed can be tracked to verify that access is only provided in compliance with relevant regulation. This type of functionality can be integrated with a system that allows regulatory investigations to be allocated to, and performed by, compliance representatives using mobile devices, and can also be integrated with functionality that allows consumers to present themselves as pre-qualified applicants.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors configured with executable instructions which, when executed, will cause the one or more computer processors to perform a plurality of tasks comprising;

a) automatically generating a first set of notifications based on a first set of vacancies identified by a consumer;

i) wherein the first set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

ii) wherein each notification from the first set of notifications indicates the consumer'"'"'s interest in becoming a tenant at a vacancy from the first set of vacancies;

b) sending the first set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the first set of vacancies based on a single action by the consumer;

wherein each notification from the first set of notifications comprises an invitation to view a set of background information for the consumer;

wherein the plurality of tasks further comprises;

A) receiving a request to view the set of background information from a property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

B) in response to receiving the request to view the set of background information;

I) determining if the set of background information is accessible;

II) if the set of background information is accessible, providing the set of background information to the property manager; and

III) if the set of background information is not accessible, presenting an interface operable to allow the property manager to invite the consumer to release the set of background information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of vacancies comprises vacancies identified by the consumer using a shopping cart on an internet listing service.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tasks comprises, after sending the first set of notifications:

a) automatically generating a second set of notifications based on a second set of vacancies identified by the consumer;

ii) wherein the second set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the second set of vacancies;

iii) wherein each notification from the second set of notifications comprises an invitation to view the set of background information;

b) sending the second set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the second set of vacancies.

4. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors configured with executable instructions which, when executed will cause the one or more computer processors to perform a plurality of tasks comprising;

A) automatically generating a first set of notifications based on a first set of vacancies identified by a consumer;

I) wherein the first set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

II) wherein each notification from the first set of notifications indicates the consumer'"'"'s interest in becoming a tenant at a vacancy from the first set of vacancies;

B) sending the first set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the first set of vacancies based on a single action by the consumer;

wherein the system further comprises a database, wherein the plurality of tasks comprises;

a) receiving a tenancy rejection from a property manager associated with a vacancy identified by the consumer;

b) based on receiving the tenancy rejection, generating a lead message indicating compatibility between the consumer and a vacancy associated with an additional property manager; and

c) sending the lead message to the additional property manager.

5. A method comprising:

a) using a computer comprising a processor and a memory, automatically generating a first set of notifications based on a first set of vacancies identified by a consumer;

i) wherein the first set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

ii) wherein each notification from the first set of notifications indicates the consumer'"'"'s interest in becoming a tenant at a vacancy from the first set of vacancies;

b) using the computer, sending the first set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the first set of vacancies based on a single action by the consumer;

wherein each notification from the first set of notifications comprises an invitation to view a set of background information for the consumer;

wherein the method further comprises;

A) receiving a request to view the set of background information from a property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

B) in response to receiving the request to view the set of background information, using the computer to;

I) determine if the set of background information is accessible;

II) if the set of background information is accessible, provide the set of background information to the property manager; and

III) if the set of background information is not accessible, present an interface operable to allow the property manager to invite the consumer to release the set of background information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first set of vacancies comprises vacancies identified by the consumer using a shopping cart on an internet listing service.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the method comprises, after sending the first set of notifications:

a) automatically generating a second set of notifications based on a second set of vacancies identified by the consumer;

ii) wherein the second set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the second set of vacancies;

iii) wherein each notification from the second set of notifications comprises an invitation to view the set of background information;

b) sending the second set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the second set of vacancies.

8. A method comprising:

A) using a computer comprising a processor and a memory, automatically generating a first set of notifications based on a first set of vacancies identified by a consumer;

I) wherein the first set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

II) wherein each notification from the first set of notifications indicates the consumer'"'"'s interest in becoming a tenant at a vacancy from the first set of vacancies;

B) using the computer, sending the first set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the first set of vacancies based on a single action by the consumer;

wherein the method further comprises;

a) receiving a tenancy rejection from a property manager associated with a vacancy identified by the consumer;

b) based on receiving the tenancy rejection, generating a lead message indicating compatibility between the consumer and a vacancy associated with an additional property manager; and

c) sending the lead message to the additional property manager.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon data operable to configure a computer to perform a plurality of tasks, the plurality of tasks comprising:

a) automatically generating a first set of notifications based on a first set of vacancies identified by a consumer;

i) wherein the first set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

ii) wherein each notification from the first set of notifications indicates the consumer'"'"'s interest in becoming a tenant at a vacancy from the first set of vacancies;

b) sending the first set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the first set of vacancies based on a single action by the consumer;

wherein each notification from the first set of notifications comprises an invitation to view a set of background information for the consumer; and

wherein the plurality of tasks further comprises;

A) receiving a request to view the set of background information from a property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

B) in response to receiving the request to view the set of background information;

I) determining if the set of background information is accessible;

II) if the set of background information is accessible, providing the set of background information to the property manager; and

III) if the set of background information is not accessible, presenting an interface operable to allow the property manager to invite the consumer to release the set of background information.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first set of vacancies comprises vacancies identified by the consumer using a shopping cart on an internet listing service.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tasks comprises, after sending the first set of notifications:

a) automatically generating a second set of notifications based on a second set of vacancies identified by the consumer;

ii) wherein the second set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the second set of vacancies;

iii) wherein each notification from the second set of notifications comprises an invitation to view the set of background information;

b) sending the second set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the second set of vacancies.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon data operable to configure a computer to perform a plurality of tasks, the plurality of tasks comprising:

A) automatically generating a first set of notifications based on a first set of vacancies identified by a consumer;

I) wherein the first set of notifications comprises a notification for each property manager associated with a vacancy from the first set of vacancies; and

II) wherein each notification from the first set of notifications indicates the consumer'"'"'s interest in becoming a tenant at a vacancy from the first set of vacancies;

B) sending the first set of notifications to the property managers associated with the vacancies from the first set of vacancies based on a single action by the consumer;

wherein the plurality of tasks further comprises;

a) receiving a tenancy rejection from a property manager associated with a vacancy identified by the consumer;

b) based on receiving the tenancy rejection, generating a lead message indicating compatibility between the consumer and a vacancy associated with an additional property manager; and

c) sending the lead message to the additional property manager.