WO2002039328A2

WO2002039328A2 - Method and system for using a computer network for rental of goods maintained by a plurality of rental agents

Info

Publication number: WO2002039328A2
Application number: PCT/CA2001/001579
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rolando M. Blanco; Brian A. Spilak
Original assignee: Rentonthedot Inc.
Priority date: 2000-11-08
Filing date: 2001-11-07
Publication date: 2002-05-16
Also published as: AU2002223323A1; WO2002039328A8; WO2002039328A9

Abstract

The use of the Internet has not been successfully applied to the rental of miscellaneous equipment. The present invention provides a method of using a global computer network for initiating and managing rental of an inventory of rental goods maintained by a plurality of rental agents.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING A COMPUTER NETWORK

FOR RENTAL OF AN INVENTORY OF GOODS

MAINTAINED BY A PLURALITY OF RENTAL AGENTS

This application claims priority from United States provisional application no.

60/246,570 filed November 8, 2000.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the use of computer networks to facilitate consumer and business transactions, and more particularly to a method of using the Internet to facilitate rental of an inventory of rental goods maintained by a plurality of rental agents.

Background Art

Rental, as opposed to purchase, of equipment required for a job or event is economically efficient for a number of reasons. It avoids the need for large capital investments. It reduces the storage and maintenance costs of a business, and increases the flexibility of a business or consumer to use new or different equipment. It permits a business to reduce the costs of idle equipment and limit the expense of equipment incurred on a job to a fixed amount, rather than have the business acquire a capital asset which might not be needed otherwise. Also it may be desirable for various reasons to have equipment directly expensed to a job rather than indirectly through ownership . For a consumer , rental is economically efficient because the consumer may only need the equipment, whether a power washer for a cleaning job or a tuxedo for a wedding party, for a short period of time which otherwise would not justify ownership of the equipment.

The equipment rental business has therefore grown substantially and represents an industry with $20 billion dollars in annual revenues in North America. While some consolidation of equipment rental has occurred, it remains a fragmented industry. It is characterized by a small number of regional or national operators and a large number of relatively small independent operators serving local markets. The vast majority of equipment rental operators are small independent businesses. There are three distinct segments of the rental industry : 1) medium to heavy equipment ( bulldozers , backhoes , cranes etc.); 2) small tools and equipment (cement finishing equipment, earth compactors, chain saws etc.); and 3) special events equipment (tents, tables, chairs, party items). The use of the Internet has resulted in improved efficiencies in many areas of the distribution of goods and services. The online distribution of goods is particularly effective where the commodity is in a digital form, or if the goods are physical, where the physical delivery of the goods is very consistent, as in the case of books or musical CD ' s . Difficulties arise, however, in the rental of equipment, and as a result there are no web sites which permit a user to reserve rental equipment in real time. Equipment rental relates to the multitude of different types of equipment required to carry out different tasks, perform different jobs or serve different functions, from rental of cutlery and dishes for parties to the rental of an offshore drilling platform for oil drilling operations. The major problem is maximizing for the rental operator (hereinafter "the renter") the proportion of time when the rental equipment is being gainfully rented, while also maximizing the availability of the equipment for the convenience of the renting party ("the rentee").

The use of the Internet has not been successfully applied to the rental of miscellaneous equipment for a number of reasons. Unlike other areas of Internet distribution, it is difficult in the rental industry to provide a fixed availability and consistent quality of equipment to the rentee while maximizing the returns to the renter. Since the industry is very fragmented, there is not a standard computer management software in place for many operators, which makes it difficult to use Internet efficiencies for the equipment rental industry . There are several computer management software packages with widespread installed bases, such as Systematic Computer Solutions and Alert, all of which use differentoperating system languages, data formats etc. In some cases operators may want to sell as well as rent the equipment. There is a need also to provide standardized application service software, such as management and information services for small independent rental equipment operators.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention therefore provides a method of using a global computer network for initiating and managing rental of an inventory of rental goods maintained by a plurality of rental agents comprising: a) providing a web site accessible to customers on the Internet via a plurality of client terminals and comprising an Internet accessible server and a secure server, the Internet accessible server being adapted to interactively display information concerning the rental inventory of said rental agents to the customers; and the secure server being adapted to maintain a user account for storing data associated with a user name and address in memory means; b) receiving a rental query from a customer in respect of one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period in a geographical area; c) inquiring of rental agents in the appropriate geographic area of the availability of said one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period; d) the rental agents providing an indication of price and availability based on the customer identification; e) communicating a plurality of potential rental locations, prices and availability to the customer; and f) confirming a rental reservation with the rental agent and modifying the database. The invention may also generate and process an invoice to the customer.

The invention further provides a computer program product for managing rental of an inventory of rental goods maintained by a plurality of rental agents, the computer program product comprising: a) a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for receiving a rental query from a customer in respect of one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period in a geographical area; b) the computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for inquiring of rental agents in the appropriate geographic area of the availability of the one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period; c) the computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for receiving from the rental agents and communicating a plurality of potential rental locations, prices and availability to the customer; and d) the computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for confirming a rental reservation with the rental agent and modifying the rental agent's database.

Brief Description of Drawings

In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the system architecture of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating in further detail the system architecture of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a web page illustrating the invention; Fig. 4 is a web page illustrating the invention; Fig. 5 through 36 are flow charts illustrating the method of the invention.

Best Mode(s) For Carrying Out the Invention

With reference to Fig. 1, the preferred form of the invention utilizes a computer network such as the Internet 10. The system web site 12 has web servers 14 accessible to the Internet 10 by contractors or users at client terminals 18 using available Internet browser software. Web servers 14 have access to database 20 via SQL (Structured Query Language) server clusters 22, preferably Oracle database software with Perl implementation.

A plurality of rental merchants who have joined the system (referred to herein as "rental partners" 24, 25) also access the system web site through a secure access 26 such as firewall protected Internet access or virtual private network. Secure access 26 reduces the possibility that hackers can access or alter rental partner account information via the Internet. Each rental partner 24, 25 has a computer system 28 which has software applications which manages its rental operation, and which access its own database 30. These computer systems 26 may communicate using different protocols within their own networks, and therefore provide different interfaces to the web, such as an XML/ web interface 27 (such as used by Systematics or proIN) or an NT Com object 29. Rental store counter clients 32 communicate with computer system 26 by a local area network. Web site 12 also includes Rental Partner Gateway servers 34 which communicate over the Internet or the virtual private network 26 with the rental partners 24, 25. XML interface 36 provides the interface between the rental partners 24, 25 and the web site database 20. A Rental API (Application Program Interface) 40 acts as the interface between users and rental partners . Message Queue 42 queues messages from users.

Fig. 2 provides further detail of the system architecture of the invention. A client may access web servers 14 over the Internet 10 by a web browser 17 on client terminal 18, or by a wireless device 19 which both access a URL or WAP URL over the world wide web. Front end server 15 communicates the client requests to web servers 14 in XML (Extensible Markup Language) using HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Alternatively, the contractors/users can communicate with the system by telephone 21 using Interactive Voice Recognition technology 23. Fig. 2 illustrates nine rental partners 44, 46, 48. Three rental partners

44 use Systematic software, three rental partners 44 use another vendor, and three rental partners 48 use Alert. Other vendors include Wynne, Genisys, Computer Ease and J.K. Data. Each type of partner 44, 46, 48 has a specific ORB (Object Request Broker) 45, 47, 49 associated with it. ORB 45, 47, 49 in turn communicate securely with the system ORB 43. The system operates generally for the customer (contractor or user) as follows. A plurality of rental partners 24, 25 join the system by providing a profile, contact information etc. and have obtained and loaded the necessary interactive software on their computer systems 26. A customer or rental partner accesses the system website 12 and logs in with a username and password, if registered, or registers if not already registered. If the corporate or individual customer has an existing account with one of the rental partners, then it identifies the account number, which is validated with the rental partner, by comparing the name and account number, and again at the time of pickup of the equipment. If the corporate or individual customer does not have an existing account with one of the rental partners, then credit card information must be entered. If the access is by a customer, then the customer selects either a RFQ ("Request For Quote") or "Rent Equipment" . If the access is by a rental partner or system administration, then access to restricted pages is permitted.

Where the customer selects "Rent Equipment" , a page is displayed and customer then enters the project location where the rental equipment will be used, including zip code. Previous projects are displayed and may be selected or modified. The rental period is entered and delivery or pickup selected. The customer then selects a type of equipment for rental from an Equipment Selection page (see Fig. 3 and 4). The user is presented with a number of root levels of equipment 50, e.g. "Aerial Access, Ladders & Scaffolding", each of which, when selected by being clicked, expands into sub-categories 51 e.g. Articulating Boom Lifts, which when selected by clicking provides a specific list of rentable equipment 52. Selecting a specific item of rentable equipment by clicking provides the customer with a picture of the item 54 (see Fig. 4), and further information may be displayed upon selection from a list 56, such as product specification 58, safety information, information on use of the equipment, operating instructions and troubleshooting. The customer selects the equipment by clicking on the "next" button which takes the customer to a page to enters quantity and related accessories, consumables or related rentals that may be required. The customer is then presented with a page to confirm the rental details and transmits that file to the system web site upon confirmation, as an HTTP file. The system then displays to the customer those rental partners in the geographic area who have the desired equipment available during the requested period, along with the applicable prices, and mileage from the project site. The customer then selects the desired store and confirms the total rental price and information. If the customer has an account with that store, then a PO number may be entered. Alternatively the customer enters credit card information. A reservation confirmation and reservation number is returned to the customer with dates, equipment and total charge. The system generates an invoice when the equipment is picked up and the rental partner has its own contract available for the customer to sign.

If alternatively customer selects "Request for Quote" then as previously a page is displayed and customer then enters the project location where the rental equipment will be used, including zip code. Previous projects are displayed and may be selected or modified. The rental period is entered and delivery or pickup selected. The customer then selects a type of equipment for rental from an Equipment Selection as above. The customer then enters quantity and related accessories, consumables or related rentals that may be required. The customer is then presented with a page to confirm the RFQ details and transmits that file to the system web site upon, confirmation, as an HTTP file. That file is then delivered to the selected rental partner(s) which provides a return quote by email, or alternatively the RFQ is entered directly into the rental partner's Request for Quote System.

The following modules are required to implement the foregoing steps (where "ROTD" refers to the system, "rp" to the rental partner): Fig. 5 Logging into the System

Fig. 6 Baseline Product Administration - Create/Modify Rental Products

Fig. 7 Baseline Product Administration - Create/Modify Consumable Products

Fig. 8 Baseline Product Administration - Create/Modify Standard Accessories Fig. 9 Baseline Product Administration - Create/Modify Related Rental Items

Fig. 10 Rental Partner Administration - Create/Modify Rental Partner Profile

Fig. 11 Rental Partner Administration - Create/Modify Rental Partner Rental

Product Master Fig. 12 Rental Partner Administration - Create/Modify Rental Partner Consum- able Product Master

Fig. 13 Rental Store Administration - Create/Modify Store

Fig. 14 Rental Store Administration - Create/Modify Store Rental Product

Master Fig. 15 Rental Store Administration - Create/Modify Delivery Regions Fig. 16 Rental Store Administration -Create/Modify Store Consumable Product

Master Fig. 17 Contractor Administration- Create/Modify Contractor Company Profile

Fig. 18 Contractor Administration - Validate Contractor Rental Partner Acct.

#s (API)

Fig. 19 Reserve Rental Equipment - Add/Modify Site Project Information Fig. 20 Reserve Rental Equipment - Select Rental Equipment & Related

Consumable

Fig. 21 Reserve Rental Equipment - Select Rental Store Search Criteria for

Pickup

Fig.22 Reserve Rental Equipment - Select Rental Store Search Criteria for Delivery

Fig.23 Reserve Rental Equipment - Get Store Prices, Delivery Charges, Taxes, etc. (API)

Fig.24 Reserve Rental Equipment - Setup Reservation

Fig.25 Reserve Rental Equipment - Reservation (API)

Fig.26 Reserve Rental Equipment - Accept (Commit) Reservation (API)

Fig.27 Reserve Rental Equipment - Modify /Delete Reservation (API)

Fig.28 Reserve Rental Equipment - Arrange for Pickup of Equipment from Project Site (API)

Fig.29 Reserve Rental Equipment - Refresh Contracts Step 1 (API)

Fig.30 Reserve Rental Equipment - Refresh Contracts Step 2 (API)

Fig.31 Reserve Rental Equipment - Refresh Invoices Step 1 (API)

Fig.32 Reserve Rental Equipment - Refresh Invoices Step 2 (API)

Fig.33 Reserve Rental Equipment - Poll Rental Partners for Count of Unprocessed Events (API)

Fig.34 Reserve Rental Equipment - Fetch Unprocessed Events (API)

Fig.35 Reserve Rental Equipment - Clear Processed Events (API)

Fig.36 Accounts Receivable Administration - Generate ROTD Invoices

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of using a global computer network for managing rental of an inventory of rental goods maintained by a plurality of rental agents comprising: a) providing a web site accessible to customers on the Internet via a plurality of client terminals and comprising an Internet accessible server and a secure server, said Internet accessible server being adapted to interactively display information concerning said deferred rental inventory to said customers ; and said secure server being adapted to maintain a user account for storing data associated with a user name and address in memory means; b) receiving a rental query from a customer in respect of one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period in a geographical area; c) inquiring of rental agents in said geographical area of the availability of said one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period; d) said rental agents providing an indication of price and availability based on the customer identification; e) communicating a plurality of potential rental locations, prices and availability to said customer; and f) confirming a rental reservation with said rental agent and modifying said rental agent database.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating an invoice to the customer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said Internet accessible server and said secure server are the same server.

4. A computer program product for managing rental of an inventory of rental goods maintained by a plurality of rental agents, the computer program product comprising: a) a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for receiving a rental query from a customer in respect of one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period in a geographical area; b) the computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for inquiring of rental agents in said geographical area of the availability of said one or more rental goods for rental during a rental period; c) the computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for receiving from said rental agents and communicating a plurality of potential rental locations, prices and availability to said customer; and d) the computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for confirming a rental reservation with said rental agent and modifying said rental agent's database.