Patent ID: 6708879
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method for an automated unmanned rental station for use in cooperation with a plurality of pieces of rental equipment stored in the automated unmanned rental station, each of the plurality of pieces of rental equipment having a radio frequency identification tag attached thereto, the method comprising:(a) receiving user input through a user interface of a computer system associated with the automated unmanned rental station; (b) receiving in an antenna in communication with said computer system, and located near a portal of the automated unmanned rental station, a first radio frequency identification signal from a first one of the plurality of pieces of rental equipment having a radio frequency identification tag moved through said portal; (c) creating a first rental transaction record for said first one of the plurality of pieces of rental equipment moved through said portal utilizing data from an inventory database stored in said computer system that matches a first unique data interpreted from said first radio frequency identification signal; and (d) altering a status in said inventory database of said first one of the plurality of pieces of rental equipment.