System and method for securing and removing over-locks from vacant storage units
The disclosure generally relates to a system and method for managing distributed encrypted combination over-locks from a remote location. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is a distributed management system for self-storage facilities that allow for vacant units to be secured with over-locks, and which allow the over-locks to be removed by customers without human or manual intervention from the self-storage facility, where an API is used to facilitate communications between a lock management system and a property management system.
1. A method for retrieving an unlock code for an over-lock, the system comprising:
securing a vacant storage unit with the over-lock, wherein the over-lock is not capable of electronic communication;
mapping the vacant storage unit with an over-lock identifier in a lock management system, where the over-lock identifier is further associated with an unlock code;
transmitting the unlock code to a property management system from the lock management system via an application programming interface (API); and
upon rental of the vacant storage unit by a customer, transmitting the unlock code to the customer via an electronic method from a rental property management system,
wherein the lock management system and the property management system are two separate and distinct systems that operate on different servers.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic method comprises a text message, a multimedia message (MMS), an e-mail, or a secure message.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the over-lock identifier is selected from a group consisting of a serial number, alphanumeric code, unique code, barcode, and QR code.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing a lock management system portal by the customer, wherein the lock management system portal is configured to accept a customer credential.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising transmitting the customer credential from the lock management system to the property management system via the API.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unlock code is randomly generated.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the over-lock identifier is randomly generated.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the lock management system portal is accessed via a uniform resource locator (URL) on an internet browser.
9. A method for retrieving an unlock code for an over-lock, the system comprising:
securing a vacant storage unit with the over-lock, wherein the over-lock is not capable of electronic communication and wherein an over-lock identifier is visibly displayed on the over-lock;
mapping the vacant storage unit with the over-lock identifier in a lock management system, where the over-lock identifier is further associated with an unlock code;
transmitting the unlock code to a property management system via an application programming interface (API);
accessing, by a customer, a lock management system portal, wherein the lock management system portal is configured to accept a customer credential;
transmitting the customer credential from the lock management system to the property management system via the API;
determining by the property management system if the customer is a verified renter of the vacant storage unit;
determining by the property management system if the customer does not have a delinquent account; and
transmitting the unlock code to the customer via an electronic method from the property management system.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electronic method comprises a text message, a multimedia message (MMS), an e-mail, or a secure message.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the over-lock identifier is selected from a group consisting of a serial number, alphanumeric code, unique code, barcode, and QR code.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the unlock code is randomly generated.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the over-lock identifier is randomly generated.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising prompting the customer to make a payment if the customer has a delinquent account.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lock management system portal is accessed via a software application on a mobile device.
16. A method for retrieving an unlock code for an over-lock, the system comprising:
securing a vacant storage unit with the over-lock, wherein the over-lock is not capable of electronic communication;
mapping the vacant storage unit with an over-lock identifier in a lock management system, where the over-lock identifier is further associated with an unlock code;
accessing, by a customer, a lock management system portal, wherein the lock management system portal is configured to accept a customer credential;
transmitting the customer credential from the lock management system to the property management system via an application programming interface (API);
determining by the property management system if the customer is a verified renter of the vacant storage unit;
determining by the property management system if the customer does not have a delinquent account; and
transmitting the unlock code to the customer via an electronic method from the lock management system.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the electronic method comprises a text message, a multimedia message (MMS), an e-mail, or a secure message.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the over-lock identifier is selected from a group consisting of a serial number, alphanumeric code, unique code, barcode, and QR code.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the unlock code is randomly generated.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transmitting a contact information for the customer from the property management system to the lock management system via the API, wherein the contact information is selected from a group consisting of an e-mail address and a phone number.