Use Case: Storage using Plings (UC-701)

Overview

This use-case demonstrates how Plings can be used for estate management and storage services when an elderly person passes away and relatives need to quickly document, store, and later distribute belongings. The system enables rapid object documentation, service provider marketplace integration, and deferred ownership decisions through storage logistics.

User Story

As a relative of a deceased person, I want to quickly document and store all belongings using Plings service providers so that I can clean out the residence immediately while preserving the option to properly distribute items among family members later.

Workflow Steps

Step 1: Object Documentation

  • All objects are documented using ordinary Plings tags with general object classes
  • Objects are either tagged with physical stickers or placed in Plings-marked bags/boxes
  • Standard Plings photo documentation and classification is used
  • No special documentation requirements beyond normal Plings usage

Step 2: Estate Organization Creation

  • A new organization is created called “Legacy Items from [Deceased Person Name]”
  • The organization creator is assumed to have legitimate authority (Plings does not verify legal rights)
  • Estate administrator has full organization management rights

Step 3: Initial Ownership Assignment

  • All documented objects remain owned by the deceased person’s organization
  • Objects maintain their documented relationships to containers (bags/boxes)
  • No ownership transfers occur during documentation phase

Step 4: Residence Cleanup Completion

  • Once all valuable items are documented and packed into boxes
  • Documentation is marked complete in the system
  • House or apartment is ready for cleaning/handover

Step 5: Storage Service Request

  • Estate administrator requests storage services through Plings marketplace
  • Service providers are filtered by:
    • Object classes they can handle
    • Geographic service area
    • Available storage capacity
    • Pricing and service ratings
  • Administrator selects appropriate storage provider

Step 6: Storage Provider Pickup

  • Selected storage provider collects all boxes
  • Provider scans boxes upon arrival at warehouse using standard Plings scanning
  • System automatically updates object locations from residence to storage facility
  • Provider manages internal warehouse locations using normal Plings spatial relationships

Step 7: Deferred Ownership Decisions

  • Over subsequent months, estate administrator can:
    • List objects for direct sale through Plings sales channels
    • Transfer ownership to specific relatives
    • Initiate bidding processes for disputed items
  • Payment processing handled through existing Solana integration

Step 8: Sales Fulfillment

  • Objects sold through marketplace are shipped by storage provider to buyers
  • Storage provider receives shipping instructions through Plings
  • Payment flows from buyer to estate, with storage/service fees deducted

Step 9: Family Distribution

  • Objects assigned to relatives remain in storage until requested
  • New owner pays ongoing storage costs from ownership transfer date
  • Relatives can request delivery when ready
  • Storage provider handles shipping logistics

Actors

  • Estate Administrator: Creates estate organization, manages object ownership transfers
  • Relatives: Potential future owners, may participate in claiming/bidding processes
  • Storage Service Provider: Organization offering storage services through Plings marketplace
  • Buyers: External purchasers through Plings sales channels

Preconditions

  • Deceased person’s belongings need to be documented and relocated quickly
  • Estate administrator has authority to create organization and manage belongings
  • Storage service providers are registered and available in geographic area
  • Plings service marketplace is operational

Technical Implementation

Service Provider Integration

  • Service providers register as organizations with service capability flags
  • Services are matched to object classes they can handle
  • Geographic service areas defined in provider profiles
  • Integration with existing organization system

Marketplace Features

  • Service request system for storage, transport, sales
  • Provider ratings and reviews
  • Pricing comparison tools
  • Service booking and scheduling

Payment Processing

  • Extends existing Solana payment architecture
  • Storage cost allocation to object owners
  • Service fee distribution
  • Estate settlement payment flows

Enhanced Organization Management

  • Estate-specific organization types
  • Relative invitation and permission management
  • Bidding system for disputed objects
  • Ownership transfer workflows

Alternative Flows

Immediate Family Agreement

  • If relatives agree on distribution immediately, objects can be transferred directly without storage
  • Storage service becomes shipping service for direct distribution

Partial Storage

  • Some objects distributed immediately, others stored
  • Mixed workflow with both immediate and deferred distribution
  • If legal challenges arise, organization administrator can freeze all transactions
  • Objects remain in storage until disputes resolved

Success Criteria

  • ✅ Residence cleaned out within required timeframe
  • ✅ All valuable objects documented and preserved
  • ✅ Storage costs minimized through efficient provider selection
  • ✅ Family members satisfied with distribution process
  • ✅ Estate settled with minimal disputes

Future Sub-Use Cases

UC-702: Relative Bidding System

  • Points-based bidding for disputed objects
  • Equal allocation of bidding points among relatives
  • Automated resolution of object distribution

UC-703: Service Provider Marketplace

  • Provider registration and verification
  • Service capability matching
  • Geographic service area management

UC-704: Estate Settlement Integration

  • Legal document integration
  • Executor role management
  • Inheritance tracking

UC-705: Bulk Object Sales

  • Estate sale event management
  • Bulk pricing strategies
  • Multi-channel sales distribution

Implementation Status

  • 🟡 Core Object Documentation: Available (standard Plings functionality)
  • ❌ Service Provider Marketplace: Planned
  • ❌ Estate Organization Types: Planned
  • ❌ Enhanced Payment Flows: Planned (extends existing Solana architecture)
  • ❌ Storage Logistics Integration: Planned

This use-case emphasizes Plings’ capability to handle complex logistics scenarios where objects need rapid documentation and temporary storage while ownership decisions are deferred. The service provider marketplace concept extends Plings beyond individual object management into comprehensive logistics services.