Used automobile transaction facilitation for a specific used automobile

• US 10,140,655 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidekick Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Sidekick Technology LLC
• Inventors: Seergy, Michael J., Brown, Benjamin N. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zukanovich, Brandy A
• Application Number:
  US15/284,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20170154378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261, 705 271
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A system, methods, and apparatus for performing used automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing and consumer interest information received from consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. A consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may provide a request for a response regarding a specific used automobile with a specific a vehicle identification number. Automobile market data may be provided to a used automobile buyer based on the request. Bids to purchase the specific used automobile may be requested from used automobile buyers based on the request. Buyer bids may be provided to the consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller with prices and a delivery options. The consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may select a bid to sell the specific used automobile based on the bid.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a used automobile seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a used automobile seller located at a first location and including a vehicle identifier and geolocation information of the used automobile;

executing instructions, by at least one processing device, to;

determine, based on the geolocation information, that the used automobile is located at the first location;

generate, based on the determined first location, an in-market used automobile buyer area;

determine that at least one used automobile buyer is located within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

receive, via a used automobile buyer interface, a first bid from a first used automobile buyer located at a second location within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

provide, via the used automobile seller interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first used automobile and the driving directions from the first location to the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the used automobile seller interface is a manufacturer off-lease seller interface,

further comprising:

receiving, via the manufacturer off-lease seller interface, a manufacturer used automobile seller selection of the first bid, wherein the manufacturer used automobile seller selection indicates a manufacturer used automobile seller intention to sell the first used automobile based on the first bid to the first used automobile buyer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by the used automobile seller on a website.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identifier is manually entered by the used automobile seller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by the used automobile seller using a mobile device which takes a picture of a vehicle identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle identifier is recognized using optical character recognition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by the used automobile seller using a mobile device including a microphone, and the vehicle identifier is input via the microphone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the vehicle identifier is recognized using speech recognition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first used automobile buyer is one of a consumer and a dealer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data that is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, wherein the automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes a picture of at least one of the exterior of the automobile, the interior of the automobile, the dashboard of the automobile, the odometer of the automobile, service records of the automobile, and ownership records of the automobile.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes data provided with at least one graphical user interface component.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes at least one price parameter.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, on a computer readable medium, pricing data including used automobile data and new automobile data, including actual prices of executed transactions, dealer listing prices, dealer sale prices, manufacturer incentives, dealer bids, consumer bids, and consumer pricing parameters.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, to:

process a used automobile seller selection of the first bid to facilitate executing a sale including at least one of providing for electronic signature of documents and providing for an electronic funds transfer.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein an add-on, including at least one of insurance, financing, a service contract, a warranty, and a hard-add accessory, is provided by a third party to the first used automobile buyer with the first request, via the used automobile buyer interface, wherein the third party is different from the used automobile seller and the first used automobile buyer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the add-on is selected for inclusion in the first bid by the first used automobile buyer.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, to:

receive, via the used automobile buyer interface, a second bid from a second used automobile buyer located at a third location within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

generate, based on receiving the second bid, second driving directions from the first location to the third location; and

provide, via the used automobile seller interface, the second bid including at least a second price for the first used automobile and the second driving directions from the first location to the third location.

19. A system comprising:

a computer readable medium storing instructions;

at least one processing device operably coupled to the computer readable medium, the at least one processing device executing the instructions to;

receive, via a used automobile seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a used automobile seller located at a first location and including a vehicle identifier and geolocation information of the used automobile seller;

determine, based on the geolocation information, that the used automobile is located at the first location;

generate, based on the determined first location, an in-market used automobile buyer area;

determine that at least one used automobile buyer is located within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

receive, via a used automobile buyer interface, a first bid from a first used automobile buyer located at a second location within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

provide, via the used automobile seller interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first used automobile and the driving directions from the first location to the second location.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system includes a used automobile seller interface and a manufacturer off-lease seller interface that is different from the used automobile seller interface.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the first used automobile is an off-lease automobile, and the first location is a dealer in possession of the first used automobile.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the used automobile seller interface is a manufacturer off-lease seller interface.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the manufacturer off-lease seller interface includes a number of matches or search hits for the first used automobile.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein a manufacturer user inputs the vehicle identifier into the manufacturer off-lease seller interface by one of typing, speaking, or providing an image of the vehicle identifier.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the manufacturer off-lease seller interface includes information regarding automobiles that are coming off-lease.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the manufacturer off-lease seller interface receives a parameter that the first used automobile will be available for pickup only after a certain date.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the used automobile seller interface and the used automobile buyer interface are integrated within at least one of a single website and a single application.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, are configured to cause an information processing apparatus to:

receive, via a used automobile seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a used automobile seller located at a first location and including a vehicle identifier and geolocation information of the used automobile;

determine, based on the geolocation information, that the used automobile is located at the first location;

generate, based on the determined first location, an in-market used automobile buyer area;

determine that at least one used automobile buyer is located within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

receive, via a used automobile buyer interface, a first bid from a first used automobile buyer located at a second location within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

provide, via the used automobile seller interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first used automobile and the driving directions from the first location to the second location.