Method and system for selling assets over a computer network

• US 20020049663A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hertz Corporation (Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hertz Corporation (Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kahana, Mordechai
• Application Number:
  US09/885,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

A method and system for selling re-sellable assets over a computer network is provided. In one embodiment a lessor provides a list of re-sellable assets to an asset seller. The asset seller lists the assets on a server computer, which can be remotely searched by a buyer at a client computer. The buyer can then purchase the asset or bid on the asset in the case of an auction.

Claims

1. A method for selling marketable assets comprising:

storing a listing of re-sellable assets owned by a third-party asset owner on a secure computer;

sending a subset of the listing to a client computer based on a search inquiry; and

receiving a buy request for at least one of the assets from the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a buy request comprises receiving a bid in an auction from the client computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-sellable asset is a motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending a subset of the listing comprises sending a subset of the listing to a kiosk.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing a listing comprises storing a listing of off-lease assets owned by a third party lessor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing a listing comprises storing a listing of current rentable rental assets owned by a rental company.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing a listing comprises storing a listing of leased assets prior to the expiration of the lease.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending a subset of the listing comprises sending a subset of the listings based on a search inquiry to a retail consumer operating a client computer.

9. A system for selling marketable assets comprising:

a server operable to;

store a listing of re-sellable assets owned by a third-party asset owner;

send a subset of the listing to a client computer based on a search inquiry; and

receive a buy request for at least one of the re-sellable assets from the client computer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the buy request is a bid in an auction from the client computer.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the re-sellable asset is a motor vehicle.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the client computer is a kiosk.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the kiosk is located at an asset owner'"'"'s business location.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the listing of re-sellable assets are downloaded to the kiosk, the kiosk operable to allow searches of the listing stored on the kiosk.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the re-sellable assets are off-lease assets owned by a third party asset owner.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the re-sellable assets are currently rentable rental assets owned by a rental company.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the re-sellable assets are leased assets near the end of a lease term.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein a user of the client computer is a retail consumer.