Automobile customer information generation and transmission system
First Claim
1. A system for electronically gathering data about a potential customer of a new or used product, wherein a portion of the consideration the customer will rely on to purchase or lease the new product is a used product, the system comprising:
- a data processing module accessible by a manufacturer of the new product;
a location for displaying samples of the new product; and
an input device located at the location and coupled to the data processing module, the input device being useable to convey customer data representative of characteristics of the customer to the data processing module, wherein the customer data is stored in the data processing module and is accessible by the manufacturer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for electronically gathering data about a potential customer of a new or used product are described. In one embodiment, a portion of the consideration the customer may rely on to purchase or lease the new product is a used product. The system may include a data processing module accessible by a manufacturer of the new product, a location for displaying samples of the new product, and an input device located at the location and coupled to the data processing module. The input device is capable of conveying customer data representative of characteristics of the customer to the second data processing system. The customer data is stored in the data processing module and is accessible by the manufacturer. Also discussed is a method of doing business in which a central firm practices the method and system for electronically gathering data.
115 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A system for electronically gathering data about a potential customer of a new or used product, wherein a portion of the consideration the customer will rely on to purchase or lease the new product is a used product, the system comprising:
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a data processing module accessible by a manufacturer of the new product;
a location for displaying samples of the new product; and
an input device located at the location and coupled to the data processing module, the input device being useable to convey customer data representative of characteristics of the customer to the data processing module, wherein the customer data is stored in the data processing module and is accessible by the manufacturer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of electronically gathering data about a potential customer of a new or used product, wherein a portion of the consideration the customer will rely on to purchase or lease the new product is a used product, the method comprising:
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processing data accessible by a manufacturer of the new product;
displaying samples of the new product; and
conveying customer data representative of characteristics of the customer to a data processing module, wherein the customer data is stored in the data processing module and is accessible by the manufacturer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19)
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16. A system in which data is electronically gathered about a potential customer of a new product, wherein a portion of the consideration the customer will rely on to purchase or lease the new product is a used product, the system comprising:
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means for processing data accessible by a manufacturer of the new product;
means for displaying samples of the new product; and
means for conveying customer data representative of characteristics of the customer to a data processing module, wherein the customer data is stored in the data processing module and is accessible by the manufacturer.
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20. A system for electronically gathering data about a potential customer of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a first location at which the vehicle is displayed, reviewed, delivered, or sold;
a data processing module for storing customer data in association with a customer identification;
a first data input module located at the first location for communicating data about the customer to the data processing module, wherein the data includes at least data about one or more products of interest to the customer; and
a second data input module located at a location geographically separated from the first location, the second data input module being configured to communicate with the data processing module via a network to permit access to and modification of the customer data by the customer identified by the customer identification. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for electronically gathering data about a potential customer of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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displaying, reviewing, delivering, or selling a vehicle;
storing customer data in association with a customer identification;
communicating data about the customer to a data processing module, wherein the data includes at least data about one or more products of interest to the customer; and
communicating with the data processing module via a network to permit access to and modification of the customer data by the customer identified by the customer identification. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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38. A system which electronically gathers data about a potential customer of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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means for displaying, reviewing, delivering, or selling a vehicle;
means for storing customer data in association with a customer identification with a data processing module;
means for communicating data about the customer to the data processing module, wherein the data includes at least data about one or more automobiles of interest to the customer; and
means for communicating with the data processing module via a network to permit access to and modification of the customer data by the customer identified by the customer identification.
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45. A method of doing business in which a central firm provides technology and information services to at least one recipient comprising at least one of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and an OEM dealer/distributor, the method comprising:
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receiving at the central firm an expense payment from a recipient of the technology and information services;
communicating information among and between a customer and the recipient; and
therebyfacilitating commercial transactions with the customer.
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Specification