Method and system for providing an automobile concierge service to a client as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship

• US 20030046146A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Westerman, David, Distler, James
• Application Number:
  US09/682,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046146A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

A method and computer-based system for providing an automobile concierge service to a client as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship such as an employment agreement, a landlord-tenant arrangement and a term-parking agreement include receiving a client'"'"'s request for an automobile service, coordinating with an automobile service provider to schedule the requested service, transporting the client'"'"'s vehicle to the service provider to perform the at least one scheduled automobile service, and returning the vehicle to the client after the service is complete. The method additionally includes receiving a client'"'"'s request to acquire an automobile and locating an automobile acquisition opportunity that best satisfies the client'"'"'s request.

Claims

1. A method for providing an automobile concierge service to a client as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship, the method comprising:

receiving a client'"'"'s request for at least one automobile service;

coordinating with at least one automobile service provider to schedule the at least one automobile service;

transporting the vehicle to the at least one automobile service provider to perform the at least one scheduled automobile service; and

returning the vehicle to the client after the at least one automobile service is complete wherein the automobile concierge service is provided to the client as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the business relationship comprises an employment arrangement and the concierge service is offered to an employee as an employment benefit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the business relationship comprises a landlord-tenant arrangement and the automobile concierge service is offered to a tenant as a tenant amenity.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the business relationship comprises a parking term agreement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one automobile service provider is selected from a database of automobile service providers that have been preselected to participate in the provision of automobile services.

6. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising scheduling the client'"'"'s automobile for future concierge services.

7. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising receiving a client'"'"'s request to acquire an automobile;

and

locating at least one automobile acquisition opportunity that best satisfies the client'"'"'s request.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the client'"'"'s automobile acquisition request comprises an assessment of the client'"'"'s automobile needs.

9. The method of claim 7 additionally comprising closing the at least one automobile acquisition opportunity for the client.

10. The method of claim 7 additionally comprising scheduling a test drive of an automobile for the client.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein franchised automobile dealers provide the at least one automobile acquisition opportunity.

12. A computer-based system for supporting the provision of an automobile concierge service to a client as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship, the system configured to:

(i) receive input containing a client'"'"'s request for at least one automobile service;

(ii) present output containing at least one automobile service provider capable of providing the at least one automobile service; and

(iii) receive input scheduling the at least one automobile service wherein the automobile concierge service is provided to the client as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship.

13. The system of claim 12 additionally configured to receive input selecting at least one automobile service provider to provide the at least one automobile service from a database of preselected automobile service providers.

14. The system of claim 12 additionally configured to generate an alert indicating that scheduled automobile service is due.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the system is implemented on the Internet.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein a vehicle owner requests and schedules the at least one automobile service electronically via a communication network.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the client'"'"'s request for automobile service comprises a request to acquire an automobile.

18. A method for providing an automobile concierge service to an employee as an employment benefit, the method comprising:

receiving an employee'"'"'s request for at least one automobile service;

coordinating with at least one automobile service provider to schedule the at least one automobile service,

transporting the vehicle to the at least one automobile service provider to perform the at least one scheduled automobile service, and

returning the vehicle to the employee after the at least one automobile service is complete wherein the automobile concierge service is provided to the employee as an employment benefit.

19. A system for providing an automobile concierge service to a client as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship, the system comprising:

a means for receiving an employee'"'"'s request for at least one automobile service; and

a means for coordinating the provision of the at least one automobile service with at least one automobile service provider wherein the automobile concierge service is provided as an incentive for the client to enter into a business relationship.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the business relationship comprises an employment arrangement and the concierge service is provided to an employee as an employment benefit.