Computer-based system and method for assessing and reporting on the scarcity of a product or service

• US 20030187714A1
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoTrader.com, Inc. (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AutoTrader.com, Inc. (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johannesen, Jerry, Olufsen, Lars E. IV, Perry, Victor A. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

An online product or service listing arrangement logs searches performed and uses the logged information to calculate a scarcity index that measures the scarcity of products and services. Scarcity may indicate the number of searches that consumers have conducted compared to available listings. Empirical techniques are used to take into account certain types of searches that may not accurately reflect actual consumer demand. Reports may compare item scarcity within different geographical or other markets to determine relative scarcity. Particularly advantageous but non-limiting applications include new and used motor vehicles, employment opportunities, and real estate.

Claims

1. A method of accessing and reporting on scarcity of a product or service comprising:

(a) providing an online searchable database of items;

(b) permitting online users to search said database;

(c) logging at least the number of searches for at least predetermined items within said database; and

(d) assessing the scarcity of said predetermined items based on the contents of said database and on said logged search information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said items comprise new or used vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said assessing step comprises calculating a scarcity index.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said assessing step comprises calculating a ratio of searches per listing divided by mean searches per listing.

5. The method of claim 1 further including eliciting geographical location from online users searching said database, and wherein said accessing steps assesses said scarcity within a selected market.

6. The method of claim 5 further including reporting on a comparison between scarcity within different markets.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said assessing step assesses scarcity based upon selected geographical localities served by said online service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said logging step logs searches against multiple entries within said database as pertaining to each of said multiple searches.

9. A system for assessing and reporting on the scarcity of new or used vehicles comprising:

an online vehicle listing service accessible via the Internet by multiple consumers simultaneously, said online listing service allowing said users to search said database by at least vehicle make/model and vehicle year of manufacture;

a search data logger that logs at least some information regarding each search;

a scarcity calculator that receives said logged information and information concerning those things within said database, said scarcity calculator calculating vehicle scarcity by selected geographical areas; and

a scarcity report generator that reports vehicle scarcity in a plurality of different formats.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said scarcity calculator summarizes daily vehicle counts and vehicle searches by city, make/model/year.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said scarcity calculator compares selected vehicle scarcity within a particular selected geographical region to vehicle scarcity nationwide.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said scarcity calculator calculates a scarcity index for each of plural vehicle make/model/year.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said scarcity calculator calculates a ratio, for each make/model/year of searches per listing divided by mean searches per listing, wherein searches per listing is the ratio of searches to inventory and mean searches per listing is the ratio of average searches to average inventory.

14. The system as in claim 9 wherein said vehicles comprise cars and trucks.

15. A method for measuring supply and demand of a commodity by geographical market, comprising:

(a) operating a searchable online commodity listing service serving a geographical area;

(b) obtaining and recording market designators for said searches conducted using said online listing service; and

(c) using said recorded geographical designates and said listing service contents to assess supply of products or services versus demand of said particular products or services within a selected market.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said selected market comprises geographical area.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said products or services comprise durable goods that are difficult or expensive to ship beyond the local area or comprise big ticket goods, such as real estate, motor vehicles, and durable goods.

18. The method as in claim 15 wherein said using step calculates scarcity of said products or service within a selected geographical area.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said using step includes assessing relative scarcity of different products or services.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said using step includes calculating a raw scarcity value, and adjusting said raw scarcity value based on empirical considerations.

21. The method of claim 15 further including making at least one purchasing decision based at least in part on said assessed supply of products or services versus demand.

22. The method of 15 further including comparing first and second ratios of supply versus demand to determine relative scarcity.