Method and system for managing vehicle leases
First Claim
1. A system for management of a plurality of vehicle leases, the system comprising:
- at least one user computer;
a memory storing a database, the database being configured to store vehicle lease data for each of a plurality of vehicle leases; and
a server in communication with the user computer and the memory, the server being configured to execute a lease management software program, the lease management software program being configured to provide lease management functionality for each of said vehicle leases throughout a vehicle lease lifecycle via a plurality of interrelated graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the lease management functionality including a plurality of user selectable maintenance actions for an activated one of said customer vehicle leases, and wherein the lease management software program is further configured to update the stored vehicle lease data in the database in response to a user selection of at least one of said plurality of selectable maintenance actions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved lease management system is disclosed herein for use by fleet managers to manage customer vehicle leases for a variety of management issues that arise throughout the lifecycle of a lease. According to one aspect, the system comprises a system for management of a plurality of vehicle leases, the system comprising: (1) at least one user computer; (2) a memory storing a database, the database being configured to store vehicle lease data for each of a plurality of vehicle leases; and (3) a server in communication with the user computer and the memory, the server being configured to execute a lease management software program, the lease management software program being configured to provide lease management functionality for each of said vehicle leases throughout a vehicle lease lifecycle via a plurality of interrelated graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the lease management functionality including a plurality of user selectable maintenance actions for an activated one of said customer vehicle leases, and wherein the lease management software program is further configured to update the stored vehicle lease data in the database in response to a user selection of at least one of said plurality of selectable maintenance actions.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A system for management of a plurality of vehicle leases, the system comprising:
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at least one user computer;
a memory storing a database, the database being configured to store vehicle lease data for each of a plurality of vehicle leases; and
a server in communication with the user computer and the memory, the server being configured to execute a lease management software program, the lease management software program being configured to provide lease management functionality for each of said vehicle leases throughout a vehicle lease lifecycle via a plurality of interrelated graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the lease management functionality including a plurality of user selectable maintenance actions for an activated one of said customer vehicle leases, and wherein the lease management software program is further configured to update the stored vehicle lease data in the database in response to a user selection of at least one of said plurality of selectable maintenance actions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for management of a plurality of vehicle leases, the system comprising:
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a user computer;
a memory storing a database, the database configured to store vehicle lease data and tax data applicable to vehicle leases, wherein the stored tax data varies by a plurality of taxing jurisdictions, wherein the stored tax data is referenced by a plurality of geographical identifiers;
a server in communication with the user computer and the memory, the server having lease management software resident thereon, the lease management software being configured to execute a lease management software program, the lease management software program being configured to provide lease management functionality to a user of the user computer via a plurality of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the lease management functionality including access to the database to determine all taxes that are applicable to a vehicle lease in response to user input through a GUI of a geographic identifier for that vehicle lease. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for management of a plurality of vehicle leases, the system comprising:
a computer comprising (1) a display, (2) an input device, (3) a memory storing a database, the database being configured to store vehicle lease data for each of a plurality of vehicle leases, and (4) a processor in communication with the display, input device and memory, the processor being configured to execute a lease management software program, the lease management software program being configured to provide lease management functionality for each of said vehicle leases throughout a vehicle lease lifecycle via a plurality of interrelated graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for presentation to a user on the display, the lease management functionality including a plurality of user selectable maintenance actions for an activated one of said customer vehicle leases, and wherein the lease management software program is further configured to update the stored vehicle lease data in the database in response to a user selection through the input device of at least one of said plurality of selectable maintenance actions.
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25. A method for interfacing a business accounting software program with a separate software program for managing a plurality of vehicles leased by a customer, the method comprising:
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providing, via the separate software program, a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on a user computer that lists data describing a plurality of cost items that have been purchased in connection with at least one customer vehicle lease;
receiving an input to the separate software program from a user through the displayed graphical user interface that is indicative of a command to pay a vendor for at least one of the listed cost items; and
responsive to the received input, automatically uploading vendor payment instructions for the at least one listed cost item from the separate software program to a separate business accounting software program. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for integrating a business accounting software program with a separate software program for managing a plurality of vehicles leased by a customer, the system comprising:
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a user computer; and
a server in communication with the user computer via a computer network, the server being configured to (1) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on the user computer that lists data describing a plurality of cost items that have been purchased in connection with a customer vehicle lease, (2) receive an input from a user that is indicative of a command to pay a vendor for at least one of the listed cost items, and (3) responsive to the received input, automatically upload vendor payment instructions for the at least one listed cost item to a separate business accounting software program. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on a computer through which a user can request a report that lists each cost item that has been purchased for a customer leased vehicle, wherein the listed cost item has an invoiced cost that is different than an expected cost; and
responsive to user input via the page, generating the report for display to the user. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system for identifying a total estimated holding cost for a potential vehicle lease, the system comprising:
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a user computer;
a memory storing a database, the database configured to store vehicle lease data; and
a server in communication with the user computer over the Internet, the server also being in communication with the memory, the server being configured to execute a software program, the software program being configured to interface a user of the user computer with the database via a plurality of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for display on the user computer, at least one of the GUIs being configured to display an estimated total holding cost for a potential vehicle lease in response to user input through a GUI of a plurality of lease parameters that define the potential vehicle lease.
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42. A system for integrating a business accounting software program with a separate software program for managing a plurality of vehicles leased by a customer, the system comprising:
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a user computer; and
a server in communication with the user computer via a computer network, the server being configured to (1) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on the user computer through which a user can schedule direct debit withdrawals from a plurality of customer financial accounts for payments due under a plurality of customer vehicle leases, (2) access a business accounting software program, resident on either the server or a computing device accessible to the server, to obtain data necessary for implementing the direct debit withdrawals from the customer financial accounts, and (3) responsive to user scheduling input through the GUI and the direct debit data from the business accounting software program, performs the direct debit withdrawals.
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Specification