Method and system for registering potential acquirers of vehicles that are not currently on the market

• US 20070162347A1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Second Skin Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Second Skin Pty Limited
• Inventors: Happel, Henry, King, Martin, Stafford-Fraser, James, Gnuschke, Jerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/167 Closing

Abstract

A register interest system receives from a potential acquirer of assets an indication that the potential acquirer is interested in acquiring rights in a specific asset that is not currently on the market. The register interest system stores indications that the potential acquirers are interested in specific assets. When a notification criterion has been satisfied, then the register interest system notifies the owner of the specific asset that one or more potential acquirers are interested in acquiring rights to that asset. The owner and a potential acquirer can then negotiate the purchase of the rights.

Claims

1. A computer system for matching potential buyers of vehicles having a unique identifier with owners of vehicles, comprising:

a component that receives from a potential buyer an indication that the potential buyer is interested in buying a vehicle and the unique identifier of the vehicle;

a component that locates, using the unique identifier, the owner of the vehicle;

a component that notifies the owner of the vehicle that the potential buyer is interested in buying the vehicle; and

a component that provides to the owner of the vehicle the identity of the potential buyer of the vehicle.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is a license plate number along with a governmental entity that licensed the vehicle.

3. The computer system of claim 1 including a component that provides a web site through which a potential buyer can indicate their interest in buying the vehicle.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the component that locates the owner of the vehicle accesses a vehicle identification system.

5. The computer system of claim 4 wherein information of the vehicle identification system is provided by a governmental entity.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the indication of interest and the unique identifier are received via a mobile device.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the mobile device is a telephone and a potential buyer dials a telephone number and enters a license plate number of the vehicle along with a governmental entity that licensed the vehicle.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of land, water, and air vehicles.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the component that provides the identity of the potential buyer of the vehicle provides the identity after receiving an indication that the owner of the vehicle agrees to terms under which the identity of the potential buyer will be provided.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the terms include that the owner will keep information about the buyer confidential.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the terms include that the owner will provide compensation in exchange for information about the potential buyer.

12. The computer system of claim 1 including a component that provides a list of vehicles that are comparable to the vehicle in which the potential buyer has indicated an interest.

13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein a vehicle is comparable based at least in part on another potential buyer indicating an interest in both the vehicle and the comparable vehicle.

14. The computer system of claim 1 including providing an estimated value for the vehicle.

15. The computer system of claim 1 including a component that provides information about the vehicle obtained from various data sources.

16. The computer system of claim 15 wherein a data source is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle identification system, a vehicle specification system, or a vehicle history system.

17. A computer system for matching potential buyers of vehicles with owners of vehicles that are not currently for sale, comprising:

a component that receives from a potential buyer an indication that the potential buyer is interested in buying a vehicle and a description of the vehicle;

a component that identifies the owner of a vehicle that matches the description;

a component that notifies the owner of the vehicle that the potential buyer is interested in buying the vehicle; and

a component that provides to the owner of the vehicle the identity of the potential buyer of the vehicle.

18. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the description includes attributes of the vehicle selected from the group consisting of make, model, and year.

19. The computer system of claim 17 including a component that provides a web site through which a potential buyer can indicate their interest in buying the vehicle.

20. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the component that identifies accesses a vehicle identification system.

21. The computer system of claim 19 wherein information of the vehicle identification system is provided by a governmental entity that licenses vehicles.

22. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of land, water, and air vehicles.

23. A computer system for generating interest in a transaction between a potential buyer of a vehicle that is not currently for sale and an owner of the vehicle, the method comprising:

a component that provides a web site through which potential buyers of vehicles can register their interest in a specific vehicle that is not currently for sale;

a component that directs that a notification be sent to the owner of a vehicle in which a potential buyer has registered an interest, the notification indicating that a potential buyer has registered an interest in the owner'"'"'s vehicle;

a component that provides a web site through which an owner who has been notified can register an interest in offering the owner'"'"'s vehicle for sale; and

a component that directs that the potential buyer and the owner be put in contact after the owner registers an interest in offering the owner'"'"'s vehicle for sale.

24. The computer system of claim 23 wherein the potential buyer and the owner are put in contact only after they agree to terms of contact.

25. The computer system of claim 23 including a component that provides to the potential buyer a history of the vehicle.

26. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the history includes repair and maintenance of the vehicle.

27. The computer system of claim 23 including a component that provides to the potential buyer a specification of the vehicle.

28. The computer system of claim 27 including a component that provides a list of vehicles that are comparable to the specific vehicle in which the potential buyer has registered an interest.

29. The computer system of claim 28 wherein a vehicle is comparable based at least in part on another potential buyer registering an interest in both the vehicle and the comparable vehicle.