TRACKING AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES IN A DEALER LOT

• US 20080231446A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cresan Management LLC
• Original Assignee: Cresan Management LLC
• Inventors: CRESTO, George A.
• Application Number:
  US11/688,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Automotive vehicles in dealer inventory are tracked using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system, so that a vehicle can be located in real-time on a dealer lot. A centralized inventory tracking service can remotely monitor the vehicles at a number of dealerships, and dealer personnel can remotely access the tracking computer system via a Web-based user interface. Conventional vehicle inventory information can be periodically downloaded from a dealer inventory database to the tracking computer system. Various features of the invention take advantage of such integration of dealer inventory information with tracking information.

Claims

1. A method for tracking automotive vehicles in dealer inventory, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of transponder tags with each of a corresponding plurality of vehicles in dealer inventory;

determining a location in the dealer lot of a vehicle with which a transponder tag is associated in response to a radio-frequency (RF) signal received from the transponder tag by a plurality of receivers disposed in a dealer lot; and

displaying the determined location of the vehicle in relation to a graphical representation of the dealer lot on a computer-based system having a graphical user interface, thereby indicating the location of the vehicle in the dealer lot.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the determined location of the vehicle comprises:

receiving a user selection of one or more vehicle attributes;

searching a database for vehicles in dealer inventory matching the selected attributes;

displaying on a graphical map representing the dealer lot a graphical icon representing the location of each vehicle in dealer inventory matching the selected attributes.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of receiving a user selection of one or more vehicle attributes comprises inputting an attribute selected from the group:

vehicle identification number (VIN), inventory stock number, vehicle manufacturer name, vehicle model name, vehicle series, vehicle year, vehicle color, vehicle status, and vehicle mileage.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the determined location of the vehicle comprises:

displaying a list of vehicles in dealer inventory;

inputting a user selection of a vehicle in the list;

displaying a graphical map representing the dealer lot; and

displaying on the graphical map representing the dealer lot a graphical icon representing the location of the vehicle.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of the graphical icon representing the location of the vehicle; and

in response to the user selection of the graphical icon representing the location of the vehicle, displaying a graphical callout box in association with the graphical icon, the callout box including a description of vehicle attributes.

6. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the step of displaying a list of vehicles in dealer inventory comprises displaying, for each of a plurality of vehicles in dealer inventory:

a textual description of one or more vehicle attributes; and

an indication of time elapsed since last performing the step of determining the location of the vehicle.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of associating a transponder tag with each of a plurality of vehicles in dealer inventory comprises:

selecting a vehicle having an associated vehicle identifier; and

storing in a computer database an association between the vehicle identifier and a device identification number uniquely identifying the transponder tag.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein the vehicle identifier is a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

9. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein the vehicle identifier is a repair order number.

10. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of selecting a vehicle comprises:

displaying a list of vehicles in dealer inventory; and

receiving a user selection of a vehicle in the list.

11. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of associating a transponder tag with each of a plurality of vehicles in dealer inventory further comprises:

printing a label bearing indicia identifying a selected vehicle; and

affixing the label to the transponder tag to be associated with the selected vehicle.

12. A method for tracking automotive vehicles in dealer inventory, comprising:

a tracking computer system periodically downloading vehicle inventory information from each of a plurality of dealer inventory databases associated with automotive dealerships in accordance with a business agreement between each dealership and a party operating the tracking computer system;

the tracking computer system receiving tracking information from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system disposed in a dealer lot of each dealership; and

the tracking computer system providing a graphical user interface remotely accessible from dealerships for identifying locations of vehicles in dealer lots in response to the tracking information.

13. The method claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of the tracking computer system periodically outputting an alert identifying vehicles that are present in a dealer inventory database but have not been associated with a transponder tag of the RFID system.

14. The method claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of the tracking computer system outputting an alert identifying vehicles that have been associated with a transponder tag of the RFID system but are not correspondingly present in a dealer inventory database.

15. The method claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of the tracking computer system outputting an alert identifying vehicles that have changed locations.

16. The method claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

repeating the step of the tracking computer system receiving tracking information at predetermined time intervals for a vehicle; and

compiling a history comprising a plurality of locations of the vehicle in a dealer lot over a plurality of time intervals in response to the tracking information.

17. The method claimed in claim 12, wherein the party operating the tracking computer system charges a dealership on a per-vehicle basis for tracking vehicles under the business agreement.

18. The method claimed in claim 12, wherein the tracking computer system provides a Web-based user interface remotely accessible via the Internet.

19. A method for tracking automotive vehicles in dealer inventory, comprising:

associating a vehicle transponder tag with a vehicle;

associating a secondary transponder tag with the vehicle; and

determining a location in a dealer lot in response to first radio-frequency (RF) signals received from the vehicle transponder tag and second RF signals received from the secondary transponder tag by a plurality of receivers disposed in the dealer lot.

20. The method claimed in claim 19, wherein the step of determining a location comprises displaying the location in relation to a graphical map representing the dealer lot.

21. The method claimed in claim 19, wherein the secondary transponder tag is associated with a dealer employee.

22. The method claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

repeating the step of determining a location at predetermined time intervals; and

compiling a history comprising a plurality of locations determined over a plurality of time intervals.

23. A system for tracking automotive vehicles in dealer inventory, comprising:

a plurality of transponder tags, each tag attachable to one of a corresponding plurality of vehicles in dealer inventory; and

a tracking computer system having a communications interface for communicating data via a data network with one or more dealer inventory databases and with one or more radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems disposed in each of a plurality of dealer lots, the tracking computer system determining locations of vehicles in the dealer lots in response to tracking information received from the RFID systems and providing a graphical user interface remotely accessible from dealerships for identifying the determined locations of vehicles in the dealer lots.

24. The system claimed in claim 23, wherein an RFID system comprises a plurality of receivers for receiving RF signals from transponder tags, each receiver having a power supply circuit with a solar power source.

25. The system claimed in claim 23, wherein the user interface is a Web-based user interface remotely accessible via the Internet.

26. The system claimed in claim 23, wherein the tracking computer system downloads vehicle inventory information from each of a plurality of dealer inventory databases associated with automotive dealerships in accordance with a business agreement between each dealership and a party operating the tracking computer system.

27. The system claimed in claim 23, wherein the user interface displays the determined location of a vehicle in relation to a graphical representation of a dealer lot, thereby indicating the location of the vehicle in the dealer lot.

28. The system claimed in claim 23, further comprising an electronically-controlled key vault coupled in data communication with the tracking computer system, wherein the key vault releases a key corresponding to a vehicle and concurrently displays the determined location of the vehicle in relation to a graphical representation of the dealer lot.

29. The system claimed in claim 23, wherein the tracking computer system sends alerts via the data network in response to the tracking information.

30. The system claimed in claim 29, wherein the tracking computer system outputs an alert identifying vehicles that are present in a dealer inventory database but that have not been associated with a transponder tag of the RFID system.

31. The system claimed in claim 29, wherein the tracking computer system outputs an alert identifying vehicles that have been associated with a transponder tag of the RFID system but are not correspondingly present in a dealer inventory database.

32. The system claimed in claim 29, wherein the tracking computer system outputs an alert identifying vehicles that have changed locations.

33. A computer program product for tracking automotive vehicles in dealer inventory, the computer program product comprising computer-readable media having recorded thereon instructions for, when executed on a computer system, causing the computer system to:

associate each of a plurality of transponder tags with each of a corresponding plurality of vehicles in dealer inventory;

determine a location in the dealer lot of a vehicle with which a transponder tag is associated in response to a radio-frequency (RF) signal received from the transponder tag by a plurality of receivers disposed in the dealer lot; and

display the determined location of the vehicle in relation to a graphical representation of the dealer lot, thereby indicating the location of the vehicle in the dealer lot.

34. The computer program product claimed in claim 33, wherein the instructions further cause the computer system to download via a data network vehicle inventory information from a dealer inventory computer database associated with an automotive dealership.

35. The computer program product claimed in claim 34, wherein the instructions further cause the computer system to provide a remotely operable user interface via a data network for displaying the determined location of the vehicle.

36. The computer program product claimed in claim 35, wherein the instructions that cause the computer system to provide a user interface cause the computer system to:

display a list of vehicles in dealer inventory;

receive a user selection of a vehicle in the list;

display a graphical map representing the dealer lot; and

display on the graphical map representing the dealer lot a graphical icon representing the location of the vehicle.

37. The computer program product claimed in claim 36, wherein the instructions that cause the computer system to provide a user interface cause the computer system to:

receive a user selection of the graphical icon representing the location of the vehicle; and

in response to the user selection of the graphical icon representing the location of the vehicle, display a graphical callout box in association with the graphical icon, the callout box including a description of vehicle attributes.

38. The computer program product claimed in claim 36, wherein the instructions that cause the computer system to provide a user interface cause the computer system to:

display a textual description of one or more vehicle attributes; and

display an indication of time elapsed since last performing the step of determining the location of the vehicle.

39. The computer program product claimed in claim 35, wherein the instructions that cause the computer system to provide a user interface cause the computer system to:

receive a user selection of one or more vehicle attributes;

search downloaded vehicle inventory information for vehicles in dealer inventory matching the selected attributes;

display on a graphical map representing the dealer lot a graphical icon representing the location of each vehicle in dealer inventory matching the selected attributes.

40. The computer program product claimed in claim 35, wherein the instructions that cause the computer system to receive a user selection of one or more vehicle attributes cause the computer system to:

receive a user selection of one or more vehicle attributes selected from the group;

vehicle identification number (VIN), inventory stock number, vehicle manufacturer name, vehicle model name, vehicle series, vehicle year, vehicle color, vehicle status, and vehicle mileage.

41. A method for tracking automotive vehicles in dealer inventory, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of transponder tags with each of a corresponding plurality of vehicles in dealer inventory;

determining a location in the dealer lot of a vehicle with which a transponder tag is associated in response to a radio-frequency (RF) signal received from the transponder tag by a plurality of receivers disposed in a dealer lot;

receiving a key request indication identifying a vehicle for which a corresponding key is requested; and

displaying, in response to the key request, the determined location of the vehicle for which a corresponding key is requested in relation to a graphical representation of the dealer lot.

42. The method claimed in claim 41, further comprising releasing the corresponding key.