AUTOMOBILE TRANSACTION FACILITATION USING A MANUFACTURER RESPONSE
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least one manufacturer, a plurality of dealers, and a plurality of consumers, wherein at least a portion of the automobile market data is updated in real-time;
receiving, via a consumer interface, a request for a response indicating whether a first automobile can be provided;
causing at least one processing device to;
provide first automobile market data, based on the request, via a manufacturer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data;
provide a first manufacturer response via the consumer interface, the first manufacturer response including at least one of a verification, a confirmation, and an offer indicating that the first automobile can be provided for the consumer;
request, from at least one dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first manufacturer response, wherein the at least one dealer engages in inventoryless bidding by providing a bid on the first automobile when the first automobile is at least one of yet to be manufactured and in the inventory of another entity; and
provide at least one bid to the consumer interface, the at least one bid including at least a price and a delivery option; and
receiving a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to purchase the first automobile, wherein the first bid is an inventoryless bid requiring the first automobile to be at least one of manufactured and transferred from the inventory of another entity to the first dealer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, methods, and apparatus for performing automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing, inventory, and consumer interest information received from manufacturers, dealers, and consumers. A consumer may provide a request for a manufacturer response indicating whether a specific automobile can be provided. Automobile market data may be provided to a manufacturer based on the request and a manufacturer response provides a verification, confirmation, or offer indicating that the specific automobile can be provided for the consumer. Bids to sell the specific automobile may be requested from dealers based on the manufacturer response. Dealer bids may be provided to the consumer with prices and a delivery options. The consumer may select a bid which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer.
26 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least one manufacturer, a plurality of dealers, and a plurality of consumers, wherein at least a portion of the automobile market data is updated in real-time; receiving, via a consumer interface, a request for a response indicating whether a first automobile can be provided; causing at least one processing device to; provide first automobile market data, based on the request, via a manufacturer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data; provide a first manufacturer response via the consumer interface, the first manufacturer response including at least one of a verification, a confirmation, and an offer indicating that the first automobile can be provided for the consumer; request, from at least one dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first manufacturer response, wherein the at least one dealer engages in inventoryless bidding by providing a bid on the first automobile when the first automobile is at least one of yet to be manufactured and in the inventory of another entity; and provide at least one bid to the consumer interface, the at least one bid including at least a price and a delivery option; and receiving a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to purchase the first automobile, wherein the first bid is an inventoryless bid requiring the first automobile to be at least one of manufactured and transferred from the inventory of another entity to the first dealer.
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2. A method comprising:
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storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least one manufacturer, a plurality of dealers, and a plurality of consumers; receiving, via a consumer interface, a request for a response indicating whether a first automobile can be provided; causing at least one processing device to; provide first automobile market data, based on the request, via a manufacturer interface; provide a first manufacturer response via the consumer interface, the first manufacturer response including at least one of a verification, a confirmation, and an offer indicating that the first automobile can be provided for the consumer; request, from at least one dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first manufacturer response; and provide at least one bid to the consumer interface, the at least one bid including at least a price and a delivery option; and receiving a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An system comprising:
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a computer readable medium storing automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least one manufacturer, a plurality of dealers, and a plurality of consumers; and at least one processing device operably coupled to the computer readable medium, the at least one processing device executing instructions to; receive, via a consumer interface, a request for a response indicating whether a first automobile can be provided; provide first automobile market data, based on the request, via a manufacturer interface; provide a first manufacturer response via the consumer interface, the first manufacturer response including at least one of a verification, a confirmation, and an offer indicating that the first automobile can be provided for the consumer; request, from at least one dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first manufacturer response; provide at least one bid via the consumer interface, the at least one bid including at least a price and a delivery option; and receive a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer readable medium storing software instructions which, when executed, cause an information processing apparatus to:
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store automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least one manufacturer, a plurality of dealers, and a plurality of consumers; receive, via a consumer interface, a request for a response indicating whether a first automobile can be provided; provide first automobile market data, based on the request, via a manufacturer interface; provide a first manufacturer response via the consumer interface, the first manufacturer response including at least one of a verification, a confirmation, and an offer indicating that the first automobile can be provided for the consumer; request, from at least one dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first manufacturer response; provide at least one bid via the consumer interface, the at least one bid including at least a price and a delivery option; and receive a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer.
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Specification