Systems and Methods for Facilitating the Purchase of One or More Vehicles

• US 20140067614A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoTrader.com, Inc. (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AutoTrader.com, Inc. (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hygema, Melanie Allgood, Kelly, Brett Michael, Zavitz, Brian Cameron, Russek, Pamela Ann, Puente, Jose Ignacio, Park, Nicholas James
• Granted Patent: US 9,466,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.63
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Illustrative embodiments may generally be directed to, among other things, a platform for providing information to one or more consumers to facilitate the purchase of one or more vehicles. In one embodiment, the platform may provide information associated with one or more OEMs and their vehicle product lines. In another embodiment, the platform may facilitate selecting, building, modifying, comparing, and/or purchasing one or more vehicles. In yet another embodiment, the platform may determine inventory data corresponding to actual available inventory at one or more dealerships.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive one or more weighted variables that each indicate a desired characteristic indicative of a qualitative property of a vehicle, wherein the one or more weighted variables correspond to a virtual representation of the desired characteristics of the vehicle;

determine, based at least in part on the one or more weighted variables, one or more vehicles comprising one or more makes, models, trims, customizations, or combinations thereof that correspond to one or more of the desired characteristics of the vehicle;

determine inventory data corresponding to actual available inventory at one or more dealerships for each of the one or more vehicles, wherein the inventory data is based at least in part on data received from one or more inventory databases of the one or more dealerships;

determine a metric indicative of a degree of match between each of the one or more vehicles and the one or more weighted variables, wherein the metric is represented as a geometric shape;

determine, based at least in part on the metric, a ranking of the one or more vehicles; and

identify at least one feature, associated with a respective vehicle of the determined one or more vehicles, that differs from a desired characteristic indicated by the one or more weighted variables.

2. A system, comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive one or more weighted variables that each indicate a desired characteristic indicative of a qualitative property of a vehicle;

determine, based at least in part on the one or more weighted variables, one or more vehicles comprising one or more makes, models, trims, customizations, or combinations thereof that correspond to one or more of the desired characteristics of the vehicle;

identify at least one feature, associated with a respective vehicle of the determined one or more vehicles, that differs from a desired characteristic indicated by the one or more weighted variables; and

determine inventory data corresponding to actual available inventory at one or more dealerships for each of the one or more vehicles, wherein the inventory data is based at least in part on data received from one or more inventory databases of the one or more dealerships.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine a metric indicative of a degree of match between each of the one or more vehicles and the one or more weighted variables.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine, based at least in part on the metric, a ranking of the one or more vehicles.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the metric is represented as one or more geometric shapes, graphs, charts, or tables.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more weighted variables correspond to a virtual representation of the desired characteristics of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

display the identified at least one feature to a user.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive, from one or more manufacturer databases, one or more distributor databases, or one or more dealer databases, configuration data of the one or more vehicles.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the configuration data of the one or more vehicles comprises one or more of a manufactured configuration, a distributor configuration, or a dealer configuration.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more weighted variables comprise one or more of vehicle options that each indicate the desired characteristic of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more weighted variables comprise conflicting characteristics of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more vehicles comprises one or more makes or models from a plurality of original equipment manufacturers.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more dealerships are based at least in part on a geographic location.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a user computer, one or more desired features indicative of a quantitative property of a vehicle, wherein the one or more desired features of the vehicle correspond to a virtual representation of the vehicle;

determining, by at least one processor and based at least in part on the one or more desired features of the vehicle, one or more vehicles comprising one or more makes, models, trims, customizations, or combinations thereof that correspond to one or more of the desired features of the vehicle;

identifying at least one feature, associated with a respective vehicle of the determined one or more vehicles, that differs from the one or more desired features; and

determining, by the at least one processor, inventory data corresponding to actual available inventory at one or more dealerships for each of the one or more vehicles, wherein the inventory data is received at least from one or more inventory databases of the one or more dealerships.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining, by the at least one processor, a metric indicative of a degree of match between each of the one or more vehicles and the one or more desired features.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining, by the at least on processor and based at least in part on the metric, a ranking of the one or more vehicles.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the metric is represented as one or more geometric shapes, graphs, charts, or tables.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, from one or more manufacturer databases, one or more distributor databases, or one or more dealer databases, configuration data of the one or more vehicles.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more desired features comprise one or more of:

price, style, age, make, model, color, mileage, vehicle identification number (VIN) information, condition, trim, vehicle options, sunroof, moonroof, navigation systems, dvd systems, digital music player connectivity, satellite radio, handsfree equipment, digital streaming capability, back-up cameras, back-up sensors, automated parallel parking capabilities, transmission type, paddle shifters, on-wheel controls, available seating, towing capability, drivetrain (AWD, FWD, 4WD, RWD), traction control, warranty, incentives, transmission (manual, automatic, cvt), fuel economy, fuel type (gas (regular or premium), E85, flex fuel, natural gas, diesel, hybrid, electric, plug-in electric, solar, fuel cell, hydrogen, or combinations thereof), safety equipment (airbags, collision avoidance, or antilock brakes), turbo, supercharger, engine features (displacement, horsepower, cylinders, cylinder configuration, valves, valve configuration, cylinder deactivation, fuel economy controls), bed liners, covers, wheels.

21. The method of claim 14, generating a virtual representation of the desired features of the vehicle based at least in part on one or more weighted variables associated with the desired features.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the configuration data of the one or more vehicles comprises one or more of an as-manufactured configuration, a distributor configuration, or a dealer configuration.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more desired features comprise conflicting features of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more vehicles comprises one or more makes or models from a plurality of original equipment manufactures.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more dealerships are based at least in part on a geographic location.

18. (canceled)

26. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving one or more weighted variables that each indicate one or more desired characteristics indicative of a qualitative property;

determining, based at least in part on the one or more weighted variables, one or more vehicles comprising one or more makes, models, trims, customizations, or combinations thereof that correspond to one or more of the desired characteristics of the vehicle;

identifying at least one feature, associated with a respective vehicle of the determined one or more vehicles, that differs from a desired characteristic indicated by the one or more weighted variables and

determining inventory data corresponding to actual available inventory at one or more dealerships for each of the one or more vehicles, wherein the inventory data is based at least in part on data received from one or more inventory databases of the one or more dealerships.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the operations further comprise determining a metric indicative of a degree of match between each of the one or more vehicles and the one or more weighted variables.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise determining, based at least in part on the metric, a ranking of the one or more vehicles.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the operations further comprise providing an indication of the desired characteristics that differ in each of the one or more vehicles.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from one or more manufacturer databases, one or more distributor databases, or one or more dealer databases, configuration data of the one or more vehicles.