VEHICLE DATABASE SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20140310124A1
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Work Truck Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: Work Truck Solution
• Inventors: SCHIFFERLE, KATHRYN
• Application Number:
  US14/250,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20140310124A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

An online trading system for conducting trade of commercial vehicles at a dealership is disclosed. The online trading system comprises an online trading website and a vehicle database built into the website hosted on a server and managed by a commercial vehicle manager at the dealership. The vehicle database is configured to store virtual inventory including a vehicle body data and a vehicle chassis data of vehicles. The website includes an available vehicle combinations list which includes a list of all possible combinations of vehicle by using data about all available chassis types and combining this with available body models that fit each chassis. The vehicle database allows the dealership, at least one dealer, at least one buyer, a body manufacturer or distributor to access the data of the commercial vehicles via a network so as to conduct trade in a simple and efficient manner.

Claims

1. An online trading system for conducting trade of commercial vehicles at a dealership, the system comprising:

an online trading website hosted on a server and managed by a commercial vehicle manager at the dealership; and

a vehicle database built into the online trading website, the vehicle database configured to store virtual inventory data of the commercial vehicles, the virtual inventory data comprising a vehicle body data and a vehicle chassis data;

whereby the vehicle database allows the dealership, at least one dealer, at least one buyer, at least one body manufacturer, and at least one distributor to access information of commercial vehicles via a network so as to conduct trade in a simple and efficient manner.

2. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle database is configured in such a way that the dealership and the at least one buyer can easily search the online trading website for specific chassis type, body, equipment, or any combination thereof.

3. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the virtual inventory data of the commercial vehicles is received from the at least one dealer and at least one of either a distributor or body manufacturer.

4. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle body data is collected by means of invoices sent from the at least one of either a distributor or body manufacturer.

5. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle chassis data includes vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and engineering specifications of the commercial vehicles.

6. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle chassis data received from the Dealer Management System is processed into a consistent data stream and transferring the consistent data stream into the vehicle database by the third party service provider.

7. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle body data is systematically matched with the vehicle chassis data to identify existing upfitted vehicles.

8. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the commercial vehicle manager can modify and/or add information including photographs and special remarks in the vehicle database so that the at least one buyer can access both factory specifications of chassis and body and the actual condition of entire vehicle and equipment.

9. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the commercial vehicle manager allows the at least one buyer to access and select the plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations offered for a trade with other dealerships based on a geographic location.

10. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the system allows the at least one distributor to receive orders from the at least one dealer, send orders to body manufacturers, send and receive confirmation and update delivery times via the network.

11. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the system allows the body manufacturer to receive orders from dealers and distributors, send confirmation to the dealers and distributors and update delivery times via the network.

12. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the system provide a dashboard for dealers on the online trading website to access the details of account/dealership including user activity reports, vehicle reports on number of the commercial vehicles and sold commercial vehicles.

13. The online trading system of claim 1 wherein the system provides a dealer trade option that facilitates the at least one dealer to offer additional vehicles to the at least one buyer by showing inventory of nearby dealers as available to the at least one buyer.

14. The online trading system of claim 13 wherein the system allows the at least one dealer to automatically schedule the commercial vehicles available for trade based upon the number of days the commercial vehicles listed in the inventory thereby limit the exposure of the at least one dealer to pay interest on flooring or even finally to purchase the commercial vehicles.

15. A method for conducting trade of commercial vehicles at a dealership via an online trading system, the method comprising:

(a) extracting vehicle body data from at least one of either a distributor or body manufacturer and then inserting the vehicle body data into a vehicle database;

(b) extracting vehicle chassis data directly from a plurality of dealer management systems maintained by a plurality of dealerships or by a third party service provider;

(c) processing vehicle chassis data from the plurality of dealer management systems into a consistent data stream and transferring the consistent data stream into the vehicle database;

(e) systematically matching the vehicle body data with the vehicle chassis data to identify existing upfitted vehicles on possible vehicles from a plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations;

(f) storing the plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations in the vehicle database;

(g) selecting a list of the plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations offered for sale with other dealerships;

(h) presenting the vehicle database to at least one buyer via the online trading system;

(i) accessing the online trading system and searching for a vehicle by the at least one buyer;

(j) displaying a search result including the list of the plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations in the online trading system;

(k) selecting appropriate vehicle body/chassis combination from the search result by the at least one buyer; and

(l) closing the trade with the buyer by the dealership.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one buyer can access the online trading system via an online trading website utilizing at least one electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the vehicle database is configured in such a way that the dealership and the at least one buyer can easily search or browse the online trading website for specific chassis type, body, equipment, or any combination thereof.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more computer programs including instructions that, when executed by an online trading system, cause the online trading system to perform a method for conducting trade at a dealership, the method comprising:

(a) extracting vehicle body data from at least one of either a distributor or body manufacturer and then inserting the vehicle body data into a vehicle database;

(b) extracting vehicle chassis data directly from a plurality of dealer management systems maintained by a plurality of dealerships or by a third party service provider;

(c) processing vehicle chassis data from the plurality of dealer management systems into a consistent data stream and transferring the consistent data stream into the vehicle database;

(e) systematically matching the vehicle body data with the vehicle chassis data to identify existing upfitted vehicles on possible vehicles from a plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations;

(f) storing the plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations in the vehicle database;

(g) selecting a list of the plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations offered for sale with other dealerships;

(h) presenting the vehicle database to at least one buyer via the online trading system;

(i) accessing the online trading system and searching for a vehicle by the at least one buyer;

(j) displaying a search result including the list of the plurality of vehicle body/chassis combinations in the online trading system;

(k) selecting appropriate vehicle body/chassis combination from the search result by the at least one buyer; and

(l) closing the trade with the buyer by the dealership.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the at least one buyer can access the online trading system via an online trading website utilizing at least one electronic device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the vehicle database is configured in such a way that the dealership and the at least one buyer can easily search or browse the online trading website for specific chassis type, body, equipment, or any combination thereof.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the vehicle body data is collected by means of invoices sent from at least one of either a distributor or body manufacturer.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the vehicle chassis data includes vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and engineering specifications of the commercial vehicles.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the vehicle chassis data and body data are analyzed and displayed as virtual inventory data.