NETWORK-BASED SYSTEM FOR SELLING AND SERVICING CARS

• US 20170140452A1
• Filed: 07/05/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NIO Technology Company Limited (NIO, Inc. (China))
• Original Assignee: NextEV USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, William, Ricci, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 10,692,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selling and servicing cars using a network of existing owners of the car and a network of existing independent car service centers and a distributed linked computer communication system.

Claims

1. A system for selling cars, the system comprising:

a server communicatively coupled to the internet;

one or more mobile computers that are communicatively coupled to the internet, wherein the one or more mobile computers includes a buyer device; and

a plurality of vehicles that each include a car computer communicatively coupled to the internet, wherein each of the plurality of vehicles is owned by an owner;

wherein the car computer;

transmits a car location information of the respective vehicle to the server,

transmits to the server a showing indication that indicates the respective vehicle is available for showing,

in response to a first instruction from the server, validates a potential buyer'"'"'s identity,

in response to a second instruction from the server, unlocks the respective vehicle,

in response to a third instruction from server, turns on the respective vehicle;

wherein the server;

stores the car location information for each of the plurality of vehicles,

stores the showing indication for each of the plurality of vehicles,

transmits the first instruction based upon a first request received from the buyer device,

transmits the second instruction based upon a second request received from the buyer device,

transmits the third instruction based upon a third request received from the buyer device,

awards credits to the respective owner of each vehicle from the plurality of vehicles based upon a number of potential buyers that view each respective car;

wherein the buyer device;

determines a geographic location of the buyer device,

displays a map that includes indicators of the car location information for one or more vehicles from the plurality of vehicles where the showing indication indicates that the car is available for showing based on the geographic location of the buyer device,

receives a selection input from the potential buyer that identifies a particular vehicle displayed on the map,

receives a confirmation from the owner of the particular vehicle that a showing is allowed,

in response to a validation input from the potential buyer, transmits the first request to the server,

in response to an unlock input from the potential buyer, transmits the second request to the server,

in response to a test drive input from the potential buyer, transmits the third request to the server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein indicators of the car location information for one or more vehicles obfuscates the location information for one or more vehicles, and

wherein the buyer device reveals a true indicator of the location of the particular vehicle, after the confirmation from the owner.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the car computer is integral to the respective vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the car computer is portable and connected to the respective vehicle through a car communication port.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further awards credits based upon a number of test drives allowed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the car computer further:

determines a time duration that the particular vehicle is available for showing, and

transmits the duration to the server; and

wherein the server further;

stores the duration for each of the plurality of vehicles, and

awards credits to the respective owner of each vehicle from the plurality of vehicles based on the respective duration of each respective car.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further:

receives an input of feedback from the potential buyer regarding the respective car,

stores the input of feedback from the potential buyer, and

awards credits to the respective owner of each vehicle from the plurality of vehicles based on the input of feedback from the potential buyer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the owner of the particular vehicle has a predetermined period of time to provide the confirmation, and

wherein the server further deducts credits from the respective owner of each vehicle from the plurality of vehicles when the predetermined period of time is exceeded.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further deducts credits from the respective owner of each vehicle from the plurality of vehicles for each confirmation request that the owner denies.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the server further deducts credits from the respective owner of each vehicle from the plurality of vehicles when negative feedback is received.

11. A method for selling cars, the method comprising:

distributing a plurality of car computers, wherein each of the plurality of car computers is installed in a vehicle;

receiving car location information for each of the plurality of car computers;

indicating that a respective vehicle is available for show;

receiving an input of a type of vehicle;

determining a location of a mobile computer;

displaying a map of indicators of the car location information for one or more vehicles that are available for show and are the type of vehicle based on the location of the mobile computer;

selecting one vehicle from the one or more vehicles displayed on the map;

requesting a showing of the one vehicle;

receiving a confirmation from an owner of the one vehicle that the showing is allowed;

validating an identity of a potential buyer using the respective car computer of the one vehicle;

unlocking doors of the one vehicle using the mobile computer;

turning on the one vehicle using the mobile computer;

performing a test drive of the one vehicle;

turning off the one vehicle using the mobile computer; and

awarding credits to the owner of the one vehicle based on a number of showing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein indicators of the car location information for one or more vehicles obfuscates the location information for one or more vehicles, and the method further comprises:

revealing a true indicator of the location of the one vehicle, after the confirmation from the owner.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein one or more of the car computers is integral to the respective vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein one or more of the car computers is portable and connected to the respective vehicle through a car communication port.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

awarding credits to the owner of the one vehicle based upon a number of test drives allowed.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a time duration that the one vehicle is available for showing, and

awarding credits to the owner of the one vehicle based upon the time duration.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an input of feedback from the potential buyer regarding the one vehicle,

awarding credits to the owner of the one vehicle based on the input of feedback from the potential buyer.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the owner of the one vehicle has a predetermined period of time to provide the confirmation, and the method further comprises:

deducting credits from the owner of the one vehicle when the predetermined period of time is exceeded.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

deducting credits from the owner of the one vehicle for each confirmation request that the owner denies.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

deducting credits from the owner of the one vehicle when negative feedback is received.