Methods and systems for generating and managing offerings

• US 6,745,188 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Capital Aviation Services, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Capital Aviation Services, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Bradburn, James Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Application Number:
  US09/681,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104.1, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/95 Financial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a computer to execute a search to identify potential transactions that meet pre-defined criteria, generate an offering for at least one of the identified potential transactions, and transmit the offering to a party to the potential transaction is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the offering generated is generated for a secondary product or products which are associated or bundled with the primary transaction. In another exemplary embodiment, the search is automated and performed on-line via a wide area network such as the Internet. The search is automated in that once a user enters search criteria, the search is performed in accordance with a defined frequency and without requiring user intervention. Once search results are found, then an offering is generated and transmitted to a potential customer.

Claims

1. A method for managing financial offerings submitted by a financing source using a computer system associated with the financing source, the financial offerings include at least one financial product for financing a potential transaction, said method comprising the steps of:

executing a search using the computer system to identify potential transactions that meet pre-defined criteria, the potential transactions involve at least one of selling and leasing assets including at least one of an aircraft, an automobile, a rail car, and a barge;

generating at the financing source a financial offering for at least one of the identified potential transactions;

assigning at least one of a standard financial product offering having standard offering text and a customized financial product offering having customized offering text to at least one of the identified potential transactions, the standard financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product stored in a database in communication with the computer system, the customized financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product having terms and conditions entered into the computer system by the financing source;

automatically transmitting via the computer system the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering from the financing source to a first party to the assigned potential transaction;

automatically notifying the financing source via the computer system when the offering has been transmitted to the first party;

enabling the financing source to withdraw the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and a second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease at least one of the assets; and

enabling the financing source to amend the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and the second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the at least one of the assets.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein executing the search comprises prompting a user to define assets to be searched for and prompting the user to select search targets.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein defining assets to be searched for comprises selecting at least one of a model, type, and age of the asset.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein selecting search targets comprises identifying at least one web site or web publication as a search target.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein executing the search further comprises the step of prompting a user to define search parameters, the search parameters comprising at least one of a search pattern, search timing, and search data to be returned.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of prompting a user to select a manner in which the user is to be notified of search results.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein generating at the financial source a financial offering comprises the steps of associating a product offering and offering text with a search result.

8. A computer for managing financial offerings submitted by a financing source, the financial offerings include at least one financial product for financing a potential transaction, said computer having a database, said computer programmed to:

execute a search to identify potential transactions that meet pre-defined criteria, the potential transactions involve at least one of selling and leasing assets including at least one aircraft;

generate a financial offering for at least one of the identified potential transactions;

assign at least one of a standard financial product offering having standard offering text and a customized financial product offering having customized offering text to at least one of the identified potential transactions, the standard financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product stored in the database, the customized financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product having terms and conditions entered into said computer by the financing source;

automatically transmit the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering from the financing source to a first party to the assigned potential transaction;

automatically notify the financing source when the offering has been transmitted to the first party;

enable the financing source to withdraw the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and a second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets; and

enable the financing source to amend the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and the second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets.

9. A computer according to claim 8 wherein to execute the search, the computer prompts a user to define assets to be searched for and prompts the user to select search targets.

10. A computer according to claim 9 wherein prompting the user to define assets to be searched for comprises prompting the user to select at least one of a model, type, and age of the asset.

11. A computer according to claim 9 wherein prompting the user to search targets comprises prompting the user to identify at least one web site or web publication as a search target.

12. A computer according to claim 9 wherein to execute the search, said computer is programmed to further prompt a user to define search parameters, the search parameters comprising at least one of a search pattern, search timing, and search data to be returned.

13. A computer according to claim 8 further programmed to prompt a user to select a manner in which the user is to be notified of search results.

14. A computer according to claim 8 wherein to generate an offer said computer is programmed to prompt a user to associate a product offering and offering text with a search result.

15. A database for managing financial offerings submitted by a financing source, the financial offerings include at least one financial product for financing a potential transaction, said database comprising:

data relating to at least one asset to be identified through a search to be performed using pre-defined criteria;

data corresponding to the search to be performed;

data identifying potential transactions that satisfy the pre-defined criteria, the potential transactions involve at least one of selling and leasing assets including at least one of an aircraft, an automobile, a rail car, and a barge;

data corresponding to financial offerings generated utilizing search results from the performed search;

data corresponding to assigning at least one of a standard financial product offering having standard offering text and a customized financial product offering having customized offering text to at least one of the identified potential transactions, the standard financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product, the customized financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product having terms and conditions entered by the financing source;

data corresponding to transmitting the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering from the financing source to a first party to the assigned potential transaction;

data corresponding to notifying the financing source when the offering has been transmitted to the first party;

data corresponding to prompting the financing source to withdraw the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and a second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets; and

data corresponding to prompting the financing source to amend the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and the second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets.

16. A database according to claim 15 wherein the asset data comprises at least one of asset type, model, and age.

17. A database according to claim 15 wherein the search data comprises at least one web site or web publication as a search target.

18. A system for managing financial offerings submitted by a financing source, the financial offerings include at least one financial product for financing a potential transaction, said system comprising:

a database comprising data corresponding to searches to be performed and data corresponding to financial offerings generated utilizing search results from the performed searches, and

a server associated with the financing source configured to;

execute a search to identify potential transactions that meet pre-defined criteria wherein the potential transactions involve at least one of selling and leasing assets including at least one of an aircraft, an automobile, a rail car, and a barge,

generate a financial offering for at least one of the identified potential transactions

assign at least one of a standard financial product offering having standard offering text and a customized financial product offering having customized offering text to at least one of the identified potential transactions, the standard financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product, the customized financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product having terms and conditions provided by the financing source,

automatically transmit the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering from the financing source to a first party to the assigned potential transaction,

automatically notify the financing source when the offering has been transmitted to the first party,

enable the financing source to withdraw the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and a second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets; and

enable the financing source to amend the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and the second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein to execute the search, said server prompts a user to define assets to be searched for and prompts the user to select search targets.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein prompting the user to define assets to be searched for comprises prompting the user to select at least one of a model, type, and age of the asset.

21. A system according to claim 19 wherein prompting the user to search targets comprises prompting the user to identify at least one web site or web publication as a search target.

22. A system according to claim 19 wherein to execute the search, said server is programmed to further prompt a user to define search parameters, the search parameters comprising at least one of a search pattern, search timing, and search data to be returned.

23. A system according to claim 18 wherein said server is further programmed to prompt a user to select a manner in which the user is to be notified of search results.

24. A system according to claim 18 wherein to generate an offer said server is programmed to prompt a user to associate a product offering and offering text with a search result.

25. Apparatus for managing financial offerings submitted by a financing source, the financial offerings include at least one financial product for financing a potential transaction, said apparatus comprising:

means for executing a search to identify potential transactions that meet pre-defined criteria, the potential transactions involve at least one of selling and leasing assets including at least one aircraft;

means for generating a financial offering for at least one of the identified potential transactions;

means for assigning at least one of a standard financial product offering having standard offering text and a customized financial product offering having customized offering text to at least one of the identified potential transactions, the standard financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product, the customized financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product having terms and conditions provided by the financing source;

means for automatically transmitting the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering from the financing source to a first party to the assigned potential transaction;

means for automatically notifying the financing source when the offering has been transmitted to the first party;

means for enabling the financing source to withdraw the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and a second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets; and

means for enabling the financing source to amend the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and the second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said executing means comprises means for prompting a user to define assets to be searched for and prompting the user to select search targets.

27. Apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for prompting a user to select a manner in which the user is to be notified of search results.

28. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said generating means comprises means for associating a product offering and offering text with a search result.

29. A computer-readable medium for managing financial offerings submitted by a financing source wherein the financial offerings include at least one financial product for financing a potential transaction, said computer readable-medium executable by a computer for controlling the computer to:

execute a search to identify potential transactions that meet pre-defined criteria, the potential transactions involve at least one of selling and leasing assets including at least one of an aircraft, an automobile, a rail car, and a barge;

generate a financial offering for at least one of the identified potential transactions;

assign at least one of a standard financial product offering having standard offering text and a customized financial product offering having customized offering text to at least one of the identified potential transactions, the standard financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product stored in a database in communication with the computer, the customized financial product offering includes at least one of a financing product and a leasing product having terms and conditions entered into the computer by the financing source;

automatically transmit the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering from the financing source to a first party to the assigned potential transaction;

automatically notify the financing source when the offering has been transmitted to the first party;

enable the financing source to withdraw the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and a second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets; and

enable the financing source to amend the at least one standard financial product offering and customized financial product offering transmitted to the first party prior to the first party and the second party reaching an agreement to at least one of sell and lease the assets.

30. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29 wherein to execute the search the computer is controlled to prompt a user to define assets to be searched for and prompting the user to select search targets.

31. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29 wherein the computer is further controlled to prompt a user to select a manner in which the user is to be notified of search results.

32. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29 wherein to generate an offering the computer is controlled to associate a product offering and offering text with a search result.

33. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29 wherein the computer is further controlled to notify a user when an offering has been transmitted to the party.