Method for tracking information and title history of selected equipment

• US 6,850,902 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Debra Stefl
• Original Assignee: Vance Finch
• Inventors: Finch, Vance
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M.
• Application Number:
  US09/504,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/4, 705/22, 705/28, 705/31, 705/38, 705/7, 705/30, 235/375, 235/385, 700/236
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A method and system for gathering, storing, and tracking title and specific farm, lawn, and industrial equipment information in a multiple user-level centralized computer system accessible by users of the Internet includes the steps of gathering and storing title data related to equipment ownership, including lender information, and specific product information such as hours of use and warranty information. The system authenticates users and thus regulates the type and scope of data access. If the user is determined to be unauthorized, the user is only permitted to view previously existing records. If the user is determined to be authorized, the user may input new records, update existing records, or request replacement of a lost title. Before issuance of a new or replacement title, records are checked as to lien status, theft status, and currency of relevant fee payments. Direct access by all Internet users to centrally stored title and product information related to farm, lawn, and industrial equipment provides a more accurate and efficient method for tracking relevant information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of operation for a user production of a title record of preselected data associated with an equipment piece transaction comprising the steps of:

a. providing a title record format for data to be associated with a transaction of an equipment piece;

b. providing a database for storing a plurality of title records with said format therein;

c. placing said database in a central computer available for access by a plurality of users on a computer network;

d. determining whether a user on the network is authorized to fashion a title record in said database, otherwise displaying a selected title record for viewing only to the user on the computer network;

e. if said user is authorized to fashion a title record, accessing said title record from said database for a particular equipment piece;

f. if said title record for said equipment piece is not in said database, creating a new title record for said equipment piece by entering said data to be associated with said equipment piece inclusive of ownership from an available outside source into said new title record;

g. if the transaction of said equipment piece is a sale transaction, choosing data from an available bill of sale inclusive of at least old ownership data for comparison with corresponding ownership data in said title record;

h. comparing said chosen bill of sale data to said corresponding data in said title record inclusive of at least said old ownership data previously entered in said title record;

i. upon a match of said data in step h., entering at least data from said bill of sale indicative of a new owner into said new title record;

j. determining whether any collateral information associated with said equipment and entered into said title record would preclude the issuance of an owner'"'"'s title; and

k. if not precluded, issuing said title record in a form indicative of ownership of said equipment piece.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein if said transaction of said equipment piece is other than a sale transaction in step g., inputting any new data from an outside source into said title record to be associated with said equipment and proceeding to step j.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collateral information comprises:

information indicative that said equipment is financed; and

information indicative that insurance on said equipment is not in force.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collateral information comprises information indicative that a lien exists on said equipment.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collateral information comprises information indicative that registration fees have not been paid.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collateral information comprises information indicative that taxes on said equipment have not been paid.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collateral information comprises information that said equipment piece has been reported stolen.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collateral information is displayed on a screen to a user.

9. A computer-implemented method of operation for a user production of a title record of preselected data associated with an equipment piece transaction comprising the steps of:

a. providing a title record format having data fields for user entry therein of information to be associated with a transaction of a selected equipment piece;

b. providing a database for storing a plurality of title records with said format therein;

c. placing said database in a central computer available for access by a plurality of users on a computer network;

d. accessing a title record corresponding to said selected equipment piece from said database for viewing only;

e. otherwise, if a user is authorized to fashion a title record, allowing said user to perform steps of said method as follows;

f. if said title record for said equipment piece is not in said database, creating a new title record for said equipment piece by entering preselected data inclusive of ownership information associated with said equipment piece into a new title record to correspond with said equipment piece;

g. if said transaction is a sale transaction of said equipment, entering preselected data inclusive of new ownership data from an existing bill of sale into said title record upon verification of old ownership data in said bill of sale with ownership data in said title record;

h. said step (g) including comparing said bill of sale data, including old ownership data therein, to corresponding data previously entered into said title record including old ownership data;

i. upon a match of at least said old ownership data between said bill of sale and title record, entering new owner data from said bill of sale data into said title record;

j. determining whether any collateral information associated with said equipment in said title record would preclude the issuance of an owner'"'"'s title;

k. if not precluded, issuing said title record in a form indicative of ownership of said equipment piece.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein if said transaction of said equipment piece is other than a sale transaction in step g., inputting any new data from an outside source into said title record associated with said equipment and proceeding to step j.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said collateral information comprises:

information indicative that said equipment is financed; and

information indicative that insurance on said equipment is not in force.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said lien exists collateral information comprises information indicative that a on said equipment.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said collateral information comprises information indicative that registration fees have not been paid.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said collateral information comprises information that taxes on said equipment have been paid.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said collateral information is displayed to a user.

16. A computer-implemented method of operation for a user production of a title record of preselected data associated with an authorized equipment piece transaction comprising the steps of:

a. providing a computer database for multi-user access having a plurality of title records depicting preselected information inclusive of ownership of equipment pieces;

b. accessing a title record corresponding to a selected equipment piece from said database for viewing only;

c. if a user is authorized to fashion a title record, allowing said user to perform subsequent steps of said method on said accessed title record;

d. entering preselected data associated with said equipment piece from outside sources into said title record;

e. if said authorized transaction is a sale of said equipment, examining new sales-oriented data inclusive of purchase and seller data from outside sale transaction sources prior to entry into said title record;

f. comparing said new sales data inclusive of the seller data in step (e) about said equipment piece with previous information in said title record inclusive of ownership data in said title record;

g. upon a match of said data inclusive of the seller data with said ownership data in said title record, entering said new sales data inclusive of a purchaser identifying data into said ownership data of said title record;

h. if not a sale transaction, entering any new data from outside sources into said title record;

i. determining whether any collateral information associated with said equipment piece in said title record would preclude the issuance of a title to an owner of said equipment piece;

j. if not precluded, issuing said title from said information in said title record in a form indicative of ownership of said equipment piece.