Web vehicle ordering system

• US 7,216,094 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gelco Corporation (Element Fleet Management Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gelco Corporation (Element Fleet Management Corp.)
• Inventors: Buslovich, Lev, Ly, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond; Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US10/013,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system for ordering vehicles through the internet for addition to a vehicle fleet. The system includes a first portion of the invention for use by a fleet manager to price and configure vehicles, for reporting, for checking the status of orders, and for managing the driver accessible portion of the present invention. A second portion of the present invention allows the fleet manager to set up the specifications of the system, to set up notifications to the drivers, to set up driver profiles, to approve and submit orders, as well as other options. The third portion of the present invention system allows an individual driver to order and re-order leased vehicles within the environment set up by the fleet manager and to dispose of old vehicles.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for ordering a leased vehicle for addition to a vehicle fleet comprising:

(a) electronically soliciting from a fleet manager fleet specifications circumscribing parameters of vehicles available for subsequent addition to the vehicle fleet by a driver;

(b) electronically soliciting from the fleet manager a plurality of driver classes, wherein the fleet manager determines parameters of vehicles and options available for addition to the vehicle fleet for each of the plurality of driver classes;

(c) electronically soliciting from the fleet manager driver class specifications for the driver class of the driver, including soliciting a selection of a vehicle and a plurality of options available for subsequent selection by the driver for the vehicle, including displaying to the fleet manager a plurality of available vehicles, allowing the fleet manager to select the vehicle from the plurality of available vehicles, further allowing the fleet manager to indicate the plurality of options available for subsequent selection by the driver for the vehicle, and allowing the fleet manager to assign the vehicle to at least one of the plurality of driver classes;

(d) receiving from the driver a selection of a vehicle specification, wherein the act of displaying the plurality of options to the driver for selection thereof includes an indication of a subset of the plurality of options that if selected will be paid for by the driver so that the driver can further customize the selected vehicle; and

(e) electronically receiving from the fleet manager a first change and a second change to the parameters of vehicles and options available for addition to the vehicle fleet, wherein the first change affects only vehicles or options available to one of the plurality of driver classes, and wherein the second change affects vehicles or options available to all of the plurality of driver classes.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically fitting the selected vehicle with emissions controls.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the emissions controls are automatically fitted based upon one of the group consisting of a garaging address, a delivery address, and a manually input address.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises querying the fleet manager to choose from one or more of the group consisting of factory ordering, rapid factory ordering, client located stock ordering, and system proprietor located stock ordering.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the selectable options displays information relating to the vehicle fleet, allows information to be entered into the system, and displays further selectable options.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising exhibiting to the fleet manager a number of selectable options for downloading information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the information may be chosen from one or more of the group consisting of ordering, order status, preferences, reports, and pricing and configuration.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the selectable options includes an option for downloading and inputting data relating to a driver order management system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the driver order management system further comprises a database with a number of selectable options for customizing the driver accessible environment of the present invention.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the driver order management system further comprises a method of notifying drivers of information on a single selection basis.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the driver order management system further comprises a method of notifying drivers of information on a batch selection basis.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising a selectable option for the initiation of used vehicle disposal.

13. A computer system for ordering leased vehicles through the world wide web comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) main memory;

(c) an input/output interface, wherein the input/output interface communicates with databases, said databases comprising;

(i) a fleet manager accessible database, the fleet manager accessible database including options for pricing and configuring vehicles for a vehicle fleet, for pricing and configuring vehicles for each of a plurality of driver classes within the vehicle fleet, for ordering, for formulating reports, and for managing and setting parameters for a driver accessible database;

(ii) the driver accessible database, wherein the driver accessible database includes data defining the plurality of driver classes, data defining a vehicle and a plurality of options available for selection by a driver for the vehicle such that the vehicle is associated with the vehicle fleet and with at least one of the plurality of driver classes, wherein the driver belongs to the at least one of the plurality of driver classes, and data defining prices for the vehicle and the plurality of options; and

(d) a driver interface device, wherein the driver logs into the driver accessible database via the driver interface device and selects the vehicle for leasing, such that the driver interface device receives a selection from the driver indicating the vehicle and one or more of the plurality of options, wherein the one or more of the plurality of options to the driver for selection thereof includes an indication of a subset of the plurality of options that if selected will be paid for by the driver so that the driver can further customize the selected vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the driver interface device comprises a screen that allows the driver to change the driver'"'"'s password.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the driver interface device comprises a screen for downloading instructions on how to use the system.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the driver accessible database further comprises a selectable option for downloading forms so that pertinent information about the driver may be entered into the system.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the fleet manager accessible database for managing and setting parameters for a driver accessible database further comprises selectable options for ordering, reports, checking an order'"'"'s status, and organizing reports.