Systems and methods for asset valuation

• US 7,363,266 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Capital US Holdings, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Williams, Daryl Gardner, D'Agostino, Diana
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi; Hani M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akintola; Olabode
• Application Number:
  US09/558,980
• Time in Patent Office: 2,917 Days
• Field of Search: 705/36, 705/37, 705/35, 705/7, 705/38, 705/39, 705/40, 705/1, 705/26, 705/8, 705/10, 380/279, 382/117, 707/104.1, 713/200
• US Class Current: 705/36.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing a value of a good to a requester are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises uploading data relating to a request for a value of a good to a computer configured as a calculator for calculating the value of the good. The value then is calculated and displayed to a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing a value of a good to a requester using a local computer coupled to a database and in communication with a remote computer, the remote computer controlled by an analyst, said method comprising the steps of:

storing in the database data relating to a plurality of goods including a description of each good, wherein each good includes a non-stationary asset including at least one of equipment, a product, a truck, an automobile and a vehicle;

assigning a policy value to at least one good stored in the database;

entering data into the local computer including a request for a value of a good and data relating to the good, the local computer configured as a calculator for calculating a value of the good;

using the local computer to determine whether the value of the good can be calculated based on the entered data including determining whether the good has a policy value assigned thereto;

designating the request for the value of the good as an exception request if the local computer is unable to value the good based on the data stored within the database and the entered data, a request for the value of a good is designated as an exception request if the local computer determines that the corresponding good does not have a policy value assigned to the good and that input from the analyst is required for valuing the good;

displaying a web page indicating that the request has been designated by the local computer as an exception request and prompting the requester to provide additional information relating to the good;

prompting the requester to transmit the entered data and the additional information to the remote computer controlled by the analyst;

researching by the analyst the value of the good including analyzing data external to the database based on the entered data and the additional information;

calculating the value of the good based on the research performed by the analyst;

analyzing trends among a plurality of similar exception requests including the calculated values of the goods associated with the similar exception requests, the exception request analysis performed by the local computer;

prompting the analyst to enter using the remote computer at least one new policy value and corresponding data for a good based on the exception request analysis, the prompting is performed by transmitting a message from the local computer to the remote computer after performing an exception request analysis; and

displaying the value of the good on the local computer for the requester.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data into the local computer including a request comprises the step of submitting the data including the request for a value of the good and data relating to the good to the local computer via an Internet.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data into the local computer including a request comprises the step of submitting the data including the request for a value of the good and data relating to the good to the local computer via an Intranet.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of uploading data entering data into the local computer comprises the step of accessing a local computer configured as a server.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of calculating the value further comprises the step of calculating the value from one of residual value, net realizable value, orderly liquidation value and purchase option value.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data into the local computer including a request comprises the step of loading into the local computer at least one field configured for receiving and storing a new request for a value of a good.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said step of loading at least one field comprises the step of loading at least one field configured for editing the new request.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said step of loading at least one field comprises the step of loading at least one field configured for withdrawing the request.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of designating the request as an exception request comprises the step of loading at least one field configured for receiving and storing additional information for calculating a value for the exception request.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said step of designating the request as an exception request comprises the step of loading at least one field configured for storing and submitting the exception request and informing an analyst of the existence of the exception request.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of designating the request as an exception request comprises the step of analyzing trends in similar exception requests.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said step of analyzing trends in similar exception requests comprises the step of triggering an analyst to add additional policy values.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data into the local computer comprises the step of uploading data to the local computer including a request for a value of equipment and data relating to the equipment, the computer configured as a calculator for calculating the value of the equipment.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said step of uploading data to the local computer comprises the step of uploading lease information to the local computer, the local computer configured as a calculator for calculating a value of the equipment.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of uploading data to the local computer further comprises the step of receiving data relating to at least one residual factor.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data into the local computer further comprises the step of receiving and saving profile information of a new user.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data further comprises the step of loading at least one field configured for receiving a comment with a request.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data further comprises the step of updating matrix values.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of updating matrix values comprises the step of updating the matrix values from one of policy value, value stream and cell value.

20. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data further comprises a step of loading at least one field configured for receiving, storing and deleting information relating to a new good.

21. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of calculating the value further comprises the step of calculating the value using at least one input policy value and input changes for calculating the value.

22. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of calculating the value further comprises the step of querying existing requests.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein said step of querying existing requests further comprises the step of querying predefined or customized requests.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said step of querying customized requests further comprises the step of receiving criteria data for the customized request.

25. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of calculating the residual value of the good further comprises a step of calculating the residual value using at least one of:

([(base value)+Σ

base value modifiers]*residual value look up)*depreciation value look up,

[cost*residual value look up] and

[depreciation value look up*residual value look up]

for a lease term.

26. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of calculating the net realizable value of the good comprises the step of calculating the net realizable value using at least one of:

([(base value)+Σ

base value modifiers]*net realizable value look up)*depreciation value look up,

[cost*net realizable value lookup] and

[depreciation value look up*net realizable value look up]

for a lease term.

27. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of calculating the purchase option value of a good comprises the step of calculating the purchase option value using at least one of:

[residual value+((cost/quantity)*purchase option value look up)] and

[residual value+(cost*purchase option value look up)]

for a lease term.

28. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of calculating the value comprises the step of cloning an existing request.

29. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of entering data further comprises the step of uploading profile information to be received and stored.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein said step of uploading profile information further comprises the step of uploading profile information from one of personal data, login information, password information, role information, organization information and preferences.

31. A method according to claim 29 wherein said step of uploading profile information further comprises the step of analyzing the profile information.

32. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of displaying the value further comprises the step of displaying the value within a summary report.

33. A system for providing a value of a good to a requester, said system comprising:

a first computer associated with a requester;

a second computer associated with an analyst;

a database for storing data relating to a plurality of goods including a description of each good and whether a policy value has been assigned to the good, wherein each good includes a non-stationary asset including at least one of equipment, a product, a truck, an automobile and a vehicle;

a server coupled to said database and configured to read input data including a request for a value of the good and data relating to the good, said server further configured to;

determine whether the value of the good can be calculated based on the inputted data including determining whether the good has a policy value assigned thereto,

designate the request for the value of the good as an exception request if the server is unable to value the good based on the data stored within the database and the inputted data, a request for the value of a good is designated as an exception request if the server determines that the good does not have a policy value assigned thereto and that input from the analyst is required for valuing the good,

transmit data to be displayed as a first web page on said first computer indicating that the request has been designated as an exception request and prompting the requester to provide additional information relating to the good,

prompting the requester to transmit the inputted data and the additional information from the first computer,

automatically transmitting data to be displayed as a second web page on said second computer notifying the analyst that the request has been designated as an exception request and prompting the analyst to research the value of the good using the inputted data, the additional information and data external to the database,

calculate the value of the good based on the research performed by the analyst,

analyze trends among a plurality of similar exception requests including the calculated values of the goods associated with the similar exception requests,

prompting the analyst to enter at least one new policy value and corresponding data for a good based on the exception request analysis, the new policy value is transmitted from the second computer;

a network connecting said server to said first computer and said second computer; and

a user interface in communication with the first computer for allowing the requester to input data relating to a request for the value of the good and data relating to the good and for receiving the value of the good output.

34. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured to allow the requester to submit data relating to the request and data relating to the good via the Internet.

35. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured to allow the requester to submit data relating to the request and data relating to the good via an Intranet.

36. A system according to claim 33 wherein said network is one of a wide area network and a local area network.

37. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured to calculate one of a residual value, net realizable value, purchase option value and an orderly liquidation value.

38. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured to read input data including a request for the value of equipment and data relating to the equipment and calculate the value of equipment.

39. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured to read input data relating to lease information.

40. A system according to claim 33 wherein said interface is further configured with at least one field for receiving and storing a new request for a value of the good.

41. A system according to claim 40 wherein said interface is further configured with at least one field for editing the new request.

42. A system according to claim 40 wherein said interface is further configured with at least one field for withdrawing the request.

43. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is further configured to store the exception request, inform an analyst of the existence of the exception request, and submit the exception request to the analyst for further analysis.

44. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured for receiving and storing additional information for calculating the value for the exception request.

45. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured for recognizing trends in similar exception requests.

46. A system according to claim 45 wherein said server is configured for triggering an analyst to add additional policy values.

47. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured to calculate the value of the good using at least one input policy value and input changes for calculating the value.

48. A system according to claim 37 wherein said server is configured to calculate the residual value using at least one of:

([(base value)+Σ

base value modifiers]*residual value look up)*depreciation value look up,

[cost*residual value look up] and

[depreciation value look up*residual value look up]

for a lease term.

49. A system according to claim 37 wherein said server is configured to calculate the net realizable value of the good using at least one of:

([(base value)+Σ

base value modifiers]*net realizable value look up)*depreciation value look up,

[cost*net realizable value look up] and

[depreciation value look up* net realizable value look up]

for a lease term.

50. A system according to claim 37 wherein said server is configured to calculate the purchase value using at least one of:

[residual value+((cost/quantity)*purchase option adder matrix value look up)] and

[residual value+(cost*purchase option value look up)]

for a lease term.

51. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is further configured for cloning an existing request.

52. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is further configured to query existing requests.

53. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server is configured to query existing predefined or customized requests.

54. A system according to claim 53 wherein said server is further configured to upload criteria data for the customized requests.

55. A system according to claim 33 wherein said interface is further configured with fields for receiving and storing at least one residual factor.

56. A system according to claim 33 wherein said interface is further configured with at least one field for receiving and storing profile information.

57. A system according to claim 56 wherein said interface is further configured with at least one field for receiving and storing profile information selected from one of personal data, login information, password information, role information, organization information and preferences.

58. A system according to claim 56 wherein said interface is further configured with at least one field for analyzing the profile information.

59. A system according to claim 33 wherein said interface is further configured for receiving comments with the request.

60. A system according to claim 33 wherein said interface is further configured to allow updating of matrix values.

61. A system according to claim 60 wherein said interface is further configured to allow updating of matrix values from one of policy value, value stream and cell value.

62. A system according to claim 33 wherein said interface is further configured with fields for receiving, storing and deleting information relating to a new good.

63. A system according to claim 33 wherein said interface is further configured for displaying the value of the good within a summary report.

64. A method for providing a value of a good to a requester using a local computer coupled to a database and in communication with a remote computer, the remote computer controlled by an analyst, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in the database data relating to a plurality of goods including a description of each good including at least one of a type, a manufacturer, a model, a quantity, and options, wherein each good includes a non-stationary asset including at least one of equipment, a product, a truck, an automobile and a vehicle;

assigning a policy value to at least one good stored in the database;

entering data into the local computer including a request for a value of a good and data relating to the good, the local computer configured as a calculator;

using the local computer to determine whether the value of the good can be calculated based on the entered data including determining whether the good has a policy value assigned thereto;

calculating the value of the good if the value can be calculated based on the entered data;

designating the request for the value of the good as an exception request if the local computer is unable to value the good based on the data stored within the database and the entered data, a request for the value of a good is designated as an exception request if the local computer determines that the good does not have a policy value assigned thereto and that input from the analyst is required for valuing the good;

displaying a web page on the local computer indicating that the request has been designated as an exception request and prompting the requester to provide additional information relating to the good;

prompting the requester to transmit from the local computer the entered data and the additional information to the remote computer controlled by the analyst;

researching by the analyst the value of the good including analyzing data external to the database based on the entered data and the additional information;

calculating the value of the good based on the research performed by the analyst;

analyzing trends among a plurality of similar exception requests including the calculated values of the goods associated with the similar exception requests, the exception request analysis performed by the local computer; and

prompting the analyst to enter using the remote computer at least one new policy value and corresponding data for a good based on the exception request analysis, the prompting is performed by transmitting a message from the local computer to the remote computer after performing an exception request analysis.

65. A method for providing a value of a good to a requester using a local computer coupled to a database and in communication with a remote computer, the remote computer controlled by an analyst, said method comprising the steps of:

uploading to the local computer data relating to a request for a value of a good and data relating to the good, the local computer configured as a calculator for calculating a value of the good, data relating to a good including at least one of a type, a manufacturer, a model, a quantity, and options, wherein each good includes a non-stationary asset including at least one of equipment, a product, a truck, an automobile and a vehicle;

recognizing the request for the value of the good as an exception request if the local computer is unable to value the good based on the data stored within the database and the uploaded data, a request for the value of a good is designated as an exception request if the local computer determines that input from the analyst is required for valuing the good;

prompting the requester to provide additional information relating to the good for an exception request;

prompting the requester to transmit from the local computer the entered data and the additional information to the remote computer controlled by the analyst;

researching by the analyst the value of the good including analyzing data external to the database based on the uploaded data and the additional information;

calculating the value of the good based on the research performed by the analyst;

analyzing trends among similar exception requests including the calculated values of the goods associated with the similar exception requests, the exception request analysis performed by the local computer; and

inputting using the remote computer a new policy value and corresponding data for a good based on the exception request analysis to facilitate subsequent valuations of similar goods.