System and method for disposing of assets

• US 7,395,275 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Patrick, Roth, Aaron J., Parent, Brent C., Suhy, Andy F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rudy; Andrew Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/503,671
• Time in Patent Office: 3,060 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37, 705/1, 705/7, 707/1, 707/10, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system for managing assets, and facilitating electronic commerce respecting the assets includes a computerized database for storing asset profiles for a plurality of assets. The asset profiles, each include an asset specification and a bid definition. The asset specification includes maintenance history data for the asset and the bid definition outlines the bounds for one of sale, rental or lease of the asset. Users of the system may search the database remotely over the Internet for desired assets, and retrieve detailed information, such as maintenance history, and then bid on the asset for purchase, rental, or lease. Users can also add their own assets to the database for search by others. The system also includes a fantasy fleet feature for conducting “what if” analyses of a simulated fleet containing existing assets and proposed assets.

Claims

1. An electronic system for facilitating transactions comprising:

a first database configured to store information associated with a plurality of assets;

a market search module configured to search said first database based on search parameters specified by a user in anticipation of at least one of a purchase, rental and lease transaction, said market search module being further configured to generate an identification of assets according to said search parameters, wherein one of said identified assets has a description that includes maintenance history data, said maintenance history data including a history of discrete maintenance jobs for a particular asset, said maintenance history data being distinct from an asset condition, and further wherein the description also includes a subset of date-in-service data and preventative maintenance (PM) hours threshold data; and

a communications interface for facilitating electronic remote access of said system by said user.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a tracking and management system configured to track at least one of said assets and acquire said maintenance history data therefor.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a bid module configured to allow said user to select one of said identified assets for placement of a bid thereon, said bid module being further configured to provide selectable purchase, rental and lease transaction options in response to said selection for bid.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said lease transaction is selected by said user, said bid module being further configured to receive a lease term and lease type selection, and a total lease amount from said user.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said bid module includes a lease calculator tool configured to output a selected one of a monthly lease amount and a total lease amount.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said rental transaction is selected by said user, said bid module being further configured to receive a monthly rental price from said user.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said bid module is further configured to allow said user to select one of a month-to-month rental arrangement and a fixed term rental arrangement.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein said information stored in said first database comprises an asset profile for each one of said plurality of assets, said asset profile including asset specification data and a bid definition defining parameters associated with said purchase, rental and lease transactions, said bid module being configured to determine whether said bid made by said user is valid using said bid definition.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said history includes financial parameters.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said financial parameters includes a specific cost associated with a particular one of said jobs.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said financial parameters represents an overall maintenance cost of said asset.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said overall maintenance cost is one of a total maintenance cost and an average maintenance cost.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said history includes a job listing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said job listing includes a job date and description.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said identification further includes a specific cost for each said job.

16. The system of claim 1, further including information concerning asset condition, said maintenance history data and said asset condition being used to help determine an asset price.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second database not accessible to said first database;

wherein said particular asset is tracked during a portion of an operating life thereof, said maintenance history being acquired during said portion of said operating life, and stored in said second database; and

wherein said stored maintenance history is transferred to said first database when said asset is being offered for one of purchase, rental and lease.

18. An electronic system for facilitating transactions to dispose of assets comprising:

a market database configured to store information associated with a plurality of assets;

a market search module configured to search said market database based on search parameters specified by a user in anticipation of at least one of a purchase, rental and lease transaction, said market search module being further configured to generate an identification of assets according to said search parameters, said search module being further configured to allow said user to select a first one of said identified assets for obtaining a description comprising information beyond that in said identification and including maintenance history data, said maintenance history data including a history of discrete maintenance jobs for a particular asset, said maintenance history data being distinct from an asset condition, wherein the description also includes a subset of date-in-service data, preventative maintenance (PM) data, and warranty data;

a bid module configured to allow said user to select a second one of said identified assets for placing a bid thereon, said bid module being further configured to provide purchase, rental and lease transaction options for selection by said user and to receive said bid; and

a communications interface for facilitating electronic remote access by said user.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said first one and said second one of said identified assets are different.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said first one and said second one of said identified assets are the same asset.

21. The system of claim 18 further including:

a tracking and management system configured to track said assets and acquire said maintenance history data therefor, and store said maintenance history data therefor and store said maintenance history data in said market database.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said search parameters include at least one of an availability for purchase, an availability for lease, an availability for rental, all assets available for any one of purchase, lease and rental, a lower asset list price, an upper asset list price, an asset type, an asset make/model, an asset condition, an asset model year, and an asset availability date.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein said description includes status data indicative of whether a respective one of said assets has been sold.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein said description includes asset availability date data.

25. A method for disposing of assets, comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a market database configured to store information associated with a plurality assets;

(B) searching the market database to identify assets satisfying search parameters specified by a user in anticipation of at least one of a purchase, rental and lease transaction;

(C) generating an output that includes an identification of assets identified in said searching step;

(D) generating a description comprising maintenance history data for a first one of the identified assets selected by the user, said maintenance history data including a history of discrete maintenance jobs for a particular asset, said maintenance history data being distinct from an asset condition;

(E) electronically communicating the description to the user wherein the user is remotely located; and

(F) receiving a bid from the remote user for one of the purchase, rental and lease transaction of a second one of the identified assets.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of:

receiving an acceptance of the bid from an owner of the bid-on asset.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

purchasing one of said plurality of assets in a new condition;

tracking said one asset during an initial portion of an operating life thereof;

acquiring maintenance history data associated with said one asset during said initial portion;

storing the acquired maintenance history data in a fleet database; and

transferring said stored maintenance history data to said market database when said asset is being offered for one of purchase, rental and lease.