Automotive core fulfillment system and method

• US 7,680,706 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rebuilders Automotive Supply
• Original Assignee: Rebuilders Automotive Supply
• Inventors: Bowser, Jack A., Sneed, Christopher William, Maday, Brian Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart; Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US12/017,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating acquisition of automotive core parts from automotive recyclers for remanufacture includes identifying automotive cores and determining the value of the cores with a core fulfillment system. The core fulfillment system includes an interchange database with automotive core descriptions and corresponding interchange identification indicators. The system includes a core supplier database that includes automotive core descriptions with corresponding core supplier identification indicators and an interchange number matching module that equates database entries in the interchange database with database entries in the core supplier database. An interface module provides access to the core fulfillment system, accepts vehicle information, and provides demand and pricing information regarding automotive cores. Vehicle information is received and compared to automotive core descriptions, automotive interchange numbers, and core supplier identification indicators that correspond to the vehicle identification information. Automotive cores are identified based upon the comparison, and a core value is determined.

Claims

1. An automotive core fulfillment system comprising:

an interchange database that includes automotive core descriptions with corresponding automotive recycler interchange identification indicators, the core descriptions describing automobile part assemblies to be remanufactured;

a core supplier database that includes automotive core descriptions with corresponding core supplier identification indicators, the core suppliers acquiring quantities of automobile cores to be remanufactured;

an interchange number matching computing device configured to equate the recycler interchange identification indicator database entry in the interchange database with a core supplier identification database entry in the core supplier database; and

an interface computing device configured to provide access to the automotive core fulfillment system and accept vehicle information and provide demand and pricing information for automotive cores indicative of a remanufacturer requesting the automotive core for purchase, the pricing information indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay based upon the demand of remanufacturers for the automotive core.

2. The automotive core fulfillment system of claim 1, wherein the interface module provides remote access to the automotive core fulfillment system through a computer network.

3. The automotive core fulfillment system of claim 1, wherein the interchange identification indicators are Hollander numbers.

4. The automotive core fulfillment system of claim 1, wherein the interface computing device is further configured to:

receive an indication from an automotive recycler indicating the identified automotive core to be removed and sold to a core supplier at the offered purchase price;

display a vehicle summary page listing cores the automotive recycler has chosen for removal and sale and a total core value of offered purchase prices;

display a dismantler report to ensure appropriate cores are removed by the automotive recycler;

display core part tags to attach to each removed core as a vehicle is dismantled;

receive a bin inventory from the automotive recycler indicating the removed core was added to in-process inventory to be sold to the core supplier;

confirm the bin inventory from the automotive recycler; and

generate an invoice of the automotive cores in the bin inventory to accompany the automotive cores sold to the core supplier.

5. A computer-implemented method of identifying an automotive core and determining the value of the automotive core with a core fulfillment system, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle identification information in an interface computing device;

comparing the vehicle identification information in the interface computing device to automotive core descriptions and automotive interchange numbers in an interchange database and core supplier identification indicators in a core supplier database that correspond to the vehicle identification information;

identifying the automotive core with an interchange number matching computing device based upon the comparison of the vehicle identification information to automotive core descriptions and automotive interchange numbers and core supplier identification indicators, the automotive core including a part type identifier, a yard description, and a core value;

determining, with a demand and pricing database, a core inventory value based upon an aggregate total of core values of identified automotive cores; and

displaying a vehicle evaluation page showing the core type, yard description, and core value, the core value indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay based upon the demand of remanufacturers for the automotive core.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identified automotive core entry further includes demand for the automotive core.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle identification information includes the year the vehicle was manufactured, the make of the vehicle, and the model of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving, in the interface computing device, at least one of engine displacement volume, number of cylinders, transmission type, number of doors, identification number, and brake type to supplement the vehicle identification information; and

comparing, with the interchange number matching computing device, the at least one of engine displacement volume, number of cylinders, transmission type, number of doors, identification number, and brake type to automotive core descriptions and automotive interchange numbers and core supplier identification indicators that correspond to the vehicle identification information to further identify the automotive core.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle identification information includes a list of vehicle identifiers to process multiple vehicles simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the list of vehicle identifiers includes at least one of an electronic VIN number or a bar code with which to process multiple vehicles simultaneously.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving an indication from an automotive recycler indicating the identified automotive core to be removed and sold to a core supplier at the offered purchase price;

displaying a vehicle summary page listing cores the automotive recycler has chosen for removal and sale and a total core value of offered purchase prices;

displaying a dismantler report to ensure appropriate cores are removed by the automotive recycler;

displaying core part tags to attach to each removed core as a vehicle is dismantled;

receiving a bin inventory from the automotive recycler indicating the removed core was added to in-process inventory to be sold to the core supplier;

confirming the bin inventory from the automotive recycler;

generating an invoice of the automotive cores in the bin inventory to accompany the automotive cores sold to the core supplier.

12. A computer-implemented method of identifying an automotive core and determining the value of the automotive core with a core fulfillment system, the method comprising:

receiving part type identification information in an interface computing device;

receiving an automotive interchange number in the interface computing device;

comparing the part type identification information in the interface computing device to automotive core descriptions and core supplier identification indicators in a core supplier database that correspond to the vehicle identification information and the automotive interchange numbers in an interchange database;

identifying the automotive core with an interchange number matching computing device based upon the comparison of the part type identification information and automotive interchange number to automotive core descriptions and core supplier identification indicators, the automotive core including a part type identifier, a yard description, and a core value;

determining, with a demand and pricing database, a core inventory value based upon an aggregate total of core values of identified automotive cores; and

displaying a vehicle evaluation page showing the core type, yard description, and core value, the core value indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay based upon the demand of remanufacturers for the automotive core.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identified automotive core entry further includes demand for the automotive core.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving an indication from an automotive recycler indicating the identified automotive core to be removed and sold to a core supplier at the offered purchase price;

displaying a vehicle summary page listing cores the automotive recycler has chosen for removal and sale and a total core value of offered purchase prices;

displaying a dismantler report to ensure appropriate cores are removed by the automotive recycler;

displaying core part tags to attach to each removed core as a vehicle is dismantled;

receiving a bin inventory from the automotive recycler indicating the removed core was added to in-process inventory to be sold to the core supplier;

confirming the bin inventory from the automotive recycler; and

generating an invoice of the automotive cores in the bin inventory to accompany the automotive cores sold to the core supplier.

15. A computer readable storage media for identifying an automotive core and determining the value of the automotive core with a core fulfillment system, the computer readable storage media comprising one or more computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute operations comprising:

receiving vehicle identification information;

comparing the vehicle identification information to automotive core descriptions and automotive interchange numbers and core supplier identification indicators that correspond to the vehicle identification information;

identifying the automotive core based upon the comparison of the vehicle identification information to automotive core descriptions and automotive interchange numbers and core supplier identification indicators, the automotive core including a part type identifier, a yard description, and a core value;

determining a core inventory value based upon an aggregate total of core values of identified automotive cores; and

displaying a vehicle evaluation page showing the core type, yard description, and core value, the core value indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay based upon the demand of remanufacturers for the automotive core.

16. The computer readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the identified automotive core entry further includes demand for the automotive core.

17. The computer readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the vehicle identification information includes the year the vehicle was manufactured, the make of the vehicle, and the model of the vehicle.

18. The computer readable storage media of claim 17 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

receiving at least one of engine displacement volume, number of cylinders, transmission type, number of doors, identification number, and brake type to supplement the vehicle identification information; and

comparing the at least one of engine displacement volume, number of cylinders, transmission type, number of doors, identification number, and brake type to automotive core descriptions and automotive interchange numbers and core supplier identification indicators that correspond to the vehicle identification information to further identify the automotive core.

19. The computer readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the vehicle identification information includes a list of vehicle identifiers to process multiple vehicles simultaneously.

20. The computer readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the list of vehicle identifiers includes at least one of an electronic VIN number or a bar code with which to process multiple vehicles simultaneously.