Parts usage comparison system and methods

• US 7,979,313 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Baar
• Original Assignee: Peter Baar
• Inventors: Baar, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): THEIN, MARIA TERESA T
• Application Number:
  US11/229,391
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A parts usage comparison system and methods to directly network buyers and sellers in the mining, construction and agriculture industries in order for buyers to easily and efficiently procure parts and for sellers to easily and efficiently liquidate surplus assets specific to the aforementioned particular industries. The present invention provides methods of searching, buying and selling new, used and reman or rebuilt products. The parts usage and comparison system includes a parts database, a processor coupled to the parts database and a software interface. Third party buyers and third party sellers are connected to the parts database through the software interface. This connection allows searching and maintaining of information on the database.

Claims

1. A parts usage comparison system for buying and selling parts, the system comprising:

at least one parts database storing part information corresponding to a plurality of new and used parts, the part information comprising existing new, used and reman parts inventory of a plurality of third party sellers;

a processor coupled to the parts database, the processor configured to receive the part information, store the information in the database, and process information in the database; and

a software interface in electronic communication with the processor;

wherein;

the software interface is configured to receive input of requested parts from a plurality of third party buyers,

the processor is further configured to process the input of requested parts and determine matches of the requested parts and the part information, and

the software interface is further configured to display all matching part information corresponding to the input of requested parts, wherein the input of requested parts comprises at least one of gold mine matches, matching seller data with gold mine information exported in a spreadsheet, matching the seller data with the gold mine information exported in a postcard, and matching the seller data with the gold mine information exported in a text file, wherein a goldmine file must contain the following thirteen fields in the order specified;

     1) date sent,

     2) email of sender,

     3) person sourced for,

     4) company sourced for,

     5) email sourced for,

     6) phone sourced for,

     7) fax sourced for,

     8) type of customer,

     9) manufacturer,

     10) quantity,

     11) part number,

     12) description and

     13) model.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the part information comprises a part number, a part description and a part quantity.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the part information further comprises at least one of seller information, store branch information, manufacturer, part condition, part cost, list price and any combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input of requested parts comprises input of at least one of a part number, a model, an inventory needed, a part source needed and any combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the software interface comprises an email interface, wherein the email interface is configured to receive an email request from the plurality of third party buyers requesting pricing of the requested parts and send an email to the plurality of third party sellers who have matching parts.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the software interface is configured to receive input requesting recent parts requested by the plurality of third party buyers, wherein requesting recent parts requested includes requesting all recent parts requested and matching buyer self entered part number and model to sellers information stored on the parts database.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein software interface is further configured to receive updated contact information and inventory of the plurality of third party sellers, wherein updated inventory may comprise at least one of an export of the seller'"'"'s inventory by model, a parts look up to determine what models a particular part fits and any combination thereof.

8. A method of using a parts usage comparison system for buying and selling parts, the method comprising:

storing part information corresponding to a plurality of new, used and reman parts, the part information comprising existing new, used and reman parts inventory of a plurality of third party sellers on at least one parts database;

receiving input of requested parts from a plurality of third party buyers through a software interface;

processing the input of requested parts with a processor to determine matches of the requested parts and the part information; and

displaying all matching part information corresponding to the input of requested parts through the software interface, wherein the input of requested parts comprises at least one of gold mine matches, matching seller data with gold mine information exported in a spreadsheet, matching the seller data with the gold mine information exported in a postcard, and matching the seller data with the gold mine information exported in a text file, wherein a goldmine file must contain the following thirteen fields in the order specified;

     1) date sent,

     2) email of sender,

     3) person sourced for,

     4) company sourced for,

     5) email sourced for,

     6) phone sourced for,

     7) fax sourced for,

     8) type of customer,

     9) manufacturer,

     10) quantity,

     11) part number,

     12) description and

     13) model.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein storing part information corresponding to a plurality of new, used and reman parts comprises storing a part number, a part description and a part quantity for each part of the plurality of new, used and reman parts.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein storing part information corresponding to a plurality of new, used and reman parts further comprises storing at least one of seller information, store branch information, manufacturer, part condition, part cost, list price and any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving input of requested parts further comprises receiving at least one of a part number, a model, an inventory needed, a part source needed and any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising sending an email from the plurality of third party buyers requesting pricing of the requested parts to the plurality of third party sellers who have matching parts.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying all matching part information corresponding to the input of requested parts further comprises at least one of sending an email, sending a facsimile and providing a downloadable file containing the part information matching the input of requested parts.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

requesting recent parts requested by the plurality of third party buyers by a third party seller through use of the software interface, wherein requesting recent parts requested includes requesting all recent parts requested and matching buyer self entered part number and model to sellers information stored on the parts database; and

displaying a list of recent parts requested through the software interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying a list of recent parts requested further comprises at least one of ending an email, sending a facsimile and providing a downloadable file containing the list of recent parts requested.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising updating contact information and part inventory of the plurality of third party sellers through the software interface, wherein updating inventory may comprise at least one of an export of the seller'"'"'s inventory by model, a parts look up to determine what models a particular part fits and any combination thereof.

17. A method of using a parts usage comparison system for buying and selling parts, the method comprising:

storing part information corresponding to a plurality of new, used and reman parts, the part information comprising existing new, used and reman parts inventory of a plurality of third party sellers on at least one parts database;

receiving input of requested parts from a plurality of third party buyers through a software interface;

processing the input of requested parts with a processor to determine matches of the requested parts and the part information;

displaying all matching part information corresponding to the input of requested parts through the software interface, wherein the input of requested parts comprises at least one of gold mine matches, matching seller data with gold mine information exported in a spreadsheet, matching the seller data with the gold mine information exported in a postcard, and matching the seller data with the gold mine information exported in a text file, wherein a goldmine file must contain the following thirteen fields in the order specified;

     1) date sent,

     2) email of sender,

     3) person sourced for,

     4) company sourced for,

     5) email sourced for,

     6) phone sourced for,

     7) fax sourced for,

     8) type of customer,

     9) manufacturer,

     10) quantity,

     11) part number,

     12) description and

     13) model.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein storing part information corresponding to a plurality of new, used and reman parts comprises storing a part number, a part description, a part quantity and at least one of seller information, store branch information, manufacturer, part condition, part cost, list price and any combination thereof for each part of the plurality of new, used and reman parts.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving input of requested parts further comprises receiving at least one of a part number, a model, an inventory needed, a part source needed and any combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

requesting recent parts requested by the plurality of third party buyers by a third party seller through use of the software interface, wherein requesting recent parts requested includes requesting all recent parts requested and matching buyer self entered part number and model to sellers information stored on the parts database;

displaying a list of recent parts requested through the software interface; and

updating contact information and part inventory of the plurality of third party sellers through the software interface, wherein updating inventory may comprise at least one of an export of the seller'"'"'s inventory by model, a parts look up to determine what models a particular part fits and any combination thereof.