Automotive core fulfillment system and method

• US 8,392,297 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rebuilders Automotive Supply
• Original Assignee: Rebuilders Automotive Supply
• Inventors: Sneed, Christopher William, Maday, Brian Richard, Bowser, Jack A
• Primary Examiner(s): Ade, Garcia
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US12/839,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 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 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

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 system identifies automotive cores for an auction house and uses an aggregate value of the cores to determine a value of a vehicle up for bidding. Vehicle or part type information is compared to automotive core descriptions, automotive interchange numbers, and core supplier indicators to identify the automotive cores. A core value is assigned to the identified automotive cores, and an aggregate value of core inventory is determined based upon a total of assigned core values. A vehicle evaluation page can be displayed to the bidder showing the identified automotive cores and an aggregate core value indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay to the bidder for the vehicle up for bidding.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of identifying an automotive core in a vehicle up for bidding for an auction house and determining the value of the automotive core using a computer processor in a core fulfillment system, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle identification information from the auction house at an interface computing device, wherein the vehicle identification information characterizes the vehicle up for bidding;

comparing, with the computer processor, the vehicle identification information from the auction house at 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;

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 descriptions including a part type identifier and a yard description;

assigning, with a demand and pricing database, a core monetary value to the identified automotive core;

determining, with the demand and pricing database, an aggregate value of core inventory based upon an aggregate total of assigned core values of identified automotive cores, wherein the aggregate total may not be the same as a sum of all identified automotive cores; and

sending a vehicle evaluation page to an auction bidder, the vehicle evaluation page showing the identified automotive core, yard description, and the aggregate value of core inventory, the aggregate value of core inventory indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay to the auction bidder for the automotive cores based upon the demand for the automotive cores.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the vehicle evaluation page to the auction bidder prior to bidding on the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification information includes the year the vehicle was manufactured, the make of the vehicle, and the model of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving, from the auction house, 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.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification information includes a list of vehicle identifiers to process multiple vehicles simultaneously.

6. The method of claim 5, 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.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending, to the auction bidder, an indication from an automotive recycler indicating the identified automotive core to be bid on, removed, and sold to a core supplier at the offered purchase price; and

sending to the auction bidder a vehicle summary page listing automotive cores the automotive recycler has chosen for removal and sale and a total aggregate core value of offered purchase prices.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

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

sending 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.

9. A computer-implemented method of identifying an automotive core in a vehicle up for bidding for an auction house and determining the value of the automotive core using a computer processor in a core fulfillment system, the method comprising:

receiving part type identification information from the auction house at an interface computing device, wherein the part type identification information characterizes the automotive core in the vehicle up for bidding;

receiving an automotive interchange number from the auction house at the interface computing device;

comparing, with the computer processor, the part type identification information from the auction house at the interface computing device to automotive core descriptions and core supplier identification indicators in a core supplier database that correspond to 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 descriptions including a part type identifier and a yard description;

assigning, with a demand and pricing database, a core monetary value to the identified automotive core;

determining, with the demand and pricing database, an aggregate value of core inventory based upon an aggregate total of assigned core values of identified automotive cores, wherein the aggregate total may not be the same as a sum of all identified automobile cores; and

sending a vehicle evaluation page to an auction bidder showing the identified automotive core, yard description, and the aggregate value of core inventory, the aggregate value of core inventory indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay to the auction bidder for the automotive cores based upon the demand for the automotive cores.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

displaying the vehicle evaluation page to the auction bidder prior to bidding on the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving, from the auction house, 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 part type 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 vehicle identification information to further identify the automotive core.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the part type identification information includes a list of part type identifiers to process multiple parts simultaneously.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the list of part type identifiers includes at least one of an electronic part number or a bar code with which to process multiple parts simultaneously.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising:

sending, to the auction bidder, 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; and

sending, to the auction bidder, a vehicle summary page listing automotive cores the automotive recycler has chosen for removal and sale and a total aggregate core value of offered purchase prices.

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

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

sending 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.

16. A computer readable storage media for identifying an automotive core in a vehicle up for bidding for an auction house and determining the value of the automotive core using 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 from the auction house at an interface computing device, wherein the vehicle identification information characterizes the vehicle up for bidding;

comparing the vehicle identification information from the auction house at 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;

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 descriptions including a part type identifier and a yard description;

assigning, with a demand and pricing database, a core monetary value to the identified automotive core;

determining, with the demand and pricing database, an aggregate value of core inventory based upon an aggregate total of assigned core values of identified automotive cores, wherein the aggregate total may not be the same as a sum of all identified automotive cores; and

sending a vehicle evaluation page to an auction bidder, the vehicle evaluation page showing the identified automotive core, yard description, and the aggregate value of core inventory, the aggregate value of core inventory indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay to the auction bidder for the automotive cores based upon the demand for the automotive cores.

17. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 further comprising:

displaying the vehicle evaluation page to the auction bidder prior to bidding on the vehicle.

18. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the vehicle identification information includes the year the vehicle was manufactured, the make of the vehicle, and the model of the vehicle.

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

receiving, from the auction house, 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.

20. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the vehicle identification information includes a list of vehicle identifiers to process multiple vehicles simultaneously.

21. The computer readable storage media of claim 20, 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.

22. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

sending, to the auction bidder, an indication from an automotive recycler indicating the identified automotive core to be bid on, removed, and sold to a core supplier at the offered purchase price; and

sending, to the auction bidder, a vehicle summary page listing automotive cores the automotive recycler has chosen for removal and sale and a total aggregate core value of offered purchase prices.

23. The computer readable storage media of claim 22 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

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

sending 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.

24. A computer readable storage media for identifying an automotive core in a vehicle up for bidding for an auction house and determining the value of the automotive core using 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 part type identification information from the auction house at an interface computing device, wherein the part type identification information characterizes an automotive core in the vehicle up for bidding;

receiving an automotive interchange number from the auction house at the interface computing device;

comparing the part type identification information from the auction house at the interface computing device to automotive core descriptions and core supplier identification indicators in a core supplier database that correspond to 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 descriptions including a part type identifier, and a yard description;

assigning, with a demand and pricing database, a core monetary value to the identified automotive core;

determining, with the demand and pricing database, an aggregate value of core inventory based upon an aggregate total of assigned core values of identified automotive cores, wherein the aggregate total may not be the same as a sum of all identified automotive cores; and

sending a vehicle evaluation page to the auction bidder showing the identified automotive core, yard description, and the aggregate value of core inventory, the aggregate value of core inventory indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay to the auction bidder for the automotive cores based upon the demand for the automotive cores.

25. The computer readable storage media of claim 24 further comprising:

displaying the vehicle evaluation page to the auction bidder prior to bidding on the vehicle.

26. The computer readable storage media of claim 24 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

receiving, from the auction house, 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 part type 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 vehicle identification information to further identify the automotive core.

27. The computer readable storage media of claim 24, wherein the part type identification information includes a list of part type identifiers to process multiple parts simultaneously.

28. The computer readable storage media of claim 27, wherein the list of part type identifiers includes at least one of an electronic part number or a bar code with which to process multiple parts simultaneously.

29. The computer readable storage media of claim 24 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

sending, to the auction bidder, 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; and

sending, to the auction bidder, a vehicle summary page listing cores the automotive recycler has chosen for removal and sale and a total core value of offered purchase prices.

30. The computer readable storage media of claim 29 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

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

sending 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.