Method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of prepaid vehicle services in a vehicle service network
First Claim
1. A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of prepaid vehicle services in a vehicle service network, comprising:
- screening vehicle service stations for participation in the vehicle service network;
accepting at least some of the vehicle service stations as participant service stations in the vehicle service network;
storing data associated with the participant service stations in at least one database of a vehicle service network computer;
receiving participant fees from the participant service stations in exchange for participation in the vehicle service network;
advertising the vehicle service network to consumers;
enrolling at least some of the consumers as members of the vehicle service network;
storing membership data associated with the members in member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer;
receiving prepaid vehicle service fees from the members in exchange for vehicle services to be rendered by the participant service stations and crediting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer;
issuing voucher data to the members for redemption at the participant service stations for the vehicle services;
associating the voucher data with the membership data using the vehicle service network computer and storing the voucher data in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer;
using the voucher data to verify membership of the members and authorize performance of at least some of the vehicle services when the members redeem their voucher data;
debiting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer, based on the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services;
receiving receipt data from the participant service stations for the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services, wherein the receipt data includes authorization data from the members; and
reimbursing the participant service stations for the rendered vehicle services wherein the participant service stations are reimbursed by a vehicle service network administrator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of prepaid vehicle services in a vehicle service network. A network administrator screens vehicle service stations, and accepted participant service stations pay fees, which may be used to advertise the network to consumers. The network administrator enrolls consumers in the network as members, and receives prepaid vehicle service fees from the members to credit member accounts in exchange for vehicle services to be rendered by the participant service stations. The administrator issues voucher data to the members and associates the voucher data with member accounts. Members redeem the voucher data at participant service stations, wherein the voucher data is used to verify membership, authorize vehicle services at the participant service stations, and debit the member accounts. The participant service stations send receipt data to the administrator, which reimburses the participant service stations for the rendered vehicle services.
21 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of prepaid vehicle services in a vehicle service network, comprising:
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screening vehicle service stations for participation in the vehicle service network; accepting at least some of the vehicle service stations as participant service stations in the vehicle service network; storing data associated with the participant service stations in at least one database of a vehicle service network computer; receiving participant fees from the participant service stations in exchange for participation in the vehicle service network; advertising the vehicle service network to consumers; enrolling at least some of the consumers as members of the vehicle service network; storing membership data associated with the members in member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; receiving prepaid vehicle service fees from the members in exchange for vehicle services to be rendered by the participant service stations and crediting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; issuing voucher data to the members for redemption at the participant service stations for the vehicle services; associating the voucher data with the membership data using the vehicle service network computer and storing the voucher data in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; using the voucher data to verify membership of the members and authorize performance of at least some of the vehicle services when the members redeem their voucher data; debiting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer, based on the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services; receiving receipt data from the participant service stations for the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services, wherein the receipt data includes authorization data from the members; and reimbursing the participant service stations for the rendered vehicle services wherein the participant service stations are reimbursed by a vehicle service network administrator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of discounted prepaid vehicle services in a vehicle service network, comprising:
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screening vehicle service stations for participation in the vehicle service network; accepting at least some of the vehicle service stations as participant service stations in the vehicle service network; storing data associated with the participant service stations in at least one database of a vehicle service network computer; receiving participant fees from the participant service stations in exchange for participation in the vehicle service network; advertising the vehicle service network to consumers; enrolling at least some of the consumers as members of the vehicle service network; storing membership data associated with the members in member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; receiving, via a third party enabler, prepaid vehicle service fees from the members in exchange for vehicle services to be rendered by the participant service stations and crediting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; issuing voucher data in the form of a voucher having machine readable code to the members for redemption at the participant service stations for the vehicle services; associating the voucher data with the membership data using the vehicle service network computer and storing the voucher data in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; using the voucher to verify membership of the members and authorize performance of at least some of the vehicle services when the members redeem their voucher; debiting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer, based on the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services; receiving receipt data from the participant service stations for the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services, wherein the receipt data includes authorization data from the members; and reimbursing the participant service stations for the rendered vehicle services wherein the participant service stations are reimbursed by a vehicle service network administrator.
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21. A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of discounted prepaid vehicle services in a vehicle service network, comprising:
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screening vehicle service stations for participation in the vehicle service network; accepting at least some of the vehicle service stations as participant service stations in the vehicle service network; storing data associated with the participant service stations in at least one database of a vehicle service network computer; receiving participant fees from the participant service stations in exchange for participation in the vehicle service network; advertising the vehicle service network to consumers; enrolling at least some of the consumers as members of the vehicle service network; storing membership data associated with the members in member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; receiving, via a third party enabler, prepaid vehicle service fees from the members in exchange for vehicle services to be rendered by the participant service stations and crediting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; issuing voucher data in the form of a voucher having machine readable code to the members for redemption at the participant service stations for the vehicle services; associating the voucher data with the membership data using the vehicle service network computer and storing the voucher data in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; using the voucher to verify membership of the members and authorize performance of at least some of the vehicle services when the members redeem their voucher; debiting the member accounts in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer, based on the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services; receiving receipt data from the participant service stations for the performance of the at least some of the vehicle services, wherein the receipt data includes authorization data from the members; reimbursing the participant service stations for the rendered vehicle services wherein the participant service stations are reimbursed by a vehicle service network administrator; initiating an estimate for vehicle services in addition to the prepaid vehicle services; saving the estimate to the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; printing an associated diagnostic inspection sheet for use by a service station technician; completing the estimate based on feedback from the service station technician, including; entering recommended labor; and entering recommended materials by selecting at least one of a material description, material vendor, or material code from a predetermined list of available materials; and saving the completed estimate to the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; accessing and modifying the completed estimate, wherein a service station manager first enters a manager identification and password to allow override of the saved estimate; saving modifications to the modified completed estimate in the at least one database of the vehicle service network computer; automatically communicating the modifications to at least one of a service station manager or network manager; and finalizing an invoice for the additional services wherein a service station representative is requested to confirm one or more of the following service information for each line item of the invoice;
vendor information for each material used during the rendered vehicle service, a purchase order number for each material used, or a date of purchase for each material.
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Specification