Automobile transaction facilitation based on customer selection of a specific automobile
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method comprising:
- storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least one manufacturer, a plurality of dealers, and a plurality of consumers, wherein at least a portion of the automobile market data is updated in real-time;
receiving, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, wherein the first request is made by a consumer using a mobile device which takes a picture of a vehicle identification number and the vehicle identification number is recognized using optical character recognition;
causing at least one processing device to;
provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area;
request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request, wherein the at least two dealers engage in inventoryless bidding by providing a bid on the first automobile when the first automobile is at least one of yet to be manufactured and in the inventory of another entity;
provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and
receiving a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to purchase the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option, wherein the first bid is an inventoryless bid requiring the first automobile to be at least one of manufactured and transferred from the inventory of another entity to the first dealer.
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Abstract
A system, methods, and apparatus for performing automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing, inventory, and consumer interest information received from dealers, manufacturers, and consumers. A consumer may provide a request for a response regarding a specific automobile using an image of a vehicle identification number or a graphical user interface. Automobile market data may be provided to a dealer based on the request. Bids to sell the specific automobile may be requested from dealers based on the request. Dealer bids may be provided to the consumer with prices and a delivery options. The consumer may select a bid which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least one manufacturer, a plurality of dealers, and a plurality of consumers, wherein at least a portion of the automobile market data is updated in real-time; receiving, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, wherein the first request is made by a consumer using a mobile device which takes a picture of a vehicle identification number and the vehicle identification number is recognized using optical character recognition; causing at least one processing device to; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area; request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request, wherein the at least two dealers engage in inventoryless bidding by providing a bid on the first automobile when the first automobile is at least one of yet to be manufactured and in the inventory of another entity; provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and receiving a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to purchase the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option, wherein the first bid is an inventoryless bid requiring the first automobile to be at least one of manufactured and transferred from the inventory of another entity to the first dealer.
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2. A method comprising:
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storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from a plurality of dealers and a plurality of consumers; receiving, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, the first request including a vehicle identification number; causing at least one processing device to; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area; request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and receiving a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to one of purchase the first automobile and lease the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method comprising:
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storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from a plurality of dealers and a plurality of consumers; receiving, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, the first request including data provided with at least one graphical user interface component; causing at least one processing device to; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area; request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and receiving a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to one of purchase the first automobile and lease the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system comprising:
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a computer readable medium storing automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from a plurality of dealers and a plurality of consumers; at least one processing device operably coupled to the computer readable medium, the at least one processing device executing instructions to; receive, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, the first request including a vehicle identification number; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area; request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and receive a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to one of purchase the first automobile and lease the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A system comprising:
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a computer readable medium storing automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from a plurality of dealers and a plurality of consumers; at least one processing device operably coupled to the computer readable medium, the at least one processing device executing instructions to; receive, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, the first request including data provided with at least one graphical user interface component; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area; request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and receive a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to one of purchase the first automobile and lease the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option.
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55. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software instructions which, when executed, cause an information processing apparatus to:
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store automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from a plurality of dealers and a plurality of consumers; receive, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, the first request including a vehicle identification number; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area; request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and receive a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to one of purchase the first automobile and lease the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option.
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56. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software instructions which, when executed, cause an information processing apparatus to:
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store automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data and inventory data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from a plurality of dealers and a plurality of consumers; receive, via a consumer interface, a first request for a response regarding a first automobile, the first request including data provided with at least one graphical user interface component; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a dealer interface, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data and actual sales data for comparable automobiles within a predetermined time period and within a predetermined geographic area; request, via a dealer interface from at least two dealers, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least two bids via the consumer interface, the at least two bids each including at least a price and a delivery option for the first automobile, the at least two bids based on the first automobile market data; and receive a consumer selection of a first bid including a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at a first dealer and a second delivery option which specifies a different second pickup location, wherein the consumer selection indicates a consumer intention to one of purchase the first automobile and lease the first automobile based on the first bid and specifies one of the first delivery option and the second delivery option.
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Specification