Automobile transaction facilitation based on customer selection of a specific automobile

• US 9,147,216 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidekick Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Sidekick Technology LLC
• Inventors: Seergy, Michael J., Brown, Benjamin N. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zukanovich, Brandy A
• Application Number:
  US14/293,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20150032562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

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.

Claims

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 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 made by a consumer located at a first location and including geolocation information of the consumer;

executing instructions, by at least one processing device, to;

determine, using the information, that the consumer is located at the first location;

determine, based on a determination that the consumer is located at the first location, that the consumer is located at a first dealer;

generate, based on the first dealer, an in-market dealer area proximately located to the first dealer;

determine that a second dealer is located at a second location within the in-market dealer area;

provide first automobile market data to the second dealer, based on the first request, via a dealer interface;

request, via the dealer interface from the second dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request; and

receive, via the dealer interface, a first bid from the second dealer located at the second location within the in-market dealer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location;

provide the response including the first bid via the consumer interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first automobile, and the response including the driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

receiving a consumer selection of the first bid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pricing data includes normal listing prices, sale prices, manufacturer incentives, actual prices of executed transactions, and consumer offers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inventory data includes at least one of inventory data by location, inventory in transit data, production lead time data, production schedule data, and shipping schedule data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes a vehicle identification number that is manually entered by the consumer using at least one graphical user interface component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by the consumer using a mobile device which takes a picture of a vehicle identification number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle identification number is recognized using optical character recognition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first automobile is one of a particular type of car with a specific set of features and a particular car with a specific vehicle identification number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first automobile market data provided to the second dealer consists of at least one of the first request and a suggested bid price.

9. The method of claim 1, 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.

10. The method of claim 1, 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 second dealer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumer selection of the first bid indicates that the consumer intends to lease the first automobile.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, to process the consumer selection of the first bid to facilitate executing a sale including at least one of providing for electronic signature of documents and providing for an electronic funds transfer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first automobile is made available for pickup at the second dealer according to a consumer selected first delivery option.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, based on a request from the dealer interface, to request data via a consumer interface from a plurality of consumers.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, based on a request from the dealer interface, to request data via a manufacturer interface from at least one manufacturer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, to include in the response at least one of a financing plan, a service plan, an insurance plan, a warranty, and a hard add accessory, for at least the first automobile, which is at least one of provided and offered by the second dealer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second dealer is at least one of a franchise dealer and a non-franchise distribution location.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the automobile market data includes consumer interest data.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, to provide a manufacturer response via the consumer interface including an acknowledgement of interest.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing instructions, by the at least one processing device, to provide a manufacturer response via the consumer interface including at least one of a verification, a confirmation, and an offer indicating that the first automobile can be provided for the consumer.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first automobile market data provides a recommended deal of the day.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bid includes a first delivery option which specifies a first pickup location at the second 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.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by the consumer using a mobile device which takes a picture of a vehicle identification number at the first dealer, and in the first bid from the second dealer, the first automobile is an interbrand comparable car which is located at the second dealer.

24. A system comprising:

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; and

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 made by a consumer located at a first location and including geolocation information of the consumer;

determine, using the information, that the consumer is located at the first location;

determine, based on a determination that the consumer is located at the first location, that the consumer is located at a first dealer;

generate, based on the first dealer, an in-market dealer area proximately located to the first dealer;

determine that a second dealer is located at a second location within the in-market dealer area;

provide first automobile market data to the second dealer, based on the first request, via a dealer interface;

request, via the dealer interface from the second dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request;

receive, via the dealer interface, a first bid from the second dealer located at the second location within the in-market dealer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location;

provide the response including the first bid via the consumer interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first automobile, and the response including the driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

receiving a consumer selection of the first bid.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, are configured to cause an information processing apparatus to:

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 made by a consumer located at a first location and including geolocation information of the consumer;

determine, using the geolocation information, that the consumer is located at the first location;

determine, based on a determination that the consumer is located at the first location, that the consumer is located at a first dealer;

generate, based on the first dealer, an in-market dealer area proximately located to the first dealer;

determine that a second dealer is located at a second location within the in-market dealer area;

provide first automobile market data to the second dealer, based on the first request, via a dealer interface;

request, via the dealer interface from the second dealer, a bid to sell the first automobile based on the first request;

receive, via the dealer interface, a first bid from the second dealer located at the second location within the in-market dealer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location;

provide the response including the first bid via the consumer interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first automobile, and the response including the driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

receive a consumer selection of the first bid.