Method, system and apparatus for effecting electronic commercial transactions

• US 20010032149A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Yasuhisa
• Application Number:
  US09/820,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A method and system are provided for effecting electronic commercial transactions using a communication network. Item data specifying an item or items which a user wishes to purchase and user identification data comprising information relating to the user are transmitted from a user terminal to a server computer. The server computer is connected to a database of installation facilities. Based on the user identification data, the database is searched for one or more installation facilities that are convenient to the user. If one of these facilities is selected by the user, the system and method may effectuate purchase of the item(s), such as vehicle parts, and schedule delivery of the item(s) directly to the selected facility where the item(s) can be installed on a product, such as a vehicle. The system and method may also provide a reservation system that schedules an installation time for installation of the item(s) at the installation facility.

Claims

1. A method for effecting electronic commercial transactions using a communication network, comprising the steps of:

receiving item data and user identification data from a terminal at a server computer, the item data specifying at least one item which a user wishes to purchase, the user identification data comprising information relating to the user;

searching, based on at least the user identification data, for a facility at which the user is able to receive the at least one item and obtaining facility data based on the search; and

transmitting the obtained facility data from the server computer to the terminal.

2. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the item data comprises parts data specifying at least one part that can be installed on a vehicle associated with the user, and wherein the facility is an installation facility at which the at least one part can be installed on the vehicle.

3. A method according to

claim 2

, further comprising the step of transmitting, from the server computer to the terminal, image data representing an image of the vehicle showing the at least one part installed.

4. A method according to

claim 2

, further comprising the step of transmitting to the terminal information relating to installation of the at least one part at the facility.

5. A method for effecting electronic commercial transactions for at least one part to be installed on a vehicle, using a communication network, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a server computer, vehicle data from a terminal comprising information relating to the vehicle on which the at least one part is to be installed;

searching, at the server computer, for matching parts data representing parts that are compatible with the vehicle;

transmitting the matching parts data from the server computer to the terminal where the parts data can be displayed;

receiving a selection of desired parts data at the server computer from the terminal, the desired parts data representing at least one desired part which is selected based on the matching parts data and is requested by a user to be installed on the vehicle;

searching, at the server computer, for at least one candidate facility at which the at least one desired part can be installed on the vehicle, to obtain installation facility data;

transmitting the installation facility data to the terminal for display; and

receiving at the server computer data from the terminal indicative of a desired facility and a desired installation date, the desired facility being selected from the at least one candidate facility represented by the installation facility data.

6. A method for effecting electronic commercial transactions for at least one part to be installed on a vehicle, using a communication network, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a server computer, vehicle data from a terminal comprising information relating to the vehicle on which the at least one part is to be installed;

searching, at the server computer, for matching parts data representing parts that are compatible with the vehicle;

transmitting the matching parts data from the server computer to the terminal where the parts data can be displayed;

receiving a selection of desired parts data at the server computer from the terminal, the desired parts data representing at least one desired part which is selected based on the matching parts data and is requested by a user to be installed on the vehicle on a user-designated installation date;

searching, at the server computer, for at least one candidate facility at which the at least one desired part can be installed on the vehicle on the user-designated installation date, to provide installation facility data;

transmitting the installation facility data to the terminal for display; and

receiving at the server computer data from the terminal indicative of a desired facility, the desired facility being selected from the at least one candidate facility represented by the facility data.

7. A system for effecting electronic commercial transactions for parts to be installed on a vehicle associated with a user, using a communication network, comprising:

a server computer connected to a communication network, the server computer including

input means for receiving vehicle data information relating to the vehicle and user data information relating to the user,

a database containing vehicle part data and installation facility data,

search means for searching the database for vehicle part data that matches the received vehicle data information,

search means for searching the database for installation facilities that are located convenient to the user based on the received user data information,

output means for transmitting data indicative of matching parts and at least one convenient installation facility, and

input means for receiving data from a terminal pertaining to one or more selected parts and an installation reservation for installation of the one or more selected parts.

8. An apparatus for effecting electronic commercial transactions for parts to be installed on a vehicle associated with a user, using a computer network, comprising:

first storage means for storing parts data;

second storage means for storing facility data;

means for searching the first storage means for compatible parts data indicative of at least one part that is compatible with the vehicle, based on vehicle data comprising information relating to the vehicle;

means for searching the second storage means for desirable facility data indicative of a facility that is located convenient to the user, based on the vehicle data and user data comprising information relating to the user;

means for transmitting the compatible parts data and the desirable facility data to a user terminal; and

means for transmitting the compatible parts data and the user data to the facility represented by the desirable facility data.

9. A method for effecting electronic commercial transactions, using a communication network, comprising the steps of:

creating job management information and identifying a user in response to an access from a user;

searching a database storing product data and parts data for information relating to at least one part for which a search request is made by the user, and presenting the information to the user;

receiving, from the user, at least one of a purchase request for at least one part and a reservation for installation of the at least one part on a product that is associated with the user;

providing a first party that owns the at least one part for which the purchase request has been made, with information needed for producing or selecting the at least one part, the information being created based on the purchase request and the job management information; and

providing a second party that is able to install the at least one part on the product associated with the user, with information that is created based on the reservation for installation and the job management information.

10. A system for effecting electronic commercial transactions, using a communication network, comprising:

means for creating job management information and identifying a user in response to an access from a user;

means for receiving a search request for at least one part from the user;

means for searching a database storing product data and parts data for information relating to the at least one part for which the search request has been made, and presenting the information to the user;

means for receiving, from the user, at least one of a purchase request for at least one part and a reservation for installation of the at least one part on a product that is associated with the user;

means for providing a first party that owns the at least one part for which the purchase request has been made, with information needed for producing or selecting the at least one part, the information being created based on the purchase request and the job management information; and

providing a second party that is able to install the at least one part on the product associated with the user, with information that is created based on the reservation for installation and the job management information.

11. A method for effecting electronic commercial transactions for at least one part to be installed on a vehicle, using a communication network, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a server computer, vehicle data from a terminal comprising information relating to the vehicle on which the at least one part is to be installed;

searching, at the server computer, for matching parts data representing parts that are compatible with the vehicle;

transmitting the matching parts data from the server computer to the terminal where the parts data can be displayed;

receiving a selection of desired parts data at the server computer from the terminal, the desired parts data representing at least one desired part which is selected based on the matching parts data and is requested by a user to be installed on the vehicle;

searching, at the server computer, for at least one candidate facility at which the at least one desired part can be installed on the vehicle, to obtain installation facility data;

transmitting the installation facility data to the terminal for display;

receiving at the server computer data from the terminal indicative of a desired facility that is selected from the at least one candidate facility represented by the installation facility data; and

transmitting a service charge or an installation cost required for installing the at least one desired part on the vehicle, to the terminal for display.

12. A system for effecting electronic commercial transactions for at least one part to be installed on a vehicle associated with a user, using a communication network, comprising:

means for entering vehicle data comprising information relating to the vehicle on which the at least one part is to be installed;

means for displaying matching parts data representing parts that are compatible with the vehicle represented by the entered vehicle data;

means for selecting at least one desired part from the displayed matching parts data;

means for displaying installation facility data indicative of at least one candidate facility at which the at least one desired part can be installed on the vehicle;

means for selecting a facility at which a user wishes to have the at least one desired part installed on the vehicle, from the displayed installation facility data; and

means for displaying a service charge for installing each of the at least one desired part on the vehicle.

13. A server computer for effecting electronic commercial transactions for parts to be installed on a vehicle, using a communication network, comprising:

means for transmitting, to a user terminal, installation facility data indicative of at least one candidate facility at which the parts can be installed on the vehicle, and service charge data indicative of a service charge for installing each of the parts on the vehicle; and

means for receiving, from the user terminal, desired parts data indicative of at least one desired part that is requested by a user to be installed on the vehicle, and desired facility data indicative of a facility at which the user wishes to have the at least one desired part installed on the vehicle.

14. A server computer according to

claim 13

, further comprising:

means for receiving, from the user terminal, vehicle data comprising information relating to the vehicle on which the parts are to be installed; and

means for transmitting matching parts data representing parts that are compatible with the vehicle represented by the vehicle data.

15. A user terminal for effecting electronic commercial transactions for parts to be installed on a vehicle, using a communication network, comprising:

means for entering at least one desired part that is requested by a user to be installed on the vehicle;

means for displaying installation facility data indicative of at least one candidate facility at which the at least one desired part can be installed on the vehicle, and service charge data indicative of a service charge required for installing each of the at least one desired part on the vehicle; and

means for selecting a facility at which the user wishes to have the at least one desired part installed on the vehicle, from the at least one candidate facility represented by the installation facility data.

16. A user terminal according to

claim 15

, further comprising:

means for entering vehicle data comprising information relating to the vehicle on which the parts are to be installed; and

means for displaying matching parts data representing parts that are compatible with the vehicle represented by the entered vehicle data.