Web vehicle ordering system

• US 20020178080A1
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gelco Corporation (Element Fleet Management Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gelco Corporation (Element Fleet Management Corp.)
• Inventors: Buslovich, Lev, Ly, Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system for ordering vehicles through the internet for addition to a vehicle fleet. The system includes a first portion of the invention for use by a fleet manager to price and configure vehicles, for reporting, for checking the status of orders, and for managing the driver accessible portion of the present invention. A second portion of the present invention allows the fleet manager to set up the specifications of the system, to set up notifications to the drivers, to set up driver profiles, to approve and submit orders, as well as other options. The third portion of the present invention system allows an individual driver to order and re-order leased vehicles within the environment set up by the fleet manager and to dispose of old vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for ordering a leased vehicle for addition to a vehicle fleet comprising:

(a) electronically soliciting from a fleet manager a selection of a vehicle for ordering;

(b) displaying options and prices for the selected vehicle and allowing the fleet manager to select one or more of the options, the act of displaying options and prices including updating the displayed options and prices after an interrelated option has been selected, the act of selecting successive options resulting in a complete vehicle specification which is thereafter assigned to one or more driver classes by the fleet manager for selection by members of that driver class; and

(c) receiving from a driver a selection of a vehicle specification to be ordered for addition to the vehicle fleet and assigned to the driver.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying selectable vehicle options to the driver for selection thereof so that the driver can further customize the selected vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising a displaying a selectable option for automatically fitting the selected vehicle with emissions controls.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the emissions controls are based upon one of the group consisting of a garaging address, a delivery address, and a manually input address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises querying the fleet manager to choose from one or more of the group consisting of factory ordering, rapid factory ordering, client located stock ordering, and system proprietor located stock ordering.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the selectable options displays information relating to the vehicle fleet, allows information to be entered into the system, and displays further selectable options.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising exhibiting to the fleet manager a number of selectable options for downloading information.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the information may be chosen from one or more of the group consisting of ordering, order status, preferences, reports, and pricing and configuration.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the selectable options includes an option for downloading and inputting data relating to a driver order management system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the driver order management system further comprises a database with a number of selectable options for customizing the driver accessible environment of the present invention.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the driver order management system further comprises a method of notifying drivers of information on a single selection basis.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the driver order management system further comprises a method of notifying drivers of information on a batch selection basis.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising a selectable option for the initiation of used vehicle disposal.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the driver accessible database further comprises a screen that allows the driver to change the driver'"'"'s password.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the driver accessible database further comprises a screen for downloading instructions on how to use the system.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the driver accessible database further comprises a selectable option for downloading forms so that pertinent information about the driver may be entered into the system.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the fleet manager accessible database for managing and setting parameters for a driver accessible database further comprises selectable options for ordering, reports, checking an order'"'"'s status, and organizing reports.

14. A system for ordering leased vehicles through the world wide web comprising:

(a) a fleet manager accessible database, the fleet manager accessible database including options for pricing and configuring vehicles, for ordering, for formulating reports, and for managing and setting parameters for a driver accessible database, wherein the driver logs on the driver accessible database and selects a vehicle for leasing.