Online used car information search method, program, and device

• US 7,184,974 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Broadleaf Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Broadleaf Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shishido, Hironobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Amee A.
• Application Number:
  US10/360,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 707 1- 5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 705/26.62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy

Abstract

A used car information search method of inputting a search condition containing car type information for specifying a type of a used car, searching for used car data coincident with the search condition from a used car database containing the car type information and price information, and outputting the searched used car data. This method comprises a step of researching the price information in all records of used car data coincident with the car type information contained in the search condition, and creating price research information, and a step of transmitting the used car data coincident with the search condition and the price research information for displaying them to a user. This scheme enables an efficient search for the used car information regardless of how much a prospective purchaser is skilled at searching.

Claims

1. A used car information search method implemented on a computer, the method comprising causing a computer to perform:

a step of extracting, from a database containing records of used cars of a plurality of different types, all records that match a type of used car specified in search condition information input by a user, said records that match said type comprising first used car data;

a step of extracting from said first used car data, as price zone information, a minimum price and a maximum price of used cars that match the type specified in the search condition information, the price zone information being extracted irrespective of a user-input price specified in the search condition information;

a step of extracting, from said first used car data, second used car data coincident with the user-input price and other items of search condition information designated by the user; and

a step of transmitting the price zone information and the second used car data for displaying them to the user;

wherein the type, the user-input price, and the other items are input by the user before starting a search.

2. A used car information search method according to claim 1, wherein the search condition information for specifying the type of the used car is at least one of a maker name and a car name.

3. A used car information search method according to claim 1, wherein said other items of search condition information contain at least one of a price, a model year, and a mileage.

4. A used car information search method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of creating screen display data based on the second used car data and input-indicating information for re-searching in a way that sets the price-related search condition information as a selection item; and

a step of transmitting the created screen display data for displaying the same data to the user.

5. A used car information search method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of judging whether an extraction count of the second used car data is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and enabling, when said extraction count is smaller than the predetermined value, the screen display data to be created.

6. A used car information search method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of obtaining a registration count per price zone on the basis of the first used car data; and

a step of transmitting the registration count per price zone for displaying the registration count to the user.

7. A used car information search program comprising a computer-readable medium containing instructions to cause a general-purpose computer to execute:

a step of extracting, from a database containing records of used cars of a plurality of different types, all records that match a type of used car specified in search condition information input by a user, said records that match said type comprising first used car data;

a step of extracting from said first used car data, as price zone information, a minimum price and a maximum price of used cars that match the type specified in the search condition information, the price zone information being extracted irrespective of a user-input price specified in the search condition information;

a step of extracting, from said first used car data, second used car data coincident with the user-input price and other items of search condition information designated by the user; and

a step of transmitting the price zone information and the second used car data for displaying them to the user;

wherein the type, the user-input price, and the other items are input by the user before starting a search.

8. A used car information search program according to claim 7, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions to cause a general-purpose computer to execute:

a step of creating screen display data based on the second used car data and input indicating information for re-searching in a way that sets the price-related search condition information as a selection item; and

a step of transmitting the created screen display data for displaying the same data to the user.

9. A used car information search program according to claim 8, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions to cause a general-purpose computer to execute a step of judging whether an extraction count of the second used car data is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and enabling, when smaller than the predetermined value, the screen display data to be created.

10. A used car information search program according to claim 7, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions to cause a general-purpose computer to execute:

a step of obtaining a registration count per price zone on the basis of the first used car data; and

a step of transmitting the registration count per price zone for displaying the registration count to the user.

11. A used car information search device comprising:

first extracting means for extracting, from a database containing records of used cars of a plurality of different types, all records that match a type of used car specified in search condition information input by a user, said records that match said type comprising first used car data;

second extracting means for extracting from said first used car data, as price zone information, a minimum price and a maximum price of used cars that match the type specified in the search condition information, the price zone information being extracted irrespective of a user-input price specified in the search condition information;

third extracting means for extracting, from said first used car data, second used car data coincident with the user-input price and other items of search condition information designated by the user; and

transmitting means for transmitting the price zone information and the second used car data for displaying them to the user;

wherein the type, the user-input price, and the other items are input by the user before starting a search.

12. A used car information search device according to claim 11, wherein the search condition information for specifying the type of the used car is at least one of a maker name and a car name.

13. A used car information search device according to claim 11, wherein other items of search condition information contain at least one of a price, a model year and a mileage.

14. A used car information search device according to claim 11, further comprising:

creating means for creating screen display data based on the second used car data and input indicating information for re-searching in a way that sets the price-related search condition information as a selection item,

wherein said transmitting means transmits the created screen display data for displaying the same data to the user.

15. A used car information search device according to claim 14, further comprising judging means for judging whether an extraction count of the second used car data is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and enabling, when smaller than the predetermined value, the screen display data to be created.

16. A used car information search device according to claim 11, further comprising calculating means for obtaining a registration count per price zone on the basis of the first used car data,

wherein said transmitting means transmits the registration count per price zone for displaying this registration count to the user.