Apparatus and method for perusing selected vehicles having a clean title history

• US 7,228,298 B1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CARFAX Incorporated (S&P Global Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CARFAX Incorporated (S&P Global Inc.)
• Inventors: Raines, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): LeRoux; Etienne P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAHMOUDI, HASSAN
• Application Number:
  US10/233,952
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 705/1, 705/4, 705/26, 705/27, 705/29, 705/37, 715/763
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/948 Product or catalog
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A system and method for allowing a consumer to search a database containing used vehicles from a variety of sellers that can be queried to provide search results that include only vehicles having clean title histories.

Claims

1. A method for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

analyzing vehicle identification numbers to determine title information indicative of whether each of a plurality of vehicles have at least one of a clean title in which the corresponding vehicle has no known title discrepancies, and a branded title in which the corresponding vehicle has a title discrepancy;

providing a classifieds database that stores vehicle information and title information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed by said vehicle history management system; and

remotely searching said classifieds database for vehicles based on search query criteria that includes whether vehicles have branded titles;

wherein said classifieds database stores vehicle information and title information for vehicles that are determined not to have branded titles.

2. The method of claim 1, further including displaying a listing of vehicles in said classifieds database identified as satisfying said search query criteria.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said search query criteria allows exclusion of vehicles from said listing that are determined to have branded titles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said search query criteria further includes location, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, and year of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further including querying an authorized subscriber as to whether vehicle information and title information for vehicles that are determined to have clean titles should be added to the classifieds database, and storing said vehicle information and title information only upon receiving approval through said query.

6. The method of claim 1, further including modifying vehicle information regarding at least one vehicle of said classifieds database.

7. The method of claim 1, further including updating said title information regarding a vehicle from said classifieds database when said vehicle is determined to have a branded title.

8. The method of claim 1, further including providing a vehicle history information database having vehicle history records, each vehicle history record relating to a particular vehicle and being associated with a vehicle identification number of said particular vehicle, and wherein said analysis of vehicle identification numbers include analyzing said vehicle history records of said vehicle history information database.

9. A method for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

analyzing vehicle identification numbers to determine title information indicative of whether each of a plurality of vehicles have at least one of a clean title in which the corresponding vehicle has no known title discrepancies, and a branded title in which the corresponding vehicle has title discrepancies;

providing a classifieds database that stores vehicle information and title information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed by said vehicle history management system;

remotely searching said classifieds database for vehicles based on search criteria including whether vehicles have a clean title or a branded title;

modifying vehicle information regarding at least one vehicle of said classifieds database; and

determining whether a particular vehicle is “

active”

in which a vehicle identification number of the particular vehicle has been analyzed within a predetermined time period, or “

inactive”

in which a vehicle identification number of the particular vehicle has not been analyzed within a predetermined time period, and archiving vehicle information and title information regarding inactive vehicles after a predetermined period of time.

10. A method for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

submitting a plurality of vehicle identification numbers corresponding to a plurality of vehicles;

analyzing said vehicle identification numbers to determine whether vehicle histories of each of said plurality of vehicles have a predetermined discrepancy;

providing a classifieds database that stores vehicle information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed;

remotely searching said classifieds database for vehicles based on search query criteria that includes whether said predetermined discrepancy exists;

displaying a listing of vehicles in said classifieds database identified as satisfying said search query criteria; and

excluding vehicles from said listing that are determined to have said predetermined discrepancy;

wherein said predetermined discrepancy is at least one of a branded title, unknown mileage at a time of transaction, and a contextual discrepancy determined based on title transaction history.

11. A system for searching for used vehicles, comprising a searchable database containing vehicle information concerning vehicles from different sellers, wherein said system analyzes the vehicle information concerning a particular vehicle to determine existence of a discrepancy in the vehicle history information for the particular vehicle, utilizes absence of a discrepancy as a search query criterion to include the particular vehicle in the searchable database, and utilizes existence of a discrepancy as a search query criterion to exclude the particular vehicle in the searchable database, so that the searchable database contains only vehicles having clean title histories, a program that accesses the database and is operable to search the database using queries provided by a potential vehicle purchaser, and a computer interface coupled to the database and utilized by the potential vehicle purchaser to enter a search query, wherein said discrepancy is at least one of a branded title, unknown mileage at a time of transaction, and a contextual discrepancy determined based on title transaction history.

12. A used vehicle system for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

an inventory collection subsystem adapted to allow an authorized subscriber to submit vehicle identification numbers corresponding to a plurality of vehicles;

a vehicle history management subsystem that analyzes said submitted vehicle identification numbers to determine title information indicative of whether each of said plurality of vehicles have at least one of a clean title in which the corresponding vehicle has no known title discrepancies, and a branded title in which the corresponding vehicle has a title discrepancy;

a classifieds database that stores vehicle information and title information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed by said vehicle history management system; and

a search subsystem having a search program adapted to allow consumers to remotely search said classifieds database for vehicles based on search query criteria that includes whether vehicles have branded titles;

wherein said classifieds database is adapted to store vehicle information and title information at least for vehicles that are determined not to have branded titles by said vehicle history management subsystem.

13. The used vehicle system of claim 12, further including a display subsystem that displays a listing of vehicles in said classifieds database identified as satisfying said search query criteria by said search subsystem.

14. The used vehicle system of claim 13, wherein said search program is adapted to allow exclusion of vehicles from said listing that are determined to have branded titles by said vehicle history management subsystem.

15. The used vehicle system of claim 13, wherein said display subsystem further displays a communication link that allows the consumers to generate a message regarding a selected vehicle addressed to an authorized subscriber that submitted said vehicle identification number corresponding to said selected vehicle.

16. The used vehicle system of claim 12, wherein said search query criteria further includes location, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, and year of the vehicle.

17. The used vehicle system of claim 12, wherein said inventory collection subsystem further queries the authorized subscriber whether vehicle information and title information for vehicles that are determined to have clean titles by said vehicle history information system should be added to the classifieds database, and stores said vehicle information and title information only upon receiving approval through said query.

18. The used vehicle system of claim 12, further comprising an inventory manager subsystem that allows the authorized subscriber to modify vehicle information regarding at least one vehicle of said classifieds database.

19. The used vehicle system of claim 12, wherein said vehicle history management subsystem is further adapted to update said title information regarding a vehicle from said classifieds database when said vehicle is determined to have a branded title.

20. The used vehicle system of claim 12, wherein said vehicle history management subsystem includes a vehicle history information database having vehicle history records, each vehicle history record relating to a particular vehicle and being associated with a vehicle identification number of said particular vehicle.

21. A used vehicle system for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

an inventory collection subsystem adapted to allow an authorized subscriber to submit vehicle identification numbers corresponding to a plurality of vehicles;

a vehicle history management subsystem that analyzes said submitted vehicle identification numbers to determine whether vehicle histories of each of said plurality of vehicles have a predetermined discrepancy;

a classifieds database that stores vehicle information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed by said vehicle history management subsystem;

a search subsystem having a search program adapted to allow remote searching of said classifieds database for vehicles based on search query criteria that includes whether said predetermined discrepancy exists; and

a display subsystem that displays a listing of vehicles in said classifieds database identified as satisfying said search query criteria by said search subsystem;

wherein said search program is adapted to allow exclusion of vehicles from said listing that are determined to have said predetermined discrepancy;

wherein said predetermined discrepancy is at least one of a branded title, unknown mileage at a time of transaction, and a contextual discrepancy determined based on title transaction history.

22. A used vehicle system for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

an inventory collection subsystem adapted to allow an authorized subscriber to submit vehicle identification numbers corresponding to a plurality of vehicles;

a vehicle history management subsystem that analyzes said submitted vehicle identification numbers to determine title information indicative of whether each of said plurality of vehicles have at least one of a clean title in which the corresponding vehicle has no known title discrepancies, and a branded title in which the corresponding vehicle has a title discrepancy;

a classifieds database that stores vehicle information and title information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed by said vehicle history management system;

a search subsystem having a search program adapted to allow consumers to remotely search said classifieds database for vehicles based on search query criteria that includes whether vehicles have branded titles; and

a display subsystem that displays a listing of vehicles in said classifieds database identified as satisfying said search query criteria by said search subsystem;

wherein said search program is adapted to allow exclusion of vehicles from said listing that are determined to have branded titles by said vehicle history management subsystem.

23. A used vehicle system for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

an inventory collection subsystem adapted to allow an authorized subscriber to submit vehicle identification numbers corresponding to a plurality of vehicles;

a vehicle history management subsystem that analyzes said submitted vehicle identification numbers to determine title information indicative of whether each of said plurality of vehicles have at least one of a clean title in which the corresponding vehicle has no known title discrepancies, and a branded title in which the corresponding vehicle has title discrepancies;

a classifieds database that stores vehicle information and title information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed by said vehicle history management system;

a search subsystem having a search program adapted to allow consumers to remotely search said classifieds database for vehicles based on search criteria including whether vehicles have a clean title or a branded title; and

an inventory manager subsystem that allows the authorized subscriber to modify vehicle information regarding at least one vehicle of said classifieds database;

wherein said inventory manager subsystem is further adapted to allow the authorized subscriber to indicate whether a particular vehicle is “

active”

in which said vehicle history management subsystem has analyzed vehicle identification number of the particular vehicle within a predetermined time period, or “

inactive”

in which said vehicle history management subsystem has not analyzed vehicle identification number of the particular vehicle within a predetermined time period.

24. The used vehicle system of claim 23, further including an archival database that stores vehicle information and title information regarding inactive vehicles after a predetermined period of time.