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

• US 7,693,896 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CARFAX Incorporated (S&P Global Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CARFAX Incorporated (S&P Global Inc.)
• Inventors: Raines, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spieler; William
• Application Number:
  US11/651,960
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104
• US Class Current: 707/706
• 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 computer-based 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.

2. The used vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising an inventory manager subsystem that allows the authorized subscriber to modify vehicle information regarding at least one vehicle of said classifieds database.

3. The used vehicle system of claim 1, 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.

4. A computer-implemented 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.

5. The method of claim 4, further including providing a vehicle history information database having vehicle history records for said plurality of vehicles, 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.

6. A computer-based used vehicle system for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

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;

a vehicle history management subsystem that analyzes vehicle history records from said vehicle history information database to determine whether vehicle histories of each of said plurality of vehicles have a predetermined discrepancy; and

a search subsystem having a search program adapted to allow remote searching for vehicles based on a search query criteria received from a user, the search query criteria including whether said predetermined discrepancy exists;

wherein said search program allows exclusion of vehicles which are determined to have said predetermined discrepancy from a search result.

7. The used vehicle system of claim 6, wherein said predetermined discrepancy is at least one of a branded title, unknown mileage, and contextual discrepancy determined based on title.

8. The used vehicle system of claim 6, wherein said predetermined discrepancy is a branded title.

9. The used vehicle system of claim 6, 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.

10. The used vehicle system of claim 9, wherein said display subsystem further displays a communication link that allows the consumers to generate a message regarding a selected vehicle addressed to a seller of the selected vehicle.

11. The used vehicle system of claim 6, further including a classifieds database that stores vehicle information regarding at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles analyzed by said vehicle history management subsystem for which said predetermined discrepancy does not exist.

12. The used vehicle system of claim 6, wherein said search query criteria further includes location, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, and year of the vehicle.

13. A computer-implemented method for perusing and searching used vehicles comprising:

providing a vehicle history information database having vehicle history records for a plurality of vehicles;

analyzing said vehicle history records 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 submitting a search query criteria that excludes vehicles analyzed to have the predetermined discrepancy; and

searching said classifieds database for vehicles based on search query criteria to identify vehicles that satisfies said search query criteria that excludes vehicles analyzed to have the predetermined discrepancy.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined discrepancy is at least one of a branded title, unknown mileage, and contextual discrepancy determined based on title.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined discrepancy is a branded title.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said search criteria further includes location, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, and year of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 13, further including displaying a listing of vehicles in said classifieds database identified as satisfying said search query criteria.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each vehicle history record relates to a particular vehicle and is associated with a vehicle identification number of said particular vehicle.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said classifieds database stores vehicle information for vehicles that are determined to have clean titles.

20. The method of claim 13, further including generating a communication link that allows generating of a message regarding a selected vehicle addressed to a seller of the selected vehicle.