Used automobile transaction facilitation for a specific used automobile

• US 9,123,075 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidekick Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Sidekick Technology LLC
• Inventors: Seergy, Michael J., Brown, Benjamin N. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zukanovich, Brandy A
• Application Number:
  US14/176,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20140156445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/26.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A system, methods, and apparatus for performing used automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing and consumer interest information received from consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. A consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may provide a request for a response regarding a specific used automobile with a specific a vehicle identification number. Automobile market data may be provided to a used automobile buyer based on the request. Bids to purchase the specific used automobile may be requested from used automobile buyers based on the request. Buyer bids may be provided to the consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller with prices and a delivery options. The consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may select a bid to sell the specific used automobile based on the bid.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least a plurality of consumers;

receiving, via a used automobile consumer seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a consumer used automobile seller located at a first location and including a vehicle identification number and geolocation information of the consumer used automobile seller;

executing instructions, by at least one processing device, to;

determine, using on the geolocation information, that the consumer used automobile seller is located at the first location;

generate, based on the determined first location, an in-market used automobile buyer area;

determine that at least one used automobile buyer is located within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a used automobile buyer interface;

request, via the used automobile buyer interface from the at least one used automobile buyer, a bid to purchase the first used automobile based on the first request;

receive, via the used automobile buyer interface, at least one bid from at least one used automobile buyer, the at least one bid including a first bid from a first used automobile buyer located at a second location within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

provide the response including the first bid via the used automobile consumer seller interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first used automobile, and the response including the driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

receiving a consumer used automobile seller selection of the first bid, wherein the consumer used automobile seller selection indicates a consumer used automobile seller intention to sell the first used automobile based on the first bid to the first used automobile buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by a consumer on a website.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification number is manually entered by a consumer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by a consumer using a mobile device which takes a picture of a vehicle identification number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the vehicle identification number is recognized using optical character recognition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by a consumer using a mobile device including a microphone, and the vehicle identification number is input via the microphone.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle identification number is recognized using speech recognition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first used automobile buyer is one of a consumer and a dealer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes a picture of at least one of the exterior of the automobile, the interior of the automobile, the dashboard of the automobile, the odometer of the automobile, service records of the automobile, and ownership records of the automobile.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes data provided with at least one graphical user interface component.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes at least one price parameter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the pricing data includes used automobile data and new automobile data, including actual prices of executed transactions, dealer listing prices, dealer sale prices, manufacturer incentives, dealer bids, consumer bids, and consumer pricing parameters.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processing device to process the consumer used automobile seller selection of the first bid to facilitate executing a sale including at least one of providing for electronic signature of documents and providing for an electronic funds transfer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein an add-on, including at least one of insurance, financing, a service contract, a warranty, and a hard-add accessory, is provided by a third party to the first used automobile buyer with the first request, via the used automobile buyer interface, wherein the third party is different from the consumer used automobile seller and the first used automobile buyer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the add-on is selected for inclusion in the first bid by the first used automobile buyer.

17. A system comprising:

a computer readable medium storing automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least a plurality of consumers;

at least one processing device operably coupled to the computer readable medium, the at least one processing device executing instructions to;

receive, via a used automobile consumer seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a consumer used automobile seller located at a first location and including a vehicle identification number and geolocation information of the consumer used automobile seller;

determine, using on the geolocation information, that the consumer used automobile seller is located at the first location;

generate, based on the determined first location, an in-market used automobile buyer area;

determine that at least one used automobile buyer is located within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a used automobile buyer interface;

request, via the used automobile buyer interface from the at least one used automobile buyer, a bid to purchase the first used automobile based on the first request;

receive, via the used automobile buyer interface, at least one bid from at least one used automobile buyer, the at least one bid including a first bid from a first used automobile buyer located at a second location within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

provide the response including the first bid via the used automobile consumer seller interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first used automobile, and the response including the driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

receive a consumer used automobile seller selection of the first bid, wherein the consumer used automobile seller selection indicates a consumer used automobile seller intention to sell the first used automobile based on the first bid to the first used automobile buyer.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, are configured to cause an information processing apparatus to:

store automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least a plurality of consumers;

receive, via a used automobile consumer seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a consumer used automobile seller located at a first location and including a vehicle identification number and geolocation information of the consumer used automobile seller;

determine, using on the geolocation information, that the consumer used automobile seller is located at the first location;

generate, based on the determined first location, an in-market used automobile buyer area;

determine that at least one used automobile buyer is located within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a used automobile buyer interface;

request, via the used automobile buyer interface from the at least one used automobile buyer, a bid to purchase the first used automobile based on the first request;

receive, via the used automobile buyer interface, at least one bid from at least one used automobile buyer, the at least one bid including a first bid from a first used automobile buyer located at a second location within the in-market used automobile buyer area;

generate, based on receiving the first bid, driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

provide the response including the first bid via the used automobile consumer seller interface, the first bid including at least a price for the first used automobile, and the response including the driving directions from the first location to the second location; and

receive a consumer used automobile seller selection of the first bid, wherein the consumer used automobile seller selection indicates a consumer used automobile seller intention to sell the first used automobile based on the first bid to the first used automobile buyer.