U.S. patent application number 14/884712 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-16 for vehicular data exchange system and method therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Vehicular Network Solutions, Inc.. Invention is credited to Carl Schaukowitch, HARRY SERETTI.
Application Number | 20160171595 14/884712 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34806820 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160171595 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SERETTI; HARRY ; et
al. |
June 16, 2016 |
VEHICULAR DATA EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR
Abstract
A vehicular data exchange system including a plurality of
computer terminals and a processor. Each computer terminal includes
an input device for inputting vehicular data and a display device
for visually displaying inputted vehicular data, which includes
vehicular characteristics data units and vehicular financial data
units. The processor controls vehicular data whereby vehicular
characteristics data units and vehicular financial data units
inputted are transferred therebetween. A method of implementing the
present invention is also described.
Inventors: |
SERETTI; HARRY; (Mckees
Rocks, PA) ; Schaukowitch; Carl; (Mitchellville,
MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Vehicular Network Solutions, Inc. |
Burlingame |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
34806820 |
Appl. No.: |
14/884712 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13752078 |
Jan 28, 2013 |
|
|
|
14884712 |
|
|
|
|
11625067 |
Jan 19, 2007 |
|
|
|
13752078 |
|
|
|
|
11090379 |
Mar 25, 2005 |
8386363 |
|
|
11625067 |
|
|
|
|
09370935 |
Aug 9, 1999 |
6920433 |
|
|
11090379 |
|
|
|
|
08885175 |
Jun 30, 1997 |
5978776 |
|
|
09370935 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/27.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 30/08 20130101; G06Q 30/0641 20130101;
H04L 67/12 20130101; G06Q 40/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08 |
Claims
1. A method of exchanging vehicular data of a vehicle, comprising
the steps of: selecting any one of at least three computer
terminals operative to transmit to each other and receive from one
another the vehicular data for display on respective display
devices associated with said terminals as a data inquiring computer
terminal; deeming the remaining ones of the at least three computer
terminals as data responsive computer terminals; receiving, from a
seller, vehicular characteristics data units of the vehicle that
have been input at any time into the data inquiring computer
terminal for display on its display device; processing the
vehicular characteristics data units immediately after inputting
the vehicular characteristics data units by transmitting the
vehicular characteristics data units to the data responsive
computer terminals for display thereon; receiving, from a potential
buyer, vehicular financial data units for display on its display
device, where the vehicular financial data units have been input
into at least one of the data responsive computer terminals with a
manual input device, where the vehicular financial data units are
input with the manual input device in response to receipt of the
vehicular characteristics data received by the data responsive
computer terminals; and transmitting the vehicular financial data
units immediately after inputting the vehicular financial data
units to said inquiring computer terminal for display on the
display device of said inquiring computer terminal.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of processing
the vehicular characteristics data units includes selecting select
ones of said plurality of said data responsive computer terminals
to which the vehicular characteristics data units are
transmitted.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular
characteristics data units include a make, a model and a year of
the vehicle.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular
characteristics data units include a description of the vehicle. A
method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular financial data
units of the vehicle include at least one of a bid price amount, an
assessment price amount, a wholesale price amount, and a retail
price amount.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the vehicular financial
data units of the vehicle include identifying information
identifying a source of each data responsive computer terminal
transmitting the vehicular financial data units.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a
subset of the data responsive computer terminals for receiving the
vehicular characteristics data units.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the manual input device
is a keyboard.
9. A method of exchanging vehicular data of a vehicle, comprising
the steps of: processing vehicular characteristics data units of
the vehicle that have been input into a data inquiring computer
terminal by a seller, by selecting select ones of a plurality of
data responsive computer terminals to which the vehicular
characteristics data units are to be transmitted, transmitting the
vehicular characteristics data units to the selected responsive
computer terminals for display thereon; receiving, from a potential
buyer, vehicular financial data units for display on its display
device, where the vehicular financial data units have been input
into at least one of the plurality of data responsive computer
terminals with a manual input device, where the vehicular financial
data units are input with the manual input device in response to
the vehicular characteristics data received by the responsive
computer terminals; transmitting the vehicular financial data units
to said inquiring computer terminal for display on said inquiring
computer terminal; and repeating transmission of said vehicular
characteristics data units to said select ones of said plurality of
responding computer terminals until said select ones of the data
responding computer terminals receive the vehicular characteristics
data units.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicular
characteristics data units include a make, a model and a year of
the vehicle.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicular
characteristics data units include a description of the
vehicle.
12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicular financial
data units of the vehicle include at least one of a bid price
amount, an assessment price amount, a wholesale price amount, and a
retail price amount.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the vehicular financial
data units of the vehicle include identifying information
identifying a source of each responsive computer terminal
transmitting the vehicular financial data units.
14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the manual input device
is a keyboard.
15. A method for exchanging vehicular data of a vehicle, comprising
the steps of: processing vehicular characteristics data units of
the vehicle that have been input into a data inquiring computer
terminal by a seller, by transmitting the vehicular characteristics
data units to a plurality of data responsive computer terminals for
display thereon; triggering an alarm on at least one of the
plurality of data responsive computer terminals that vehicular
characteristics data are available for display; receiving, from a
potential buyer, vehicular financial data units for display on its
display device, where the vehicular financial data units have been
input into at least one of the plurality of data responsive
computer terminals with a manual input device, where the vehicular
financial data units are input with the manual input device in
response to the vehicular characteristics data received by the
responsive computer terminals; transmitting the vehicular financial
data units to said inquiring computer terminal for display on said
inquiring computer terminal; and repeating transmission of said
vehicular characteristics data units to said select ones of said
plurality of responding computer terminals until expiration of a
first predetermined period of time occurs.
16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of
stopping the repeating step upon expiration of a second
predetermined period of time which is longer than the first
predetermined period of time.
17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising selecting a
subset of the data responsive computer terminals for receiving the
vehicular characteristics data units.
18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the manual input device
is a keyboard.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/752,078, filed Jan. 28, 2013, which is
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/625,067, filed
Jan. 19, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/090,379, filed Mar. 25, 2005, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/370,935, filed Aug. 9, 1999,
now U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,433, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/885,175, filed Jun. 30, 1997, now U.S. Pat.
No. 5,978,776, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is related to a vehicular data
exchange system. More particularly, the present invention is
directed to vehicular data exchange system so that users of the
vehicular data exchange system can, within a brief time period,
simply and easily exchange vehicle data with one another for the
purposes of buying and selling motor vehicles and/or obtaining
appraisal data for motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In order to better serve a prospective automobile buyer,
both new and used selling car dealers often must be willing to
accept a trade-in vehicle from the prospective buyer or risk losing
that prospective buyer to a competitor. Unfortunately, some
trade-in vehicles are a particular make and model that are
unfamiliar to the selling car dealer. To provide the prospective
buyer with a trade-in value, the selling car dealer must either
guess at an appropriate trade-in value of the trade-in vehicle,
ascertain a general value of the trade-in vehicle as published in a
"blue book" or contact a competitor which is familiar with the
value of that type of make, model and year of the vehicle.
[0004] Each of these options has drawbacks for the selling car
dealer. Guessing at the value of the trade-in vehicle usually
results in one of two outcomes. Either too high of a value afforded
to the trade-in vehicle results in loss of income to the dealer or
too low of a value discourages the prospective customer who might
shop for a new vehicle elsewhere. The "blue book" provides only a
generalized value of the trade-in vehicle. Also, a subscription to
the current "blue book" is expensive and the "blue book" becomes
obsolete within a short period of time. Contacting a competitor is
time consuming and often frustrating because even if the competitor
extends the courtesy of returning a telephone call to provide an
appropriate trade-in value figure, it might be hours or even days
after the prospective customer has already left the selling
dealer's premises. Further, the competitor is typically providing
only his best estimate of the trade-in value of the trade-in
vehicle and not often is the competitor interested in tendering a
buy figure for the purpose of purchasing the trade-in vehicle from
the selling dealer.
[0005] After the selling dealer sells the customer a new or used
car, the trade-in vehicle can either be placed on the used or
"pre-owned" car lot of the selling dealer for resale, taken and
sold at an automobile auction or sold to an automobile wholesaler.
When the trade-in vehicle fails to sell within a set period of
time, for example, ninety (90) days, the selling dealer would most
likely remove the vehicle from the used car lot and either deliver
it to an automobile auction or sell it to a wholesaler to maintain
a fresh inventory of used cars. Typically, the wholesaler dictates
the purchase price of the trade-in vehicle which the wholesaler is
willing to pay. Sometimes this results in a financial loss to the
selling dealer.
[0006] Occasionally, an unscrupulous used car manager might accept
monetary "kickbacks" from a wholesaler for selling car lot vehicles
unwanted by the selling dealer to the wholesaler at an
exceptionally low price. Such an exceptionally low price results in
further financial loss to the selling dealer.
[0007] There is a need in the automobile sales industry to provide
a vehicle exchange system whereby a selling dealer can rapidly and
conveniently sell or obtain sales price information on used or
trade-in motor vehicles. It would be beneficial if a prospective
customer of the selling dealer remains on the premises while bids
or sales price information are being solicited and obtained from
other automobile dealers. There is also a need in the automobile
sales industry to provide a vehicle data exchange system whereby
users to the vehicle data exchange system can rapidly and
conveniently provide a firm buy figure to the selling dealer
offering the trade-in vehicle of the prospective customer. It would
be beneficial to selling dealers to minimize the use of automobile
wholesalers in order to obtain the maximum dollar amount for the
trade-in vehicle from those users of the vehicular data exchange
system.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicular data
exchange system so that users to the vehicular data exchange system
can exchange vehicle data with one another for the purposes of
buying and selling motor vehicles and/or obtaining appraisal data
information for motor vehicles.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
vehicular data exchange system so that users thereto can quickly
and conveniently exchange vehicle characteristics data and vehicle
sales price-data.
[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
vehicular data exchange system whereby vehicular data can be
exchanged within a time period during which a prospective customer
of the selling dealer remains on the premises.
[0011] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a vehicular data exchange system that could minimize or
even eliminate the use of automobile wholesalers.
[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
vehicular data exchange system which would yield firm buy figures
from other automotive dealers within minutes from the time the
vehicular characteristics data are disseminated from a selling
dealer.
[0013] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a vehicular data exchange system capable of transmitting
vehicular characteristics data units such as make, model and year
of the vehicle to only those users interested in receiving such
data.
[0014] Yet still further, another object of the present invention
is to provide a vehicular data exchange system that requires a
minimum of time and a minimum of effort for a user to input
vehicular data into the system.
[0015] Accordingly, a vehicular data exchange system of the present
invention which is adapted for use to exchange vehicular data
relating to a vehicle is hereinafter described. In its broadest
form, the vehicular data exchange system includes a plurality of
computer terminals and a processor. Each of the computer terminals
includes an input device for inputting the vehicular data and a
display device for visually displaying the inputted vehicular data.
The vehicular data includes vehicular characteristics data units
such as make, model and year of a vehicle and vehicular financial
data units such a buy figure or appraisal figure.
[0016] The processor controls the vehicular data whereby the
vehicular characteristics data units inputted into a first one of
the computer terminals are transmitted to a plurality of other ones
of the computer terminals for display on respective ones of the
display devices associated with the other ones of the computer
terminals. The processor also controls the vehicular data whereby
vehicular financial data units inputted to at least a responding
one of the other ones of the computer terminals in response to the
vehicular characteristics data units displayed on the display
device of the at least responding one of the other ones of the
computer terminals are transmitted to the first one of the computer
terminals for display on the display device associated with the
first one of the computer terminals.
[0017] The present invention also is a method of exchanging
vehicular data of a vehicle. The method of the present invention
includes inputting vehicular characteristics data units of the
vehicle into a data inquiring computer terminal, processing the
vehicular characteristics data units by transmitting the vehicular
characteristics data units to a plurality of responsive computer
terminals for display thereon, inputting vehicular financial data
units into at least one of the plurality of data responsive
computer terminals in response to the vehicular characteristics
data received by the responsive computer terminals and transmitting
the vehicular financial data units to the inquiring computer
terminal for display on the inquiring computer terminal.
[0018] The method of the present invention also includes the
processing the vehicular characteristics data units by selecting
select ones of the plurality of the data responsive computer
terminals to which the vehicular characteristics data units are
transmitted. The method also includes repeating transmission of the
vehicular characteristics data units to the select ones of the
plurality of responding computer terminals until the select ones of
the data responding computer terminals receive the vehicular
characteristics data units. The method of the present invention
includes repeating transmission of the vehicular characteristics
data units to the select ones of the plurality of responding
computer terminals which occurs upon expiration of a first
predetermined period of time and stopping the repeating step upon
expiration of a second predetermined period of time which is longer
than the first predetermined period of time.
[0019] These and other objects of the present invention will become
more readily appreciated and understood from consideration of the
following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular data exchange
system of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a processor for controlling
exchange of vehicular data by employing the vehicular data exchange
system of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a sample display screen shown on a display device
of the vehicular data exchange system of the present invention
formatted for requesting a buy/appraisal figure for a vehicle with
vehicular characteristics data units listed thereon;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a sample display screen shown on the display
device of the vehicular data exchange system of the present
invention formatted for responding to the requested buy/appraisal
figure for the vehicle with vehicular characteristics data units
listed thereon; and
[0024] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating how the vehicular data
exchange system of the present invention operates.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] A vehicular data exchange system 10 of the present invention
is generally introduced in FIGS. 1-5 and includes computer hardware
and software. The vehicular data exchange system 10 is adapted for
use to exchange vehicular data, as more particularly described
below, relating to a vehicle such as an automobile, a truck, a
motorcycle, an earth moving vehicle, a boat, an airplane or the
like. However, the vehicular exchange data system of the present
invention shall be described, by way of example only, for
exchanging vehicular data for vehicles typically sold at automobile
dealerships. It would be understood by a skilled artisan that each
automobile dealership would be electronically connected to the
vehicular data exchange system by a computer terminal.
[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, the vehicular data exchange system
10 of the present invention includes a plurality of computer
terminals 12a-12f and a processor 14. One of ordinary skill in the
art would appreciate that the computer terminals 12a-12f represent
an entire network of many computer terminals. Each of the computer
terminals 12a-12f include an input device 16 shown, by way of
example, as a computer keyboard for inputting the vehicular data
into the vehicular data exchange system 10 and a display device 18,
commonly known as a computer monitor, for visually displaying the
vehicular data inputted into the plurality of computer terminals
12a-12f. Therefore, the computer terminals 12a-12f are associated
with respective ones of input devices 16a-16f and display devices
18a-18f. Generally, the vehicular data include vehicular
characteristics data units and vehicular financial data units as
discussed below.
[0027] The processor 14 controls the vehicular data that is
inputted into the computer terminals 12a-12f. An illustration of
the operation of the vehicular data exchange system 10 of the
present invention is best shown in FIG. 1 by viewing the arrows
which represent the vehicular data. The vehicular 9 characteristics
data units are inputted into a first one of the computer terminals
12a by the input device 16a and are thereafter transmitted to the
processor 14 as represented by arrow "A". From the processor 14,
the vehicular characteristics data units represented by arrows "B"
are then transmitted to a plurality of other ones of the computer
terminals 12b-12d for display on respective ones of the display
devices 18b-18d that are associated with the other ones of the
computer terminals 12b-12d.
[0028] Thereafter, vehicular financial data units are inputted to
at least one responding one of the other ones of the computer
terminals 12b in response to the vehicular characteristics data
units displayed on the display device 18b of the at least
responding one of the other ones of the computer terminals 12b-12d.
The vehicular financial data units represented by arrow "C" are
transmitted through the processor 14 and to the first one of the
computer terminals 12a for display on the display device 18a
associated with the first one of the computer terminals 12a.
[0029] As noted, only certain other computer terminals 12b-12d
received the vehicular characteristics data units while the
computer terminals 12e-12f did not receive the vehicular
characteristics data units. This is because a discriminator 20 is
included in the vehicular data exchange system 10 of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 2. The discriminator 20 operates to
select only certain ones of the other ones of the plurality of
computer terminals 12b-12f to which the vehicular characteristics
data units are to be transmitted. Having the discriminator 20
incorporated into the vehicular data exchange system 10 of the
present invention permits automobile dealerships to receive only
vehicular characteristics data units for vehicles in which they
have an interest. Thus, automobile dealerships that have no
interest in purchasing certain vehicles or no expertise in
providing assessment data for certain vehicles will not receive
vehicular characteristics data units for such vehicles. Therefore,
the automobile dealerships that use the vehicular data exchange
system 10 of the present invention will not waste any time or
resources reviewing the display device for undesirable vehicular
characteristics data units but will invest some time only for those
vehicles with interesting vehicular characteristics data units.
[0030] In FIG. 2, the processor 14 of the vehicular data exchange
system 10 of the present invention also includes a repeater 22. The
repeater 22 is operative in conjunction with the discriminator 20
to repeat transmission of the vehicular characteristics data units
to the selected ones of the other computer terminals until the
selected ones of the computer terminals receive the vehicular
characteristics data units. It is possible that one or more of the
computer terminals are busy either receiving or inputting data and,
therefore, no vehicular characteristics data units are capable of
being transmitted to the busy ones of the computer terminals. The
repeater 22 then permits the vehicular characteristics data units
to be transmitted at least one more time to the previously busy
computer terminal.
[0031] Also shown in FIG. 2, the processor 14 includes a first
timer 24 that is operative in conjunction with the repeater 22. The
first timer 24 times a first predetermined time period. Upon
expiration of the first predetermined time period, the repeater 22
causes the processor 14 to again attempt to transmit the vehicular
characteristics data units to those computer terminals that were
previously busy and did not receive the vehicular characteristics
data units. It is possible that some of the previously busy
computer terminals remain busy even after another attempt is made
to send the vehicular data characteristics units thereto. The first
timer 24 resets to time another first predetermined time period
and, upon expiration of the first reset predetermined time period,
another attempt is made to transmit the vehicular characteristics
data units to those previously busy computer terminals. The first
timer can be set in such a manner that the repeater can repeat the
repeating process as often desired. It is preferred that the first
predetermined time period is in a range between 3 and 5
minutes.
[0032] However, to limit the repeating process of the repeater 22,
the processor 14 includes a second timer 26. The second timer 26 is
operably connected to the processor 24 and times a second
predetermined time period. The second predetermined time period is
longer than the first predetermined time period. Upon expiration of
the second predetermined time period, the repeater 22 is rendered
inoperative and, therefore, regardless of the interest of one or
more automobile dealerships in receiving vehicular characteristics
data units, no further attempts at retransmitting these particular
vehicular characteristics data units will be made, The second
predetermined expiration time period can be any time desired by a
skilled artisan. However, an optimum predetermined expiration time
period can be in a range between 15 minutes to one hour after first
attempting the transmission. This predetermined expiration time
period is considered optimum because a prospective automobile
customer with a trade-in vehicle would, most likely, remain on an
automobile dealer's premises for this time period. It is beneficial
to the automobile dealership seeking vehicular financial data units
from other dealerships receive the same during the time period
during which the prospective customer remains on the premises. Once
the prospective customer leaves the premises, any vehicular
financial data units has minimal value.
[0033] One of ordinary skill in the art would comprehend that most
computer terminals include a speaker which broadcasts various
sounds driven by appropriate software. The vehicular data exchange
system 10 of the present invention includes an alarm device 26
which operates in conjunction with the speaker to generate sound.
The alarm device is operative to alert an operator of the other
ones of the plurality of computer terminals that vehicular
characteristics data units are received and available for display
on the display device. Further, the alarm could also be a video
alarm that displays, for example, indicia on the display device
18.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a sample display screen 28 entitled
"Request for Buy/Appraisal Figure" and shown on the display device
18 of the vehicular data exchange system 10 of the present
invention. The sample display screen 28 is formatted for requesting
a buy/appraisal figure for a vehicle with vehicular characteristics
data units mentioned thereon. The vehicular characteristics data
units include a make, a model, a year and a general description of
the vehicle. Although not by way of limitation, the description of
the vehicle includes a body style of the vehicle, a color of both
interior and exterior of the vehicle, an amount of mileage
indicated on an odometer of the vehicle and a general condition of
the vehicle with ratings of clean, average or rough. Other
vehicular characteristics data units are vehicle identification
number, i.e. VIN #, location of the vehicle, engine size and type,
general condition of the vehicle, condition of the tires. Also,
blank space appears on the sample data display screen 28 to write
other types of vehicular characteristics data unit including but
not limited to other equipment and remarks.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a second sample display screen entitled "Response
to Request for Buy/Appraisal Figure" and shown on the display
device of the vehicular data exchange system of the present
invention formatted for responding to the requested buy/appraisal
figure for the vehicle with vehicular characteristics data units
listed thereon. The vehicular financial data units of the vehicle
include a firm buy figure from the responding automobile dealership
which is interested in purchasing the vehicle. Alternatively, the
vehicular financial data units of the vehicle include an appraisal
figure which indicates to the requesting automobile dealer a fair
market value of the vehicle. A skilled artisan would appreciate
that other financial data units such as a bid price amount, an
assessment price amount, a wholesale price amount, and a retail
price amount could also be provided on the second sample display
screen. Also, the requesting automobile dealership knows which
automobile dealership responded to the request. Now, the requesting
automobile dealership can call the telephone number of the
responding automobile dealership and speak to the contact who is
also listed on the second sample display screen to arrange the
consummation of the buy and sale of the trade-in vehicle. Thus, the
vehicular financial data units of the vehicle further include
information also identify a source of vehicular financial data
units that were transmitted in response to the request.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 5, implementing the vehicular data
exchange system 10 of the present invention is a software program
that includes steps of a method of exchanging vehicular data of a
vehicle. Step S110 of the method of the present invention is
inputting vehicular characteristics data units of the vehicle into
a data inquiring computer terminal. Step S112 is processing the
vehicular characteristics data units and step 114 is selecting
select ones of responsive computer terminals to transmit the
vehicular characteristics data units. Step 118 determines if the
responsive computer terminals receive the vehicular characteristics
data units. If it is determined that the responsive computer
terminals receive the vehicular characteristics data units, then
step S120 is implemented. Step S120 is inputting vehicular
financial data units into at least one responsive computer
terminal. Step S122 is transmitting the vehicular financial data
units to the inquiring computer terminal.
[0037] If it is determined that the responsive computer terminals
did not receive the vehicular characteristics data units, then step
S124, waiting for a first predetermined period of time, is
implemented. After expiration of the first predetermined period of
time, step 5126 is repeating transmission of the vehicular
characteristics data units to the non-receiving ones of the
responsive computer terminals. Thereafter, it is determined by step
S128 whether a second predetermined period of time has expired. If
the second predetermined period of time has not expired, then steps
5124 and S126 are repeated. If the second predetermined period of
time has expired, step 130 is executed which stops repeating the
transmission of vehicular characteristics data units to
non-receiving ones of the responsive computer terminals.
[0038] The vehicular data exchange system enables automobile
dealers to quickly and conveniently exchange vehicle
characteristics data and vehicle sales price data of a trade-in
vehicle within a time period during which a prospective customer of
the selling dealer remains on the premises. Cooperating automobile
dealers could minimize or even eliminate the use of automobile
wholesalers by using the vehicular data exchange system. The
vehicular data exchange system would provide firm buy figures from
other automotive dealers within minutes from the time the vehicular
characteristics data are disseminated from a selling dealer. To
eliminate computer clutter and wasting automobile dealership
resources, the vehicular data exchange system transmits vehicular
characteristics data units such as make, model and year of the
vehicle to only those automobile dealers interested in receiving
such data. Use of the vehicular data exchange system requires only
a minimum of time and effort for all automobile dealers to buy and
sell trade-in or inventory vehicles.
[0039] Accordingly, the present invention has been described with
some degree of particularity directed to the preferred embodiment
of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that
the present invention is defined by the following claims construed
in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be
made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention without
departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.
* * * * *