Network-based system for selling and servicing cars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020258136-A1
Application number	US-202016824498-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 19, 2020
Priority date	Nov 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 13, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selling and servicing cars using a network of existing owners of the car and a network of existing independent car service centers and a distributed linked computer communication system.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method, comprising:
receiving, at a server, a registration of a vehicle that is available for showing; storing, in a memory of the server, registration information about the vehicle in a table comprising registration information about a plurality of vehicles that are available for showing, wherein the vehicle and the plurality of vehicles are each owned by different owners; receiving, at the server, geographic location information for each vehicle having registration information stored in the table; receiving, from a mobile computer of a prospective buyer, a first input selecting a type of vehicle having registration information stored in the table; determining, by the server, a current geographic location of the mobile computer; determining, by the server, a mapped location of one or more vehicles matching the type of vehicle selected relative to the current geographic location of the mobile device, wherein the mapped location is based on the geographic location information; causing, by the server, the mapped location of the one or more vehicles to be obfuscated as one or more shaded regions shown on a map displayed by the mobile computer; receiving, from the mobile computer, a second input selecting one shaded region of the one or more shaded regions shown on the map, the one shaded region associated with one vehicle of the one or more vehicles; receiving, from the mobile computer, a request for a showing of the one vehicle for the prospective buyer; receiving, at the server and from an owner of the one vehicle, a confirmation message that the showing of the one vehicle is allowed by the owner of the one vehicle; revealing, in response to receiving the confirmation message, an exact geographic position of the one vehicle to the prospective buyer; receiving, from a vehicle computer associated with the one vehicle, verification information validating an identity of the prospective buyer when the prospective buyer is at the one vehicle; unlocking, via an instruction sent by the server across a wireless communication network, a door of the one vehicle; storing, in the memory of the server, information about the showing of the one vehicle to the prospective buyer; and adjusting, by the server and based on the information about the showing stored in the memory of the server, a credit value of a credit account stored in the memory of the server and associated with the owner of the one vehicle.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein after unlocking the door of the one vehicle, the method further comprises:
turning on the one vehicle using the mobile computer; plotting, by the vehicle computer, a test drive route for the prospective buyer to follow during a test drive of the one vehicle; determining, by the vehicle computer, whether the test drive route is followed by the prospective buyer during the test drive of the vehicle; and disabling, by the vehicle computer, an operability of the vehicle when the vehicle computer determines the test drive route is not followed by the prospective buyer during the test drive of the vehicle.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein adjusting the credit value of the account stored in the memory of the server comprises awarding the credit amount to the credit account when the one vehicle is shown a predetermined number of times.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the vehicle computer is portable and connected to the one vehicle through a car communication port.

25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein adjusting the credit value of the account stored in the memory of the server comprises awarding the credit amount to the credit account based upon a number of test drives allowed by the owner of the one vehicle.

26 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
determining, by the server, a time duration that the one vehicle is available for showing, and wherein adjusting the credit value of the account stored in the memory of the server comprises awarding the credit amount to the credit account based upon the time duration.

27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
receiving, from the mobile computer, an input of feedback from the prospective buyer regarding the showing of the one vehicle, and wherein adjusting the credit value of the account stored in the memory of the server comprises awarding the credit amount to the credit account based on the input of feedback from the prospective buyer.

28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the owner of the one vehicle is provided with a predetermined period of time to provide the confirmation, and the method further comprises:
deducting, by the server, a failure-to-respond credit value from the credit account stored in the memory of the server and associated with the owner of the one vehicle when the predetermined period of time is exceeded.

29 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
deducting, by the server, a denial credit value from the credit account stored in the memory of the server and associated with the owner of the one vehicle for each showing request that the owner of the one vehicle denies.

30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein adjusting the credit value of the account stored in the memory of the server comprises deducting the credit amount from the credit account when negative feedback is received.

31 . A server, comprising:
a communications interface; a processor coupled to the communications interface; and a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive a registration of a vehicle that is available for showing;
store registration information about the vehicle in a table comprising registration information about a plurality of vehicles that are available for showing, wherein the vehicle and the plurality of vehicles are each owned by different owners;
receive geographic location information for each vehicle having registration information stored in the table;
receive, from a mobile device of a prospective buyer, a first input selecting a type of vehicle having registration information stored in the table;
determine, in response to receiving the first input, a current geographic location of the mobile device;
determine a mapped location of one or more vehicles matching the type of vehicle selected relative to the current geographic location of the mobile device, wherein the mapped location is based on the geographic location information;
cause the mapped location of the one or more vehicles to be obfuscated as one or more shaded regions shown on a map displayed by the mobile device;
receive, from the mobile device, a second input selecting one shaded region of the one or more shaded regions shown on the map, the one shaded region associated with one vehicle of the one or more vehicles;
receive, from the mobile device, a request for a showing of the one vehicle for the prospective buyer;
receive, from a mobile device of an owner of the one vehicle, a confirmation message that the showing of the one vehicle is allowed by the owner of the one vehicle;
reveal, in response to receiving the confirmation message, an exact geographic position of the one vehicle to the prospective buyer;
receive, from a vehicle computer associated with the one vehicle, verification information validating an identity of the prospective buyer when the prospective buyer is at the one vehicle;
send, via the communications interface across a wireless communication network, an instruction to unlock a door of the one vehicle;
store, in a memory location of the server, information about the showing of the one vehicle to the pr

Assignees

• Nio Usa Inc

Inventors

• Li William
• Ricci Chris

Classifications

• G06Q30/016 Primary

  After-sales · CPC title

• G06Q30/0623 Primary

  by investigating goods or services · CPC title