Method and system for automobile transactions

Claim 1

An on-site system for facilitating an automobile transaction for a customer comprising: a) an input/display terminal adapted to form a multilevel customer query and to display responses thereto, the terminal including a terminal processor, wherein the terminal processor is adapted to create a link between the customer and a salesperson assigned to that customer; b) a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to a storage device containing customer data, automobile inventory data, vehicle images, and video files, wherein the storage device is adapted to communicate to the input/display device via the data server a selected inventory responsive to the customer query; c) a communications device for making a customer-initiated contact with the linked sales person from the input/display terminal via the data server.

Claim 7

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) assigning a linked sales person to the customer; b) providing a customer transaction kiosk including a display/input terminal and a terminal processor; c) providing a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, instructional audio, video, and a payment module; d) creating a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; e) displaying a selected inventory at the input/display device; and f) contacting the linked salesperson responsive to a customer-initiated request from the input/display device.

Claim 8

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) assigning a linked sales person to the customer; b) providing a customer transaction kiosk including a display/input terminal and a terminal processor; c) providing a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, instructional audio, video, and a payment module; d) creating a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; e) displaying a selected inventory at the input/display device; and f) contacting the linked salesperson responsive to a customer-initiated request from the input/display device.

Claim 10

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer input/display terminal, the terminal including a terminal processor; b) providing a storage device in communication with the input/display device via a data server, the storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video files, audio files and a payment module; c) generating a primary multilevel customer query in the input/display terminal processor; d) displaying a selected inventory if the primary query returns a minimum number of vehicles from the current inventory; e) generating a secondary query for comparative vehicles having similar characteristics to those meeting the primary query without further customer input in the input/display terminal processor if the primary query fails to return a minimum number of vehicles; f) displaying a selected inventory comprised of vehicles meeting the secondary query if the number of vehicles from the secondary query equals a minimum number of vehicles; g) repeating steps e) and f) until the number of vehicles from the primary and the secondary query equals a minimum number of vehicles to be displayed.

Claim 11

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer input/display terminal, the terminal including a terminal processor; b) providing a storage device in communication with the input/display device via a data server, the storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video files, audio files and a payment module; c) generating a primary multilevel customer query in the input/display terminal processor; d) displaying a selected inventory if the primary query returns a minimum number of vehicles from the current inventory; e) generating a secondary query for comparative vehicles having similar characteristics to those meeting the primary query without further customer input in the input/display terminal processor if the primary query fails to return a minimum number of vehicles; f) displaying a selected inventory comprised of vehicles meeting the secondary query if the number of vehicles from the secondary query equals a minimum number of vehicles; g) repeating steps e) and f) until the number of vehicles from the primary and the secondary query equals a minimum number of vehicles to be displayed.

Claim 19

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) providing a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video; c) creating in the terminal processor a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; d) executing the customer query to identify a selected inventory wherein the selected inventory comprises a predetermined minimum number of selected items from the current inventory database and sufficient additional items outside the customer parameters to meet the minimum number if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory; and e) displaying the selected inventory at the input/display device.

Claim 20

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) providing a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video; c) creating in the terminal processor a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; d) executing the customer query to identify a selected inventory wherein the selected inventory comprises a predetermined minimum number of selected items from the current inventory database and sufficient additional items outside the customer parameters to meet the minimum number if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory; and e) displaying the selected inventory at the input/display device.

Claim 23

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer input/display device; b) providing a storage device in communication with the input/display device via a data server, the storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video files, and audio files; c) generating a multilevel customer query in the input/display device; d) playing an audio instruction before each level of the primary query is generated by the customer and playing an audio confirmation after each level is generated; and e) displaying a selected inventory.

Claim 24

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer input/display device; b) providing a storage device in communication with the input/display device via a data server, the storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video files, and audio files; c) generating a multilevel customer query in the input/display device; d) playing an audio instruction before each level of the primary query is generated by the customer and playing an audio confirmation after each level is generated; and e) displaying a selected inventory.

Claim 25

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) providing a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, and video; c) creating a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; d) displaying a selected inventory at the input/display device; e) storing the customer query and selected inventory; and f) accessing the customer data, customer query and the selected inventory via the data server from a financing and insurance application to determine exact monthly payments for the lease/purchase of an automobile from the selected inventory.

Claim 26

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) providing a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) providing a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, and video; c) creating a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; d) displaying a selected inventory at the input/display device; e) storing the customer query and selected inventory; and f) accessing the customer data, customer query and the selected inventory via the data server from a financing and insurance application to determine exact monthly payments for the lease/purchase of an automobile from the selected inventory.

Claim 27

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) assigning a linked sales person to the customer; b) providing a customer transaction terminal including a input/display terminal and a terminal processor; c) providing a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, instructional audio, video and a payment module; d) creating a multilevel customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the terminal processor; e) executing the customer query to identify a selected inventory comprised of a predetermined minimum number of selected items from the current inventory database and sufficient additional items outside the customer parameters to meet the minimum number if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory; f) displaying the selected inventory at the input/display device; g) contacting the linked salesperson responsive to a customer-initiated request from the input/display terminal; and h) storing the customer query and selected inventory in the storage device.

Claim 28

A method for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) assigning a linked sales person to the customer; b) providing a customer transaction terminal including a input/display terminal and a terminal processor; c) providing a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, instructional audio, video and a payment module; d) creating a multilevel customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the terminal processor; e) executing the customer query to identify a selected inventory comprised of a predetermined minimum number of selected items from the current inventory database and sufficient additional items outside the customer parameters to meet the minimum number if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory; f) displaying the selected inventory at the input/display device; g) contacting the linked salesperson responsive to a customer-initiated request from the input/display terminal; and h) storing the customer query and selected inventory in the storage device.

Claim 29

A system for facilitating an automobile transaction for a customer comprising: a) an input/display terminal adapted to form a customer query, the terminal including a terminal processor, wherein the terminal processor is adapted to create a link between the customer and a salesperson assigned to that customer; b) a data server adapted to route the customer query from the input/display terminal to a storage device, wherein the storage device is adapted to communicate to the input/display terminal via the data server a selected inventory responsive to the customer query; and c) a communications device connected to the data server for making a customer-initiated contact with the sales person using the link between the customer and the sales person.

Claim 30

A system for facilitating an automobile transaction for a customer comprising: a) an input/display terminal adapted to form a customer query, the terminal including a terminal processor, wherein the terminal processor is adapted to create a link between the customer and a salesperson assigned to that customer; b) a data server adapted to route the customer query from the input/display terminal to a storage device, wherein the storage device is adapted to communicate to the input/display terminal via the data server a selected inventory responsive to the customer query; and c) a communications device connected to the data server for making a customer-initiated contact with the sales person using the link between the customer and the sales person.

Claim 33

A system for facilitating an automobile transaction for a customer comprising: a) an input/display device adapted to form a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile; b) a storage device containing automobile inventory data; and c) a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display device to the storage device, to execute the customer query so as to create a selected inventory by determining whether a predetermined minimum number of automobiles from the inventory data meet the parameters and adding additional automobiles outside the parameters if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory data, and to communicate to the input/display device the selected inventory.

Claim 34

A system for facilitating an automobile transaction for a customer comprising: a) an input/display device adapted to form a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile; b) a storage device containing automobile inventory data; and c) a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display device to the storage device, to execute the customer query so as to create a selected inventory by determining whether a predetermined minimum number of automobiles from the inventory data meet the parameters and adding additional automobiles outside the parameters if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory data, and to communicate to the input/display device the selected inventory.

Claim 35

A system for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) a storage device containing customer data, current inventory data, vehicle images, audio files and video files; and c) a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to the storage device; to create a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; to execute the customer query and create a selected inventory by determining whether a predetermined minimum number of inventory items meet the parameters and adding at least one additional item outside the parameters if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory; and to display the selected inventory at the input/display terminal.

Claim 36

A system for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) a storage device containing customer data, current inventory data, vehicle images, audio files and video files; and c) a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to the storage device; to create a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile in the kiosk processor; to execute the customer query and create a selected inventory by determining whether a predetermined minimum number of inventory items meet the parameters and adding at least one additional item outside the parameters if fewer than the minimum number exist in the inventory; and to display the selected inventory at the input/display terminal.

Claim 37

A system for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) a customer input/display device; b) a storage device in communication with the input/display device, the storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video files, and audio files; c) a data server in communication with the input/display device and the storage device for generating a multilevel customer query in the input/display device, playing an audio instruction before each level of the query is generated by the customer, playing an audio confirmation after each level is generated; and displaying a selected inventory.

Claim 38

A system for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) a customer input/display device; b) a storage device in communication with the input/display device, the storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, video files, and audio files; c) a data server in communication with the input/display device and the storage device for generating a multilevel customer query in the input/display device, playing an audio instruction before each level of the query is generated by the customer, playing an audio confirmation after each level is generated; and displaying a selected inventory.

Claim 40

A system for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, and video; c) a data server adapted for creating a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile; routing the customer query to the storage device; displaying a selected inventory at the input/display device; storing the customer query and selected inventory; and d) an interface between the data server and a financing and insurance application for determining exact monthly payments for the lease/purchase of an automobile from the selected inventory using the stored customer query and selected inventory information.

Claim 41

A system for facilitating an automobile purchase transaction between a customer and an automobile dealership comprising: a) a customer transaction kiosk including an input/display terminal and a terminal processor; b) a storage device containing customer data, vehicle data, vehicle images, and video; c) a data server adapted for creating a customer query containing parameters relating to a preferred automobile; routing the customer query to the storage device; displaying a selected inventory at the input/display device; storing the customer query and selected inventory; and d) an interface between the data server and a financing and insurance application for determining exact monthly payments for the lease/purchase of an automobile from the selected inventory using the stored customer query and selected inventory information.

Claim 42

A system for facilitating an automobile transaction for a customer comprising: a) an input/display terminal adapted to form a multilevel customer query and to display responses thereto, the terminal including a terminal processor, wherein the terminal processor is adapted to create a link between the customer and a salesperson assigned to that customer; b) a storage device containing inventory data; c) a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to the storage device, and to communicate to the input/display device a selected inventory responsive to the customer query, wherein the selected inventory is comprised of a minimum number of vehicles from the current automobile inventory; d) an interface between the storage device and an automobile check-in system for updating the inventory data to include data relating to newly acquired automobiles as the newly acquired automobiles are received; e) an interface between the storage device and a financing and insurance application, wherein the financing and insurance application is adapted to extract customer data and selected inventory information from the storage device to determine exact monthly payments for the lease/purchase of an automobile from the selected inventory; f) a communications device connected to the data server for making a customer-initiated contact with the sales person using the link between the customer and the sales person.

Claim 43

A system for facilitating an automobile transaction for a customer comprising: a) an input/display terminal adapted to form a multilevel customer query and to display responses thereto, the terminal including a terminal processor, wherein the terminal processor is adapted to create a link between the customer and a salesperson assigned to that customer; b) a storage device containing inventory data; c) a data server adapted to route a customer query from the input/display terminal to the storage device, and to communicate to the input/display device a selected inventory responsive to the customer query, wherein the selected inventory is comprised of a minimum number of vehicles from the current automobile inventory; d) an interface between the storage device and an automobile check-in system for updating the inventory data to include data relating to newly acquired automobiles as the newly acquired automobiles are received; e) an interface between the storage device and a financing and insurance application, wherein the financing and insurance application is adapted to extract customer data and selected inventory information from the storage device to determine exact monthly payments for the lease/purchase of an automobile from the selected inventory; f) a communications device connected to the data server for making a customer-initiated contact with the sales person using the link between the customer and the sales person.