IP Library Granted Patent US 8,219,464
Granted Patent B2
US 8,219,464 · App. 13/080,832 · Granted Jul 10, 2012

System and method for sales generation in conjunction with a vehicle data system

Assignee: TrueCar, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,219,464
App. No.
13/080,832
Granted
Jul 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of sales generation, including sales generation employing reverse lead generation using vehicle data systems and methods, are presented herein. In particular, in certain embodiments a user may utilize the vehicle data system to obtain pricing data corresponding to a desired vehicle configuration. When the user is presented with the pricing data associated with the specified vehicle configuration the user may additionally be presented with an upfront price offered by a dealer, where by providing their personal information the user may obtain the name of the dealer offering the upfront price and may additionally be offered the opportunity to purchase the desired, or similar, vehicle at the upfront price.

Claims (43)

1. A system, comprising:

a vehicle data system coupled to one or more computer devices over a network, the vehicle data system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable memory, comprising instructions for:

a processing module, the processing module configured to:

determine a plurality of sets of the historical transaction data, where each of the plurality of sets of historical transaction data is associated with a vehicle configuration, and the sets of historical transaction data comprise data on vehicle transactions and

determine pricing data corresponding to a specified vehicle configuration wherein the pricing data includes a set of transaction prices and one or more price ranges determined based on the set of historical transaction data associated with the specified vehicle configuration;

a sales generation module, the sale generation module configured to:

determine an upfront price corresponding to the specified vehicle configuration, wherein the upfront price is offered by a dealer; and

an interface module configured to:

receive the specified vehicle configuration from a user at a computing device, and

generate an interface based on the pricing data and provide the interface to the one or more computer devices over the network, wherein the interface is configured to present the set of transaction prices, the one or more price ranges and the upfront price in conjunction with one another.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the upfront price is presented relative to the set of transaction prices and the price ranges.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the set of transaction prices are presented as a curve and the price ranges and upfront price are presented in relation to the curve.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the interface presents the user an opportunity to initiate a purchase associated with the specified vehicle configuration.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the opportunity is presented in conjunction with the upfront price.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the user initiates the purchase by providing personal information using the interface.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is on a processing computer, the sales generation module is on a sales generation computer and the interface module is on an interface computer.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing computer, the sale generation computer and the interface computer are the same.

9. A method, comprising:

determining, at a processing computer, a plurality of sets of historical transaction data, where each of the plurality of sets of historical transaction data is associated with a vehicle configuration and the sets of historical transaction data comprise data on vehicle transactions;

receiving over a network, at the processing computer, a specified vehicle configuration from a user at a computing device;

determining, at the processing computer, pricing data corresponding to a specified vehicle configuration wherein the pricing data includes a set of transaction prices and one or more price ranges determined based on the set of historical transaction data associated with the specified vehicle configuration;

determining, at the processing computer, an upfront price offered by a dealer corresponding to the specified vehicle configuration and a dealer; and

generating, at an interface computer, an interface based on the pricing data and providing the interface to the computer devices over the network, wherein the interface is configured to present the set of transaction prices, the one or more price ranges and the upfront price in conjunction with one another.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the upfront price is presented relative to the set of transaction prices and the price ranges.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the set of transaction prices are presented as a curve and the price ranges and upfront price are presented in relation to the curve.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the opportunity is presented in conjunction with the upfront price.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the user initiates the purchase by providing personal information using the interface.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the interface presents the user an opportunity to initiate a purchase associated with the specified vehicle configuration.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the processing computer, the sale generation computer and the interface computer are the same.

16. A non-transitory computer readable media, comprising computer instructions executable by a processor for:

determining a plurality of sets of historical transaction data, where each of the plurality of sets of historical transaction data is associated with a vehicle configuration and the sets of historical transaction data comprise data on vehicle transactions;

receiving a specified vehicle configuration from a user at a computing device;

determining pricing data corresponding to a specified vehicle configuration wherein the pricing data includes a set of transaction prices and one or more price ranges determined based on the set of historical transaction data associated with the specified vehicle configuration;

determining an upfront price offered by a dealer corresponding to the specified vehicle configuration and a dealer; and

generating an interface based on the pricing data and providing the interface to the computer devices over the network, wherein the interface is configured to present the set of transaction prices, the one or more price ranges and the upfront price in conjunction with one another.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the upfront price is presented relative to the set of transaction prices and the price ranges.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the set of transaction prices are presented as a curve and the price ranges and upfront price are presented in relation to the curve.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the opportunity is presented in conjunction with the upfront price.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the user initiates the purchase by providing personal information using the interface.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the interface presents the user an opportunity to initiate a purchase associated with the specified vehicle configuration.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the processing computer, the sale generation computer and the interface computer are the same.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2018
From: TRUECAR, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 045128/0195 →
CORRECTIVE DOCUMENTS CORRECTING ASSIGNEE FOR DOCUMENT RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 026320/0623 Recorded Mar 5, 2013
From: INGHELBRECHT, PHILIP; PAINTER, SCOTT
To: TRUECAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 030271/0350 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026320, FRAME 0623. Recorded Sep 11, 2012
From: INGHELBRECHT, PHILIP; PAINTER, SCOTT
To: TRUECAR.COM, INC.
Reel/Frame 028983/0473 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: TRUECAR.COM, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 028500/0193 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2011
From: INGHELBRECHT, PHILIP; PAINTER, SCOTT
To: TRUECAR.COM
Reel/Frame 026320/0623 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12556137 · Sep 9, 2009
Provisional Application 61095550 · Sep 9, 2008
Provisional Application 61095376 · Sep 9, 2008
Related Publication 20110191264A1 · Aug 4, 2011