SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A LIST OF VEHICLES AND FOR PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOADING STORAGE SPACE

1 . A computer-implemented method for providing instructions for loading objects into a vehicle, comprising:

at a central application server:

generating a list of objects to be loaded into the vehicle, comprising:

receiving an object characteristic from a communication device associated with a user, wherein the user communication device is separate from the central application server;

communicating to the user communication device an object search result based on the object characteristic;

receiving from the user a selection of an object search result; and

including the object associated with the selected object search result in the list;

retrieving dimensional data associated with each object in the list;

retrieving dimensional data for storage space associated with the vehicle;

determining an arrangement in which objects in the list can be loaded into the storage space; and

communicating to the user communication device instructions for loading the objects into the storage space to achieve the arrangement.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a list of objects to be loaded into the vehicle further comprises:

accessing an object database to locate an object search result associated with the object characteristic; and

retrieving the object search result from the object database.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein generating a list of objects to be loaded into the vehicle further comprises prompting a user to select an additional object characteristic to eliminate a retrieved object search result.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the object database is separate from the central application server.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the object database is a merchant web site.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a vehicle characteristic for identifying the vehicle.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle characteristic is a unique identifier that indicates a particular make, model, and model year.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving a vehicle characteristic comprises receiving the vehicle characteristic from a vehicle communication system associated with the vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

communicating to the user communication device a vehicle search result that corresponds to the vehicle characteristic; and

receiving from the user a selection of a vehicle search result.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

accessing a vehicle database to locate a vehicle search result associated with vehicles having the vehicle characteristic; and

retrieving the vehicle search result from the vehicle database.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising prompting the user to select an additional vehicle characteristic to eliminate a retrieved vehicle search result.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle database is separate from the central application server.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage space is a composite of one or more compartments associated with the vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating to the user communication device instructions for loading the objects comprises communicating the arrangement including the order, location, and orientation associated with each object.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an arrangement in which the objects in the list can be loaded into the storage space comprises selecting an optimal one of a plurality of possible arrangements.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving dimensional data associated with each object search result in the list comprises receiving from the user an indication of the state of each selected object search result.

17 . A computer-implemented method for generating an optimized list of vehicles, comprising:

at a central application server:

generating a list of objects to be loaded into a vehicle, comprising:

receiving an object characteristic from a communication device associated with a user, wherein the user communication device is separate from the central application server;

communicating to the user communication device an object search result associated with the object characteristic;

receiving from the user a selection of an object search result; and

including an object associated with the selected object search result in the list;

retrieving dimensional data associated with each object in the list;

retrieving dimensional data for storage space associated with each vehicle identified in an initial list of vehicles;

determining which of the vehicles in the initial list have storage space that is suitable for loading with the objects in an arrangement; and

generating the optimized list from the suitable vehicles.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising retrieving the initial list of vehicles from a vehicle database.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising generating the initial list of vehicles by:

receiving a vehicle characteristic from the communication device associated with a user, wherein the user communication device is separate from the central application server;

communicating to the user communication device a vehicle search result associated with the vehicle characteristic;

receiving from the user a selection of a vehicle search result; and

including a vehicle associated with the selected vehicle search result in the initial list.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein generating a list of objects to be loaded into a vehicle further comprises:

accessing an object database to locate an object search result associated with the object characteristic; and

retrieving the object search result from the object database.