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AssigneeHonda North America Inc.
InventorsSteven S. Center, John P. Fulcher, Thomas G. Elliott, Richard E. Colliver, Michael S. Keranen, Roy T. Nakahira
Estimating the term…
The system refers a prospective customer to one or more prospective dealers. It identifies those dealers closest to the customer and gives preference to those with which the customer has had a previous relationship. A database stores customer contact information and information related to dealer locations. Using a computer, the prospective customer is prompted to enter some personal information. A database query checks for matching data in the customer contact database. A search of the dealer locations nearest to the customer is then performed. Results are combined and the display recommends at least one dealer location, giving preference to those locations where there has been a prior relationship.
An automated method for referring a prospective customer to one or more prospective dealers of automobiles and/or automobile services comprising:
A system for referring a prospective customer to one or more prospective dealers of automobiles and/or automobile services, the system comprising:
An automated method for referring a prospective customer to one or more prospective dealers comprising:
The method of claim 24 wherein the customer information comprises the prospective customer's address and zip code.
The method of claim 24 wherein the customer information includes at least one from the group consisting of the prospective customer's name, address, zip code, city or state.
The method of claim 24 wherein there is a plurality of types of prior contacts.
The method of claim 24 wherein there is a hierarchy within the plurality of types of prior contacts.
The method of claim 24 wherein a list of the dealers nearest to the customer is returned if there are no prior contacts found.
The method of claim 24 wherein the results are divided into a plurality of sets.
The method of claim 24 wherein each set lists dealers of a particular type of prior contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.