# US 2014/0156445 A1 · Used automobile transaction facilitation for a specific used automobile > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156445 A1 - Document ID: US20140156445A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,700 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-05 - Assignees: Sidekick Technology LLC - Applicants: Sidekick Technology LLC - Inventors: Michael J. Seergy; Benjamin N.S. Brown - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156445A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/08: Auctions - G01C 21/34: Route searching; Route guidance - G01C 21/3679: {Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities (G01C21/3611 takes precedence)} - G01C 21/3697: {Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions - G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping} - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system, methods, and apparatus for performing used automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing and consumer interest information received from consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. A consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may provide a request for a response regarding a specific used automobile with a specific a vehicle identification number. Automobile market data may be provided to a used automobile buyer based on the request. Bids to purchase the specific used automobile may be requested from used automobile buyers based on the request. Buyer bids may be provided to the consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller with prices and a delivery options. The consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may select a bid to sell the specific used automobile based on the bid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: storing, on a computer readable medium, automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least a plurality of consumers; receiving, via a used automobile consumer seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a consumer seller and including a vehicle identification number and geolocation information of the consumer used automobile seller, wherein the consumer used automobile seller is located at an in-market dealer location when the first request is made by the consumer seller; causing at least one processing device to: provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a used automobile buyer interface; request, via the used automobile buyer interface from at least one used automobile buyer, a bid to purchase the first used automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least one bid via the used automobile consumer seller interface, the at least one bid including at least a price for the first used automobile, and in response to the geolocation information indicating that the consumer used automobile seller is located at the in-market dealer location, the response includes directions to a competing dealer location; and receiving a consumer seller selection of a first bid, wherein the consumer seller selection indicates a consumer seller intention to sell the first used automobile based on the first bid to a first used automobile buyer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by a consumer on a website. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification number is manually entered by a consumer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by a consumer using a mobile device which takes a picture of a vehicle identification number. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the vehicle identification number is recognized using optical character recognition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is made by a consumer using a mobile device including a microphone, and the vehicle identification number is input via the microphone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle identification number is recognized using speech recognition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first used automobile buyer is one of a consumer and a dealer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first automobile market data is based on real-time automobile market data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes a picture of at least one of the exterior of the automobile, the interior of the automobile, the dashboard of the automobile, the odometer of the automobile, service records of the automobile, and ownership records of the automobile. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes data provided with at least one graphical user interface component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first request includes at least one price parameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pricing data includes used automobile data and new automobile data, including actual prices of executed transactions, dealer listing prices, dealer sale prices, manufacturer incentives, dealer bids, consumer bids, and consumer pricing parameters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: causing the at least one processing device to process the consumer seller selection of the first bid to facilitate executing a sale including at least one of providing for electronic signature of documents and providing for an electronic funds transfer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an add-on, including at least one of insurance, financing, a service contract, a warranty, and a hard-add accessory, is provided by a third party with the first request, via the used automobile buyer interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the add-on is selected for inclusion in the first bid by the first used automobile buyer. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a computer readable medium storing automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least a plurality of consumers; at least one processing device operably coupled to the computer readable medium, the at least one processing device executing instructions to: receive, via a used automobile consumer seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a consumer seller and including a vehicle identification number and geolocation information of the consumer used automobile seller, wherein the consumer used automobile seller is located at an in-market dealer location when the first request is made by the consumer seller; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a used automobile buyer interface; request, via the used automobile buyer interface from at least one used automobile buyer, a bid to purchase the first used automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least one bid via the used automobile consumer seller interface, the at least one bid including at least a price for the first used automobile, and in response to the geolocation information indicating that the consumer used automobile seller is located at the in-market dealer location, the response includes directions to a competing dealer location; and receive a consumer seller selection of a first bid, wherein the consumer seller selection indicates a consumer seller intention to sell the first used automobile based on the first bid to a first used automobile buyer. ### Claim 18 A computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, are configured to cause an information processing apparatus to: store automobile market data which is representative of recent automobile market characteristics, including at least pricing data, wherein the automobile market data includes information received from at least a plurality of consumers; receive, via a used automobile consumer seller interface, a first request for a response regarding a first used automobile, the first request made by a consumer seller and including a vehicle identification number and geolocation information of the consumer used automobile seller, wherein the consumer used automobile seller is located at an in-market dealer location when the first request is made by the consumer seller; provide first automobile market data, based on the first request, via a used automobile buyer interface; request, via the used automobile buyer interface from at least one used automobile buyer, a bid to purchase the first used automobile based on the first request; provide the response including at least one bid via the used automobile consumer seller interface, the at least one bid including at least a price for the first used automobile, and in response to the geolocation information indicating that the consumer used automobile seller is located at the in-market dealer location, the response includes directions to a competing dealer location; and receive a consumer seller selection of a first bid, wherein the consumer seller selection indicates a consumer seller intention to sell the first used automobile based on the first bid to a first used automobile buyer.