Patent ID: 6868388
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A programmable network operation center apparatus, comprising: (a) a plurality of connections to a plurality of external computer systems; (b) wherein a number of the external computer systems are operated by automobile dealers using dealer software; (c) wherein a second number of the external computer systems are operated by different automobile manufacturers using manufacturer software; (d) wherein a third number of the external computer systems are operated by vendors of goods and services used in the automotive industry using vendor software; (e) wherein the external computer systems have an element selected from the group comprising incompatible software, incompatible data structures, and incompatible data formats; (f) means to receive information from an external computer system operated by an automobile dealer and transmit the information to an external computer system selected from the group comprising the second number of external computer systems and the third number of external computer systems; (g) means to receive information from an external computer system selected from the group comprising the second number of external computer systems and the third number of external computer systems, and transmit the information to an external computer system operated by an automobile dealer; (h) means to translate information between incompatible dealer software, manufacturer software and vendor software operating on the external computer systems; (i) means to provide additional services to the external computer systems, selected from e-mail, Internet access, firewall, instant messaging, and Internet telephony; means to transmit voice communications between the external computer systems; (k) wherein incompatible data structures are flat file and relational databases; (l) wherein data is passed to and from an automobile dealer by a frame relay connection which is connected to a DSU/CSU which is located on premises of the automobile dealer, the DSU/CSU further being connected to a co-located router; and (m) wherein the DSU/CSU, router and frame relay connection are leased to the dealer by an operator of the network operation center.