Patent Publication Number: US-2010114955-A1

Title: Method For Sharing Inventory

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to, and claims the benefit of priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/963,219, filed Aug. 2, 2007. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the field of inventory management, and more particularly to a method for sharing inventory among multiple parties. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sales of vehicles and vehicle parts are handled by dealers who are authorized by one or more, and typically several, manufacturers to sell vehicles produced by that manufacturer as well as replacement parts for those vehicles. However, due to logistical and financial constraints, dealers are only able to stock a limited number of new vehicles at any one time. Often, this results in a particular dealer being unable to fulfill the request of a customer without resort to ordering a custom-built vehicle directly from the manufacturer. Instead of waiting for a custom-built vehicle, the customer will often seek out a second dealer who may have a suitable vehicle in stock, causing the first dealer to lose a sale, or the customer may simply decide not to purchase the vehicle in light of not being able to purchase the desired vehicle in the desired time frame. These issues are particularly prevalent among marine dealers who sell recreational boats, as individual dealers have not conventionally worked cooperatively with one another. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a method for sharing inventory. The method may include the steps of collecting data regarding a user, receiving search criteria from a user, determining a search scope based on the user data, and outputting search results corresponding to the search scope and the search criteria. The method may further include the steps of collecting information regarding a credential supplied by a third party as part of the user data and determining the search scope based at least in part on the information regarding the credential. 
     The credential may include an authorization to sell one or more products. The products may be vehicles. Furthermore, the products may be marine vehicles. Alternatively, the products may be vehicle parts. As a further alternative, the products may be marine vehicle parts. 
     The third party may be a vehicle manufacturer. Furthermore, the third party may be a marine vehicle manufacturer and the credential may include an authorization to sell one or more marine vehicles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and aspects of the instant invention will be better understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic representation of implementation of the present invention via one or more computers; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic depiction of exemplary data which may be employed in the method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  comprises a flow chart showing a method for sharing dealer inventory according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary main menu screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary manufacturer inventory search selection screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention, wherein the scope of the search has been limited following the determination of authorization; 
         FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary manufacturer inventory search results output screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary manufacturer inventory details screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary dealer inventory search selection screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  depicts the exemplary inventory search selection screen of  FIG. 8 , wherein the scope of the search has been limited following the determination of authorization; 
         FIG. 10  depicts the exemplary inventory search selection screen of  FIG. 8 , wherein the scope of the search is further limitable by model; 
         FIG. 11  depicts the exemplary inventory search selection screen of  FIG. 8 , wherein the scope of the search is further limitable by engine type; 
         FIG. 12  depicts an exemplary dealer inventory search results output screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  depicts an exemplary dealer inventory details screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  depicts an exemplary parts search selection screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  depicts an exemplary parts search criteria input screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  depicts an exemplary parts search results output screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  depicts an exemplary warranty registration list screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  depicts an exemplary warranty registration detail screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  depicts an exemplary warranty claim submission screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  depicts an exemplary warranty claim submission screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  depicts an exemplary warranty claim submission screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  depicts an exemplary inventory addition screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  depicts an exemplary inventory management screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 24  depicts an exemplary part addition screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 25  depicts an exemplary entity information screen according to a computer-implemented embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the disclosed exemplary embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a method for sharing vehicle dealer inventory  10  of the present invention may be implemented using a computer software system  100 . By using the method  10 , individual users or entities are able to access data regarding other users or entities. In the exemplary embodiment shown and described herein, the entities in question are marine vehicle dealers and marine vehicle manufacturers, and the method  10  shown and described is used in connection with sharing inventory information regarding marine vehicles and parts for marine vehicles among marine dealers and marine manufacturers. However, it should be understood that the method  10  is not limited to marine vehicles and/or parts and marine dealers and/or manufacturers. Rather, the method  10  could be applied to sharing inventory information regarding any type of vehicle or vehicle parts among vehicle dealers and manufacturers, or the method  10  could be applied to sharing inventory information between dealers and manufacturers of any number of non-vehicle products. 
     The computer software system  100  may be a database driven computer software application that is hosted on a World Wide Web server for access by its users remotely, through the use of web pages, as will be described in detail herein. The system  100  includes a database  102  for storing information, a data input module  104  for gathering information, a data output module  106  for delivering information to the user, and a search module  108  by which users may query the data in the database  102  and thereby receive results from the data output module  106 . 
     The database  102  may store a wide variety of information collected and otherwise used in implementing the method  10 . In particular, the database  102  may store user data  110 , inventory data  112 , parts data  114 , warranty registration data  116 , and warranty claim data  118 . The user data  110  includes information that identifies each user of the system including, but not limited to, contact information of the user and a list of boat model designations for which that user is either an authorized dealer or manufacturer. The inventory data  112  includes data corresponding to the boats in a particular entity&#39;s inventory, including, for example, the model, size and color of the boat, and whether the boat is new or used. The parts data  114  stores a plurality of data entries corresponding to replacement parts in particular dealers&#39; inventories. The warranty registration data  116  allows dealers to collect and store information regarding the warranty registrations of vehicles that they have sold to customers, including the contact information of the purchaser, identifying information for the vehicle, and the date of sale. The warranty registration data  116  may be transmitted to the manufacturer and shared with other dealers to aid in disposition of warranty claims. The warranty claim data  118  allows dealers to enter information regarding a warranty claim for subsequent review and processing by the manufacturer, as will be explained in detail herein. 
     The steps of the method  10  will be best understood with reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 , which generally describes the manner in which a user performs a search of the inventory of other dealers and manufacturers for a desired product, according to the method  10 . Initially, data regarding each user is collected by storing the user data  10  in step S 12 , using the data input module  104  of the system  100 . The user data  110  collected in step S 12  may include information regarding a credential that is supplied to the user by a third party. For example, the credential could be an authorization to sell one or more products, such as marine vehicles, and the third party could be a manufacturer of the product, such as a marine vehicle manufacturer. It should be understood that the step of storing user data S 12  need not be performed every time a search is performed, but rather, the user data  110  need only be provided once, as the data input module  104  of the system  100  is operable to store the user data  110  in the database  102  for use in connection with subsequent searches. 
     When a user desires to conduct a search of the inventories of other entities, the search module  108  of the system  100  first receives search criteria from the user in step S 14 . The search criteria may include the type of vehicle that the user is interested in, whether a new or used vehicle is desired, the desired make, model and color desired, etc. After receiving the search criteria, the system  100  may classify the search according to the type of search requested in step S 16 . For example, the search may be classified according to whether vehicles or parts are being searched for, or whether new or used vehicles are being searched for. 
     Next, the method  10  proceeds by determining whether authorization is required to perform the search requested by the search criteria that was supplied by the user in step S 14 . For example, if the search criteria requests information regarding boats that are only allowed to be sold by authorized dealers, the system judges that authorization from a third party is required, and thus, the method  10  proceeds to step S 20 . Alternatively, if it is determined in step S 18  that authorization is not required for the type of search requested, the method  10  proceeds from step S 18  directly to step S 22 . 
     In step S 20 , the search scope is determined based on the user data  110  that was supplied by the user in step S 12 . More particularly, where a manufacturer requires that its dealers be authorized, the search scope is limited based on whether or not the user possesses the requisite authorization credential that is supplied by the manufacturer. If the user does not possess the requisite credential, the search scope is limited to exclude those entries for which authorization is required. 
     In step S 22 , the search is conducted in light of the search criteria supplied to the search module  108  by the user in step S 14 , and further based on the search scope that was determined in step S 20 , if applicable. It should be understood that the search scope determined in step S 20  could be applied in several ways. For example, the search module  108  could be configured to prevent searching of portions of the database  102  that are identifiable as being outside of the scope set in step S 20 . Alternatively, the search module  108  could initially search all relevant portions of the database  102  without regard to the scope determined in step S 20 , and subsequently apply the scope by filtering the results based on the search scope determined in step S 20 . Once the search is completed, the method  10  proceeds to the step of outputting search results in S 24 , using the data output module  106 . Although the foregoing is described in connection with a search that produces final results, it should be understood that the method  10  could be applied iteratively, wherein the method  10  would be applied multiple times in succession. Moreover, the method  10  could be applied during a single iteration of a search, where previous or subsequent searching and/or filtering iterations do not apply the method  10 . 
     In order to access the various functions of an exemplary embodiment of the system  100 , a main menu screen  120  is provided, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The main menu screen  120  may be used to invoke the search module  108  by selecting the search manufacturer inventory option  122 , the search dealer inventory option  124 , or the search parts option  126 . 
     If the search manufacturer inventory option  122  is selected, the search type is designated a new search, for which authorization is required in step S 18  of the method  10 . The user is then presented with the brand selection screen  138 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The brand selection screen  138  presents a selection box  139  that lists the names of available brands  140 . The brands  140  displayed in the selection box may be provided as search results according to the method  10 . In this example, the user&#39;s selection of the manufacturer inventory option  122  constitutes the search criteria that is received by the system  100  in step S 14 . The system  100  then populates the selection box  139  in light of the authorizations possessed by the user, as reflected in the user data  110 . After the user selects one or more of the brands  140 , the search module  108  and the data output module  106  cooperate to provide manufacturer search results screen  141 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . On selecting a particular entry  142  from the manufacturer search results screen  141 , the system provides a manufacturer inventory details screen  143  that includes information regarding a boat and the contact information of the relevant manufacturer, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     If the search dealer inventory option  124  is selected, the system  100  then presents an inventory type selection screen  148 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . On the inventory type selection screen  148 , the user is prompted to specify whether they wish to search for new inventory or used inventory, and this selection is input using a selection box  149 . If, using the selection box  149 , the user indicates that they are searching for new inventory, it will be determined in step S 18  of the method  10  that authorization is needed. If the user, using the selection box  149 , indicates that they are searching for used inventory, it will be determined in step S 18  of the method  10  that authorization is not required. In the case that used inventory has been selected, and thus, authorization is not required in step S 18 , the user proceeds from selection screen  148  to further screens which utilize the search module  108  to perform this step of conducting a search in S 22  of the method  10  and then using the data output module  106  to output the search results according to step  24  of the method  10 . 
     In order to provide users access only to information regarding those products which they are authorized to sell, the scope of the search is limited in S 20  of the method  10  when it has been determined in S 18  of the method  10  that authorization is required, as shown in  FIG. 9 . In particular, the search module  108  generates a brand selection screen  150  in which a selection box  152  is populated with the names of the brands  154  in which the user is authorized to deal. In generating the new inventory search screen  150 , the search module  108  utilizes the user data  110  from the database  102  to determine which brands  154  the user is authorized to sell, and then displays only those particular brands  154  in the selection box  1   52 . After the user has selected the brand in which they are interested using the brand selection screen  150 , the user may then be prompted by the search module  108  to further define the scope of the search, for example, using a model selection screen  160 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , and in engine selection screen  170 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . While these selections all correspond to the step of conducting the search S 22  of the method  10 , it should be understood that the particular models of boats for which the user is authorized could be limited, and thus, the selections on the model selection screen  160 , engine selection screen  170  or other data entry screen could be limited using the method  10 . Once the user has defined the search using the foregoing inputs, the data output module  106  performs the step of outputting search results S 24  of the method  10 , thereby producing a new inventory search results screen  180 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The contents of the new inventory search results screen  180  are generated by the data output module  106  on the basis of the inputs provided to the search module  108  by the user as well as the inventory data  112  stored in the database  102 . Typically, the new inventory search results screen  180  displays a plurality of results  182 . After the user selects one of the plurality of results  182 , the data output module  106  accesses the inventory data  112  regarding that particular result  182  and thereby generates a result detail screen  190 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     Referring again to main menu screen  120  of  FIG. 4 , the system  100  is further operable to allow parts searching upon the user&#39;s operation of the parts search selection button  126 . Upon doing so, the data input module  104  of the system  100  produces a parts search criteria screen  200 , as shown in  FIG. 14 , wherein the user is presented with a new or used parts selection box  202 . After making appropriate selection using the selection box  202 , the user is directed to a second parts search criteria screen  210 , as shown in  FIG. 15 , wherein the user may supply one or more criteria  212  to the data input module  104 . The criteria entered into the second parts search criteria screen  210  may correspond to a desired part number or key word. Of course, the scope of the search may be limited according to the user&#39;s authorizations using the method  10 , so that only those parts corresponding to boats which the user is authorized to sell are returned. After the search criteria has been appropriately defined and the search scope has been limited, if necessary, the search is conducted by the search module  108  based on the parts data  114  of the database  102 , and the output module  106  of the system  100 , generates a parts results screen  220  showing a plurality of parts listings  222  that meet the user&#39;s specified criteria, as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     To allow manufacturers and dealers to share information regarding warranty registrations and warranty claims, the main menu screen  120  of  FIG. 4  includes a warranty registration search section  300 , a new warranty claim selection button  310 , a view open claims selection button  312 , a view pending claims selection button  314 , and a view approved/rejected warranty claims button  316 . The warranty registration search section  300  allows the user to search vehicle warranty records. The brand selection box  301  may present the user with a list of authorized brands that is generated using the method  10 . After the user selects a brand from the brand selection box  301 , actuation of a view warranty registrations button  302  of the warranty registration search section  300  causes the system  100  to present a warranty registration list screen  320  to the user, as shown in  FIG. 17 , which is produced based on the warranty registration data  116  that is stored in the database  102 . Upon selecting a particular warranty record  322  from the warranty registration list screen  320 , the user is presented with a warranty registration detail screen  330 , as shown in  FIG. 18 , which provides details regarding the vehicle and may also provide warranty information. 
     Upon actuation of the new warranty claim selection button  310  of screen  120 , the system presents a first warranty claim submission screen  330  to the user, as shown in  FIG. 19 . The first warranty claim submission screen  330  includes a brand selection box  332  that allows the user to specify the brand of vehicle for which a warranty claim is being submitted. The list of brands presented by the brand selection box  332  may be a list of the user&#39;s authorized brands, which is generated using the method  10 . After selecting the appropriate brand on the first warranty claim submission screen  330 , the user is presented with a second warranty claim submission screen  334 , as shown in  FIG. 20 , where identifying information regarding the boat may be provided, in order to retrieve information regarding the boat in question from the database  102  so that portions of the third warranty claim submission screen  336 , as shown in  FIG. 21 , may be filled in programmatically by the system  100 , upon presentation of the third warranty claim submission screen  336  to the user. The third warranty claim submission screen  336  allows the user to enter substantive details regarding the claim being made, which are stored in the warranty claim data  118  of the database  102 . The user may submit the claim using the submission button  338 , or save an incomplete form for later completion using the save button  340 , in which case the saved form may be accessed using the view open claims selection button  312  on the main menu screen  120  of  FIG. 4 . The user may review previously submitted pending claims by actuating the view pending claims selection button  314  of the main menu screen  120 , which presents the user with a list of pending claims, or may review details of the manufacturer&#39;s approval or denial of claims by actuating the view approved/rejected warranty claims button  316 . 
     In order to allow the user to enter data into the system regarding the user&#39;s available inventory, the screen  120  of  FIG. 4  further provides an “add new inventory” button  128 , and add used inventory button  130 , and an existing inventory management button  132 . Selection of either the add new inventory button  128  or the add used inventory button  130  takes the user to an inventory addition screen  230 , as shown in  FIG. 22 , which is directed toward the addition of either new or used inventory as desired. The new inventory addition screen  230  includes a plurality of data fields  232  wherein information regarding the inventory may be supplied to the software  100  for subsequent storage and the inventory data  112  of the database  102 . A plurality of images  234  may also be supplied to the system  100  through the inventory addition screen  230  for storage in the inventory data  112  of the database  102 . Upon selecting the inventory management button  132  on the screen  120 , the user is directed to an inventory management screen  240 , as shown in  FIG. 23 , wherein the user&#39;s existing inventory as stored in the inventory data  112  of the database  102  may be displayed for the user&#39;s review. In particular, the screen  240  provides a plurality of entries  242  corresponding to the items in the user&#39;s inventory. Selection of any of the entries  242  will cause the data input module  104  of the system  100  to generate a screen similar to the inventory addition screen  230  where the entry  242  may be modified or deleted. 
     In order to allow the user to manage their parts&#39; listings, the screen  120  of  FIG. 4  also includes an add parts button  134  and a parts inventory management button  136 . Operation of the add parts button  134  takes the user to a part addition screen  250 , as shown in  FIG. 24 , wherein a plurality of data fields  252  allow the user to supply data to the data input module  104  for inclusion in the parts data  114  of the database  102 . 
     In order to allow the user to provide information regarding their company and regarding those brands for which they are an authorized dealer or manufacturer, the data input module  104  of the system  100  further provides an entity information screen  260 , as shown in  FIG. 25 . The entity information screen  260  includes a plurality of data fields  262  in which the user may supply criteria for inclusion in the user data  110  of the database  102 . The information provided in the data fields  262  may be for example the name of the company, name and address of a contact person, the location of the company, and contact information for the company. Also, the entity information entry screen provides an authorized brand selection box  264 . The authorized brands selection box  264  lists a plurality of marine vehicle brands from which the user may select those brands which it is authorized to sell. This information is then stored in the user data  110  and used by the method  10  in step S 20  to limit searches conducted by that user. 
     It will be appreciated that the present invention permits the authorized dealers of a particular manufacturer&#39;s boats to locate boats that may be available in the inventories of other authorized dealers, thereby facilitating sales without the need to custom order boats from the manufacturer. Of course, the subject invention is not limited to boats and dealers of boats, but rather, the subject invention may be utilized with any vehicle and their associated dealers. 
     Of course, the foregoing is merely illustrative of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many additions and modifications to the present invention, as set out in this disclosure, are possible without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of this invention as defined in the appended claims.