Electronic proposal preparation system for selling vehicles

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-based system for generating a customized proposal for selling vehicles to particular customers, comprising:

a) input means for receiving information identifying a customer's desired vehicle features and uses, comprising:

i) means for presenting the customer with a plurality of questions relating to features and uses of the vehicles; and

ii) means for receiving a plurality of answers to the questions, the answers specifying the customer's desired vehicle features and uses;

b) receive means for electronically receiving vehicle pictures, vehicle environment pictures, and text segments;

c) processing means for gathering vehicle information for use in generating the customized proposal, comprising:

i) means for electronically selecting a particular vehicle picture in response to at least one of the answers;

ii) means for electronically selecting a particular vehicle environment picture in response to at least one of the answers; and

iii) means for electronically selecting a particular text segment in response to at least one of the answers; and

d) output means, coupled to the receive means and the processing means, for receiving the gathered vehicle information and for compiling the gathered vehicle information into the customized proposal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the receive means further comprises environment text data base means for receiving a plurality of predetermined environment text segments related to distinctive environments in which the vehicle may be used, the plurality of predetermined environment text segments being of varying interest to different potential customers who may purchase the vehicle; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for electronically associating at least one of the answers with one of the environment text segments.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving a name and address of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with a cover sheet comprising the name and address of the customer who is to receive the proposal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with a cover sheet comprising predetermined pictures and text related to at least one of the features and uses which are of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with a personalized letter to the customer who is to receive the proposal so that the personalized letter comprises the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal and so that the personalized letter further comprises portions of predetermined standard text related to at least one of the individualized features and uses which are of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized vehicle description pages each comprising predetermined pictures and text related to at least one of the individualized features and uses which are of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages so that each individualized page comprises the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving salesperson identification data of a salesperson who is dealing with the customer; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages so that each individualized page comprises the salesperson identification data of the salesperson who is dealing with the customer.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the receive means comprises means for receiving a plurality of vehicle specifications related to producing the vehicle in a variety of configurations which are of varying interest to different potential customers who may purchase the vehicle; and

(b) the processing means comprises:

(i) means for electronically associating at least one of the answers with one of the vehicle specifications which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(ii) means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages comprising the vehicle specification which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the vehicle specification which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving salesperson identification data of a salesperson who is dealing with the customer; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the vehicle specification which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises the salesperson identification data of the salesperson who is dealing with the customer.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the receive means comprises means for receiving a plurality of performance specifications related to performance of the vehicle in a variety of configurations which are of varying interest to different potential customers who may purchase the vehicle; and

(b) the processing means comprises:

(i) means for electronically associating at least one of the answers with one of the performance specification which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(ii) means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages comprising the performance specification which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the performance specification which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving salesperson identification data of a salesperson who is dealing with the customer; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the performance specification which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises the salesperson identification data of the salesperson who is dealing with the customer.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving a description and appraised value of a trade-in vehicle to be traded in by the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages which comprise the description and appraised value of the trade-in vehicle to be traded in by the customer who is to receive the proposal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the description and appraised value of a trade-in vehicle to be traded in by the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises at least one of the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving salesperson identification data of a salesperson who is dealing with the customer; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the description and appraised value of a trade-in vehicle to be traded in by the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises the salesperson identification data of the salesperson who is dealing with the customer.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the receive means comprises means for receiving a plurality of vehicle price quotations related to a variety of vehicle configurations which are of varying interest to different potential customers who may purchase the vehicle; and

(b) the processing means comprises:

(i) means for electronically associating at least one of the answers with one of the vehicle price quotations for a vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(ii) means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages comprising the vehicle price quotation for the vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving user-defined vehicle price quotations; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for calculating a vehicle price based upon the vehicle price quotations that are related to the answers and for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages comprising the vehicle price.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the vehicle price quotation for the vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises at least one of the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for presenting a series of predetermined queries related to financing a vehicle of interest to different potential customers who may purchase the vehicle, the input means further comprising means for receiving individualized answers to the predetermined queries, the individualized answers relating to financing the vehicle configuration of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages comprising the financing information related to the vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the financing information related to the vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises the customer identification data of the customer who is to receive the proposal.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving salesperson identification data of a salesperson who is dealing with the customer; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the financing information related to the vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises the salesperson identification data of the salesperson who is dealing with the customer.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for presenting a series of predetermined queries related to the life cycle cost of vehicle configurations of interest to different potential customers who may purchase the vehicle, the input means further comprising means for receiving individualized answers to the queries, the individualized answers related to the life cycle of a vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with one or more individualized pages comprising life cycle cost information related to the vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving a name, address and telephone number of the customer who is to receive the proposal and for receiving a name, address and telephone number of a salesperson who is dealing with the customer; and

(b) the processing means comprises means for generating the customized proposal so that each individualized page which comprises the life cycle cost information related to the vehicle configuration which is of particular interest to the customer who is to receive the proposal also comprises at least one of the name, address and telephone number of the customer who is to receive the proposal and the salesperson who is dealing with the customer.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for receiving user-selected items to be included within the customized proposal; and

(b) the processing means further comprises means for arranging the user-selected items into a table of contents and for generating the table of contents within the customized proposal.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means further comprises means for including a trademark identifying the vehicle on at least one of the pages of the customized proposal.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the input means further comprises means for presenting the predetermined queries in any one of a plurality of languages; and

(b) the processing means comprises means for generating the customized proposal in any one of the plurality of languages.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means further comprises means for generating the customized proposal with a signature page as a part of the proposal.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the output means comprises means for generating the customized proposal in a printed format.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicles comprise on-the-road vehicles.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicles comprise off-the-road vehicles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for creating a customized proposal by linking together product pictures, environment pictures showing environments in which the product may be used, and text related to the product. The system includes means for linking together predetermined product pictures, environment pictures, and text based upon a potential customer's answers to predetermined queries.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Many products, such as cars, are illustrated to customers by preprinted brochures. Car dealerships, for example, have glossy brochures that show pictures of cars and generic textual descriptions of the cars. A customer may test drive and actually inspect a particular car of interest. The dealership will also furnish the customer with one of the preprinted brochures of the car. The brochure documents and contains information about the car. The customer may refer to the brochure and potentially be quite influenced by it in making a decision regarding whether to purchase the car.

The generic nature of these preprinted brochures, however, may have a negative impact on the customer's ultimate decision of whether to purchase and thus are often not persuasive. Traditionally, only one brochure is available for each car, for example, and every potential purchaser of that car receives the same brochure. These brochures contain glossy photographs of the car in a variety of settings, which may include, for example, a country setting, city environment, golf course, and marina. Next to the photographs, the brochures usually contain generic textual descriptions of the car or potential uses of the car. Finally, the brochures typically contain standard lists of options for the car along with complex pricing charts from which one may calculate a price based on a matrix of options and prices.

The preprinted brochures contain all of these different settings for the car and generic information in an attempt to appeal to any potential purchaser. For example, one customer may enjoy golfing, and the brochure contains a photograph of the car at a golf course to appeal to that customer and influence that customer in his or her decision to purchase the car. Another customer may want to use the car to take long trips which pass through the country, and the photograph in the brochure of the car in a country setting is designed to appeal to that customer.

The brochures also contain standard pricing charts. Since every brochure is generic to any customer, however, it must contain complex pricing charts that include a matrix of options and prices. Furthermore, since prices of the car or options often change, the information in the brochure can easily be out of date. Also, much of the pricing information is not of interest to a particular customer, since the customer will typically be interested in the price for a single, or relatively few, combinations of options for the car.

In containing all of this varied and generic information in an attempt to be "all things to every customer," the preprinted brochures actually are of limited value to any particular customer. The brochures are not customer specific and, therefore, are not particularly appealing or persuasive for any customer. The typical brochure contains much information that is of no value or interest to a particular customer due to the varied and generic nature of the product pictures and textual descriptions. Furthermore, these preprinted brochures are expensive to produce because of the glossy photographs and may be quickly out of date, meaning that either a dealership must discard the brochures or provide customers with "old" brochures.

The present invention solves these problems by utilizing a computer-based system to dynamically create customized, printed proposals for potential purchasers of a product. The system queries a customer to determine his or her interests and desired options. The interests may include a "use" desired by the customer, such as a marina or golf course. The interests may also include the type of information, such as technical, that the customer would like in the proposal. The desired options may include the various features of interest to the customer, such as the type of engine desired.

Based upon the customer's answers to the queries, the system links product pictures, environment pictures, and textual descriptions together in a customized proposal. The system also has the capability to link together other aspects in the proposal, which may include environment text describing the product in a particular setting or environment. The customized proposal, therefore, contains pictures, textual descriptions, and pricing information that is all of interest to and relevant to a specific customer, since all of the pictures and text were linked together based upon the customer's answers.

Since each proposal is customized for a particular customer, each proposal will have a much more persuasive effect in selling the product. Also, if any information about the product changes, such as prices of options, the system information stored in a data base may be simply changed in order to accommodate the new information. Additional textual descriptions or pictures may also be added to the system data base to be used in linking together information for a proposal.

The quality of the pictures produced in these customized, printed proposals can be made comparable in quality to the glossy photographs in prior art proposals due to recent advances in computer printers. Printers such as the Canon CLC-300 produce color computer print-outs that resemble color photographs. These customized proposals, therefore, need not be inferior to prior art proposals in terms of the quality of available pictures for the proposals.

This system for producing customized, high-quality proposals has many potential applications, such as in the car industry. A customized proposal generated by the present invention will have a great appeal to each individual customer and will be an asset in selling the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating conceptually picture and text databases of the computerized proposal system.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating conceptually an electronic proposal template of the computerized proposal system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the preferred system.

FIG. 3 is an object diagram showing an active database.

FIG. 4 is a class diagram showing a detailed depiction of the classes in a preferred proposal data class.

FIG. 5 is an object diagram showing a detailed depiction of a preferred table of contents object.

FIG. 6 is a class diagram showing a detailed depiction of the classes in a preferred customize data class.

FIG. 7 is an object diagram showing a user interface.

FIG. 8 is a class diagram showing a detailed depiction of the classes in a preferred form class.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the contents of a static database.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a detailed depiction of the elements in a preferred report generator.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a detailed depiction of the elements in a preferred selection device.

FIG. 12 is a detailed depiction of the elements in a preferred main menu.

FIG. 13 is a detailed depiction of the elements within the "Contents" selection of the preferred main menu.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the contents of a difference database.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the contents of a report database.

FIG. 16 is an object diagram showing a detailed depiction of the elements in a preferred user interface.

FIG. 17 is an object diagram showing a detailed depiction of the elements in an active database.

FIG. 18 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when selecting pages to print.

FIG. 19 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating a cover sheet.

FIG. 20 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering customer identification data.

FIG. 21 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating customer identification data.

FIG. 22 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering salesperson identification data.

FIG. 23 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating salesperson identification data.

FIG. 24 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering letter information.

FIG. 25 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating a personalized letter.

FIG. 26 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when selecting product descriptions.

FIG. 27 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating product description pages.

FIG. 28 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering product specification information.

FIG. 29 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating product specification pages.

FIG. 30 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating performance specification pages.

FIG. 31 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering trade-in product information.

FIG. 32 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating trade-in product pages.

FIG. 33 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering product price quotation information.

FIG. 34 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating product price quotation pages.

FIG. 35 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering product financing information.

FIG. 36 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering product financing pages.

FIG. 37 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when entering life cycle cost information.

FIG. 38 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating life cycle cost pages.

FIG. 39 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating a table of contents page.

FIG. 40 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when printing a trademark.

FIG. 41 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when choosing a language.

FIG. 42 is an object diagram illustrating a preferred flow of control involved when generating a signature page.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present computer system is preferably implemented using Object Oriented Design (OOD). Because OOD is a fairly new programming method, a brief explanation of OOD design concepts will be offered here in order to ensure a better understanding. The resource used for preparing this explanation is: Grady Booch, Object Oriented Design with Applications (1991) (published by The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.).

According to Booch, the Object Oriented Design methodology views the "world" as a set of autonomous agents that collaborate to perform higher level behavior. The OOD agents are called objects. Objects can have a state, behavior and identity. A set of objects that share a common structure and common behavior are called a class. A set of objects working together to provide a behavior that satisfies some requirement of a problem is called a mechanism.

The design described herein is an object-oriented design. This design is described using object diagrams which show the interaction of the objects that make up the application. In addition, class diagrams are used to present the architecture of the system.

Unless otherwise stated, all classes making up the architecture of the system preferably are derived from a common base class named CWCObject. Where this is not the case, class diagrams are used.

INTRODUCTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate conceptually a primary feature of the computerized proposal system. The system allows a user to dynamically customize and create a proposal for individual customers. The customized proposal may contain specific items for a particular customer, depending upon the customer's needs and desires. FIG. 1A shows conceptually a database 50 that electronically stores a plurality of pictures. The pictures may include environment pictures 51-55, product pictures 56, and pictures for various parts 57 and 58. A textual descriptions database 59 may store a plurality of text segments that correspond to various pictures in the picture database 50.

FIG. 1B illustrates conceptually an electronic template for creating a page in a customized proposal. The system may query a user to determine a particular customer's needs and interests. Based upon the answers to the queries, the system may "fill in" the template 60 to customize a proposal for the customer. For example, if the customer has an interest in sailing or boating, the system may choose a picture of a marina environment 51 to use as the background or environment 62 in picture 61 of template 60. Likewise, if the customer has an interest in golfing, the system may choose a golf course environment 52. Within the environment 62, the system places a product 63 by selecting one of the plurality of product picture 56 based upon the customer's answers.

Each product 63 typically has several options available to the customer, such as the type of engine and wheels. Based upon the customer's answers, which indicate the customer's desired options, the system may select parts from the picture database 50 for parts 64 and 65 on product 63 in the template. The system may also select one of the plurality of text segments 59 to fill in text frame 66. The text in the text frame 66 would typically correspond to picture 61 and, for example, provide a description of the product or its performance specifications.

Accordingly, the system uses the stored pictures in the picture