AU733731B3 - A method of trading - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: ZELMAN NELSON LEW ZELMAN NELSON LEW CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

A METHOD OF TRADING Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PP9531 filed on 31 March 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: A METHOD OF TRADING TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to methods of trading.

BACKGROUND ART s There are many established and varied methods of trading in new and second hand goods and services.

Goods can be purchased from dealers, brokers or directly from individuals or companies and organisations.

Sale processes are most commonly initiated by costly print advertising with location information being offered at the time of advertisement by dealerships and in the case of private advertisers upon enquiry.

For security reasons some sellers are reluctant to give address information until they are able to establish the identity of the callers.

Purchasers of items such as motor vehicles generally have an established idea of what they are seeking and full information sufficient to confirm an interest or to stimulate an enquiry is not always given by advertisers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of trading which sellers provide detailed information in accordance with requested criteria, which buyers are subsequently able to access by telephone or other means including the internet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a method of trading in articles comprising; a seller giving specific information of the item for sale to an information service, the information service storing the information in a data base, the information service providing telephone access to its data base.

The methodology provides an efficient and inexpensive means of trading in a wide range of goods and services and as an example only the following describes the methodology in relation to buying and selling motor vehicles.

Where the articles on offer are motor vehicles the data base may provide three service segments.

Segment One identification of area of interest Used cars Classic cars Trucks Motorcycles Segment Two specific information Make of vehicle Model Colour Age Number of kilometres Registration Price Contact name and phone number (address optional) Segment Three description of special features Voice recorded description The present invention provides an extensive service for the general driving population interested in either buying or selling a used motor vehicle and is designed to give an interested caller access to a wider choice than is currently available, by accessing an extensive data base of models, types, colours and price range.

In addition callers have the added advantage of choice within the region they live or anywhere else in Australia or worldwide.

The method of the present invention will make call information available to calling customers primarily via a recorded voice service however a data facsimile service, live advice service, a web site and interactive T.V.

will also become a crucial part of the invention.

The greater market will be recognised in two distinct ways: The Seller: Responding to advertising and marketing of the information Service, an interested seller of a motor vehicle will dial the number associated with the promotion in the first instance by being prompted to record specific information in relation to the motor vehicle thereby creating a listing in any number of categories associated with the service.

The seller will have access to their listing at any time after the initial call to make any changes or for the removal of their listing if they wish.

To avoid unnecessary phone enquiries after the vehicle is sold the seller may access the system again to remove the listing.

The listing will remain on line for a period after which time it will automatically be removed from the service.

The Buyer: Responding to advertising and marketing of the Information Service, an interested buyer of a motor vehicle may dial the number associated with the promotion giving them access to a listing of their choice in any number of categories associated with the service.

Information of a variety of aspects in the motor vehicle industry will be at hand for interested callers including current book value of a vehicle, registration, on-road costs, roadworthiness, warranties, transfer fees, insurance and finance, among others.

The commercial relationship between the buyers, sellers, service bureau the information provider can be a telephone linked service bureau as illustrated below: SELLER INFORMATION I I Charges for listings and responses will be by way of on-line charges by a telephone carrier such as fixed fee or timed fee rates with the information provider/service provider receiving commissions/payment for line time, via fixed wire and wireless solutions.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate the distinct stages of answer and enquiry in relation to the sale and potential purchase of preowned motor vehicles respectively.

The seller provides information as to the category, geographical location and source of manufacture, and may further refine the information.

The seller leaves a personal description and contact particulars for an inquirer. By contrast the buyer provides information which will progressively take him or her to the information destination required.

Whilst I have described the methodology by way of its application to trading in motor vehicles, it will be appreciated that the invention may be equally applicable to trading in other types of goods, e.g.

horses, stud animals, aeroplanes, machinery including contracting and heavy machinery, boats, caravans, houses and property, antiques, jewellery, trade services and such like.

The methodology of the present invention may make use of 2o technology systems such as the intemrnet, and interactive making use of natural language speech recognition solutions.

It is considered that the major advantages of the present invention are to provide; more efficient and cost effective advertising media, relative security, nationwide and worldwide as opposed to regional advertising is readily achieved, and buyers are provided with accurate description of goods on offer.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (3)

1. A method of trading in articles comprising: a seller giving specific information of an item for sale to an information service provider, the information service provider storing the information in a data base, the information service provider providing telephone access to its data base characterised in that the enquirer's answers determine access to a seller's information via a series of progressive steps spanning category, product type, geographic location and description of goods or services, and the enquirer is billed directly by its telephone service provider at a rate which includes a commission for the service provider.

2. A method of trading in articles as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enquirer's answers include providing information on the preferred model and/or year of manufacture of an article and other details.

3. A method of trading as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and substantially as hereindescribed in relation to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 19th day of December 2000 Zelman Nelson LEW By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.