Alternative selections for compound price quoting

Abstract

Methods and systems for automated alternative selection for compound price quotes are provided. A requesting party submits a request that includes information regarding at least one specification. A database is searched based on the information provided by the request. The search results are evaluated to determine whether they meet a predefined target. When the search results do not meet a predefined target, an alternative specification is identified. At least a second set of search results is retrieved from the database that may be used to meet the target. Vehicles are selected for inclusion in a compound price quote. A compound price quote including multiple price quotes for each selected vehicles is generated.

1 . A method for automated vehicle selection for a price quote, the method comprising:
 maintaining a database in memory, the database storing information concerning a plurality of available vehicles, the stored information including information regarding a plurality of features associated with each vehicle;   receiving a price quote request concerning a requested vehicle, the price quote request indicating a specification regarding a feature of the requested vehicle; and   executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor:
 retrieves a first set of search results from the database, the first set of search results including available vehicles matching the specification provided by the price quote request, 
 determines that the first set of search results does not meet a predefined target, 
 identifies an alternative specification regarding the vehicle, 
 retrieves a second set of search results from the database, the second set of search results including available vehicles matching the identified alternative specification; 
 selects a plurality of vehicles in accordance with the target, each vehicle being selected from the first set or the second set of search results, and 
 generates a response including a price quote for each of the selected vehicles. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specification is selected from the group consisting of make, model, year, trim, color, body style, vehicle segment, duty type, option, use level, inventory age, equipment level, and vehicle identification number (VIN). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined target range refers to a number of the available vehicles. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined target range refers to a number of price quotes that can be generated for the available vehicles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined target range refers to a price range of the available vehicles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the price range is divided into thirds to define a low price range, a middle price range, and a high price range. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the available vehicles in each of the low, middle, and high price ranges includes a plurality of vehicle configurations and further comprising selecting a vehicle configuration for each price range, the selection based on a number of available vehicles with the vehicle configuration. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for automated vehicle selection for a price quote, the method comprising:
 maintaining a database for storing information concerning a plurality of available vehicles associated with a dealer, the stored information including information regarding a plurality of features associated with each vehicle;   receiving a price quote request concerning a requested vehicle, the price quote request indicating geographic location and a specification regarding a feature of the requested vehicle;   retrieving a first set of search results from the database, the first set of search results including available vehicles matching the specification provided by the price quote request;   determining that a number of available vehicles included the first set of search results does not meet a predefined target;   identifying an alternative specification regarding the vehicle;   retrieving a second set of search results from the database, the second set of search results including available vehicles matching the identified alternative specification; and   selecting a plurality of vehicles in accordance with the target, each vehicle being selected from the first set or the second set of search results, and   generating a response including a price quote for each of the selected vehicles.