Apparatus and methods for efficient delivery of auction item information

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for efficient delivery of a plurality of information regarding items for auction. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a server entity adapted to communicate with a plurality of information sources (such as sources having vehicle history information, estimated valuation information, etc.) The server entity compiles information received from the plurality of sources and formats the information for efficient delivery to a client device via e.g., SMS based text messaging, internet-based instant messaging, or the like. In another salient aspect of the invention, a client enters an auction identification number (AID) rather than a longer alpha-numeric VIN or other identification number. The server entity may also calculate and communicate estimates and/or alerts/reminders of when bidding will begin for particular items for auction which the client has expressed interest in. Exemplary client interface and business methods are also given.

1 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus for presenting information to a client device regarding a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
 one or more interfaces for communication between said apparatus and said client device;   a storage apparatus; and   at least one digital processor, said digital processor having at least one computer program operative to run thereon, said at least one program being configured to:
 receive a short message service (SMS) request message from said client device, said request message identifying said vehicle by at least a portion of a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated therewith; 
 request information regarding said vehicle from at least one vehicle information source using said at least a portion of said VIN; 
 receive said information regarding said vehicle, said information regarding said vehicle comprising one or more of accident history of said vehicle and/or estimated value of said vehicle; 
 format said information into an SMS response message; and 
 cause transmission said SMS response message to said client device. 
   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said at least one vehicle information source comprises one or more of: (i) a server capable of providing estimated resale data, (ii) a server capable of providing estimated wholesale data, and (iii) a server capable of providing vehicle history data. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said at least one vehicle information source comprises at least one certified vehicle history information entity. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said request message identifying said vehicle by said at least portion of a VIN is generated by manual entry of said at least portion of said VIN by a user of said client device. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said request message identifying said vehicle by said at least portion of a VIN is generated by utilizing a scanning device in communication with said client device configured to scan said at least portion of said VIN from said vehicle. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said vehicle comprises a vehicle for auction, and said information regarding said vehicle further comprises information relating to said auction of said vehicle. 
     
     
         48 . A method of providing information useful in making vehicle purchase decisions, said method comprising:
 receiving a message requesting information regarding at least one vehicle from a mobile device, said message comprising at least a portion of a vehicle identification number (VIN) for said at least one vehicle;   requesting information regarding said vehicle from an entity for compiling vehicle information, said request comprising at least said at least portion of said VIN;   receiving at least one vehicle history report from said entity, said vehicle history report comprising at least information enabling a user to make said purchase decision; and   formatting said at least one vehicle history report into a format suitable for transmission to said mobile device.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said mobile device comprises a mobile telephone, and said message is sent via a wireless cellular network associated with said mobile telephone. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said message requesting information comprises a short message service (SMS) text message received from said mobile device. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said at least portion of a VIN comprises at least one of: (i) an image or scan converted to text, and/or (ii) spoken word converted to text. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said image or scan converted to text comprises an image taken with at least one of: (i) a camera integrated into said mobile device, and/or (ii) a scanner device in communication with said mobile device. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said at least portion of a VIN comprises a shortened version of a complete VIN, and said method further comprises determining based at least in part on said received plurality of information whether said shortened version of said complete VIN corresponds to a single automobile. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said shortened version comprises a only the lower seven (7) characters of said complete VIN. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said format suitable for transmission to said mobile device comprises a short message service (SMS) text message, and said method further comprises transmitting said formatted SMS text message to said mobile device. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 requesting information from an auction tracking entity;   using one or more algorithms to determine an estimated time for beginning an auction, said auction relating only to at least one of a plurality of auction items; and   sending a notification to said client device regarding said estimated time for said beginning of said auction.   
     
     
         57 . An apparatus for providing information relating to one or more vehicles in an auction, said apparatus comprising:
 one or more interfaces for communication between said apparatus and one or more client devices, and said apparatus and one or more vehicle information sources;   a storage apparatus, said storage apparatus comprising at least a plurality of records identifying a plurality of subscribers; and   at least one digital processor, said digital processor having at least one computer program operative to run thereon, said at least one program being configured to;
 verify at least one of said one or more client devices via login information received therefrom, said login information identifying a user of said at least one client device as one of said plurality of subscribers; 
 receive a message from said at least one client device requesting information regarding said one or more vehicles, said message identifying said one or more vehicles by providing at least vehicle identification information associated therewith; 
 request information regarding said one or more vehicles from said one or more vehicle information sources using at least said vehicle identification information; 
 receive said information regarding said one or more vehicles, said information regarding said one or more vehicles comprising information useful in making purchasing decisions during said auction; and 
 transmit said information regarding said one or more vehicles to said at least one client device. 
   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said login information identifying said user of said at least one client device as said one of said plurality of subscribers comprises a password or login identification associated with an account associated to said one of said plurality of subscribers. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said computer program being further configured to, if said login information cannot be verified, provide at least a portion of said login information or temporary login information at least one second client device, said at least one second client device being associated with said subscriber. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said at least one client device comprises a mobile device on a mobile telephone network. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein said message from said at least one client device requesting information regarding said one or more vehicles comprises a short message service (SMS) text message. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein said information regarding said one or more vehicles comprises one or more of:
 accident history of said vehicle; and/or   estimated value of said vehicle.   
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein said vehicle identification information associated with each of said one or more vehicles comprises information scanned or captured using an application running on said mobile device. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said vehicle identification information associated with each of said one or more vehicles comprises at least a portion of a vehicle identification number (VIN) for each of said one or more vehicles. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said information regarding said one or more vehicles transmitted to said at least one client device comprises summarization or subset of said information received in response to said request. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said information regarding said one or more vehicles is transmitted to said at least one client device as a short message service (SMS) text message. 
     
     
         67 . A method for presenting information to a mobile device regarding a vehicle for sale, said method comprising:
 receiving a request message from said mobile device, said request message including at least information identifying said vehicle by at least a portion of a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated therewith;   requesting information regarding said vehicle from at least one server capable of using at least said at least portion of said VIN to provide vehicle accident history and from at least one server capable of using at least said at least portion of said VIN to provide an estimated value of said vehicle;   receiving in response to said request at least one accident history report and at least one estimated value report for said vehicle;   formatting said at least one accident history report and said at least one estimated value report into formats suitable for transmission to said mobile device; and   transmitting said formatted at least one accident history report and said formatted at least one estimated value report to said mobile device.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said request message further comprises additional information regarding identifying said vehicle including one or more of:
 vehicle make;   vehicle model;   vehicle year; and/or   vehicle mileage.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising enabling a user of said mobile device to adjust an estimate contained in said estimated value report by entering one or more additional details regarding one or more features of said vehicle. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said additional details regarding said one or more features of said vehicle comprise one or more of:
 condition of said vehicle;   option packages;   mileage; and/or   interior features.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said at least one vehicle server capable of providing vehicle accident history comprises at least one certified vehicle history information entity. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said request message is generated by manual entry of said at least portion of said VIN by a user of said mobile device. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said request message is generated by at least one of: a scanning device in communication with said mobile device configured to scan said VIN from said vehicle; and/or a camera application running on said mobile device.