Claims:We Claim:
1. A system for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive industry trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction, comprising:
a. a computer system including a central processing unit, an input/output interface, external devices, and a memory,
b. wherein the memory includes a mapping system for mapping the transaction element
c. a translation system for, after mapping the transaction element, translating a transaction element sent from a first trading partner intended for a second trading partner specified by the first trading partner
d. a routing system for, after translating the transaction element, routing the transaction element from the first trading partner in a first communication protocol to the second trading partner in a second different communication protocol of the second trading partner, wherein the first and second communication protocol comprise SOAP/XML, ODBC/JDBC, MQ, HTTP/XML, COM/COM+, RPC, CORBA/IIOP, OTMA, or WAP;
e. a transaction management system for tracking a status of the transaction element
f. a security system including a firewall for controlling access to the computer system.
2. The automotive information exchange system of claim 1, further having:
a. a data management system for providing localized data to the trading partners; and
b. an administrative system for managing a partner directory of trading partners
3. The automotive information exchange system of claim 1, wherein the first trading partner having a mechanism for sending the transaction element to the automotive information exchange system.
, Description:Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for exchanging and communicating automotive information. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners conducting an automotive transaction.
Background of the Invention
With the advent of the Internet, the automotive marketplace is seeking new ways to efficiently communicate information for automotive transactions. However, the automotive marketplace is currently comprised of a litany of disjointed communication systems and manual processes. Moreover, each market participant (i.e., trading partner) may communicate in their own proprietary schema and protocol. Although there are industry standard communication schemas in existence, very few trading partners utilize them. Two organizations that set such standard schemas are the Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) group and Automotive Manufacturers Dealer Systems Group (AMDSG). However, because very few trading partners in the automotive marketplace use either of these schemas, complicated and expensive information management issues are raised for trading partners who must be able to communicate with other trading partners. For example, if an automotive dealer wishes to process a new car purchase for a customer, the dealer may have to communicate information with the manufacturer, the department of motor vehicles, a financing provider and an insurance provider, all of who communicate in different schemas and protocols. This could not only require the dealer to obtain, utilize, and/or be familiar with separate proprietary communication terminals/applications for each trading partner, but could also require the dealer to perform multiple manual tasks. Not only is this costly, but it also creates inefficiencies as the dealer may be forced to, for example, input the same data (e.g., customer name, social security number, etc.) several times.

Therefore, there exists a need for a system and method that allows automotive trading partners to communicate and exchange information without having to communicate in the proprietary schema and protocol of other trading partners. In addition, there exists a need for a system and method that prevents each automotive trading partner from having to translate data schemas themselves. Moreover, there exists a need for such a system and method to have application in all areas of the automotive marketplace. For example, suitable applications might include, among others, automotive parts, automotive sales, automotive service, automotive insurance, automotive registration, automotive financing, automotive warranty, and credit reporting.
Object of the Invention
The object of the present invention is to provides a system, method, and program product for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention addresses the needs of the automotive marketplace by providing a system, method, and program product for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction. Specifically, the system of the present invention can receive, manage, translate (if necessary) and route messages or transaction elements between trading partners. This avoids the automotive trading partners from having to obtain or adopt the communication systems of other trading partners, from having to input data multiple times, and from having to perform multiple manual tasks. Thus, the present invention provides integration and interoperability between the various systems in the automotive marketplace. As used herein, a transaction element refers to any element of a transaction (e.g., a message) between trading partners such as an inquiry, an offer, a response, or a confirmation.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction is provided. The system comprises: (1) a universal schema for a plurality of automotive applications; (2) a routing system for routing transaction elements between the trading partners; and (3) a transaction management system for managing the transaction elements.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (1) sending a transaction element from a first automotive trading partner to an automotive information exchange system, wherein the transaction element relates to an automotive application; (2) routing the transaction element to a second automotive trading partner; (3) sending a response transaction element from the second automotive trading partner to the automotive information exchange system and (4) routing the response transaction element to the first automotive trading partner.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a program product stored on a recordable media for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction is provided. When executed, the program product comprises: (1) a universal schema for a plurality of automotive applications; (2) a routing system for routing transaction elements between the trading partners; and (3) a transaction management system for managing the transaction elements.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer system for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction is provided. The computer system comprises: (1) a processor; (2) a computer system memory; (3) an interface; and (4) a software product stored on the computer system memory and executable by the processor, wherein the software product comprises: (a) a universal schema for a plurality of automotive applications; (b) a routing system for routing transaction elements between the trading partners; and (c) a transaction management system for managing the transaction elements.
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 depicts a computer system having an automotive communication information exchange system, according to the present invention;
Detailed Description of Invention
Referring now to FIG. 1, a computer/server system depicting the automotive information communication exchange system (communication system) of the present invention is shown. The computer system generally comprises memory, input/output interfaces, a central processing unit (CPU), external devices/resources, bus, and database. Memory may comprise any known type of data storage and/or transmission media, including magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a data cache, a data object, etc. Moreover, memory may reside at a single physical location, comprising one or more types of data storage, or be distributed across a plurality of physical systems in various forms. CPU may likewise comprise a single processing unit or be distributed across one or more processing units in one or more locations, e.g., on a client and server.
I/O interfaces may comprise any system for exchanging information from an external source. External devices may comprise any known type of external device, including a CRT, LED screen, handheld device, keyboard, mouse, voice recognition system, speech output system, printer, facsimile, pager, personal digital assistant, cellular phone, web phone, onboard diagnostics, etc. Bus provides a communication link between each of the components in the server system and likewise may comprise any known type of transmission link, including electrical, optical, wireless, etc. In addition, although not shown, additional components, such as cache memory, communication systems, system software, etc., may be incorporated into computer system.
Stored in memory is communication system (shown in FIG. 1 as a software product). Communication system will be described in more detail below but generally comprises a system and method for exchanging automotive information between at least two automotive trading partners engaged in an automotive transaction. Database is provided for storing trading partner and transaction information, as will be discussed in further detail below. Database may comprise one or more storage devices, such as a magnetic disk drive or an optical disk drive. In another preferred embodiment, database includes data distributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or a storage area network (SAN) (not shown). Database may also be configured in such a way that one of ordinary skill in the art may interpret it to include multiple databases.
A trading partner seeking to conduct an automotive transaction with another trading partner will access the computer system and the communication system via communications network. Communications network can be a direct terminal connected to the computer system, or a remote workstation in a client-server environment. In the case of the latter, the client and server may be connected via the Internet, wide area networks (WAN), local area networks (LAN) or other private networks. The server and client may utilize conventional connectivity for WAN, LAN, or other private networks, or Ethernet, or other conventional communications standards. Where the client is connected to the system server via the Internet, connectivity could be provided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-based protocol. In this instance, the client would utilize an Internet service provider outside the system to establish connectivity to the system server within the system. In addition, trading partners could access the communication system via any device capable of Internet access. Examples of such devices include web phone, pager device, personal digital assistant, etc.
Once the trading partner has gained access to the computer system, the trading partner can utilize communication system to communicate and exchange information with other trading partners. It is understood that the present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. As indicated above, the computer system according to the present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in a single computerized workstation, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems (e.g., a network). Any kind of computer system—or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein—is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. Alternatively, a specific use computer, containing specialized hardware for carrying out one or more of the functional tasks of the invention could be utilized. The present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which—when loaded in a computer system—is able to carry out these methods. Computer program, software program, program, or software, in the present context mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form.