Communication systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating a financing application from a retailer to a finance source are provided. In some embodiments, information related to a financing application may be communicated from a retailer. The information may be converted to a suitable file format and automatically transmitted, for example, as a facsimile (or any other suitable file format) over communications paths using a communications network. In some embodiments of the present invention, motor vehicle dealership financing application techniques are used to determine financing eligibility, financing terms, or any combination thereof in connection with the sale or leasing of motor vehicles.

1 . A method for communicating a financing application from a retailer to a finance source, the method comprising:
 electronically receiving, over a computer network at a central processor, information related to the financing application in a first format, wherein the information is communicated from the retailer to the computer network;   at the central processor, electronically processing the information to automatically convert the information to a second format;   electronically communicating at least a subset of the information in the second format to the finance source over the computer network;   electronically receiving, at the central processor, a response from the finance source to the information related to the financing application; and   electronically communicating the response to the retailer.   
     
     
         2 . The method defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the central processor, determining a mode of communication of the information for communication to the finance source, wherein the information is converted to the second format based on the determined mode of communication.   
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the retailer specifies the mode of communication of the information to the finance source. 
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the mode of communication is stored in a database at the central processor. 
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the response is electronically communicated to the retailer using the determined mode of communication. 
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the central processor is located remotely from the retailer and the finance source. 
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the central processor is located at the retailer. 
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the information related to the financing application comprises at least one of customer information, vehicle information, and a desired finance source. 
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the response comprises at least one of financing decisions, financing terms, and financing conditions. 
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the information is communicated electronically using XML. 
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the information is communicated electronically by facsimile. 
     
     
         12 . A system for communicating a financing application from a retailer to a finance source, the system comprising:
 a computer network;   a central processor coupled to the computer network and configured to:
 receive, over the computer network, information related to the financing application in a first format, wherein the information is communicated from the retailer to the computer network; 
 process the information to automatically convert the information to a second format; 
 communicate at least a subset of the information in the second format to the finance source over the computer network; 
 receive a response from the finance source to the information related to the financing application; and 
 automatically communicate the response to the retailer. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the central processor is further configured to:
 determine a mode of communication of the information for communication to the finance source, wherein the information is converted to the second format based on the determined mode of communication.   
     
     
         14 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the retailer specifies the mode of communication of the information to the finance source. 
     
     
         15 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the mode of communication is stored in a database at the central processor. 
     
     
         16 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the response is communicated to the retailer using the determined mode of communication. 
     
     
         17 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the central processor is located remotely from the retailer and the finance source. 
     
     
         18 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the central processor is located at the retailer. 
     
     
         19 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the information related to the financing application comprises at least one of customer information, vehicle information, and a desired finance source. 
     
     
         20 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the response comprises at least one of financing decisions, financing terms, and financing conditions. 
     
     
         21 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the information is communicated electronically using XML. 
     
     
         22 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the information is communicated electronically by facsimile. 
     
     
         23 . Computer-readable medium for communicating a financing application from a retailer to a finance source, the computer-readable medium comprising program logic recorded thereon for:
 receiving, over a computer network at a central processor, information related to the financing application in a first format, wherein the information is communicated from the retailer to the computer network;   at the central processor, processing the information to automatically convert the information to a second format;   communicating at least a subset of the information in the second format to the finance source over the computer network;   receiving, at the central processor, a response from the finance source to the information related to the financing application; and   communicating the response to the retailer.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 23  further comprising logic recorded thereon for:
 at the central processor, determining a mode of communication of the information for communication to the finance source, wherein the information is converted to the second format based on the determined mode of communication.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 24  wherein the retailer specifies the mode of communication of the information to the finance source. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 24  wherein the mode of communication is stored in a database at the central processor. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 24  wherein the response is electronically communicated to the retailer using the determined mode of communication. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 23  wherein the central processor is located remotely from the retailer and the finance source. 
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 23  wherein the central processor is located at the retailer. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 23  wherein the information related to the financing application comprises at least one of customer information, vehicle information, and a desired finance source. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 23  wherein the response comprises at least one of financing decisions, financing terms, and financing conditions. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 23  wherein the information is communicated electronically using XML. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium defined in  claim 23  wherein the information is communicated electronically by facsimile.