System and method for managing on-demand test drives

Abstract

A system and method for on demand test drives that can include managing a set of vehicle and worker resources in a resource management system; monitoring user browsing patterns of a customer on an online vehicle marketplace; receiving a test drive request from the customer, the request specifying a requested vehicle and test drive location; retrieving test drive availability options from the resource management system; setting a test drive appointment for a selected test drive availability option; coordinating worker and vehicle transport to a scheduled location of the test drive appointment; and delivering vehicle information during the test drive appointment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 managing a set of vehicle and worker resources in a resource management system;   monitoring user browsing patterns on an online vehicle marketplace;   receiving a test drive request from the customer, the request specifying a requested vehicle and test drive location;   retrieving test drive availability options from the resource management system;   setting a test drive appointment for a selected test drive availability option; and   coordinating worker and vehicle transport to a scheduled location of the test drive appointment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring user browsing patterns on an online vehicle marketplace; and wherein retrieved test drive availability options are at least partially based on the user browsing patterns. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring the user browsing patterns comprises characterizing browsing patterns of the customer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring the user browsing patterns comprises characterizing browsing patterns of multiple users of the vehicle marketplace. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring user browsing patterns comprises generating a vehicle interest level of the requested vehicle using the user browsing patterns; and wherein retrieving test drive availability from the resource management system comprises augmenting availability of the requested vehicle based in part on the vehicle interest level. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle interest level increases directly related to the amount of interaction with the requested vehicle on the vehicle marketplace. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle interest level decreases with the quantity of vehicle features of the requested vehicle that differ from other vehicles inspected by the customer on the online vehicle marketplace. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein augmenting availability of the requested vehicle comprises augmenting the availability geographic range of a vehicle according to the vehicle interest level. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein augmenting availability of the requested vehicle comprises artificially limiting schedule availability of the requested vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coordinating worker and vehicle transport comprises delivering test drive task assignments to a set of workers, wherein the set of workers includes at least one worker that is delivered a test drive task assignment for acting as the representative during the test drive appointment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein coordinating worker and vehicle transport comprises selecting at least one worker as a representative at least partially based on the skill profile of the worker. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the set of workers includes a second worker that is delivered a test drive task assignment for vehicle transport from a first vehicle storage facility to a second vehicle storage facility. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein managing a set of vehicle and worker resources comprises identifying a region for a new vehicle storage facility based on a history of test drive appointments. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein managing a set of vehicle and worker resources comprises automatically augmenting worker supply. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein automatically augmenting worker supply comprises managing a current supply of workers through schedule and incentive adjustments. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein automatically augmenting worker supply comprises initiating automated recruitment tasks. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering vehicle information during the test drive appointment, wherein the vehicle information is selected at least partially based on user browsing patterns. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieved test drive availability options are at least partially based on the test drive history of the customer. 
     
     
         19 . A method for a vehicle online marketplace comprising:
 monitoring user browsing patterns on an online vehicle marketplace;   receiving a test drive request from the customer, the request specifying a requested vehicle and test drive location;   retrieving test drive availability options from a resource management system, wherein retrieved test drive availability options are at least partially based on user browsing patterns;   setting a test drive appointment for a selected test drive availability option, wherein the test drive appointment is scheduled for a test drive vehicle; and   delivering vehicle information before or during the test drive appointment.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein monitoring the user browsing patterns comprises characterizing the browsing patterns of the customer and characterizing browsing patterns of multiple users of the vehicle marketplace. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein delivering vehicle information during the test drive comprises delivering vehicle information that is selected at least partially based on the browsing patterns of the customer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein delivering vehicle information during the test drive comprises delivering vehicle information that is selected at least partially based on the test drive history of the representative. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising generating a set of comparable vehicles to the requested vehicle; and wherein delivering vehicle information during the test drive comprises delivering information of the set of comparable vehicles. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein monitoring user browsing patterns of a customer comprises identifying a set of alternative vehicles based on the browsing history of the customer; and wherein delivering vehicle information during the test drive comprises delivering information comparing the test drive vehicle and the alternative vehicles. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein delivering vehicle information during the test drive appointment comprises presenting vehicular information in response to driving conditions during the driving portion of the test drive appointment. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein monitoring user browsing patterns comprises characterizing the user browsing patterns into a profile of prioritized vehicle interests.