Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AUTOMATED AUDIO PRESENTATIONS
FOR PROMOTING AUTOMOBILE SALES
~;LD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to promoting the sale of
automobiles, and more specifically, to methods and systems for providing
consistent and accurate vehicle information to customers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Customers may need information regarding features and
advantages of a particular vehicle before completing a purchase. Such
information is still provided through a salesman's "pitch." There are several
shortcomings to such sales practices. Customers tend to dislike anything that
resembles a high-pressure sales tactic, and simply being accosted by a salesman
may be sufficient to discourage some customers. Also, a salesmen may not be
knowledgeable about a particular vehicle that interests a customer. A potential
sale may be lost if a customer feels that the salesman is uninformed and simply
wasting the customer' s time. There is also a potential to mislead a customer asto vehicle features, which jeopardizes the reputation of the sales agency. This
problem is particularly acute at agencies that sell used cars, which often have a
wide and quickly changing inventory. As well, at peak periods, a salesman
may not be able to attend to customer inquiries about vehicles in a prompt
manner. If tired or attending to several potential customers, the salesman may
present automobiles in a less than enthllsi~tic manner, once again jeopardizing
potential sales.
SIJMM~Y OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of promoting the
sale of an automobile to a customer. The method involves storing an audio
presentation describing characteristics of the automobile in an audio playback
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unit. The playback unit is located proximate to the vehicle, and the presentation
is audibly reproduced when a potential customer is nearby. The customer may
himself actuate the playback unit with a simple push-button switch, or a sensor
may respond to the customer' s person proximity to the vehicle to actuate
5 playback.
The invention provides several advantages. It provides
consistent presentation of automobile features 24 hours a day, avoids any
imm~ te involvement between a customer and sales staff, and does require
sales staff to be completely knowledgeable about all automobiles available for
10 sale. If desired, it can also be used to train sales staff, providing a better
understanding of vehicles available for sale. It also permits a sales agency to
reduce its sales staff and allows sales staff to devote more time to becoming
familiar with and promoting the agency' s after-sale services.
In another aspect, the invention addresses the problem of
15 making audio presentations regarding automobiles available to sales agencies in
a timely and cost-effective manner. This is expected to be of particular concernto agencies dealing in used cars where inventory is constantly ch~nging. A
center gathers and processes information regarding various automobiles and
then prepares and stores presentations. An automobile sales agency that
20 subscribes to the services of the center forwards a request identifying the
particular veicle and its characteristics. The center retrieves or composes the
required presentation in digital form and transmits the presentation over
telephone lines to a computer at the sales agency. In preferred form, the
playback unit is coupled with a cable to the computer to receive the presentation,
25 which permits storage directly in an electronic memory within the playback unit,
elimin:~ting the need for a tape or disk drive that would add considerably to the
cost of the playback unit. This reduces the cost of providing playback units fora large selection of vehicles.
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Presentations may be stored in text form and converted to an
audio format prior to delivery to an agency or alternatively may be subjected tospeech synthesis within the playback unit itself. However, a strongly plt;fell~;d
approach is to store actual audio presentations, preferably vocali_ed by a person
to provide more natural and pleasant sound. The audio presentations are
preferably divided into and stored as distinct audio segments ("sound bites"),
some of which can shared among various presentations. Whether stored as
entire audio presentations or audio segments, the stored sound m~t~ri~lc. are
indexed. An automobile sales agency subscribing to the service of the centre
may identify a particular vehicle for which the center m ~int~inC. audio materials
and then select characteristics of the particular vehicle from a pre~letPrminl d set,
which permits the center to imm~ t~ly identify or compose the required audio
presentation.
Various aspects of the invention have been sllmm~ri7e~1 above.
Others will be apparent from a description below of a preferred embodiments
and will be more specifically defined in the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWlNGS
The invention will be better understood with reference to
drawings in which:
fig. 1 is a fragmented perspective view showing an automobile
in which a playback unit has been installed to provide an audio presentation
regarding the automobile;
fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the playback unit of fig. 1;
fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a system for delivering
audio presentations upon request from a center to a vehicle sales agency;
fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a database file structure for
org~ni7ing audio segments;
fig. 5 is a brief flow chart indicating the recording and editing
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process used to produce records in the database;
figs. 6 and 7 illustrates successive computer windows that
permit the sales agency to specify a particular automobile for which an audio
presentation is required;
fig. 8 illustrates a computer window that allows the sales agency
to specify various options associated with the particular automobile for
a~p~,pliate tailoring of the audio presentation the automobile;
figs. 9a and 9b are flow-charts showing a process for specifying
a particular vehicle and its options and then composing and tr~n~mitting from
the service center to the agency a corresponding audio presentation in digital
form; and,
fig. 10 is a text representation of sample audio presentation
resulting from the procedure of fig. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is made to fig. 1 which illustrates an automobile 10
effectively adapted to provide an audio presentation 12 (the text of which is
shown in fig. 10) promoting its own sale. The audio presentation 12 is stored
in compressed digital form in a portable playback unit 14. The playback unit 14
has a main housing 16 that is placed on the dashboard of the automobile 10 and
a separate speaker housing 18 that is placed in the engine compartment of the
automobile 10 and connected to the main housing 16 with a cable 20. The main
housing 16 is positioned so that a sensor 22 mounted on its exterior faces
toward the automobile's windshield 24. The optical sensor 22 detects when a
customer is proximate to the automobile 10, specifically by sensing when a
customer waives his hand over the windshield 24, and then triggers playback of
the stored audio presentation 12. Electric power for operation of the playback
unit 14 is obtained from the vehicle's battery, and, for such purposes, the
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playback unit 14 has a power cord 26 tetmin~t~cl with an adapter 28 that fits into
the automobile's cigarette lighter.
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the playback unit 14.
The playback unit 14 has a microprocessor 30 (such as Motorola model
MC68HC705C8) and a read-only memory 31 (ROM) cont~ining software code
that programs operation of the microprocessor 30. The playback unit 14 has a
512 kilobyte non-volatile flash memory 32 in which a single audio presentation
in compressed digital form can be stored. A conventional RS-232 port 34
coupled to an internal bus 36 permits an audio presentation to be downloaded to
the microprocessor 30 for storage within the flash memory 32. The sensor 22
is coupled to the same internal bus 36. When appropliately triggered, the
microprocessor 30 retrieves and decompresses the stored presentation 12 and
applies applupliate digital signals to a conventional driver 38. The driver 38 in
turn applies corresponding analog signals to a speaker 40 within the speaker
housing 18.
The optical sensor 22 is conventional and will only be briefly
described. It may comprise an infrared light emitting diode (LED) that is pulsedat a predeterrnined frequency, a detector with a transparent cover that filters
sunlight and other visible light, a bandpass filter (not illustrated) connected to
the detector to extract signals at the predetermined frequency, and a comparatorcircuit (not illustrated) that detects whether the filtered signal exceeds a
predetermined threshold value. When a customer waives his hand over the
windshield 24, light emitted by the sensor' s LED is reflected from his hand
back through the windshield 24 toward the sensor' s detector, causing the
filtered detector signal to exceed the threshold value. Other arrangements for
sensing proximity of a customer may involve orienting a similar sensor at a
ful~-l section of the automobile 10 so that playback is triggered when a
customer stands for a preset period of time before the automobile 10.
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The microprocessor 30 is programmed to monitor the internal
bus 36 for digital :~tu~ting signals. Two events and associated actuating
signals are significant. If the filtered detector signal exceeds the threshold
value, the sensor 22 applies a playback actuating signal to the internal bus 36.The microprocessor 30 responds by initiating audible reproduction of the audio
presentation stored in the flash memory 32. An external device coupled to the
RS232 port 34 may be programmed to apply an actuating signal to the internal
bus 36 to initiate a data transfer mode of operation. In the data transfer mode,the microprocessor 30 receives an audio presentation in digital form along the
internal bus 36 and stores the received presentation in the flash memory 32.
The downloading of a digital audio file to the playback unit 14 may follow
conventional communication protocols and practices.
Reference is made to fig. 3 which schematically illustrates a
system for composing and delivering audio presentations. The sales agency 42
selling the automobile 10 obtains the audio presentation 12 from a remote center44 that may serve several sales agencies. The center 44 has a computer 46, a
modem 48 that couples the computer 46 to a public telephone system 50, and a
storage system 52 (e.g. multiple magneto-optical disk drives) that contains
pre-recorded audio presentations that are stored in compressed digital form in
distinct segments. The sales agency 42 has a computer 54 coupled to the public
telephone system 50 through a modem 56 and programmed to communicate
with the co~ uler 46 of the center 44. The agency's computer 54 has an
RS232 port 58 that can be connected with a serial cable 60 (shown in phantom
outline in fig. 2 to indicate the temporary nature of the connection) to the
RS232 port 34 of the playback unit 14 or similar playback units for purposes of
downloading audio presentations to such units.
Fig. 10 shows the text associated with the sample audio
presentation 12 that the service center 44 might provide to the sales agency 42 to
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promote the sale of the vehicle of fig. 1. Distinct segments of the presentation12 are identified with the following captions and reference characters:
Identification 62, Powertrain 64, Interior 66, Exterior 68, and Closing &
Mileage 70. The segment Closing & Mileage consists of two distinct segments,
5 a Closing segment generally indicated with 72 and a Mileage segment indicated
with 74, which are concatenated. The presentation 12 is shown in text form but
the presentation 12 as delivered to the sales agency 42 is a corresponding
.ligiti7~d audio file.
Fig. 4 diagr~mm~tically indicates the nature of the data base
10 m~int:~ined by the center 44. A Vehicle file 76 contains records each identifying
a different vehicle according to make, model and year. Several audio files
contain records comprising audio presentation segments in compressed tligiti7t-dform that are linked directly or indirectly to records in the Vehicle file 76. The
files include an Identification file 78, Powertrain file 80, Interior file 82,
Exterior file 84, a Closing file 86, and a Mileage file 88. Audio segments in the
presentation 12 of fig. 10 have corresponding names, indicating the particular
files from which corresponding ~ligiti7ed audio segment are retrieved. The
Powertrain, Interior, Exterior and Mileage files 80, 82, 84, 88 may contain
multiple records related to a particular record in the Vehicle file 76, and havebeen illustrated as sets of records to indicate the one-to-many relationship. The
Mileage file 88 contains 40 audio segments identifying ~ltern~tive mileages for
vehicles, spanning 5000 to 200,000 miles in increments of 5000 miles, and 40
audio segments spanning 5000 to 200,000 kilometers in increments of 5000
kilometers. An Options file 90 is used to link the records of the Powertrain,
Interior and Exterior files 80-84 to the Vehicle file 76, as will be explained
below. To reduce recording and storage requirements, the records of the
Mileage file 88 need not contain audio segments tailored to particular vehicles,
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and a set of 80 mileage segments can be used to generate audio mileage
statements for all audio presentations.
A process for producing the various audio segments is indicated
in fig. 5 and will be explained with reference to the features of the automobile5 10 of fig. 1. A script comparable to the script of fig. 10 is prepared for theautomobile 10 using information retrieved from m~nllfacturers' literature and
various automotive publications. The script contains ~lt~rn:~tive descriptions of
the interior, exterior and power train of a vehicle, according to the various
standard features and options the manufacturer made available. An a~ropliate
10 vehicle record may be entered in the Vehicle file 76, identifying the make, year
and model number of the vehicle, which together constitute a vehicle identifier
uniquely identifying a particular vehicle. In this case, the vehicle and vehicleidentifier are hypothetically assumed to be 1994 Jeep TM Grand Cherokee
LaredoTM. A record may also be entered into the Options file 90 and linked to
15 the entered record of the Vehicle file 76. The options record has fields
identifying the options available for the powertrain, interior and exterior of the
vehicle, for example: "Automatic" and "Standard" identifying alternative
tr~nsmi~ion options and "6 cylinder" and "V8" identifying alternative engine
options, relating to the vehicle's powertrain; "Appearance Package" identifying
20 an exterior option; and "Leather Trim w/AC" identifying an interior option.
According to this example, four different script and audio segments are requiredfor the powertrain, two script and audio segments for the interior description
(standard interior and interior with option "Leather w/AC"); and two script and
audio segments for the exterior description (standard exterior and exterior with25 option "Appearance Package"). Multiple ~lt~ tive script and audio segments
are required to handle the various mileage ranges possible.
A person reads the script into a microphone 92, pausing after
each text segment, and the vocalized text is digitized and recorded directly in a
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computer system using audio (ligiti7.ing, recording and editing software. The
recorded script is then parsed and edited with the software to form separate
audio segments. The separate audio segments are compressed, indexed and
stored as records in the database in the Identification, Powertrain, Interior,
5 Exterior, Closing and Mileage files 78-88. The Identification, Closing and
multiple Mileage records are linked directly to the Vehicle record. The multiplePowertrain, Exterior and Interior records are linked to the Options record. As
well, fields are inserted into the Options record and linked records that contain
codes identifying which ones of the linked Powertrain, Exterior and Interior
10 records should be used to prepare an audio presentation depending on which
vehicle options are specified. One method of creating such a relationship is to
order the vehicle options identified in the Options record and to assign
numerical values to the options. During linking of the Powertrain, Exterior and
Interior records to the Options record, the operator identifies the particular
lS options in the Options record that are associated with each linked record, and a
unique code is generated from the identified options and inserted into the linked
record. Where a manufacturer provides common features or options among
several makes, the audio segments in the Powertrain, Exterior and Interior can
be shared through separate Options records, reducing recording, editing and
20 storage requirements.
A process for handling agency requests for audio presentations
is shown in the flow charts of fig. 9a and 9b. In the flow charts, process
control flows down unless otherwise indicated with arrows. Circles cont~ining
letters (letters "A", "B" and "C") indicate the same point in the flow charts and
25 arrows toward such components indicate essentially a "jump" in processing
steps. The process will be described with reference to selection windows
shown in figs. 6-8 and with specific reference to specification and delivery of
an audio presentation respecting the vehicle of fig. 1.
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The service center 44 handles a log on by the agencies in a
conventional manner. Procedures after logging on involve graphic interface and
use of a mouse to specify choices by clicking appr~fiate visually displayed
controls. The service center 44 presents a type specification window 94 (shown
in fig. 6) which has multiple buttons 96, 98, 100, 102 that permit a user to
specify whether the required audio presentation relates to a car, truck,
sportlutility vehicle or minivan. The service center co~ Juler 46 then enters anidle loop, waiting for user action. If the user presses a close button 104 in the
window 94, the communication session ends with a conventional log off
procedure, including incidental accounting procedures, follows. If the user
presses the "sporLlutility" button 102 (or any other of the four control buttons96-102), he is presented with a vehicle specification window 106 (shown in
fig. 7) which includes a scrolling field 108 that displays various vehicle
identifiers (make, model and year). The scrolling field 108 may initially be
blank, awaiting user specification of a model year in another scrolling field 110
which is formatted to display a listing of years from some preselected starting
year to the current year.
The service center colll~uLer 46 enters another idle loop awaiting
user action. Several events may cause the service center 44 to either exit the
loop or update the displayed window 106. If the user presses the displayed
close button 112, the service center computer 46 t.ormin~t~s the vehicle
specification process and returns to the type specification window 94 (from
which the user can initiate a log off process by pressing its close button 104).If the user changes the year displayed in the scrolling scrolling year field 110,
the Vehicle file 76 is searched according to the specified year and the specified
vehicle type (in this instance, sport/utility) to retrieve pertinent vehicle records.
The vehicle identification fields of such records are sorted alphabetically and
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displayed in the scrolling field 108. In the example illustrated in fig. 7, vehicle
identification fields for sport/utility vehicles for 1994 are displayed, ~sllming
that the user has specified the year 1994. If the scroll controls 114 are operated,
the scrolling vehicle field 108 is updated in a conventional manner to indicate a
S different subset of the vehicles for 1994. If the user "double-clicks" a
particular vehicle identification within the scrolling field 108, the action is
interpreted as selection or specification of a desired vehicle. In this instance, it
is assumed that the user has selected the entry 116 which reads "Jeep Grand
Cher. Laredo/'94." The service center cu~ uLer 46 retrieves the record in the
10 Options file 90 that is associated with the specified vehicle. With the fields of
the Options record, the service center computer 46 configures a vehicle options
window 118 (show in fig. 8) to perrnit specification of vehicle characteristics
associated with the selected vehicle. These are identified in areas de~i~n~te~l
"Exterior" (numbered 120), "Powertrain" (numbered 122), and"Interior"
(number 124). As well, a scrolling mileage field 126 allows the user to identifya mileage range in which the particular vehicle of interest falls. The user has the
option of specifying mileage in miles or kilometers with a set of
mutually-exclusive radio buttons 128 whose states can be toggled in a
conventional manner. Vehicle features that are mutually exclusive are identified20 with similar sets of mutually-exclusive radio buttons that toggle to permit only
one selection, such as the set of similar radio buttons 130 associated with the
choice of either a standard or automatic tr~n~mis~ion and the separate set of
radio buttons 132 associated with the choice of either a ~cylinder engine or a
V8 engine. Where a single option is available that is not mutually exclusive
25 relative to other options, check boxes 134 are provided to specify such options.
The various controls and mileage fields may be set to predeterrnined default
values. The vehicle options window 118 with vehicle name across the top is
then actually displayed.
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The service center computer 46 then enters another idle loop, as
at point "C" in fig. 9B awaiting various user-initiated events. If controls are
operated, such as the scroll control 136 of the mileage field 126, radio buttons128- 132 and check boxes 134, the display is updated accordingly. In the state
5 of fig. 8, the vehicle mileage field 126 has been updated to show a maximum
vehicle mileage of 25,000 miles. If the displayed close button 138 is pressed,
the options process is terminated and the service center computer 46 returns to
the vehicle specification window 106 of fig. 7 and associated process at point
"B." The user can then specify a different vehicle or exit with the close button112 to the type specification window 94 of fig. 6 (from which the user can log
off by pressing its close button 104). If the user presses the OK button 140, a
dialog box may be used to confirm the user' s specification for the vehicle and
the computer 46 may return to the idle mode at point "C" to allow
modifications. Such confirm~tion is conventional and has not been displayed in
15 the flow chart of fig. 9b. Upon confirm~tion of the OK, the service center
computer 46 retrieves mileage value and options specified by the user. The
coding field of the previously retrieved Options record is then used to retrievethe Powertrain, Exterior, Closing, and Mileage audio segments specified by the
user option selections. The retrieved audio segments are then concatenated to
20 produce, in this instance, the audio presentation 12 shown in fig. 10, in
~ligiti7~ 1 audio form. The service center 44 may then initiate a file transfer with
the remote agency computer 54 and transmit the audio presentation 12 to the
service center computer 46 via the telephone system 50. The agency 42 may
then download the presentation 12 to the playback unit 14, as has been
25 described above.
Various forms of telephone tr~n~mi~sion are possible. Standard
telephone connections represent one possibility, but long distance charges can
be steep. Internet represents a potentially inexpensive alternative. Private
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E~Mail services can also be used. Other telephonic tran~mi.~ion media will be
apparent to those skilled in the art.
It will be appreciated that a particular embodiment of the
invention has been described and that modifications may be made therein
5 without departing from the spirit of the invention or necessarily departing from
the scope of the appended claims.
