Methods and systems for leasing equipment

US7184978B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• GE Capital Aviation Services, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Anton Tams · Ennis, IE
• Gerard Moore · Limerick, IE
• John P. Cunningham · Limerick, IE
• Karen A. Amico · Greenwich, US
• James Justin Bradburn · Ridgefield, US
• Patrick Arthur Cosgrove · Stamford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 28, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 27, 2007
• Expiry date: Nov 25, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/04
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods that facilitate selection of particular equipment desired to be leased through contract execution are described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the system includes a server having a database for storing data relating to an aircraft fleet. The stored data includes specific information relating to aircraft in the fleet, as well as terms of existing leases for those aircraft in the fleet then currently leased. The system is accessible to the customer via a network such as a wide area network, e.g., an extranet accessible via the Internet, so that the customer can query the database and identify aircraft the meets specific mission requirements. The system facilitates meeting customer requirements in that a customer can readily select, via the system, multiple aircraft desired for lease without requiring involvement of the marketing executive. Such selections can be made by the customer any time, anywhere, at the customers convenience. Once the customer submits the selections, the marketing executive then initiates and actually prepares the term sheets for the aircraft based on the actual customer selections and using terms acceptable to the customer.