Systems and methods for automated internet-based auctions

• US 10,360,624 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Asher, Joseph M., Lutnick, Howard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haq, Naeem U
• Application Number:
  US13/614,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20130132225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,504 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and 5 methods for implementing an automated auction process that is held at a designated time on the Internet, and that ends after bidding has been completed. In accordance with these systems and methods, a server connected to a plurality of workstations may establish 10 several auctions that allow for efficient trading of multiple goods, while simulating the live and dynamic setting of traditional auctions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via at least one processor of at least one computer in electronic communication with a plurality of other computers, a plurality of electronic messages comprising a plurality of bids from a plurality of remote computers in an electronic auction session, in which each bid comprises a bid amount, and in which at least one bid is a smart bid that automatically outbids all other bids by an incremental amount until a maximum amount is reached;

generating, via the at least one processor, electronic data representing an animated character;

causing, by the at least one processor, an interface screen to be displayed at an electronic display of one of the plurality of computers during the electronic auction session, the interface screen simultaneously comprising;

an image of the animated character, in which the image is one of a series of images displayed at the interface that depict the animated character announcing information relating to the electronic auction session,

indicia of an item available for bidding;

a bid indicia selectable for placing a bid;

a smart bid indicia selectable for placing a smart bid, in which the smart bid indicia is different and separate from the bid indicia; and

in which the act of causing the interface screen to be displayed comprises transmitting the electronic data to at least the one of the plurality of computers;

after causing the images of the animated character to be displayed, computing, via the at least one processor after an auction period has ended, a winning bid from among the received bids, in which the winning bid is the smart bid;

transmitting, via the at least one processor to a remote device, an indication of the winning bid, in which the remote device and the at least one processor are in electronic communication over a network; and

causing information about the winning bid to be displayed at the interface screen.

2. The method of claim 1, in which each bid comprises an identity of the bidder, and in which the interface screen further simultaneously comprises indicia of a time associated with the auction.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the information relating to the electronic auction session comprises at least one of:

a status of the received bids;

a start time and end time for the electronic auction session;

a minimum bid amount for the item; and

a minimum incremental amount for each bid.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the animated character appears at a workstation of a bidder.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the bidder is a potential bidder.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the bidder has the winning bid.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the animated character provides at least one instruction on processing the winning bid.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication of a reserve price for the item, in which any bids with a bid amount that falls below the reserve price is automatically rejected.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the animated character is capable of being heard over at least one speaker that is attached to the workstation.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, via at least one processor of at least one computer in electronic communication with a plurality of other computers, a plurality of electronic messages comprising a plurality of bids in an electronic auction session, in which each bid comprises a bid amount, and in which at least one bid is a smart bid that automatically outbids all other bids by an incremental amount until a maximum amount is reached;

generating, via the at least one processor, an animated character that announces information relating to the electronic auction session;

computing, via the at least one processor after an auction period has ended, a winning bid from among the received bids, in which the winning bid is the smart bid;

transmitting, via the at least one processor to a remote device, an indication of the winning bid, in which the remote device and the at least one processor are in electronic communication over the electronic communications network;

receiving, before expiration of the auction period, electronic data comprising a request to rescind a previously submitted bid; and

rescinding the previously submitted bid.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor of at least one computer in electronic communication with a plurality of computers via an electronic communications network; and

at least one memory, in which the at least one memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to;

receive a plurality of electronic messages comprising a plurality of bids from a plurality of remote computers in an electronic auction session, in which each bid comprises a bid amount, and in which at least one bid is a smart bid that automatically outbids all other bids by an incremental amount until a maximum amount is reached;

generate electronic data representing an animated character;

cause, by the at least one processor, an interface screen to be displayed at an electronic display of one of the plurality of computers during the electronic auction session, the interface screen simultaneously comprising;

an image of the animated character, in which the image is one of a series of images displayed at the interface that depict the animated character announcing information relating to the electronic auction session,

indicia of an item available for bidding;

a bid indicia selectable for placing a bid;

a smart bid indicia selectable for placing a smart bid, in which the smart bid indicia is different and separate from the bid indicia; and

in which the act of causing the interface screen to be displayed comprises transmitting the electronic data to at least the one of the plurality of computers;

after causing the images of the animated character to be displayed, compute, after an auction period has ended, a winning bid from among the received bids, in which the winning bid is the smart bid;

transmit electronic data representing an indication of the winning bid to a remote computer via the electronic communications network; and

cause information about the winning bid to be displayed at the interface screen.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, in which each bid comprises an identity of the bidder, and in which the interface screen further simultaneously comprises indicia of a time associated with the auction.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the information relating to the electronic auction session comprises at least one of:

a status of the received bids;

a start time and end time for the electronic auction session;

a minimum bid amount for the item; and

a minimum incremental amount for each bid.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the animated character appears at a workstation of a bidder.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the bidder is a potential bidder.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the bidder has the winning bid.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the animated character provides at least one instruction on processing the winning bid.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the at least one memory further comprises instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:

receive an indication of a reserve price for the item, in which any bids with a bid amount that falls below the reserve price is automatically rejected.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the at least one memory further comprises instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, directs the at least one processor to:

receive, before expiration of the auction period, a request to rescind a previously submitted bid; and

rescind the previously submitted bid.