Method and apparatus for conducting a bidding session
First Claim
1. A method of conducting a bidding session, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a communications channel between a bidding session server and a web browser residing on a remote terminal;
transmitting bidding session status information from said bidding session server to said web browser via said communications channel;
receiving a bid from said web browser via said communications channel; and
in response to receiving said bid, transmitting an update of said bidding session status information to at least one web browser residing on at least one remote terminal, wherein said update has not been requested by said at least one web browser.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for conducting bidding sessions in various modes to arrive at the highest or lowest price. The invention allows a primary user to set the objective of the bidding session (i.e., to obtain the maximum price if the primary user has a good or service to sell, and to obtain the minimum price if the primary user is looking for goods or services to buy). The invention allows bidders to participate in and receive immediate feedback on the status of the bidding session with an ordinary web browser, even if the bidder is working from the opposite side of a firewall. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for hosting bidding sessions conducted on behalf of the primary user.
109 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a bidding session, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communications channel between a bidding session server and a web browser residing on a remote terminal;
transmitting bidding session status information from said bidding session server to said web browser via said communications channel;
receiving a bid from said web browser via said communications channel; and
in response to receiving said bid, transmitting an update of said bidding session status information to at least one web browser residing on at least one remote terminal, wherein said update has not been requested by said at least one web browser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of conducting a bidding session, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communications channel between a bidding session server and a web browser residing on a remote terminal located on the opposite side of a firewall;
transmitting bidding session status information to said web browser through said firewall via said communications channel;
receiving a bid from said web browser via said communications channel;
extending the duration of said bidding session in response to receiving said bid;
transmitting an update of said bidding session status information to at least one web browser residing on at least one remote terminal, wherein said update has not been requested by said at least one web browser;
qualifying a subset of bidders to participate in at least one additional round of bidding;
wherein said update does not include the value of said bid; and
wherein said bidding session status information comprises at least two kinds of products to be put to bid simultaneously.
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15. A method for conducting bidding sessions for a plurality of clients, comprising the steps of:
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providing a memory area, coupled to a centralized bidding session server infrastructure, for storing bidding session-related data for each of said plurality of clients;
providing a security means for preventing unauthorized access to said bidding session-related data;
under control of said security means, providing authorized access to said bidding session-related data for one of said plurality of clients by a bidding session administrator, wherein said authorized access does not allow said bidding session administrator to access said bidding session-related data for another of said plurality of clients; and
wherein said bidding session administrator sets up a bidding session on said centralized bidding session server infrastructure on behalf of said one of said plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for conducting a bidding session, comprising:
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means for establishing a communications channel with a web browser residing on a remote terminal;
means for transmitting bidding session status information to said web browser via said communications channel;
means for receiving a bid from said web browser via said communications channel; and
responsive to said means for receiving, means for transmitting an update of said bidding session status information to at least one web browser residing on at least one remote terminal, wherein said update has not been requested by said at least one web browser. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for conducting a bidding session, comprising:
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a connection builder configured to establish a communications channel with a web browser residing on a remote terminal;
a first transmitter, wherein said first transmitter is configured to send bidding session status information to said web browser via said communications channel;
a receiver that receives a bid from said web browser via said communications channel; and
a second transmitter, responsive to said receiver, wherein said second transmitter is configured to send an update of said bidding session status information to at least one web browser residing on at least one remote terminal, wherein said update has not been requested by said at least one web browser. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for conducting a bidding session, comprising:
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a connection builder configured to establish a communications channel with a web browser residing on a remote terminal located on the opposite side of a firewall;
a bidding engine;
a bidding session supervisor component configured to monitor said bidding session; and
a messaging system, wherein said messaging system transmits messages between said bidding session supervisor component and said remote terminal.
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Specification