Method, apparatus, and system for synchronizing timing of an auction throug a computer network
First Claim
1. A method of synchronizing a closing of a network auction, comprising:
- determining a message travel time between a participant processor and an auction processor;
establishing a sponsor auction time at the auction processor;
calculating a bidder auction time by adding the message travel time to the auction processor time;
setting a participant processor clock to the bidder auction time; and
accepting a bid at the auction processor only if the bid was sent prior to a predetermined end of bidding time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of synchronizing a closing of a network auction is disclosed. The method includes determining a message travel time between a participant processor and an auction processor, establishing a sponsor auction time at the auction processor, calculating a bidder auction time by adding the message travel time to the auction processor time, setting a participant processor clock to the bidder auction time, and accepting a bid at the auction processor only if the bid was sent prior to a predetermined closing time. A method of validating that a bid is placed by a participant processor networked with an auction processor prior to a predetermined end of bidding time is also disclosed. The method includes setting a time clock at a participant processor to an auction time and accepting a bid at the auction processor only until the predetermined end of bidding time has occurred, according to the participant processor time clock. A method of verifying that a bid is placed prior to an end of bidding time is also disclosed. That method includes ordering messages received from a networked participant processor, receiving an auction closed message from the participant processor at a networked auction processor, and accepting a bid at the auction processor, placed by the participant processor, only if a message containing the bid is ordered prior to the end of bidding message. Systems and devices that perform those methods are also disclosed.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of synchronizing a closing of a network auction, comprising:
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determining a message travel time between a participant processor and an auction processor;
establishing a sponsor auction time at the auction processor;
calculating a bidder auction time by adding the message travel time to the auction processor time;
setting a participant processor clock to the bidder auction time; and
accepting a bid at the auction processor only if the bid was sent prior to a predetermined end of bidding time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39)
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26. A method of validating that a bid is placed by a participant processor networked with an auction processor prior to a predetermined end of bidding time, comprising:
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setting a time clock at the participant processor to an auction time; and
accepting a bid sent from the participant processor to the auction processor only until the predetermined end of bidding time occurs, according to the participant processor time clock.
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28. A method of validating that a bid is placed by a participant processor networked with an auction processor prior to a predetermined end of bidding time, comprising:
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synchronizing a time clock at the participant processor with a time clock at the auction processor; and
accepting a bid sent from the participant processor to the auction processor only until a predetermined end of bidding time occurs at the auction processor time clock.
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34. A method of verifying that a bid is placed prior to an end of bidding time, comprising:
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ordering messages sent by a networked participant processor;
receiving an end of bidding message from the participant processor at a networked auction processor; and
accepting a bid at the auction processor, placed by the participant processor, only if a message containing the bid is ordered prior to the end of bidding message.
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37. A system for synchronizing a closing of a network auction, comprising:
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an auction processor attached to a network; and
a participant processor attached to said network;
wherein said auction processor contains instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to;
determine a message travel time between said participant processor and said auction processor;
establish a sponsor auction time;
calculate a bidder auction time by adding the message travel time to the auction processor time;
send a participant processor clock setting to said participant processor; and
accept a bid from said participant processor only if the bid was sent prior to a predetermined end of bidding time.
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40. A bidding device operated by a bidder during an online auction and coupled to an auction processor via a network, comprising:
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a clock; and
a processor coupled to the clock, the processor having instructions that, when executed by the processor set said clock to a bidder auction time.
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Specification