System and method for negotiating prices in an automated auction forum
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interactive computer system for an automated auction forum, said system comprising:
- a database containing information describing an auction entered by a seller;
interface means for enabling a bidder to input a bid in said auction in response to portions of said information displayed to said bidder from said database; and
a database engine utilizing said information to calculate counter bids in response to said bidder;
wherein said bidder enters bids and said database engine produces counter bids until a price is negotiated with said bidder on behalf of said seller.
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Abstract
An auction forum in an interactive computer system negotiates the price of an item on behalf of the seller with a bidder. The system calculates an acceptable bid based on seller input including such variable as a reserve price and hardness of the sale. The bidder haggles with the computer and tries to offer an acceptable bid based on the seller'"'"'s asking price and the duration of the auction. The computer system tracks the bidder'"'"'s progress towards an acceptable bid, giving the bidder a limited number of opportunities to offer an acceptable bid in each session.
38 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An interactive computer system for an automated auction forum, said system comprising:
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a database containing information describing an auction entered by a seller;
interface means for enabling a bidder to input a bid in said auction in response to portions of said information displayed to said bidder from said database; and
a database engine utilizing said information to calculate counter bids in response to said bidder;
wherein said bidder enters bids and said database engine produces counter bids until a price is negotiated with said bidder on behalf of said seller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer implemented method for running an automated auction forum, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing information entered by a seller;
receiving a bid entered by a bidder;
calculating an aim price based on said information entered by said seller;
comparing said bid entered by said bidder to said aim price;
computing a happiness variable based on the proximity of said bid to said aim price;
offering a counter bid based on said bid and said aim price;
determining if said counter bid is a final counter bid based on said happiness variable; and
repeating the steps until said bid matches or exceeds said aim price or until a final counter bid is offered;
wherein a price is found through a process of negotiation with said bidder on behalf of said seller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer implemented method for running an automated auction forum, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing information entered by a seller, said information comprising an item description, a maximum selling price, a minimum selling price, a real price, a duration of sale, and a hardness of sell variable;
receiving a bid entered by a bidder;
finding a percentage that said maximum selling price is greater than said minimum selling price;
adjusting said hardness of sell variable based said percentage, a time decay variable based on said duration, and a randomizer variable;
calculating an aim price based on said adjusted hardness of sell, said maximum selling price, said minimum selling price, and said real price;
comparing said bid entered by said bidder to said aim price;
computing a happiness variable based on the proximity of said bid to said aim price;
offering a counter bid based on said bid and said aim price;
determining if said counter bid is a final counter bid based on said happiness variable;
repeating said steps until said bid matches or exceeds said aim price or until a final counter bid is offered; and
allowing said bidder to accept or reject said final counter bid;
wherein a price is found through a process of negotiation with said bidder on behalf of said seller. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification