Method of selling items using a computer and a communication network
First Claim
1. A method of selling an item using a computer and a communications network comprising in combination, the steps of:
- registering a seller of the item to be sold and registering a bidder with a facilitator;
listing the item to be sold with the facilitator; and
specifying an ask amount and a minimum amount, wherein a trading zone is defined as a range between the minimum amount and the ask amount;
wherein when the bidder makes a high bid at a price which equals or exceeds the ask amount, the high bid is automatically accepted;
wherein when the bidder makes a low bid at a price which is less than the minimum amount, the facilitator automatically rejects the bidder'"'"'s low bid; and
wherein when the bidder makes a bid at a price which is greater than or equal to the minimum amount and less than the ask amount, the seller is capable of choosing to accept the bid, to reject the bid, or to make a counter-offer to the bid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of selling an item using a computer and a communications network comprises the steps of registering a seller of the item to be sold and registering a bidder with a facilitator, listing the item to be sold with the facilitator, and specifying an ask amount and a minimum amount, wherein a trading zone is defined as the range between the minimum amount and the ask amount. When the bidder makes a high bid at a price which equals or exceeds the ask amount, the high bid is accepted and processed for payment. When the bidder makes a low bid at a price which is less than the minimum amount, the facilitator automatically rejects the bidder'"'"'s low bid. When the bidder makes a bid at a price which is greater than or equal to the minimum amount and less than the ask amount, the seller can choose to accept the bid, reject the bid, or make a counter-offer to the bid. The bidder can preferably make bids for all of the item to be sold, a portion of the item to be sold, or more than the item to be sold. The seller is capable of receiving essentially simultaneously bids corresponding to multiple bidders, and the facilitator may not reveal the bid of a separate bidder to any other bidder.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of selling an item using a computer and a communications network comprising in combination, the steps of:
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registering a seller of the item to be sold and registering a bidder with a facilitator;
listing the item to be sold with the facilitator; and
specifying an ask amount and a minimum amount, wherein a trading zone is defined as a range between the minimum amount and the ask amount;
wherein when the bidder makes a high bid at a price which equals or exceeds the ask amount, the high bid is automatically accepted;
wherein when the bidder makes a low bid at a price which is less than the minimum amount, the facilitator automatically rejects the bidder'"'"'s low bid; and
wherein when the bidder makes a bid at a price which is greater than or equal to the minimum amount and less than the ask amount, the seller is capable of choosing to accept the bid, to reject the bid, or to make a counter-offer to the bid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of selling an item using a computer and a communications network comprising in combination, the steps of:
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registering a seller of the item to be sold and a plurality of bidders with a facilitator; and
listing the item to be sold with the facilitator;
wherein the seller is capable of receiving essentially simultaneously a plurality of bids each corresponding to a separate bidder, and the facilitator does not reveal the bid of any bidder to any other bidder. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of selling an item using a computer and a communications network comprising in combination, the steps of:
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registering a seller of the item to be sold and registering a bidder with a facilitator;
wherein the bidder is only able to bid on the item to be sold upon providing payment information to the facilitator;
listing the item to be sold with the facilitator; and
permitting the bidder to bid directly with the seller;
wherein the item can comprise a lot of items, and the bidder is capable of bidding at least one of a portion of the lot of items, and more than the lot of items.
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18. A method of selling an item using a computer and a communications network comprising in combination, the steps of:
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registering a seller of the item to be sold and registering a bidder with a facilitator;
wherein the bidder is only able to bid on the item to be sold upon providing payment information to the facilitator; and
listing the item to be sold with the facilitator;
wherein the seller is capable of receiving a bid from the bidder and is capable of sending a counter bid to the bidder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification