Online bidding system with interactive voice recognition interface
First Claim
1. An auction system, comprising:
- a preliminary bidding component configured to offer for auction a plurality of items for a preestablished duration of time in a preliminary auction, the preliminary bidding component further configured to accept bids for the items from remote bidders during the preliminary auction; and
a dynamic real-time virtual auction component configured to execute after the preliminary auction, the dynamic real-time virtual auction component configured to offer for auction items that were offered for auction in the preliminary auction whereby an initial asking price on each item is based upon a bid for the item received during the preliminary auction, the dynamic real-time virtual auction component further configured to accept bids for the items from remote bidders and to automatically update the display to remote bidders as the dynamic real-time virtual auction proceeds.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An online auction system comprising a preliminary bidding portion and a virtual auction portion is disclosed herein. The preliminary bidding portion allows bidders to access auction items and input bids during a preestablished period of time. This preliminary bidding portion may be conducted via computers connected to the internet or via telephones connected to the public telephone network. After the preliminary bidding portion concludes, the virtual auction portion allows bidders to input bids on each item in a manner similar to a conventional live auction. During the virtual auction portion, a countdown encourages further bidding before the previous bid becomes final. After each new bid is inputted, the countdown is reinitiated. An alert system notifies bidders that a particular item of interest is about to be offered for bid as part of the virtual auction portion. The system also provides bidders means for inputting proxy bids.
73 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An auction system, comprising:
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a preliminary bidding component configured to offer for auction a plurality of items for a preestablished duration of time in a preliminary auction, the preliminary bidding component further configured to accept bids for the items from remote bidders during the preliminary auction; and
a dynamic real-time virtual auction component configured to execute after the preliminary auction, the dynamic real-time virtual auction component configured to offer for auction items that were offered for auction in the preliminary auction whereby an initial asking price on each item is based upon a bid for the item received during the preliminary auction, the dynamic real-time virtual auction component further configured to accept bids for the items from remote bidders and to automatically update the display to remote bidders as the dynamic real-time virtual auction proceeds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of conducting an auction, including the steps of:
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offering preliminary bidding on items wherein a plurality of items are offered for auction for a preestablished time period in a preliminary auction;
accepting bids for the items from remote bidders during the preliminary auction;
offering a dynamic real-time virtual auction beginning after the preliminary auction wherein items offered for auction during the preliminary auction are offered for auction with an initial asking price for each item based upon a bid for the item received during the preliminary auction; and
accepting bids for the items from remote bidders during the dynamic real-time virtual auction and automatically updating the display to remote bidders as the dynamic real-time virtual auction proceeds. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An auction system, comprising:
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a first component configured to run an auction including a preliminary bidding component configured to offer for auction a plurality of items for a preestablished duration of time in a preliminary auction and a dynamic real-time virtual auction component configured to execute after the preliminary auction; and
a second component connected to the first component and to a computer network, the second component configured to deliver web pages to a remote user over the computer network, wherein the dynamic real-time virtual auction component is configured to offer for auction items that were offered for auction during the preliminary auction, and wherein an initial asking price for each item is based upon a bid for the item received during the preliminary auction, and wherein the second component is configured to update the display to remote bidders as the dynamic real-time virtual auction proceeds. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of conducting an auction using a processor-based system, including the steps of:
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displaying information regarding a plurality of items offered for auction during a preliminary auction lasting for a preestablished time period;
receiving input during the preliminary auction which corresponds to bids for the items;
conducting a dynamic real-time virtual auction beginning after the preliminary auction ends in which items offered for auction during the preliminary auction are offered for auction with an initial asking price set based upon a bid received during the preliminary auction;
receiving input during the dynamic real-time virtual auction which corresponds to bids for the items; and
updating the display to remote bidders as the dynamic real-time virtual auction proceeds. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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50-62. -62. (canceled)
Specification