SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENCOURAGING COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION IN AN AUCTION

• US 20060242055A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew S Van Luchene, Daniel E. Tedesco, Jay S. Walker
• Original Assignee: Andrew S Van Luchene, Daniel E. Tedesco, Jay S. Walker
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US11/456,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242055A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

In both an on-line and a conventional auction, an auctioneer may encourage competitive bidding behavior through the provision of rewards to those bidders whose bids meet predetermined criteria. For example, a bidder may be rewarded if her bid exceeds a prior bid by a threshold value. An auctioneer may further discourage non-competitive bidding behavior by penalizing those bidders whose bids fall below predetermined standards.

Claims

1. A method for providing a reward to a bidder participating in an auction, the method comprising:

identifying a product subject to bidding during an auction session;

receiving a bid for the product from a bidder during the auction session;

determining, based on a reward rule, whether the bidder is qualified to receive a reward, and if the bidder is qualified;

transmitting, to the bidder, an indication that the bidder is qualified to receive the reward.

2-66. -66. (canceled)