Auction system and auction method using presence information and chat function
First Claim
1. An auction system for a user to participate in an auction through a network, comprising:
- an auction information storage unit for storing auction identification information for identifying an auction, and user identification information for identifying a user who has registered for entry into the auction in association with each other;
a presence information storage unit for storing presence information in association with the user identification information of the user, indicating a situation as to whether or not the user who has registered for entry in said auction information storage unit can participate in the auction; and
an auction administration device operable when the auction is to be held for retrieving user identification information associated with auction identification information of the auction from said auction information storage unit, retrieving presence information associated with the user identification information from said presence information storage unit, selecting users in situations where the users can participate in the auction based on the presence information, and holding the auction if a predetermined condition is satisfied by the users in situations where the users can participate in the auction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An auction system is disclosed which is designed to better reflect the preferences of the user to participate by examining whether or not the potential participants are in a situation in which they are able to participate. When an auction is to be held, an auction administration device retrieves user identification information associated with auction identification information of the auction from an auction information storage unit, and retrieves presence information associated with the user identification information from a presence information storage unit. Then, the auction administration device extracts users in situations in which they can participate in the auction, based on the presence information, and holds the auction if a predetermined condition is satisfied by the users in situations in which they can participate in the auction.
15 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An auction system for a user to participate in an auction through a network, comprising:
-
an auction information storage unit for storing auction identification information for identifying an auction, and user identification information for identifying a user who has registered for entry into the auction in association with each other;
a presence information storage unit for storing presence information in association with the user identification information of the user, indicating a situation as to whether or not the user who has registered for entry in said auction information storage unit can participate in the auction; and
an auction administration device operable when the auction is to be held for retrieving user identification information associated with auction identification information of the auction from said auction information storage unit, retrieving presence information associated with the user identification information from said presence information storage unit, selecting users in situations where the users can participate in the auction based on the presence information, and holding the auction if a predetermined condition is satisfied by the users in situations where the users can participate in the auction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15)
-
-
9. An auction method for holding an auction in which users participate through a network, said method comprising:
-
previously stored auction identification information for identifying an auction, and user identification information for identifying a user who has registered for entry into the auction in association with each other;
previously recorded presence information indicative of a situation as to whether or not the user who has registered for entry can participate in the auction in association with the user identification information of the user;
retrieving user identification information associated with auction identification information of the auction when the auction is to be held;
retrieving presence information associated with the user identification information;
selecting users in situations in which the users can participate in the auction based on the presence information; and
holding the auction if a predetermined condition is satisfied by users in situations where the users can participate in the auction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification