Methods and systems for facilitating bids on products and services

• US 20070083437A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamor, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Methods and systems for bidding on items include a predetermined price or range associated with an item, the price not disclosed to bidders. Successful bids conform to a predetermined success rule(s) determined independently of the amounts of other bids. Successful bids can be immediately communicated to the successful bidders. Price adjustments, typically discounts, can be determined and communicated prior to fulfillment.

Claims

1. A method of using a computer system to process bids, comprising:

identifying for sale an item having a floor price;

displaying, using the computer, the item for bidding by at least one bidder;

suppressing, during the displaying, the floor price such that the floor price is not available to the at least one bidder;

limiting the at least one bidder to a predetermined number of bids on the item;

receiving from the at least one bidder at least one bid on the item, the bid within the predetermined number of bids, the bid including a bid price;

comparing on the computer the bid price to the floor price; and

if the bid price for the item is at least equal to the floor price, then substantially immediately notifying the at least one bidder of the success of the at least one bid.

2. The method of claim 1 and further including the step of suppressing on the computer the bids of other bidders such the computer does not display to any bidder the bids of other bidders on the item.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of suppressing the floor price includes the step of not displaying the floor price with a display of the item.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of bids is one.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of bids is greater than one.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the floor price is selected from the group including i) a single price equal to the floor price and ii) a range of prices including the floor price as a minimum price.

7. The method of claim 1 and further including the steps of:

selling a plurality of the items to a plurality of bidders, each sale at a bid price at least equal to the floor price; and

adjusting the actual purchase price of the at least one bidder upon the final sale of the plurality of the items.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the actual purchase price is adjusted to equal the lowest bid price at least equal to the floor price.

9. The method of claim 1 and further comprising providing tools for facilitating a group of buyers to bid on the item.

10. The method of claim 1 and further comprising providing tools for facilitating a group of sellers to combine and sell a group of items.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the item comprises a group of identical items.

12. A bidding system, comprising:

means for identifying for sale an item having a floor price;

means for displaying the item for bidding by at least one bidder;

means for suppressing, during the displaying, the floor price such that the floor price is not available to the at least one bidder;

means for limiting the at least one bidder to a predetermined number of bids on the item;

means for receiving from the at least one bidder at least one bid on the item, the bid within the predetermined number of bids, the bid including a bid price;

means for comparing the bid price to the floor price; and

means for, if the bid price for the item is at least equal to the floor price, substantially immediately notifying the at least one bidder of the success of the at least one bid.

13. The bidding system of claim 12 wherein the bidding system is operated by one of the group comprising an ASP, a seller of the item, a peer-to-peer network, a combination of an ASP and a seller of the item, a combination of an ASP and a peer-to-peer network, a combination of a seller of the item and a peer-to-peer network, and a combination of an ASP and a seller of the item and a peer-to-peer network.

14. A bidding system, comprising:

a bid processor; and

a bidder system;

the bid processor and bidder system operative together to

identify for sale an item having a floor price;

display the item for bidding by at least one bidder;

suppress, during the displaying, the floor price such that the floor price is not available to the at least one bidder;

limit the at least one bidder to a predetermined number of bids on the item;

receive from the at least one bidder at least one bid on the item, the bid within the predetermined number of bids, the bid including a bid price;

compare the bid price to the floor price; and

if the bid price for the item is at least equal to the floor price, then substantially immediately notify the at least one bidder of the success of the at least one bid.

15. A method of using a computer system to bid on an item, comprising:

displaying, using the computer, an item for bidding, the item having a suppressed floor price not available for viewing;

receiving an opportunity to place up to a predetermined number of bids for the item;

submitting at least one bid on the item, the bid within the predetermined number of bids, the bid including a bid price; and

receiving, if the bid price for the item is at least equal to the floor price, a substantially immediate notice of the success of the bid.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising the steps of:

associating with a group of buyers to bid on the item; and

receiving information relating to the success of bids placed by other buyers within the group of buyers.

17. The method of claim 15 and further including the step of receiving, subsequent to the receiving of the substantially immediate notice of the success of the bid, an adjustment to the bid price.

18. A system for bidding on an item, comprising:

means for displaying, using the computer, an item for bidding, the item having a suppressed floor price not available for viewing;

means for receiving an opportunity to place up to a predetermined number of bids for the item;

means for submitting at least one bid on the item, the bid within the predetermined number of bids, the bid including a bid price; and

means for receiving, if the bid price for the item is at least equal to the floor price, a substantially immediate notice of the success of the bid.

19. A method of using a computer system to sell an item, comprising:

identifying for sale an item;

identifying a floor price for the item;

authorizing, using the computer, the item for display for bidding by at least one bidder with the floor price of the item suppressed by the computer to the at least one bidder;

authorizing the receipt of a predetermined number of bids on the item by the at least one bidder; and

authorizing, if a bid is received from the at least one bidder within the predetermined number of bids and including a bid price at least equal to the floor price, the substantially immediate transmission of a success indicator to the at least one bidder.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the item comprises a plurality of items and is selected from the group comprising a plurality of identical items and a plurality of different items.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19 and further comprising the step of:

subsequent to the transmission of a success indicator, determining a lower price for the item; and

providing the lower price to the at least one bidder.