Method and system for generating an auction using a template in an integrated internal auction system

• US 20070106597A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Singh, Narinder, Penagulur, Narendra, Subramanian, Lenin
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A seller may define a template using an internal auction application in an integrated internal auction system that may then be used to generate an auction. The template information may be used to provide auction parameter values and/or product information. The template may be created by copying an existing auction or template which may then be modified or the template may be created by a seller providing specific values for the template information. Template information may consist of specific data and rules that may be used to generate a value for an auction parameter when an auction is, for example, created or published. One or more auction templates may be associated with a seller. The seller may select a template to use when creating an auction in order to expedite the auction creation process. The seller may then modify the auction parameters and/or product information before saving the auction.

Claims

1. A method for generating an auction for a product using a template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

defining the template using the internal auction application, wherein the template is defined as a function of at least one of an already created auction, a set of seller-specified auction parameters, and a set of seller-selected product information;

selecting the template for the auction during an auction creation process as a function of a seller template selection action; and

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected template.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the product for the auction during the auction creation process as a function of a seller action, wherein the product is contained in at least one of an inventory database and a product catalog in a seller business information management system.

3. The method according to claim 2, the creating step further comprising:

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected template and the selected product and as a function of at least one communication with the seller business information management system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the template as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the template is modified.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the auction as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction is modified.

6. A method for generating an auction for a product using a template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

receiving a first set of parameters as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application;

creating the template as a function of the received first set of parameters;

retrieving a second set of parameters from a seller business information management system;

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the template and the retrieved second set of parameters; and

publishing the auction on a seller e-commerce network site.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the seller e-commerce network site is an Internet site.

8. A system for generating an auction for a product using a template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

a memory system;

an input/output unit; and

a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) define the template using the internal auction application, wherein the template is defined as a function of at least one of an already created auction, a set of seller-specified auction parameters, and a set of seller-selected product information;

(ii) select the template for the auction during an auction creation process as a function of a seller template selection action; and

(iii) create by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected template.

9. A system for generating an auction for a product using a template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

a memory system;

an input/output unit; and

a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) receive a first set of parameters as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application;

(ii) create the template as a function of the received first set of parameters;

(iii) retrieve a second set of parameters from a seller business information management system;

(iv) create by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the template and the retrieved second set of parameters; and

(v) publish the auction on a seller e-commerce network site.

10. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for generating an auction for a product using a template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, the method comprising:

defining the template using the internal auction application, wherein the template is defined as a function of at least one of an already created auction, a set of seller-specified auction parameters, and a set of seller-selected product information;

selecting the template for the auction during an auction creation process as a function of a seller template selection action; and

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected template.

11. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for generating an auction for a product using a template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, the method comprising:

receiving a first set of parameters as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application;

creating the template as a function of the received first set of parameters;

retrieving a second set of parameters from a seller business information management system;

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the template and the retrieved second set of parameters; and

publishing the auction on a seller e-commerce network site.