Method and system for calculating bids in an auction
First Claim
1. A method of conducting an auction, the method comprising:
- positioning a first processor capable of at least calculating bids, determining winning scenarios in an auction, and accepting bids in a location in which the auction is being conducted;
positioning at least one bid query processor capable of at least calculating bids and determining winning bid scenarios in a location that is accessible to bidders and apart from the first processor;
wherein said first processor and said at least one bid query processor are in electronic communication with one another such that the bid query processor is capable of accessing information stored in the first processor and determining new winning scenarios based on the information stored;
providing at least one bidder access to the at least one bid query processor such that the at least one bidder may determine a winning bid query before placing a bid; and
accepting bids at the first processor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of conducting an auction includes positioning a first processor capable of at least calculating bids, determining winning scenarios in an auction, and accepting bids in a location in which the auction is being conducted. The method further includes positioning at least one bid query processor capable of at least calculating bids and determining winning bid scenarios in a location that is accessible to bidders and apart from the first processor. The first processor and the bid processor are preferably in electronic communication with one another such that the bid query processor is capable of accessing information stored in the first processor and determining new winning scenarios based on the information stored. The method further includes providing at least one bidder access to the at least one bid query processor such that the at least one bidder may determine a winning bid query before placing a bid, and accepting bids at the first processor.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of conducting an auction, the method comprising:
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positioning a first processor capable of at least calculating bids, determining winning scenarios in an auction, and accepting bids in a location in which the auction is being conducted;
positioning at least one bid query processor capable of at least calculating bids and determining winning bid scenarios in a location that is accessible to bidders and apart from the first processor;
wherein said first processor and said at least one bid query processor are in electronic communication with one another such that the bid query processor is capable of accessing information stored in the first processor and determining new winning scenarios based on the information stored;
providing at least one bidder access to the at least one bid query processor such that the at least one bidder may determine a winning bid query before placing a bid; and
accepting bids at the first processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for efficiently calculating a new winning bid in a combinatorial auction, the system comprising:
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a first processor for accepting bids and conducting the combinatorial auction;
at least one bid query processor, in a location remote from said first processor, for calculating winning scenarios;
said first processor and said bid query processor being in electronic communication with one another;
wherein information regarding the progress of the auction is stored on said first processor; and
said bid query processor is capable of accessing said information stored on said first processor to calculate said winning scenarios. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of conducting an auction comprising:
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positioning an auctioneer at a first processor;
equipping at least one bidding assistant with a bid query processor in electronic communication with the first processor;
positioning the bidding assistant in a position remote from said first processor, wherein said bidding assistant utilizes the bid query processor to aid at least one potential bidder in determining a bid query that would place the bidder in a winning position; and
wherein the bidding assistant, after assisting the potential bidder in determining a bid query that would place the bidder in a winning position, determines whether the potential bidder would like to place a bid and assists the potential bidder in placing the bid. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification