Automated Sales with Offer Grouping

• US 20080126240A1
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Latecard Limited
• Original Assignee: Latecard Limited
• Inventors: Bradshaw, Jonathan Marsden, Banbury, Martin John, Lexmon, Fredrik
• Application Number:
  US11/843,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126240A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• 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

The sale of items is automated. Elements (1304) are displayed that are available for sale and receptive to offers being made. Each of the elements is displayed with a region (1405) receptive to an offer price being entered. In response to selecting a grouping function (1501), individual items are placed within a group; and as such, the group is provided with a single region receptive to an offer price being entered for the group as a whole.

Claims

1. A method of automating the sale of items, in which elements that are available for sale and receptive to offers being made, wherein:

each of said elements is displayed with a region receptive to an offer price being entered; and

in response to selecting a grouping function,

individual items are placed within a group; and

as such,

said group is provided with a single region receptive to an offer price being entered for the group as a whole.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein individual items are placed within a group by highlighting members of the group in a graphical interface.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grouping and selling of items takes place in a multi-function stage which is followed by an auction stage and a fulfillment stage.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the items are offered for sale at a discount over a period of time and said discount is defined as a function with respect to time such that the available discount varies over said period of time.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said discount decreases over time so as to encourage early commitment.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grouping and selling of items takes place in a multi-function stage which is followed by an auction phase and a fulfillment stage and

during said multi-function stage, items are offered for sale at a discount defined as a function that varies over time.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a plurality of functions are selectable from a menu.

2. The method as claimed in 1, wherein said elements are displayed with a buy now price and a group may be selected to make a purchase at the combined buy now price.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said displayed buy now price is overtyped by a buyer so as to convey an offer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a color change takes place to a display or part of a display to acknowledge that a buy now price has been overtyped with an offer price.

11. Instructions executable by a computer or by a network of computers such that when executing said instructions said computer(s) will perform a process of automating the sale of items, in which elements are available for sale and receptive to offers being made, wherein:

each of said elements is displayed with a region receptive to an offer price being entered; and

in response to selecting a grouping function,

individual items are placed within a group; and

as such,

said group is provided with a single region receptive to an offer price being entered for the group as a whole.

12. The executable instructions as claimed in claim 11, such that when executing said instructions a computer will display said elements with a buy now price and facilitate the selection of a group so as to make a purchase at the combined buy now price.

13. The executable instructions as claimed in claim 12, such that when executing said instructions a computer will facilitate the overtyping by a buyer of said displayed buy now price so as to convey an offer back to the computer.

14. The executable instructions as claimed in claim 13, such that when executing said instructions a computer will change the color of said display or a part of said display to acknowledge that a buy now price has been overtyped with an offer price.

15. The executable instructions as claimed in claim 11, such that when executing said instructions said computer facilitates the placing of individual items into a group by facilitating the highlighting of members of the group by presenting a graphical interface to a user.

16. Internet serving apparatus comprising data storage devices, data processing devices and network connection devices in which a processing device is configured to implement the automated sale of items, in which elements are available for sale and receptive to offers being made, wherein:

each of said elements is displayed with a region receptive to an offer price being entered; and

in response to selecting a grouping function,

individual items are placed within a group; and

as such,

said group is provided with a single region receptive to an offer price being entered for the group as a whole.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, such that when executing said instructions a computer will facilitate the placing of individual items into a group by highlighting members of the group in a graphical interface.

17. The apparatus as claimed 16, wherein said elements are displayed with a buy now price and a group may be selected to make a purchase at the combined buy now price.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said displayed buy now price is overtyped by a buyer so as to convey an offer.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein a color change takes place to a display or part of a display to acknowledge that a buy now price has been overtyped with an offer price.