SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED INTERNET-BASED AUCTIONS

• US 20090006221A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Asher, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• 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 present invention relates to systems and 5 methods for implementing an automated auction process that is held at a designated time on the Internet, and that ends after bidding has been completed. In accordance with these systems and methods, a server connected to a plurality of workstations may establish 10 several auctions that allow for efficient trading of multiple goods, while simulating the live and dynamic setting of traditional auctions.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory operable to;

store a profile associated with a first user; and

store data regarding a plurality of animated characters;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and to a plurality of workstations, wherein a first workstation is associated with a first user and the processor is operable to;

determine a first animated character;

receive a first bid for an item from a workstation associated with a user;

cause the first workstation to display the first animated character as an animated auctioneer that announces the first bid for the item;

receive a second bid for the item from a workstation associated with another user; and

determine that the second bid is a current highest bid for the item;

cause the animated auctioneer to announce the second bid for the item based at least in part on determining that the second bid is the current highest bid for the item.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the workstation processor of at least one of the plurality of workstations is adapted to receive product information on the at least one item and to display the product information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the workstation processor of at least one of the plurality of workstations is adapted to receive sale information on the at least one item.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sale information comprises a reserve price for the at least one item.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sale information comprises at least one of the group of parameters consisting of a preferred auction duration and a preferred auction commencement time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server processor is adapted to conduct a search for an item related to items in which a user has demonstrated interest and display search results on the workstation display of at least one of the plurality of workstations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server processor is adapted to determine an auction commencement time and a minimum acceptable opening bid for the at least one item.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the auction start time is calculated based on at least one of the group of parameters consisting of the nature of the at least one item, the expected selling price of the at least one item, and the minimum acceptable opening bid.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the workstation processor of at least one of the plurality of workstations is adapted to display the auction commencement time and the minimum acceptable opening bid.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the animated auctioneer is adapted to announce the minimum acceptable opening bid at the auction commencement time.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server processor is adapted to select the animated auctioneer from a set of genre-based characters.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine a second animated character, from the plurality of animated characters, based at least in part on the profile associated with the first user; and

cause the first workstation to display the second animated character as the animated bid spotter that announces, during the auction, at least one message for soliciting bids from the first user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the animated bid spotter further announces at least one message that seeks confirmation from the first user for a bid placed by the first user.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the animated bid spotter further announces to the first user the bid placed by the first user.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

a second workstation is associated with a second user;

the memory is further operable to store a profile associated with the second user; and

the processor is further operable to;

determine a second animated character, from the plurality of animated characters, based at least in part on the profile associated with the second user; and

cause the second workstation to display the second animated character as an animated auctioneer that announces the current highest bid.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 the processor further operable to:

make a first determination that a subsequent bid for the item has not been received within a first pre-determined time period after announcing the current highest bid;

cause the animated auctioneer to make a first announcement regarding termination of bidding based at least in part on the first determination;

make a second determination that a subsequent bid for the item has not been received within a second pre-determined time period after the first announcement; and

cause the animated auctioneer to make a second announcement regarding termination of bidding based at least in part on the second determination.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second pre-determined time period is calculated based on the first pre-determined time period.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second pre-determined time period is equal to the first pre-determined time period.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 the processor further operable to:

make a third determination that a subsequent bid for the item has not been received within a third pre-determined time period after the second announcement; and

cause the animated auctioneer to make a third announcement regarding termination of bidding based at least in part on the third determination.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first announcement comprises a “

Last Chance to Bid”

announcement.