Interactive remote auction bidding system

• US 6,415,269 B1
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bidcatcher LP
• Original Assignee: Bidcatcher LP
• Inventors: Dinwoodie, David Lionel
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Kyle J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, AKIBA KANELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/086,877
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37, 705/38, 705/35, 705/36, 705/1, 705/26, 705/19, 379/338, 379/88.02, 379/88.24, 379/93.26, 379/283, 379/361, 379/457, 379/900
• US Class Current: 705/36.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/207 Tax processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

An interactive remote auction bidding system for conducting an auction among participants located at remote locations from the auction site utilizes a data input device for communication over a network to the auction site. The system includes a data processor located at the auction site for generating bid information for communication over the network to the remote locations. A processor located at the auction side monitors the participants'"'"' data input devices for sensing participant bids generated by the participants'"'"' data input devices. The system further displays visual bid information at the auction site for transmission over the network to the participants and generates audible bid information in support of that visual bid information.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an auction to produce a winning bidder who receives the subject of the auction in exchange for the winning bid, the auction having bidders located remote from the auction site, where bidders have data input devices for communicating over a network to the auction site, comprising:

generating at the auction site an asking bid;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, the asking bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the network the asking bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

generating bid acceptance signals representing a desire to acquire the subject of the auction at a current bid by the bidders using the data input devices communicating over the network to the auction site;

delaying a variable controlled time window before accepting a first of a plurality of bid acceptance signals at the auction site;

monitoring the network for bid acceptance signals;

accepting a first bid acceptance signal after the variable controlled time window;

identifying at the auction site the bidder whose bid acceptance signal was accepted as the current bidder;

changing the asking bid to the current bid;

adjusting the variable controlled time window before accepting subsequent bid acceptance signals to a second variable controlled time window;

generating at the auction site a second asking bid;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, a second asking bid and the current bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the network the second asking bid and the current bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

delaying the second variable controlled time window before accepting subsequent bid acceptance signals;

monitoring the network for bid acceptance signals;

accepting a first bid acceptance signal after the second variable controlled time window;

identifying at the auction site the bidder whose bid acceptance signal was accepted as the new current bidder; and

changing the second asking bid to the new current bid.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

repeating a cycle of generating, displaying, broadcasting, generating, delaying, monitoring, accepting, identifying, and changing, at least one additional cycle, each cycle starting with a new asking bid and ending with a new current bid which was the previous new asking bid and a new current bidder;

terminating the acceptance of bid acceptance signals before a new bid acceptance signal is communicated over the network to the auction site;

identifying the most recent current bid as the winning bid;

identifying the most recent current bidder as the winning bidder; and

closing the auction.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising adjusting the variable controlled time window before accepting bid acceptance signals to a modified variable controlled time window, wherein the adjusting occurs after one time window and prior to the next time window during the auction.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein for at least one cycle during the auction after one time window and prior to the next time window, the time window before accepting bid acceptance signals remains the same.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a second asking bid comprises generating a second asking bid by incrementing the current bid by a predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

repeating a cycle of generating, displaying, broadcasting, generating, delaying, monitoring, accepting, identifying, and changing each time starting with a new asking bid and ending with a new current bid which was the previous new asking bid and a new current bidder at least one additional cycle;

generating an asking bid by incrementing the most recent current bid by a predetermined amount;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, the most recent generated asking bid and the most recent current bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the network the most recently generated asking bid and the most recent current bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

delaying the most recent variable controlled time window before accepting bid acceptance signals;

monitoring the network for bid acceptance signals;

terminating the acceptance of bid acceptance signals before a new bid acceptance signal is communicated over the network to the auction site;

identifying the most recent current bid as the winning bid;

identifying the most recent current bidder as the winning bidder; and

closing the auction.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising adjusting the predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid to a modified predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid, wherein the adjusting occurs after one generation of an asking bid and prior to the next generation of an asking bid during the auction.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein for at least one cycle during the auction after one generation of an asking bid and prior to the next generation of an asking bid the predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid remains the same.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein generating of asking bids comprises generating asking bids in a plurality of currency valuations.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data input devices comprise telephones and monitoring the network includes sensing dual tone multi-frequency signals generated by the data input devices.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting via television network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein broadcasting via the television network comprises broadcasting via a satellite.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein broadcasting via the television network comprises broadcasting via a cable network.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein broadcasting via the television network comprises broadcasting via conventional television broadcasting.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the network comprises:

a telephone network selected from the group consisting of a conventional telephone network, cellular network, satellite communications system, and the internet; and

a video network selected from the group consisting of a satellite communications system, cable broadcast system, conventional television broadcast system, and the internet.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication over the network comprises communication of data over the internet.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying and broadcasting further comprise displaying and broadcasting information regarding the most recent current bidder.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein information regarding the most recent current bidder further comprises identifying the location of the most recent current bidder.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein information regarding the most recent current bidder comprises identification of the most recent current bidder.

20. A method for conducting an auction to produce a winning bidder who receives the subject of the auction in exchange for the winning bid, the auction having bidders located remote from the auction site, where bidders have data input devices for communicating over a first network to the auction site and wherein information from the auction site is broadcast to the remote bidders over a second network, comprising:

generating at the auction site an asking bid;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, the asking bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the second network the asking bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

generating bid acceptance signals representing a desire to acquire the subject of the auction at a current bid by the bidders using the data input devices communicating over the first network to the auction site;

beginning a bid acceptance time window in which to accept bid acceptance signals after delaying a variable controlled amount of time following broadcasting the asking bid;

monitoring the first network for bid acceptance signals;

accepting a first bid acceptance signal after the bid acceptance time window begins;

terminating the bid acceptance time window after receiving the first bid acceptance signal and prior to receiving any subsequent bid acceptance signals;

identifying at the auction site the bidder whose bid acceptance signal was accepted as the current bid;

generating a response communicating confirmation of bid acceptance and communicating the response over the first network to the bidder having the current bid;

generating a response communicating bid not accepted and communicating the response over the first network to each bidder who communicates a bid acceptance received after the bid acceptance time window terminated;

changing the asking bid to the current bid;

adjusting the bid acceptance time window before accepting subsequent bid acceptance signals to a modified bid acceptance time window by modifying the variable controlled amount of time delay after broadcasting the asking bid and before beginning the bid acceptance time window;

generating at the auction site a new asking bid;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, the new asking bid and the current bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the second network the new asking bid and the current bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

beginning the modified bid acceptance time window after delaying the modified variable controlled amount of time after broadcasting the new asking bid;

monitoring the first network for bid acceptance signals generated by the data input devices communicated over the first network to the auction site;

accepting the first bid acceptance signal after the modified bid acceptance time window begins;

terminating the modified bid acceptance time window after receiving the first bid acceptance signal and prior to receiving any subsequent bid acceptance signals;

identifying at the auction site the bidder whose bid acceptance was accepted as the current bid;

generating a response communicating confirmation of bid acceptance over the first network to the current bidder;

generating a response communicating bid not accepted and communicating the response over the first network to each bidder who communicates a bid acceptance received after termination of the bid acceptance time window;

identifying the bidder whose bid acceptance was accepted as the new current bid; and

changing the new asking bid to the new current bid.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

repeating a cycle of generating, displaying, broadcasting, generating, beginning, monitoring, accepting, terminating, identifying, generating, generating, and changing each cycle starting with a new asking bid and ending with a new current bid which was the previous new asking bid and a new current bidder at least one additional cycle;

terminating the modified bid acceptance time window before a new bid acceptance signal is communicated over the first network to the auction site;

identifying the most recent current bid as the winning bid;

identifying the most recent current bidder as the winning bidder; and

closing the auction.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising adjusting the bid acceptance time window before accepting subsequent bid acceptance signals to a modified bid acceptance time window by modifying the variable controlled amount of time to delay after broadcasting the asking bid and before opening the bid acceptance time window, wherein the adjusting occurs after one time window and prior to the next time window during the auction.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein for at least one cycle during the auction after one time window and prior to the next time window the variable controlled amount of time to delay after broadcasting the asking bid and before opening the bid acceptance time window remains the same.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein between terminating the modified bid acceptance time window before a new bid acceptance signal is communicated over the first network to the auction site, and closing the auction the method further comprises:

generating a prompt to the winning bidder over the first network seeking confirmation of the winning bid; and

receiving confirmation from the winning bidder over the first network.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein generating a new asking bid comprises generating a new asking bid by incrementing the current bid by a predetermined amount.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

repeating a cycle of generating, displaying, broadcasting, generating, beginning, monitoring, accepting, terminating, identifying, generating, generating, changing each cycle starting with a new asking bid and ending with a new current bid which was the previous new asking bid and a new current bidder at least one additiona cycle;

generating an asking bid by incrementing the most recent current bid by a predetermined amount;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, the most recent generated asking bid and the most recent current bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the second network the most recently generated asking bid and the most recent current bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

beginning a bid acceptance time window in which to accept bid acceptance signals after delaying the most recent variable controlled amount of time following broadcasting the asking bid;

monitoring the first network for bid acceptance signals generated by the data input devices communicated over the first network to the auction site;

terminating the acceptance of bid acceptance signals before a new big acceptance signal is communicated over the first network to the auction site;

identifying the most recent current bid as the winning bid;

identifying the most recent current bidder as the winning bidder; and

closing the auction.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising adjusting the predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid to a modified predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid, wherein the adjusting occurs after one generation of an asking bid and prior to the next generation of an asking bid during auction.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein for at least one cycle during the auction after one generation an asking bid and prior to the next generation of an asking bid the predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid remains the same.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein between terminating the modified bid acceptance time window before a new bid acceptance signal is communicated over the first network to the auction site, and closing the auction the method further comprises:

generating a prompt to the winning bidder over the first network seeking confirmation of the winning bid; and

receiving confirmation from the winning bidder generated by the data input devices communicated over the first network.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein the first network and the second network collectively comprise a combination of types of communications systems for communicating between bidders remote from the auction site and the auction site.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein the first network comprises:

a telephone network selected from the group consisting of conventional telephone network, cellular network, satellite communications system, and the internet.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein the second network comprises:

a video network selected from the group consisting of satellite communications system, cable broadcast system, conventional television broadcast system, and the internet.

33. A method for conducting an auction to produce a winning bidder who receives the subject of the auction in exchange for the winning bid, the auction having bidders located remote from the auction site, where bidders have data input devices for communicating over a network to the auction site, comprising:

generating at the auction site an asking bid;

displaying at the auction site in real-time the asking bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the network the asking bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

generating bid acceptance signals representing a desire to acquire the subject of the auction at a current bid by the bidders using the data input devices communicating over the network to the auction site;

introducing a fixed programmed delay time period before accepting a first of a plurality of bid acceptance signals at the auction site;

monitoring the network for bid acceptance signals;

accepting a first bid acceptance signal after the programmed delay time period;

identifying at the auction site the bidder whose bid acceptance signal was accepted as the current bidder;

changing the asking bid to the current bid;

generating at the auction site a second asking bid;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, a second asking bid and the current bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the network the second asking bid and the current bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

introducing a programmed delay time period before accepting a second of a plurality of bid acceptance signals at the auction site;

monitoring the network for bid acceptance signals;

accepting a first bid acceptance signal after the programmed delay time period;

identifying at the auction site the bidder whose bid acceptance signal was accepted as the new current bidder; and

changing the second asking bid to the new current bid.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

repeating a cycle of generating, displaying, broadcasting, generating, introducing, monitoring, accepting, identifying, and changing, at least one additional cycle, each cycle starting with a new asking bid and ending with a new current bid which was the previous new asking bid and a new current bidder;

terminating the acceptance of bid acceptance signals before a new bid acceptance signal is communicated over the network to the auction site;

identifying the most recent current bid as the winning bid;

identifying the most recent current bidder as the winning bidder; and

closing the auction.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising adjusting the programmed delay time period before accepting bid acceptance signals to a modified programmed delay time period, wherein the adjusting occurs after one delay time period and prior to the next delay time period during the auction.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein for at least one cycle during the auction after one delay time period and prior to the next delay time period, the programmed amount of time for delay before accepting bid acceptance signals remains the same.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein generating a second asking bid comprises generating a second asking bid by incrementing the current bid by a predetermined amount.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

repeating a cycle of generating, displaying, broadcasting, generating, introducing, monitoring, accepting, identifying, and changing each time starting with a new asking bid and ending with a new current bid which was the previous new asking bid and a new current bidder at least one additional cycle;

generating an asking bid by incrementing the most recent current bid by a predetermined amount;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, the most recent generated asking bid and the most recent current bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the network the most recently generated asking bid and the most recent current bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

delaying the most recent programmed delay time period before accepting bid acceptance signals;

monitoring the network for bid acceptance signals;

terminating the acceptance of bid acceptance signals before a new bid acceptance signal is communicated over the network to the auction site;

identifying the most recent current bid as the winning bid;

identifying the most recent current bidder as the winning bidder; and

closing the auction.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising adjusting the predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid to a modified predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid, wherein the adjusting occurs after one generation of an asking bid and prior to the next generation of an asking bid during the auction.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein for at least one cycle during the auction after one generation of an asking bid and prior to the next generation of an asking bid the predetermined amount to increment the most recent current bid remains the same.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein generating of asking bids comprises generating asking bids in a plurality of currency valuations.

42. The method of claim 33 wherein the data input devices comprise telephones and monitoring the network includes sensing dual tone multi-frequency signals generated by the data input devices.

43. The method of claim 33 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting via television network.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein broadcasting via the television network comprises broadcasting via a satellite.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein broadcasting via the television network comprises broadcasting via a cable network.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein broadcasting via the television network comprises broadcasting via conventional television broadcasting.

47. The method of claim 33 wherein the network comprises:

a telephone network selected from the group consisting of a conventional telephone network, cellular network, satellite communications system, and the internet; and

a video network selected from the group consisting of a satellite communications system, cable broadcast system, conventional broadcast system, and the internet.

48. The method of claim 33 wherein the communication over the network comprises communication of data over the internet.

49. The method of claim 33 wherein displaying and broadcasting further comprise displaying and broadcasting information regarding the most recent current bidder.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein information regarding the most recent current bidder further comprises identifying the location of the most recent current bidder.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein information regarding the most recent current bidder comprises identification of the most recent current bidder.

52. A method for conducting an auction to produce a winning bidder who receives the subject of the auction in exchange for the winning bid, the auction having bidders located remote from the auction site, where bidders have data input devices for communicating over a first network to the auction site and wherein information from the auction site is broadcast to the remote bidders over a second network, comprising:

generating at the auction site an asking bid;

displaying at the auction site in real-time, the asking bid;

broadcasting in real-time over the second network the asking bid to bidders remote from the auction site;

generating bid acceptance signals representing a desire to acquire the subject of the auction at a current bid by the bidders using the data input devices communicating over the first network to the auction site;

beginning a bid acceptance time window in which to accept bid acceptance signals after delaying a controlled amount of time following broadcasting the asking bid;

monitoring the first network for bid acceptance signals;

accepting a first bid acceptance signal after the bid acceptance time window begins;

terminating the bid acceptance time window after receiving the first bid acceptance signal and prior to receiving any subsequent bid acceptance signals;

identifying at the auction site the bidder whose bid acceptance signal was accepted as the current bid;

generating a response communicating confirmation of bid acceptance and communicating the response over the first network to the bidder having the current bid;

generating a response communicating bid not accepted and communicating the response over the first network to each bidder who communicates a bid acceptance received after the bid acceptance time window terminated;

changing the asking bid to the current bid;

repeating at least one additional cycle of generating, displaying, broadcasting, generating, beginning, monitoring, accepting, terminating, identifying, generating, generating, and changing, wherein each cycle starts with a new asking bid and ends with a new current bid which was the preceding new asking bid.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the controlled amount of time to delay following broadcasting the asking bid and before opening the bid acceptance window is a variable controlled amount of time.