On-line auction method and system facilitating the sale of multiple product units at prices varying with volume
First Claim
1. A networked computer system for auctioning products on-line, comprising:
- a seller interface to perform an auction set up process including obtaining from a seller information comprising a number of units of products to be auctioned, and price varying information that defines at least a price-quantity curve for the products;
a buyer interface to accept one or more requested quantities from one or more buyer systems coupled to the system; and
a mechanism coupled to the seller interface and to the buyer interface and configured to determine, based on at least the price-quantity curve and the requested quantities, one or more minimum bid amounts for the requested quantities;
wherein the mechanism is configured to compare a requested quantity to a current high bid quantity and to quote a minimum bid amount needed to win the requested quantity, wherein the quoted minimum bid amount has a lower per unit price than the per unit price of the current high bid quantity when the requested quantity is larger than the current high bid quantity and when a sum of the requested quantity and the current high bid quantity exceeds the number of units of products.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An online auction system for auctioning off products includes a server system, plural buyer systems, and plural seller systems. The server system comprises a seller interface, a buyer interface, a price adjustment mechanism, and a bid manager. The seller interface performs an online bid setup process including obtaining, from a given seller system, price varying information and quantity information corresponding to the price varying information. The buyer interface communicates, to select buyer systems, bid information and product information, and accepts from a given buyer system a given quantity needed and a given bid. The price adjustment mechanism determines a given parity price for the given buyer, which varies according to the given quantity needed. The bid manager defines a given winning bid for the given buyer as a function of the given parity price and a rank of the given buyer in relation to other buyers.
65 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A networked computer system for auctioning products on-line, comprising:
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a seller interface to perform an auction set up process including obtaining from a seller information comprising a number of units of products to be auctioned, and price varying information that defines at least a price-quantity curve for the products;
a buyer interface to accept one or more requested quantities from one or more buyer systems coupled to the system; and
a mechanism coupled to the seller interface and to the buyer interface and configured to determine, based on at least the price-quantity curve and the requested quantities, one or more minimum bid amounts for the requested quantities;
wherein the mechanism is configured to compare a requested quantity to a current high bid quantity and to quote a minimum bid amount needed to win the requested quantity, wherein the quoted minimum bid amount has a lower per unit price than the per unit price of the current high bid quantity when the requested quantity is larger than the current high bid quantity and when a sum of the requested quantity and the current high bid quantity exceeds the number of units of products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for auctioning products online, comprising:
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performing an auction set up process that includes receiving from a seller a total lot quantity and price varying information that defines at least a price-quantity curve for the products to be auctioned;
receiving from a buyer system information representative of a requested quantity;
comparing the requested quantity to a quantity of a current high bid; and
quoting a minimum bid amount needed to win the requested quantity, wherein the minimum bid amount has a lower per unit price than the per unit price of the current high bid when the requested quantity is larger than the current high bid quantity and when a sum of the requested quantity and the current high bid quantity exceeds the number of units of products. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification