Computerized auction system for use with multiple purchasing media

• US 7,200,571 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BI Performance Services, Schoeneckers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schoeneckers Incorporated
• Inventors: Jack, John M., Binzen, Stephanie A., Jenniges, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil; Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US09/637,728
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 705 28- 37, 705 39- 45, 705 10- 40
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0232 Frequent usage rewards other than merchandise, cash or travel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/128 Check-book balancing, updating or printing arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods create and maintain an auction server operative to receive requests for displaying auction items. The bid values are displayed and received in units that are specific to a particular program in which the user is participating. Bid values can be displayed and received in differing units depending on the particular program. Thus, participants in different programs can bid on the same items using different media types or different currencies. The system automatically converts between the different media types in order to determine highest bidders and bid amounts.

Claims

1. A computerized auction system comprising:

a database of auction items available for purchasing in accordance with a set of rules associated with an auction, said database including at least one auction item and program data for a plurality of incentive reward programs, the at least one auction item having a bid value, said program data including a program incentive reward media type for each of the plurality of incentive reward programs;

an auction server operative to receive a request from a participant of a plurality of participants for displaying the auction items, said plurality of participants including at least two participants from different incentive reward programs, said participant associated with one of the plurality of incentive reward programs; and

wherein the auction server reads the auction item, the bid value, and the program data, and converts the bid value to a display value having the program incentive reward media type of the incentive reward program associated with the participant.

2. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the program incentive reward media type is selected from the group consisting of frequent user points, frequent flyer miles, and paper certificates.

3. The computerized system of claim 1, further comprising a fulfillment component operative to determine the winning bid for the auction item and to arrange for delivery of an actual item associated with the auction item.

4. The computerized system of claim 3, wherein the auction item is a service.

5. A computerized method for displaying auction bid data for an auction item, the method comprising:

receiving a request to display bid data from a participant of a plurality of participants;

reading a program incentive reward media type from a database containing program data for a plurality of incentive reward programs, the program data determined based on the incentive reward program associated with the participant;

calculating a display amount in the program incentive reward media type by converting the bid data to the program incentive reward media type; and

displaying the display amount;

wherein the plurality of participants includes at least two participants from different incentive reward programs.

9. The computerized method of claim 5, wherein the program incentive reward media type is selected from the group consisting of frequent user points, frequent flyer miles, and paper certificates.

6. A computerized method for updating auction bid data in a computer system, the method comprising:

receiving from a participant of a plurality of participants a first bid amount for an auction item, the auction item having an item media type;

reading a program incentive reward media type from a database containing program data for a plurality of incentive reward programs, the program data determined based on an incentive reward program associated with the participant;

calculating a second bid amount by converting the first bid amount in the program incentive reward media type to the item media type; and

updating a current bid amount for the auction item with the second bid amount;

wherein the plurality of participants includes at least two participants from different incentive reward programs.

10. The computerized method of claim 6, wherein the program incentive reward media type is selected from the group consisting of frequent user points, frequent flyer miles, and paper certificates.

7. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for displaying auction bid data for an auction item, the method comprising:

receiving a request to display bid data from a participant of a plurality of participants;

reading a program incentive reward media type from a database containing program data for a plurality of incentive reward programs, the program data determined based on the incentive reward program associated with the participant;

calculating a display amount in the program incentive reward media type by converting the bid data to the program incentive reward media type; and

displaying the display amount;

wherein the plurality of participants includes at least two participants from different incentive reward programs.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the program incentive reward media type is selected from the group consisting of frequent user points, frequent flyer miles, and paper certificates.

8. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing method for updating auction bid data in a computer system, the method comprising:

receiving from a participant of a plurality of participants a first bid amount for an auction item, the auction item having an item media type;

reading a program incentive reward media type from a database containing program data for a plurality of incentive reward programs, the program data determined based on an incentive reward program associated with the participant;

calculating a second bid amount by converting the first bid amount in the program incentive reward media type to the item media type; and

updating a current bid amount for the auction item with the second bid amount;

wherein the plurality of participants includes at least two participants from different incentive reward programs.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the program incentive reward media type is selected from the group consisting of frequent user points, frequent flyer miles, and paper certificates.