Online bidding system
First Claim
1. A method of selling items over a computer network, said method comprising:
- during a preliminary bidding that does not result in sale of an item, providing information about a plurality of items over said computer network and accepting a plurality of increasing preliminary bids for each of said plurality of items, wherein said preliminary bidding for each item continues for a specific set period of time that is included in said information;
closing the preliminary bidding for each of said items upon expiration of said period of time corresponding to that item;
providing results of said preliminary bidding over said computer network such that bidders can select items from among said plurality of items to bid on during a subsequent sale of said plurality of items;
offering each of said items for sale over said computer network, wherein a starting bid for each said item is determined by a highest bid received on that item during said preliminary bidding;
receiving increasing bids for each item until a high bid is determined, wherein that item is sold to a bidder providing said high bid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An online auction system comprising a preliminary bidding portion and a virtual auction portion is disclosed herein. The preliminary bidding portion allows bidders to access auction items and input bids during a preestablished extended period of time. After the preliminary bidding portion concludes, the virtual auction portion provides bidders the opportunity to input bids on each item consecutively and individually from the preliminary auction portion in a manner similar to a conventional live auction. During the virtual auction portion, bidders are provided with a countdown to encourage further bidding before the previous bid becomes final. After each new bid is inputted, the countdown is reinitiated. The countdown is reinitiated until no new bids are input. An alert system notifies bidders that a particular item of interest is about to be offered for bid as part of the virtual auction portion. The system also provides bidders means for inputting proxy bids.
62 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of selling items over a computer network, said method comprising:
-
during a preliminary bidding that does not result in sale of an item, providing information about a plurality of items over said computer network and accepting a plurality of increasing preliminary bids for each of said plurality of items, wherein said preliminary bidding for each item continues for a specific set period of time that is included in said information; closing the preliminary bidding for each of said items upon expiration of said period of time corresponding to that item; providing results of said preliminary bidding over said computer network such that bidders can select items from among said plurality of items to bid on during a subsequent sale of said plurality of items; offering each of said items for sale over said computer network, wherein a starting bid for each said item is determined by a highest bid received on that item during said preliminary bidding; receiving increasing bids for each item until a high bid is determined, wherein that item is sold to a bidder providing said high bid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification