Dutch auction system with preregistered bid feature
First Claim
1. A computer readable medium having a plurality of computer executable instructions for facilitating remote bidding in a declining price auction, comprising:
- a communications instruction set that facilitates communication between a remote location and a declining price auction site;
a remote clock instruction set that utilizes information regarding an auction clock at the declining price auction site and determines a desired timing difference between a remote clock and the auction clock at the declining price auction site and controls operation of the remote clock to precede the clock at the declining price auction site; and
a bid selector instruction set that allows a remote purchaser to communicate an intention to purchase an item at a selected price.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A descending bid auction system includes preregistered bids from remote locations. Preregistered bids submitted before an auction cycle begins are awarded a sale when the pricing device declines to a price that matches that of the preregistered bid. In keeping with traditional Dutch auction style, in one example, local bidders who submit a bid are given priority because of the first-submitted tradition. Similarly, when more than one remotely submitted preregistered bid is for the same price, the first such bid submitted is given priority. An alternative way of using a remote bidding terminal designed according to this invention is to competitively bid while an auction cycle is in process. Bids submitted while the auction cycle is in process preferably are submitted when a remote clock, which operates in advance compared to the auction site clock, reaches a desired price. the remote bid preferably is received at the auction site before the auction site clock reaches the intended price.
14 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A computer readable medium having a plurality of computer executable instructions for facilitating remote bidding in a declining price auction, comprising:
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a communications instruction set that facilitates communication between a remote location and a declining price auction site; a remote clock instruction set that utilizes information regarding an auction clock at the declining price auction site and determines a desired timing difference between a remote clock and the auction clock at the declining price auction site and controls operation of the remote clock to precede the clock at the declining price auction site; and a bid selector instruction set that allows a remote purchaser to communicate an intention to purchase an item at a selected price. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of facilitating remote bidding in a declining price auction, comprising the steps of:
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facilitating communication between a remote location and a declining price auction site; utilizing information regarding an auction clock at the declining price auction site; determining a desired timing difference between a remote clock and the auction clock at the declining price auction site; controlling operation of the remote clock to precede the auction clock at the declining price auction site; allowing a remote purchaser to communicate an intention to purchase an item at a selected price; and generating at least one signal including information regarding the desired purchase price of the remote purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification