Methods and systems for facilitating bids on products and services

• US 8,504,467 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamor, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khattar, Rajesh
• Application Number:
  US13/488,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20120246021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Methods and systems for bidding on items include a predetermined price or range associated with an item, the price not disclosed to bidders. Successful bids conform to a predetermined success rule(s) determined independently of the amounts of other bids. Successful bids can be immediately communicated to the successful bidders. Price adjustments, typically discounts, can be determined and communicated prior to fulfillment.

Claims

1. A bidding system, comprising:

at least one network-enabled computer having a processor, a memory for storing programming and processing instructions, a system interface for receiving data and programming from an operator and a network interface for communicating bi-directionally with user devices over a data communication network;

the memory storing an identification of an item for sale from a supplier, the supplier providing a total quantity of the item;

the memory further storing a floor price for the item determined by the supplier;

the network interface for transmitting to user devices over the data communication network the item for bidding by a plurality of bidders, where the floor price of the item is suppressed from the plurality of bidders and each of the plurality of bidders is authorized to submit a predetermined number of bids on the item;

the processor receives, via the network interface, a first bid from a first bidder for a first quantity of the item less than the total quantity, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids and including a first bid price determined by the first bidder; and

when the first bid price is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, transmitting an acceptance of the first bid to the first bidder substantially immediately in response to the first bid, the acceptance comprising a success code;

after said acceptance, the processor receives, from a second bidder via the network interface, a second bid on a second quantity of the item less than the total quantity in the auction at a second bid price, the second bid price at least equal to the floor price and lower than the first bid price, and;

the processor accepts the second bid from the second bidder;

after which the processor completes the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the second bid price in place of the first bid price upon presentation of the success code by the first bidder, based on the accepting of the second bid, wherein the auction continues when there is a quantity of the item remaining.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the success code transmitted to the first and second bidders, when entered into an online merchant site offering the item, enables the first and second bidders to purchase the quantity of the item from the merchant site for the second bid price.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the the first and second bidders are authorized to share the success code with third-party purchasers, such that third-party purchasers may purchase the item for the second bid price.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the the first and second bidders are authorized to offer the success code for purchase by third-party purchasers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the success code is transmitted as a printable coupon that may be used by the first and second bidders to purchase the quantity of the item at the second bid price from a physical retail location of a merchant.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the success code may be presented by the the first and second bidders at a physical location of a merchant offering the item, such that the bidder may purchase the quantity of the item at the bid price.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second bid price equals the floor price.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second bid price is the lowest price bid by the plurality of the bidders.

9. A bidding system, comprising:

at least one network-enabled computer having a processor, a memory for storing programming and processing instructions, a system interface for receiving data and programming from an operator and a network interface for communicating bi-directionally with user devices over a data communication network;

the memory storing an identification of an item for sale from a supplier, the supplier providing a total quantity of the item;

the memory further storing a floor price for the item determined by the supplier;

the network interface for transmitting to user devices over the data communication network the item for bidding by a plurality of bidders, where the floor price of the item is suppressed from the plurality of bidders and each of the plurality of bidders is authorized to submit a predetermined number of bids on the item;

the processor receives, via the network interface, a first bid from a first bidder for a first quantity of the item less than the total quantity, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids and including a first bid price determined by the first bidder; and

when the first bid price is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, transmits an acceptance of the first bid to the first bidder substantially immediately in response to the first bid, the acceptance comprising a success code for purchasing the first quantity of the item,

after said acceptance, the processor receives, from a second bidder via the network interface, a second bid on a second quantity of the item less than the total quantity in the auction at a second bid price, the second bid price at least equal to the floor price and lower than the first bid price, wherein the processor accepts the second bid from the second bidder; and

after which the processor completes the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder using the success code at the second bid price in place of the first bid price, based on the accepting of the second bid;

wherein the success code is transmitted to the second bidder for purchasing the second quantity of the item at the second bid price and the auction continues when there is a quantity of the item remaining.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the success code is transmitted to a third-party purchaser.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the success code is offered for purchase to a third-party purchaser.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the success code has an intrinsic value of its own, to be used for barter, purchase, trade and other such forms and types of commerce.

13. A bidding system, comprising:

at least one network-enabled computer having a processor, a memory for storing programming and processing instructions, a system interface for receiving data and programming from an operator and a network interface for communicating bi-directionally with user devices over a data communication network;

the memory storing an identification of an item for sale from a supplier, the supplier providing a total quantity of the item;

the memory further storing a floor price for the item determined by the supplier;

the network interface for transmitting to user devices over the data communication network the item for bidding by a plurality of bidders including a team of individual purchasers and a plurality of other bidders separate from the team, where the floor price of the item is suppressed from the plurality of bidders and each of the plurality of bidders is authorized to submit a predetermined number of bids on the item;

the processor receives, via the network interface, a first bid from an individual purchaser from the team for a quantity of the item less than the total quantity, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids and including a first bid price; and

when the first bid price is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, transmitting an acceptance of the first bid to remaining individual purchasers of the team substantially immediately in response to the first bid, the acceptance comprising a success code;

after said acceptance, the processor receives, from a second bidder via the network interface, a second bid on a second quantity of the item less than the total quantity in the auction at a second bid price, the second bid price at least equal to the floor price and lower than the first bid price; and

the processor accepts the second bid from the second bidder; and

after which the processor completes the sale of the first quantity of the item with the team at the second bid price in place of the first bid price upon presentation of the success code by the individual purchasers of the team, based on the accepting of the second bid, wherein the auction continues when there is a quantity of the item remaining.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the team is authorized to share the success code with third-party purchasers, such that third-party purchasers may purchase the item for the second bid price.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the team is authorized to offer the code for purchase by third-party purchasers.