System and method for encouraging competitive participation in an auction

• US 8,630,916 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Van Luchene, Andrew S., Tedesco, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Akiba
• Application Number:
  US11/456,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,745 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37, 705/26, 705/26.3, 705/26.1, 705/14.1, 705/14.71
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

In both an on-line and a conventional auction, an auctioneer may encourage competitive bidding behavior through the provision of rewards to those bidders whose bids meet predetermined criteria. For example, a bidder may be rewarded if her bid exceeds a prior bid by a threshold value. An auctioneer may further discourage non-competitive bidding behavior by penalizing those bidders whose bids fall below predetermined standards.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, by an auction server, a product subject to bidding during an auction session;

receiving, by the auction server, a bid for the product from a bidder;

determining, by the auction server, based at least on a reward rule that includes a requirement that the bidder accept a reward supplied by a third party, that the bidder is qualified to receive a reward offer; and

providing the reward offer to the bidder.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the auction server, an indication from the bidder of acceptance of the requirement; and

providing a reward associated with the reward offer to the bidder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reward comprises at least one of a value of currency, or a second product.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the reward comprises at least one of a warranty for the product or free shipping of the product.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the reward comprises a supplement to a second bid of the bidder.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the supplement comprises an amount of frequent flier miles.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the supplement comprises a value of currency.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically providing a reward associated with the reward offer to the bidder.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reward comprises at least one of a value of currency, or a second product.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the reward comprises at least one of a warranty for the product or free shipping of the product.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the reward comprises a supplement to a second bid of the bidder.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the supplement comprises an amount of frequent flier miles.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the supplement comprises a value of currency.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the bid, providing a description of the at least one reward rule.

15. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

identify a product subject to bidding during an auction session;

receive a bid for the product from a bidder;

determine, based at least on a reward rule that includes a requirement that the bidder accept a reward supplied by a third party, that the bidder is qualified to receive a reward offer; and

provide the reward offer to the bidder.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive an indication from the bidder of acceptance of the requirement; and

provide a reward associated with the reward offer to the bidder.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, in which the instructions for providing the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide at least one of a value of currency, or a second product.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, in which the instructions for providing the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide at least one of a warranty for the product or free shipping of the product.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, in which the instructions for providing the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide a supplement to a second bid of the bidder.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, in which the instructions for providing the supplement to the second bid comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide an amount of frequent flier miles.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, in which the instructions for providing the supplement to the second bid comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide a value of currency.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to automatically provide a reward associated with the reward offer to the bidder.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, in which the instructions for providing the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide at least one of a value of currency, or a second product.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, in which the instructions for providing the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide at least one of a warranty for the product, or free shipping of the product.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 22, in which the instructions for providing the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide a supplement to a second bid of the bidder.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for providing the supplement to the second bid comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide an amount of frequent flier miles.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for providing the supplement to the second bid comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide a value of currency.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to receiving the bid, provide a description of the at least one reward rule.

29. An apparatus of an auctioneer, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

identify a product subject to bidding during an auction session, the product being sold by an owner of the product;

receive a bid for the product from a bidder;

determine, based at least on a reward rule that includes a requirement that the bidder accept a reward supplied by a third party, that the bidder is qualified to receive a reward offer, wherein the third party comprises an entity different than the auctioneer, the owner of the product, and the bidder; and

provide the reward offer to the bidder.