Methods and systems for collaborative bidding in automated actions

• US 8,744,916 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Nalik, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): Ebersman, Bruce I
• Application Number:
  US11/341,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,046 Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for controlling automated auctions and other collaborative tasks. In one exemplary implementation, a system is provided that includes an administrative server running software operative to coordinate an automated auction among a plurality of collaborative bidding entities. One or more collaborative bidding servers are also provided, each running software operative to coordinate collaborative bidding in the automated auction on behalf of a respective collaborative bidding entity. By providing collaborative bidding servers that are separate from the administrative server running the auction, individual users wishing to collaborate on a particular bid may do so using the software running on a respective collaborative server, which is specifically provided to facilitate and coordinate collaborative bidding. Generalized collaborative communication systems and methods are also set forth herein.

Claims

1. A system for controlling automated auctions, comprising:

an administrative server; and

a plurality of collaborative bidding servers, each collaborative bidding server comprising a plurality of entities collaborating to submit a bid,

the plurality of collaborative bidding servers configured to increase a gain G(COL) of the system defined by;

G(COL)>

CCR+n*CIR;

where;

CCR is a factor descriptive of collaborative communication resources used by the plurality of collaborative bidding servers;

n is a number of collaborative bidding servers in the plurality of collaborative bidding servers; and

CIR is a factor descriptive of communicating information resources;

wherein the increasing a gain G(COL) comprises;

identifying a collaborative bidding entity associated with at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers that is operable to provide bidding information,

obtaining the bidding information from the identified collaborative bidding entity,

executing decision rules to evaluate the obtained bidding information to determine whether the bidding information is correct bidding information;

responsive to determining that the bidding information is incorrect;

communicating a request to the identified collaborative bidding entity to provide the correct bidding information, and

obtaining the correct bidding information; and

generating the bid based on optimization rules and on the correct bidding information,

wherein software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is operative to;

automatically generate and transmit the bid to the administrative server on behalf of a respective bidding entity; and

optimize the bid on behalf of the respective bidding entity based on prices of supplies provided by suppliers of a respective collaborative bidding entity, wherein the prices of supplies are updated in real-time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is further operative to automatically generate the bid based on information and rules provided by the respective bidding entity.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is further operative to optimize the bid on behalf of the respective bidding entity based on the information provided by a respective collaborative bidding entity.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is further operative to optimize the bid on behalf of the respective bidding entity based on production capacity of a respective collaborative bidding entity.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the collaborative bidding entity bids on a plurality of items, and

the software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is further operative to optimize individual bids on behalf of the respective bidding entity based on information pertaining to the plurality of bids.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the information pertaining to the plurality of bids includes a maximum cumulative bid price for all items, and

the software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is further operative to optimize individual bids on behalf of a respective bidding entity based on the maximum cumulative bid price.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the respective collaborative bidding entity bids on items in a plurality of different auctions, and

the software running on a collaborative server is further operative to optimize individual bids in a current auction based on the information pertaining to the success, if any, of bids in previous auctions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of entities are in one or more different time zones, and

the software running on the collaborative server is further operative to coordinate collaboration of the entities among the different time zones.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of entities employ one or more different currencies, and

the software running on the collaborative server is further operative to coordinate the collaboration of the entities among the different currencies.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of entities speak in one or more different languages, and

the software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is further operative to coordinate collaboration of the entities among the different languages.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of entities are subject to one or more different legal jurisdictions, and

the software running on the collaborative server is further operative to coordinate the collaboration of the entities among the different jurisdictions.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of entities different roles within the collaborative bidding entity, and

the software running on the collaborative server is further operative to coordinate the collaboration of the plurality of entities among the individuals with different roles.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein

the software running on the collaborative server is further operative to coordinate the collaboration of the entities, in part, by providing for exchange of information pertaining to a given bid among the entities of the collaborative bidding entity.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the auction is an Internet-based auction.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the auction is a standard auction that permits bidding entities to selectively increase bid amounts in an attempt to gain the right to purchase goods or services being auctioned.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the auction is a reverse auction that permits bidding entities to selectively decrease bid amounts in an attempt to gain the right to provide goods or services being auctioned.

17. A method comprising:

calculating an increase of a gain G(COL) by a plurality of collaborative bidding servers of a system comprising the plurality of collaborators bidding servers, the gain G(COL) defined by;

G(COL)>

CCR+n*CIR;

where;

CCR is a factor descriptive of collaborative communication resources used by the plurality of collaborative bidding server;

n is a number of collaborative bidding servers in the plurality of collaborative bidding servers; and

CIR is factor descriptive of communicating information resources;

wherein increasing the gain G(COL) comprises;

identifying a collaborative bidding entity associated with at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers that is operable to provide bidding information,

obtaining the bidding information from the identified collaborative bidding entity,

executing decision rules to evaluate the obtained bidding information to determine whether the bidding information is correct bidding information;

responsive to determining that the bidding information is incorrect;

communicating a request to the identified collaborative bidding entity provide the correct bidding information, and

obtaining the correct bidding information; and

generating the bid based on optimization rules and on the correct bidding information,

wherein software running on each of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers is operative to;

automatically generate and transmit the bid to the administrative server on behalf of a respective bidding entity; and

optimize the bid on behalf of the respective bidding entity based on prices of supplies provided by suppliers of a respective collaborative bidding entity, wherein the prices of supplies are updated in real-time.

18. The method claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers comprises a collaborator application for collaborative communications and the method further comprises processing, via the at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers, data from a central server by the collaborator application.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers comprises a collaborator application for collaborative communications and the method further comprises processing, via the at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers, input data from a plurality of clients by the collaborator application.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising maintaining a communications link for communicating the data from the central server from at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying data associated with the bidding information on a graphical user interface.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving , at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers, multiple input data from the plurality of clients.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving, at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers, input generated by at least one of a plurality of clients.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating and maintaining, via at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers, a history of input data related to a former collaborator.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising, via at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding server, processing the data from a central server to generate client data according to at least one of a given language and a given time zone.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving, at a central server ,a bid invitation by at least one of the plurality of collaborative bidding servers.