Bidding engine for intention-based e-commerce among buyers and competing sellers
First Claim
1. Computer apparatus, comprising:
- one or more hardware processors;
computer memory storing computer program code executed in the one or more hardware processors to;
establish and maintain a set of probabilistic clock processing threads, each probabilistic clock processing thread associated with a data pair comprising a first data set, and a given second data set;
execute, iteratively, the probabilistic clock processing threads to generate, on a continuous basis but at random times, as determined by strikes of the probabilistic clocks, a set of outputs, wherein each output in the set of outputs is generated within its probabilistic clock processing thread and at its associated probabilistic clock strike and asynchronously with respect to at least one other output such that the set of outputs are generated by the probabilistic clock processing threads in a manner that avoids continuous processing by the computer apparatus even as a number of probabilistic clock processing threads increases, thereby providing an improved operation of the computer apparatus;
provide the set of outputs, together with any update to an output that results from an iteration, to the first entity; and
upon receipt of data indicating a selection from the set of outputs by the first entity, take an action;
wherein;
the first data set is received from a first entity and defines a product or service that the first entity desires to obtain, and a value the first entity is willing to pay to obtain the product or service;
a second data set is received from a second entity and includes a range of data values that that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service, and a strategy that defines how a data value within the range of data values is adjusted by a probabilistic clock processing thread associated with the second data set to attempt to obtain for the second entity a right to provide the product or service;
each output in the set of outputs includes a data value within the range of data values that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service;
the set of outputs are generated in a manner that avoids undesired data value equilibria wherein respective second entities are driven to minimum data values within their respective data value ranges as a result of iterative execution of the probabilistic clock processing threads; and
the action facilitates an online transaction between the first entity and a given one of the second entities associated with the selection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A platform through which companies that offer products bid to obtain an opportunity to provide a product to an end user expressing an intent in purchasing it. The user specifies a first data set defining a product he or she desires to buy, a designated time at or by which it is to be provided, and a value that the user is willing to pay. The platform receives a second data set from each of one or more vendors. Each such data set includes a range of prices that the respective vendor is willing to accept for its sale of the product, and a bid strategy. A bid process is then executed to generate a result that identifies at least one vendor, and a price within the range of prices originally offered by that vendor. The result is provided to the user, and a transaction may then be consummated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Computer apparatus, comprising:
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one or more hardware processors; computer memory storing computer program code executed in the one or more hardware processors to; establish and maintain a set of probabilistic clock processing threads, each probabilistic clock processing thread associated with a data pair comprising a first data set, and a given second data set; execute, iteratively, the probabilistic clock processing threads to generate, on a continuous basis but at random times, as determined by strikes of the probabilistic clocks, a set of outputs, wherein each output in the set of outputs is generated within its probabilistic clock processing thread and at its associated probabilistic clock strike and asynchronously with respect to at least one other output such that the set of outputs are generated by the probabilistic clock processing threads in a manner that avoids continuous processing by the computer apparatus even as a number of probabilistic clock processing threads increases, thereby providing an improved operation of the computer apparatus; provide the set of outputs, together with any update to an output that results from an iteration, to the first entity; and upon receipt of data indicating a selection from the set of outputs by the first entity, take an action; wherein; the first data set is received from a first entity and defines a product or service that the first entity desires to obtain, and a value the first entity is willing to pay to obtain the product or service; a second data set is received from a second entity and includes a range of data values that that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service, and a strategy that defines how a data value within the range of data values is adjusted by a probabilistic clock processing thread associated with the second data set to attempt to obtain for the second entity a right to provide the product or service; each output in the set of outputs includes a data value within the range of data values that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service; the set of outputs are generated in a manner that avoids undesired data value equilibria wherein respective second entities are driven to minimum data values within their respective data value ranges as a result of iterative execution of the probabilistic clock processing threads; and the action facilitates an online transaction between the first entity and a given one of the second entities associated with the selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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establishing and maintaining, within a computing entity, a set of probabilistic clock processing sequences, each probabilistic clock processing sequence associated with a data pair comprising a first data set, and a given second data set; executing, iteratively, the probabilistic clock processing sequences to generate, on a continuous basis but at random times, as determined by strikes of the probabilistic clocks, a set of outputs, wherein each output in the set of outputs is generated within its probabilistic clock processing sequence and at its associated probabilistic clock strike and asynchronously with respect to at least one other output such that the set of outputs are generated by the probabilistic clock processing sequences in a manner that avoids continuous processing by the computer entity even as a number of probabilistic clock processing threads increases, thereby providing an improved operation of the computing entity; providing the set of outputs, together with any update to an output that results from an iteration, to the first entity; and upon receipt of data indicating a selection from the set of outputs by the first entity, taking an action; wherein; the first data set is received from a first entity and defines a product or service that the first entity desires to obtain, and a value the first entity is willing to pay to obtain the product or service; a second data set is received from a second entity and includes a range of data values that that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service, and a strategy that defines how a data value within the range of data values is adjusted by a probabilistic clock processing sequence associated with the second data set to attempt to obtain for the second entity a right to provide the product or service; each output in the set of outputs includes a data value within the range of data values that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service; the set of outputs are generated in a manner that avoids undesired data value equilibria wherein respective second entities are driven to minimum data values within their respective data value ranges as a result of iterative execution of the probabilistic clock processing sequences; and the action facilitates an online transaction between the first entity and a given one of the second entities associated with the selection. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product including program code executed by one or more hardware processors in a computing entity to:
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establish and maintain a set of probabilistic clock processing threads, each probabilistic clock processing thread associated with a data pair comprising a first data set, and a given second data set; execute, iteratively, the probabilistic clock processing threads to generate, on a continuous basis but at random times, as determined by strikes of the probabilistic clocks, a set of outputs, wherein each output in the set of outputs is generated within its probabilistic clock processing thread and at its associated probabilistic clock strike and asynchronously with respect to at least one other output such that the set of outputs are generated by the probabilistic clock processing threads in a manner that avoids continuous processing by the computer apparatus even as a number of probabilistic clock processing threads increases, thereby providing an improved operation of the computing entity; provide the set of outputs, together with any update to an output that results from an iteration, to the first entity; and upon receipt of data indicating a selection from the set of outputs by the first entity, take an action; wherein; the first data set is received from a first entity and defines a product or service that the first entity desires to obtain, and a value the first entity is willing to pay to obtain the product or service; a second data set is received from a second entity and includes a range of data values that that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service, and a strategy that defines how a data value within the range of data values is adjusted by a probabilistic clock processing thread associated with the second data set to attempt to obtain for the second entity a right to provide the product or service; each output in the set of outputs includes a data value within the range of data values that the respective second entity is willing to accept to provide the product or service; the set of outputs are generated in a manner that avoids undesired data value equilibria wherein respective second entities are driven to minimum data values within their respective data value ranges as a result of iterative execution of the probabilistic clock processing threads; and the action facilitates an online transaction between the first entity and a given one of the second entities associated with the selection. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification