COMPUTER SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of conducting a telephone based reverse auction for selling units where the reverse auction is transmitted to users on a medium, the method comprising the steps of providing a number of units for sale and storing a preliminary available quantity in an allocation database initially indicative of the number provided for sale, providing a telephone number to which calls from callers can be placed to enter the reverse auction, recording the time at which one or more calls were received on the telephone number in a call record in a call database, placing each caller into a queue and assigning them to a call operator or system in order to sell a unit, conducting a reverse auction in which a person or system reduces the indicated price of a unit over time and in which a producer or system reduces the preliminary available quantity, the reverse auction is concluded at the time of the preliminary available quantity is reduced to a pre-determined number, such as zero, with the price at the conclusion being stored in an auction database, wherein the preliminary available quantity is reduced based at least partly on one or more preliminary indicators associated with a call/caller, such as the time of the acceptance of the call in the call record versus the timing of the auction, which indicator(s) occur before a sale of a unit is completed.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of conducting a telephone or internet based reverse auction for selling units where the reverse auction is transmitted to users on a medium, the method comprising the steps of providing a number of units for sale and storing a preliminary available quantity in an allocation database initially indicative of the number provided for sale, providing a telephone number or web site to which calls or orders from users can be placed to enter the reverse auction, recording the time at which one or more calls or orders were received on the telephone number or at the website in a record database, placing any callers into a queue and assigning them to a call operator or system in order to sell a unit, conducting a reverse auction in which a person or system reduces the indicated price of a unit over time and in which a producer or system reduces the preliminary available quantity, the reverse auction is concluded at the time of the preliminary available quantity is reduced to a pre-determined number, such as zero, with the price at the conclusion being stored in an auction database, wherein the preliminary available quantity is reduced based at least partly on one or more preliminary indicators associated with a call/user, such as the time of the acceptance of the call or order in the record versus the timing of the auction, which indicator(s) occur before a sale of a unit is completed/confirmed.
3 Citations
39 Claims
- 1. A method of conducting a telephone based reverse auction for selling units where the reverse auction is transmitted to users on a medium, the method comprising the steps of providing a number of units for sale and storing a preliminary available quantity in an allocation database initially indicative of the number provided for sale, providing a telephone number to which calls from callers can be placed to enter the reverse auction, recording the time at which one or more calls were received on the telephone number in a call record in a call database, placing each caller into a queue and assigning them to a call operator or system in order to sell a unit, conducting a reverse auction in which a person or system reduces the indicated price of a unit over time and in which a producer or system reduces the preliminary available quantity, the reverse auction is concluded at the time of the preliminary available quantity is reduced to a pre-determined number, such as zero, with the price at the conclusion being stored in an auction database, wherein the preliminary available quantity is reduced based at least partly on one or more preliminary indicators associated with a call/caller, such as the time of the acceptance of the call in the call record versus the timing of the auction, which indicator(s) occur before a sale of a unit is completed.
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35. A computer system for conducting a reverse auction of units, the system comprising a processor, a memory including an allocation database, an auction database, and a call database, a telephony system, a display, the allocation database containing a preliminary available quantity indicative of the number of units provided in an auction, the telephony system being configured to record the time at which a call is received and the number which was dialled in a call record in the call database, and configured to place each caller into a queue assigning them to a call operator or system in order to sell a unit, the processor configured to display a price on the display and to reduce the displayed price over time and to reduce the preliminary available quantity, and to determine when the preliminary available quantity is reduced to a pre-determined number, such as zero, to store the displayed price at that time in the auction database, and to prevent new telephone call to the telephony system being entered into the auction wherein the system reduces the preliminary available quantity based at least partly on one or more preliminary indicators associated with a call/caller, such as the time of the acceptance of the call in the call record versus the timing of the auction, which indicators occur before a sale of a unit is finalised
- 36. A method of selling units on television by reverse auction comprising the steps of displaying a unit for sale on television along with an initial price and the number of the units available for sale in the auction, allowing telephone calls to be made to take part in the auction, the displayed available quantity being reduced when it is believed a caller has given sufficient indications that a sale is likely or has occurred, reducing the displayed price for the unit to encourage more callers to reduce the television time taken up by the auction and concluding the auction when the displayed available quantity reaches zero.
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39. A method of conducting an internet based reverse auction for selling units where the reverse auction is transmitted to users on a medium, the method comprising the steps of providing a number of units for sale and storing a preliminary available quantity in an allocation database initially indicative of the number provided for sale, providing a website purchasing facility to which orders from users can be placed to enter the reverse auction, recording the time at which one or more orders were received on the telephone number in a call record in a call database, placing each caller into a queue and assigning them to a call operator or system in order to sell a unit, conducting a reverse auction in which a person or system reduces the indicated price of a unit over time and in which a producer or system reduces the preliminary available quantity, the reverse auction is concluded at the time of the preliminary available quantity is reduced to a pre-determined number, such as zero, with the price at the conclusion being stored in an auction database, wherein the preliminary available quantity is reduced based at least partly on one or more preliminary indicators associated with a call/caller, such as the time of the acceptance of the order in the call record versus the timing of the auction, which indicator(s) occur before a sale of a unit is completed/confirmed.
Specification