Computer implemented methods and apparatus for auctions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dynamic computer implemented auction system for multiple dissimilar objects operating in multiple rounds comprising:
- a) an auctioneer'"'"'s system and at least two user systems, the auctioneer'"'"'s system communicatively coupled to user systems;
b) each user system including;
b1) means for receiving messages from the auctioneer'"'"'s system and for displaying those messages;
b2) means for receiving bid related information from a user and for transmitting bid information to the auctioneer'"'"'s system, where said bid information includes a value parameter Pi and an associated object subset identification Si, where the object subset identification Si identifies a set of objects and where the value parameter Pi specifies a payment proposed by the bidder in return for the objects of subset S1 ;
c) said auctioneer'"'"'s system including;
c1) means for generating and transmitting messages to user systems, said messages including a message to initiate an auction, a non-final message indicating that the auction will continue at least one more round, and a final message indicating that the auction has terminated;
c2) means for receiving bid information from user systems in multiple rounds of bidding;
c3) decision means responsive to the bid information received from the user systems for determining if an auction should continue or not, wherein the decision means includes;
c31 ) means to initiate the generation of a non-final message to at least one user system in response to a determination to continue the auction;
c32) means to initiate the generation of a final message to at least one user system in response to a determination not to continue the auction; and
c33) selecting means to select an n-tuple of bids (Si, Pi), at most one from each user system, which selection is effective to optimize the sum of the different value parameters Pi of the selected bids subject to the constraint that the associated subsets Si of all of the selected bids are compatible.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer implemented system and method of executing an auction. The system has at least two intelligent systems, one for the auctioneer and at least one for a user. The auction is conducted by the auctioneer'"'"'s system communicating with the user system(s). The auctioneer'"'"'s system receives information from the user system(s) based on bid information entered by the user(s). With this information the auctioneer'"'"'s system determines whether the auction can be concluded or not and appropriate messages are transmitted to the user(s).
433 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A dynamic computer implemented auction system for multiple dissimilar objects operating in multiple rounds comprising:
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a) an auctioneer'"'"'s system and at least two user systems, the auctioneer'"'"'s system communicatively coupled to user systems; b) each user system including; b1) means for receiving messages from the auctioneer'"'"'s system and for displaying those messages; b2) means for receiving bid related information from a user and for transmitting bid information to the auctioneer'"'"'s system, where said bid information includes a value parameter Pi and an associated object subset identification Si, where the object subset identification Si identifies a set of objects and where the value parameter Pi specifies a payment proposed by the bidder in return for the objects of subset S1 ; c) said auctioneer'"'"'s system including; c1) means for generating and transmitting messages to user systems, said messages including a message to initiate an auction, a non-final message indicating that the auction will continue at least one more round, and a final message indicating that the auction has terminated; c2) means for receiving bid information from user systems in multiple rounds of bidding; c3) decision means responsive to the bid information received from the user systems for determining if an auction should continue or not, wherein the decision means includes; c31 ) means to initiate the generation of a non-final message to at least one user system in response to a determination to continue the auction; c32) means to initiate the generation of a final message to at least one user system in response to a determination not to continue the auction; and c33) selecting means to select an n-tuple of bids (Si, Pi), at most one from each user system, which selection is effective to optimize the sum of the different value parameters Pi of the selected bids subject to the constraint that the associated subsets Si of all of the selected bids are compatible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A dynamic computer implemented auction system for auctions for plural objects operating in multiple rounds at changing prices, said auction system comprising:
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a) an auctioneer'"'"'s system and at least two user systems, the auctioneers system communicatively coupled to user systems; b) each user system including; b1) means for receiving messages from the auctioneer'"'"'s system and for displaying those messages; b2) means for receiving bid related information from a user and for transmitting bid information to the auctioneer'"'"'s system, where said bid informatioin specifies at least quantities of objects; and c) said auctioneer'"'"'s system including; c1) means for generating and transmitting messages to user systems, said messages including a message to initiate an auction, a non-final message indicating that the auction will continue at least one more round, and a final message indicating that the auction has terminated, said non-final message also indicating a current quantity of objects, where the current quantity of objects may be greater than a quantity of objects in a prior round; c2) means for receiving bid information from user systems in one or more rounds of bidding; and c3) decision means responsive to the bid information received fiom the user systems for determining if an auction should continue or not, said decision means including; c31) means to initiate the generation of a non-final message to at least one user system in response to a determination to continue the auction; c32) means to initiate the generation of a final message to at least one user system in response to a determination not to continue the auction; and c33) means for comparing a sum of quantities specified in bids in a current round with the quantity of objects specified by the auctioneer'"'"'s system for a current round and termninating the auction when that comparison shows that the sum ot quantities specified in bids is equal to or less than the quantity specified by the auctioneer'"'"'s s,system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for conducting a dynamic computer implemented auction for multiple dissimilar objects operating in multiple rounds comprising:
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a) providing an auctioneer'"'"'s system, b) conveying messages concerning an auction to users from the auctioneer'"'"'s system, said messages including a message to initiate an auction, a non-final message indicating that the auction will continue at least one more round, and a final message indicating that the auction has terminated c) receiving bid related information from plural users and, in response, conveying bid information from the users to the auctioneer'"'"'s system, where said bid informaition includes a value parameter Pi and an associated object subset identification Si, where the object subset identification Si identifies a set of objects and where the value parameter Pi specifies a payment proposed by the bidder in return for the objects of subset Si ; d) determining, in response to the bid information, if an auction should continue or not, including selecting an n-tuple of bids (Si, Pi), at most one from each user, to optimize the sum of the different value parameters Pi of the selected bids subject to the constraint that the associated subsets Si of all of the selected bids are compatible. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for conducting a dynamic computer implemented auction for plural objects operating in multiple rounds at changing prices comprising:
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a) providing an auctioneer'"'"'s system and transmitting messages from the auctioneer'"'"'s system to users, said messages including a message to initiate an auction, a non-final message indicating that the auction will continue at least one more round, and a final message indicating that the auction has terminated, said non-final message also indicating a current quantity of objects, where the current quantity of objects may be greater than a quantity of objects in a prior round; b) receiving bid related information from users and, in response, transmitting bid information to the auctioneer'"'"'s system, where said bid information specifies at least quantities of objects; and c) determining at the auctioneer'"'"'s system, in response to the bid information received from the users if an auction should continue or not, including comparing a sum of quantities specified in bids in a current round with the quantity of objects specified by the auctioneer'"'"'s system for a current round and terminating the auction when that comparison shows that the sum of quantities specified in bids is equal to or less than the quantity specified by the auctioneer'"'"'s system. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification