Method and system for controlling the initiation and duration of overtime intervals in electronic auctions

• US 6,216,114 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ariba Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: FreeMarkets Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Stevens, Robert G., Becker, David J., Rago, Vincent F., Rupp, William D., Heckmann, Daniel C., Bernard, Anthony F., Kinney, Sam E. Jr., Meakem, Glen T., Roberts, Frederick W., Alaia, Marc, Reneau, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US09/311,557
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37, 705/38, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method and system for conducting electronic auctions is described. A mic lot closing extension feature avoids collisions in closing times of multiple lots by dynamically extending the closing time of a subsequent lot if a preceding lot'"'"'s closing time is extended to be too close to the subsequent lot'"'"'s then-currently can be extended with a flexible overtime feature, in which the properties of the event triggering the extension and the of the overtime period(s) can be tailored to a particular auction, particular lots of products within an auction, and to the particular time within an auction process. t can be set to a “pending” status after the nominal closing time for submission of bids to allow bidders to alert the auction coordinator of technical problems in submission of bids. This allows the possibility for a lot to be return to bidding by all bidders. The auction may be paused by the auction coordinator to correct technical, market and miscellaneous problems that may arise during the course of an auction. Individual bid ceilings can be set for each e required to bid lower than certain thresholds determined in advance of the auction. Failsafe error detection is performed to prevent erroneous bids from entering the auction. The auction coordinator has the ability to override any ent prejudice to the auction.

Claims

1. A computer program product for enabling a processor in a computer system to control overtime in an electronic auction, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on the computer system, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a first computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to offer a plurality of lots, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, each of said plurality of lots having at least one product;

a second computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to define a closing time for each of said plurality of lots, wherein a closing time for a lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

a third computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to define an overtime extension parameter for each of said plurality of lots, said overtime extension parameter indicating a length of an overtime period for an associated lot, wherein an overtime extension parameter for a lot is based upon characteristics of one or more items in the lot;

a fourth computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to determine whether an overtime period is triggered in one of said plurality of lots; and

a fifth computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to extend the auction for said one of said plurality of lots by an amount of time defined by said overtime extension parameter associated with said one of said plurality of lots, if an overtime period is triggered in said one of said plurality of lots.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to store overtime extension parameters for each of said plurality of lots.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said fifth computer readable program code means comprises computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to add the value of an overtime extension parameter with a market closing time for a lot.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to dynamically vary an overtime extension parameter associated with a lot during an auction for the lot.

84. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing overtime extension parameters for each of said plurality of lots.

85. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises the step of adding the value of an overtime extension parameter with a market closing time for a lot.

86. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of dynamically varying an overtime extension parameter associated with a lot during an auction for the lot.

5. A system to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

means for offering a plurality of lots, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, each of said plurality of lots having at least one product;

means for defining a closing time for each of said plurality of lots, wherein a closing time for a lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

means for defining an overtime extension parameter for each of said plurality of lots, said overtime extension parameter indicating a length of an overtime period for an associated lot, wherein an overtime extension parameter for a lot is based upon characteristics of one or more items in the lot;

means for determining whether an overtime period is triggered in one of said plurality of lots; and

means for extending the auction for said one of said plurality of lots by an amount of time defined by said overtime extension parameter associated with said one of said plurality of lots, if an overtime period is triggered in said one of said plurality of lots.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for storing overtime extension parameters for each of said plurality of lots.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said means for extending the auction adds the value of an overtime extension parameter with a market closing time for a lot.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for dynamically varying an overtime extension parameter associated with a lot during an auction for the lot.

9. A computer program product for enabling a processor in a computer system to control overtime in an electronic auction, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on the computer system, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a first computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to offer a lot, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, said lot having at least one product;

a second computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to define a closing time for said lot, wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

a third computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to receive a first bid from a potential seller for said lot;

a fourth computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to identify said first bid as a current best bid;

a fifth computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to compare each successively received bid to said current best bid, and identify said successive bid as said current best bid if said successive bid is better than said current best bid; and

a sixth computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to determine whether a received bid is better than said current best bid; and

if said received bid is better than said current best bid, identify said received bid as current best bid and extend said closing time for said first lot by a second time interval; and

if said received bid is not better than said current best bid, determine whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria and if said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria, extend said closing time for said first lot by a third time interval.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said second time interval is equal to said third time interval.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said sixth computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is received within a fourth time interval of said closing time.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said sixth computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for storing a percentage parameter in memory.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said sixth computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for storing a price distance parameter in memory.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said sixth computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for storing an incumbent supplier parameter in memory.

18. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said sixth computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said current best bid.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria comprises computer readable program code means for storing an ordinal position parameter in memory.

91. The method of claim 16, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of storing a percentage parameter in memory.

93. The method of claim 18, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of storing a price distance parameter in memory.

20. A system to control overtime in an auction, comprising:

means for offering a lot, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, said lot having at least one product;

means for defining a closing time for said lot, wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller,

means for receiving a first bid from a potential seller for said lot;

means for identifying said first bid as a current best bid;

means for comparing each successively received bid to said current best bid, and identifying said successive bid as said current best bid if said successive bid is better than said current best bid; and

means for determining whether a received bid is better than said current best bid; and

if said received bid is better than said current best bid, means for identifying said received bid as said current best bid and extending said closing time for said first lot by a second time interval; and

if said received bid is not better than said current best bid, means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria; and

if said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria, extending said closing time for said first lot by a third time interval.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said second time interval is equal to said third time interval.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria determines whether said received bid is received within a fourth time interval of said closing time.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria determines whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria stores a percentage parameter in memory.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria determines whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria stores a price distance parameter in memory.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria determines whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria stores an incumbent supplier parameter in memory.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria determines whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said current best bid.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria stores an ordinal position parameter in memory.

31. A computer program product for enabling a processor in a computer system to control overtime in an electronic auction, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on the computer system, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a first computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to offer a lot, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, said lot having at least one product;

a second computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to define a closing time for said lot, wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

a third computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to determine if a received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria within a first time interval of said closing time for said lot, wherein said at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria can be satisfied if said received bid is not better than a current best bid; and

a fourth computer readable program code means for enabling the computer system to extend said closing time for said first lot by a second time interval if said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is received within a third time interval of said closing time.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid includes storing a percentage parameter in memory.

35. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount includes storing a price distance parameter in memory.

37. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier includes storing an incumbent supplier parameter in memory.

39. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means comprises computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said current best bid.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein said computer readable program code means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said current best bid includes storing an ordinal position parameter in memory.

41. A system to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

means for offering a lot, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, said lot having at least one product;

means for defining a closing time for said lot;

wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

means for determining if a received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria, wherein said at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria can be satisfied if said received bid is not better than a current best bid, within a first interval of said closing time for said lot; and

means for extending said closing time for said first lot by a second time interval, if said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said means for extending said closing time determines whether said received bid is received within a third time interval of said closing time.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein said means for extending said closing time determines whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid stores a percentage parameter in memory.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein said means for extending said closing time determines whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount stores a price distance parameter in memory.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein said means for extending said closing time determines whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier stores an incumbent supplier parameter in memory.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein said means for extending said closing time determines whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said current best bid.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said means for determining whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said current best bid stores an ordinal position parameter in memory.

51. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first time interval is an overtime trigger interval representing a time interval during which an overtime condition can cause extension of a closing time;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

52. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said second time interval is an overtime extension interval representing a time interval to extend a closing time;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

53. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids;

assigning an ordinal rank to each bid from a best bid to a worst bid; and

receiving a bid having an ordinal rank that is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of best bid;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said predefined number of rank ordinal positions equals one.

55. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids each having a bid price;

ordering each bid from a best bid price to a worst bid price; and

receiving a bid having a bid price within a predefined price of said best bid price;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

56. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids each having a bid price;

ordering each bid from a best bid price to a worst bid price; and

receiving a bid having a bid price within a predefined percentage of said best bid price;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

57. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises receiving a bid from a predefined bidder;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said predefined bidder is an incumbent bidder.

59. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a first set of bids;

determining a first frequency for said first set of bids; and

receiving a second set of bids at a second frequency;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said second frequency is higher tan said first frequency.

61. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids from a group of bidders;

generating a statistical analysis parameter for said received bids; and

matching said statistical analysis parameter with a predefined statistical analysis parameter;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

62. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids from a bidder;

generating a statistical analysis parameter for said received bids; and

matching said statistical analysis parameter with a predefined statistical analysis parameter;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

63. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval;

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination;

d) modifying at least one of said first time interval, said second time interval and said first overtime condition; and

e) performing (b) and (c) using said at least one modified first time interval, second time interval and first overtime condition.

64. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval;

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination;

d) defining a third time interval, a fourth time interval, a second overtime condition and a second closing time for a second lot;

e) determining whether said second overtime condition occurs during said third time interval; and

f) extending said second closing time using said fourth time interval if said second overtime condition occurs.

65. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first lot comprises at least one of a custom industrial product and material, and at least one of said first time interval, said second time interval and said first overtime condition is defined in accordance with said at least one of a custom industrial product and materials;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

66. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids each having a bid price;

ordering each bid from a best bid price to a worst bid price; and

receiving a bid having a bid price other than said best bid price;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

67. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first time interval is an overtime trigger interval representing a time interval during which an overtime condition can cause extension of a closing time;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

68. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said second time interval is an overtime extension interval representing a time interval to extend a closing time;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

69. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids;

assigning an ordinal rank to each bid from a best bid to a worst bid; and

receiving a bid having an ordinal rank that is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of best bid;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

70. The machine-readable medium of claim 69, wherein said predefined number of rank ordinal positions equals one.

71. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids each having a bid price;

ordering each bid from a best bid price to a worst bid price; and

receiving a bid having a bid price within a predefined price of said best bid price;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

72. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids each having a bid price;

ordering each bid from a best bid price to a worst bid price; and

receiving a bid having a bid price within a predefined percentage of said best bid price;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

73. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises receiving a bid from a predefined bidder;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

74. The machine-readable medium of claim 73, wherein said predefined bidder is an incumbent bidder.

75. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a first set of bids;

determining a first frequency for said first set of bids; and

receiving a second set of bids at a second frequency;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

76. The machine-readable medium of claim 75, wherein said second frequency is higher than said first frequency.

77. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids from a group of bidders;

generating a statistical analysis parameter for said received bids; and

matching said statistical analysis parameter with a predefined statistical analysis parameter;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

78. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids from a bidder;

generating a statistical analysis parameter for said received bids; and

matching said statistical analysis parameter with a predefined statistical analysis parameter;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

79. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval;

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination;

d) modifying at least one of said first time interval, said second time interval and said first overtime condition; and

e) performing (b) and (c) using said at least one modified first time interval, second time interval and first overtime condition.

80. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval;

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination;

d) defining a third time interval, a fourth time interval, a second overtime condition and a second closing time for a second lot;

e) determining whether said second overtime condition occurs during said third time interval; and

f) extending said second closing time using said fourth time interval if said second overtime condition occurs.

81. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first lot comprises at least one of a custom industrial product and material, and at least one of said first time interval, said second time interval and said first overtime condition is defined in accordance with said at least one of a custom industrial product and material;

b) determining whether said first overtime condition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

82. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to control overtime in an electronic auction, by performing:

a) defining a first time interval, a second time interval, a first overtime condition and a first closing time for a first lot, wherein said first overtime condition comprises;

receiving a plurality of bids each having a bid price;

ordering each bid from a best bid price to a worst bid price; and

receiving a bid having a bid price other than said best bid price;

b)ition occurs during said first time interval; and

c) extending said first closing time using said second time interval in accordance with said determination.

83. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising the steps of:

(a) offering a plurality of lots, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, each of said plurality of lots having at least one product;

(b) defining a closing time for each of said plurality of lots, wherein a closing time for a lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

(c) defining an overtime extension parameter for each of said plurality of lots, said overtime extension parameter indicating a length of an overtime period for an associated lot, wherein an overtime extension parameter for a lot is based upon characteristics of one or more items in the lot;

(d) determining whether an overtime period is triggered in one of said plurality of lots; and

(e) if an overtime period is triggered in said one of said plurality of lots, extending the auction for said one of said plurality of lots by an amount of time defined by said overtime extension parameter associated with said one of said plurality of lots.

87. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising the steps of:

(a) offering a lot, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, said lot having at least one product;

(b) defining a closing time for said lot, wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

(c) receiving a first bid from a potential seller for said lot,

(d) identifying said first bid as a current best bid;

(e) comparing each successively received bid to said current best bid, and identifying said successive bid as said current best bid if said successive bid is better than said current best bid;

(f) within a first time interval of said closing time for said lot,

(i) determining whether a received bid is better than said current best bid;

(i bid is better than said current best bid, identifying said received bid as said current best bid and extending said closing time for said first lot by a second time interval;

(iii) if said received bid is not better than said current best bid, determining whether said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria; and

(iv) if said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot exime for said first lot by a third time interval.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein said second time interval is equal to said third time interval.

89. The method of claim 87, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is received within a fourth time interval of said closing time.

90. The method of claim 87, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid.

92. The method of claim 87, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount.

94. The method of claim 90, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the step (f)(iii) comprises the step of storing an incumbent supplier parameter in memory.

96. The method of claim 87, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said current best bid.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises the step of storing an ordinal position parameter in memory.

98. A method to control overtime in an electronic auction, comprising the steps of:

(a) offering a lot, defined at least in part by a buyer, to a plurality of potential sellers, said lot having at least one product;

(b) defining a closing time for said lot, wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential seller;

(c) within a first time interval of said closing time for said lot, determining if a received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria, wherein said at least one behind-market bid lot extension criteria can be satisfied if said received bid is not better than a current best bid; and

(d) if said received bid satisfies at least one behind-market bid lot extension criter second time interval.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein step (d) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is received within a third time interval of said closing time.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein step (d) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is within a predefined percentage of said current best bid.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein step (d) comprises the step of storing a percentage parameter in memory.

102. The method of claim 98, wherein step (d) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is higher than said current best bid by a selected amount.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein step (d) comprises the step of storing a price distance parameter in memory.

104. The method of claim 98, wherein step (d) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is from an incumbent supplier.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein step(d) comprises the step of storing an incumbent supplier parameter in memory.

106. The method of claim 98, wherein step (d) comprises the step of determining whether said received bid is within a predefined number of rank ordinal positions of said cbid.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein step (d) comprises the step of storing an ordinal position parameter in memory.