Computer-based auction and sale system

• US 6,671,674 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: F Poszat Hu LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Claude T. Anderson, Michael G. Rieth
• Inventors: Rieth, Michael G., Anderson, Claude T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherr, Cristina O
• Application Number:
  US09/526,897
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37, 705/80
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A computer-based method and system for executing an auction. The invention discloses a method for conducting an online auction in which a nonredeemable fee is collected from each auction participant to enter the bidder pool for a particular item. The collective nonredeemable fees from all bidders are then allocated to reduce the minimum bid required to purchase the item for the seller'"'"'s asking price and to pay the transactional costs associated with the auction. Using this invention, a high value item can be purchased at very low cost to the high bidder, without the seller having to accept a reduced price for the item. Furthermore, this invention is amenable to a wide variety of auction systems because the computer-based auction and sale system can ensure the seller obtains their asking price for an item without requiring that the item be awarded to the high bidder.

Claims

1. A method for using a computer to facilitate auctioning items on-line comprising:

(a) Inputting a plurality of items into the computer whereas each item comprises;

(i) an item description,

(ii) a bid selection criteria,

(iii) an item price consisting of a minimum bid, and

(iv) a nonredeemable fee portion consisting of

a minimum required number of nonredeemable shares to sell, and

a price for a nonredeemable share;

(b) selling the nonredeemable shares to a plurality of bidders;

(c) obtaining bids from the bidders;

(d) terminating bidding when the minimum required number of nonredeemable shares have been sold;

(e) determining a buyer from among the bidders;

(f) notifying the buyer;

(g) collecting the buyer'"'"'s bid;

(h) using the buyer'"'"'s bid and the nonredeemable fee portion from the plurality of bidders to pay the item price; and

(i) transferring the item to the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the bid selection criteria of step (a) further comprises a means to award the bid to the bidder nearest a predetermined percentile bid, the percentile bid not being a high bid and only being determinable after all bids have been received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the bid selection criteria of step (a) is the high bid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the minimum bid of step (a) is zero dollars.

5. A computer system for conducting an on-line auction of an item comprising:

(a) at least one computer server;

(b) at least one computer network connected to a computer;

(c) a plurality of bidders connected to the computer network;

(d) the item having a price, the item further having a minimum bid, a minimum number of nonredeemable shares, each nonredeemable share having a price;

(e) means for describing the item to the bidders;

(f) means for describing the on-line auction to the bidders;

(g) means for allowing the bidders to purchase the nonredeemable shares;

(h) means for allowing the bidders to place bids;

(i) means for selecting a buyer of the item from the bidders; and

(j) means for using the nonredeemable shares from the plurality of bidders and the buyer'"'"'s bid to pay the item price.

6. The computer system of claim 5 in which the on-line auction further comprises a bid selection criteria to award the bid to the bidder nearest a predetermined percentile bid, the percentile bid not being a high bid and only being determinable after all bids have been received.

7. The computer system of claim 5 in which the means for selecting a buyer of the item from the bidders is to select the high bid.

8. The computer system of claim 5 in which the minimum bid is zero dollars.