Method and apparatus for configurably adjusting a bid in an online auction

• US 7,499,876 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ariba Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Ariba Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Abeshouse, Daniel, Rupp, William D., Harrigal, Kimberly A., Wagner, Douglas R., Atkinson, Scott W., Lang, Robert B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US09/753,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,986 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method and apparatus for configuring and entering bids in an auction is disclosed. The method includes displaying a bid adjustment mechanism configuration interfaced to a bidder. Thereafter, a bid adjustment value for the bid adjustment mechanism is set using the configuration interface. Following the setting step, upon actuation of the bid adjustment mechanism, a bid is adjusted by the bid adjustment value previously set using the configuration interface.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a bid adjustment mechanism in an online auction, the method comprising:

displaying a bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface including the bid adjustment mechanism that allows a bidder to specify an adjustment for a bid without entering an amount of the bid;

setting the bid adjustment mechanism to a bid adjustment value specified by the bidder using the configuration interface; and

adjusting a bid in the online auction by the bid adjustment value set in the configuration interface in the event that the bid adjustment mechanism is actuated by the bidder;

wherein the bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface is configured to allow a bidder to specify a first and a second adjustment for a bid, and wherein the bid adjustment mechanism is a first bid adjustment mechanism set to the first adjustment value, and further comprising setting a second bid adjustment mechanism to a second bid adjustment value, and wherein adjusting a bid in the online auction includes determining which bid adjustment mechanism is actuated by the bidder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bid adjustment mechanism is a button on a graphical user interface displayed to the bidder.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the bid adjustment mechanism further comprises selecting a bid adjustment type associated with the bid adjustment value, wherein the bid adjustment type corresponds to an absolute value or a percentage of a previous bidder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the absolute value is measured in a currency.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the currency is U.S. dollars.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bid adjustment value corresponds to a bid rank.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface is a first bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface used by the bidder to specify an adjustment for a first bid for a first lot, and further comprising displaying a second bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface to the bidder to specify an adjustment for a second bid for a second lot.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bid in the online auction is the bidder'"'"'s bid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the bid in the online auction is another bidder'"'"'s bid.

10. A computer-implemented apparatus for configuring a bid adjustment component of an application for submitting bids to an electronic auction, comprising:

a user-interface that displays a bid adjustment mechanism allowing a bidder to specify an adjustment for a bid without entering an amount of the bid;

a processor, coupled to the user-interface that sets the bid adjustment mechanism to a bid adjustment value specified by the bidder;

wherein, upon actuation of the bid adjustment mechanism by the bidder, a bid in the electronic auction is adjusted by the bid adjustment value; and

wherein the interface is configured to allow a bidder to specify a first and a second adjustment for a bid, and wherein the bid adjustment mechanism is a first bid adjustment mechanism set to the first adjustment value, and the processor is further configured to set a second bid adjustment mechanism to a second bid adjustment value, and wherein adjusting a bid in the online auction includes determining which bid adjustment mechanism is actuated by the bidder.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said bid adjustment component is selected from the group consisting of absolute value, percentage and rank.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bid adjustment mechanism is a button on a graphical user interface displayed to the bidder.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bid adjustment mechanism is a first bid adjustment mechanism used by the bidder to specify an adjustment for a first bid for a first lot, and wherein the user-interface is further configured to display a second bid adjustment mechanism to the bidder to specify an adjustment for a second bid for a second lot.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bid in the online auction is the bidder'"'"'s bid.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bid in the online auction is another bidder'"'"'s bid.

16. A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions which when executed on a processing system cause said processing system to perform a method of configuring a bid adjustment mechanism in an online auction, the method comprising:

displaying a bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface including the bid adjustment mechanism that allows a bidder to specify an adjustment for a bid without entering an amount of the bid;

setting the bid adjustment mechanism to a bid adjustment value specified by the bidder using the configuration interface; and

adjusting a bid in the online auction by the bid adjustment value set in the configuration interface in the event that the bid adjustment mechanism is actuated by the bidder;

wherein the bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface is configured to allow a bidder to specify a first and a second adjustment for a bid, and wherein the bid adjustment mechanism is a first bid adjustment mechanism set to the first adjustment value, and wherein the method is further comprising setting a second bid adjustment mechanism to a second bid adjustment value, and wherein adjusting a bid in the online auction includes determining which bid adjustment mechanism is actuated by the bidder.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface is a first bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface used by the bidder to specify an adjustment for a first bid for a first lot, and wherein the method is further comprising displaying a second bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface to the bidder to specify an adjustment for a second bid for a second lot.