Computer-implement method and system for conducting auctions on the internet

• US 7,702,540 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Woolston, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/253,014
• Time in Patent Office: 4,078 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a system for facilitating electronic commerce transactions with a first data storage location for holding information about an item for auction from a first participant in a data packet network, a verification process that verifies the user identification of the first participant in said data packet network, the verification process confirming a user identification before allowing the participant in said data packet network access to place information about an item for auction in the system, a display process for displaying information of the item for auction to a plurality of data packet network users, the display process displaying an advertisement with the item for auction to the plurality of data packet users, an auction process for receiving bids on the item for auction from at least one of said plurality of data packet network users, the auction process also verifying a user identification from said at least one of a plurality of data packet network users before allowing receipt of the bid and a notification process for notifying the plurality of data packet network participants that said bid was accepted by said system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for conducting auctions on the Internet, the method comprising:

receiving over a communication network, by a communication handler program executing on a networked market maker computer, information from a remote computer of a first entity corresponding to an item for auction, the information received via the communication network from the remote computer of the first entity including (i) a designation of an item category, selected from a list of item categories presented at the remote computer of the first entity, under which the item for auction is to be listed, and (ii) input relating to scheduling an auction for the item;

processing, by a mapping module at the networked market maker computer, at least a portion of the received information from a database format into a world wide web presentation format, the presentation format including an indication of the selected designation of the category of the item for auction;

based at least in part on the selected category designation and the auction scheduling information previously received from the remote computer of the first entity, automatically initiating an instance of an ascending-bid auction process to conduct an ascending-bid auction for the item over the Internet from the networked market maker computer;

wherein the automatically initiated auction process conducts the auction to completion by performing operations including;

presenting a depiction of the item in the presentation format to a plurality of potential buyers;

receiving at the networked market maker computer one or more bids on the auctioned item from one or more bidders; and

terminating the auction after a predetermined time.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the input relating to the scheduling of an auction for the item is a remote invocation of the auction process at the networked market maker computer by the first entity operation of the remote computer executing a posting terminal program.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first entity is a consignment node operator wherein the consignment node operator has physical possession of the item for auction and is an authorized seller of the item for auction.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first entity is a posting terminal user, and wherein the networked market maker computer does not have physical or legal possession of the item for auction.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the networked market maker computer accepts information corresponding to an item for auction from the remote computer of the first entity over the communication network without verifying that the first entity has physical possession of the item for auction.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the networked market maker computer accepts information corresponding to an item for auction from the remote computer of the first entity over the communication network without verifying that the first entity has physical or legal possession of the item for auction.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein a central franchising authority detects fraud and revokes a franchise license of the first entity to electronically present items for auction at the networked market maker computer.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information received from the remote computer of the first entity further includes subjective descriptive information concerning the item for auction within the information transmitted from the remote computer by the first entity and received by the networked market maker computer, and the networked market maker computer presents the subjective descriptive information concerning the item for auction to the potential buyers without further review by a networked market maker computer operator.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein a central franchising authority imposes a quality and performance structure on the first entity and if the first entity fails to meet the imposed quality and performance structure the central franchising authority may revoke a franchise license of the first entity to use the networked market maker computer.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the communication handler program comprises a Unix daemon.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction relates to an auction duration.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked by the first entity manually.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

17. A computer-implemented method of conducting auctions on the Internet at a networked market maker computer that coordinates via the Internet with a post request module executing at a remote computer operated by a remote entity, the method comprising:

maintaining at a remote computer operated by a remote entity information about an item category structure corresponding to a database structure maintained at a networked market maker computer for storage in a data repository associated with the remote computer operated by the remote entity that is subsequently accessible by a post request module executing on the remote computer operated by the remote entity while the post request module is not in network communication with the networked market maker computer;

receiving over a communication network, by the networked market maker computer an asynchronously created data record from the post request module executing on the remote computer operated by the remote entity, the asynchronously created data record providing an item category selection from the data repository containing information about the category structure of the networked market maker computer, the data record further containing input relating to scheduling an auction for an item, a descriptive name of an item and a brief description of the item from the remote computer operated by the remote entity, the data record being capable of storage at the data repository associated with the remote computer operated by the remote entity for subsequent scheduled or manual transmission to the networked market maker computer over the Internet;

identifying an item to be auctioned;

processing, by a mapping module, at least a portion of the received data record from a database format to a world wide web presentation format corresponding to the item to be auctioned, the presentation format including an indication of the item category selection;

based at least in part on the received item category selection and the data record, automatically initiating an instance of an ascending-bid auction process at the networked market maker computer to conduct an ascending-bid auction for the item over the Internet, the auction process automatically conducting an auction for the item to completion by;

presenting the presentation format to a plurality of Internet participants;

receiving one or more bids for the item from one or more Internet bidder participants; and

terminating the auction upon occurrence of a predetermined condition.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein conducting an auction for the item comprises opening an auction process to participants on the Internet;

and further comprising automatically closing the auction process to the Internet participants based on a predetermined condition.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein the predetermined condition is defined at least in part by the received input relating to scheduling an auction for an item.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising:

verifying and accepting a data record for an item from the post request module and for each successfully posted data record,

generating a unique tracking code for each item.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising:

approving authorization to access the networked market maker computer by an identification code and a password code in a header of the data record received from the post request module executing on the remote computer operated by the remote entity.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining from the data record received from the post request module executing on the remote computer operated by the remote entity whether the item represented by the data record is designated for an auction process or a fixed price offering at the networked market maker computer.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a de-post request for an item from a de-post request module executing on the remote computer operated by the remote entity; and

determining from a data record for the item maintained by the networked market maker computer whether to remove the item from the auction process at the networked market maker computer in response to the received de-post request from the data record for the item.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction relates to an auction duration.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked by the remote entity manually.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

30. A computer-implemented system for conducting auctions on the Internet, the system comprising:

information processing means for mapping at least a portion of information corresponding to an item for auction received from a remote computer of a first entity over a communication network from a database format into a world wide web presentation format, the received information including a designation of an item category, selected from a list of item categories presented at the remote computer of the first entity, under which the item for auction is to be listed, and input relating to scheduling an auction for the item;

an auction item presentation means for presenting items for auction in the presentation format to bidding participants connected via the Internet, the auction item presentation means presenting items for auction in the presentation format arranged into item categories, each item for auction being associated with a selected item category designation;

an auction process means for executing an ascending-bid auction process at a networked market maker computer to automatically conduct an ascending-bid auction for an item based at least in part on the selected designation of the category of the item for auction and the scheduling information received from the remote computer of the first entity over the communication network prior to initiation of the auction;

an auction bid recipient means for receiving, during the auction process, at least one bid on an item being presented by the auction item presentation means; and

payment recipient means for receiving payment information from a bidding participant, the payment information corresponding to the item for which the bid was received.

31. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 further comprising payment verification means for passing received payment information to an external payment clearance system for verification.

32. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 further comprising:

a transaction processor to debit an account identified by the payment information if the received bid is approved.

33. The computer-implemented system of claim 32 wherein the payment information identifies a credit card and wherein the transaction processor charges the credit card for the payment associated with the approved bid.

34. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the received payment information identifies a credit card.

35. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the auction item presentation means presents the auction item information as a world wide web page.

36. The method computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction relates to an auction duration.

37. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

38. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

39. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

40. The computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked by the first entity manually.

41. The method computer-implemented system of claim 30 wherein the received input relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

42. A computer-implemented auction system for enabling participation in an online auction conducted over a packet-switched network, the system comprising:

auction item information receiving means for receiving information for creating a data record for each of one or more items available for auction, the received information including information corresponding to one or more items available for auction, specified auction scheduling information for each item available for auction, and a specified designation of an item category with which each item available for auction is associated;

means for placing, in each of the one or more data records, a respective unique identifier to uniquely identify a respective data record for an item available for auction;

auction process means for executing an ascending-bid auction process to automatically conduct an ascending-bid auction for one or more of the one or more items available for auction each based at least in part on the specified designation of an item category for the item available for auction and the specified auction scheduling information for the item available for auction received prior to initiation of an auction for the item available for auction;

auction bid input means for inputting a bid for at least one of the items during an ascending-bid auction for the at least one of the items and for inputting payment information associated with the bid; and

bid processing means for processing payment information of a winning bidder via the packet-switched network and of an account maintained by the computer-implemented auction system.

43. The computer-implemented auction system of claim 42 wherein the payment information identifies a credit card information provided by the winning bidder to pay for an item in the amount of a winning bid for the item.

44. The computer-implemented auction system of claim 42 wherein the received specified auction scheduling information for each item available for auction relates to an auction duration.

45. The computer-implemented auction system of claim 42 wherein the received specified auction scheduling information for each item available for auction relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

46. The computer-implemented auction system of claim 42 wherein the received specified auction scheduling information for each item available for auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

47. The computer-implemented auction system of claim 42 wherein the received specified auction scheduling information for each item available for auction consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

48. The computer-implemented auction system of claim 42 wherein the received specified auction scheduling information for each item available for auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked manually.

49. The computer-implemented auction system of claim 42 wherein the received specified auction scheduling information for each item available for auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

50. A computer-implemented system for auctioning a uniquely identified item over a packet-switched network, the system comprising:

a database of data records, each data record relating to an item for auction and comprising a unique identifier to uniquely identify a respective data record for the item for auction and an item category under which the item is to be offered for auction, each data record including information specified by and received from a remote computer of a first entity, the specified information including an item category designation and auction scheduling information;

a networked market maker computer accessible by a plurality of participants via the packet-switched network, that based at least in part on the specified category designation and the auction scheduling information received prior to initiation of an auctions automatically maps, by a mapping module, information in a database format to a page of information in a world wide web presentation format for presentation corresponding to an item that is available for auction during a specified time, the page of information including an indication of the item category designation;

wherein the system is configured with computer-executable instructions stored in computer-readable memory that execute an ascending-bid auction process corresponding to the item based at least in part on the scheduling information received from the remote computer of the user, receive bids from one or more of the participants at the networked market maker computer and terminate the auction when one or more predetermined criteria are satisfied; and

wherein the system is configured to transmit to a selected auction participant information about where the selected auction participant should submit payment information for the auctioned item.

51. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the auction system is configured to reject bids after at least one of the one or more predetermined criteria has been satisfied.

52. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the system is configured to execute a subroutine to check participant sessions for bids from auction participants connected to the auction system via the Internet using the world wide web.

53. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the system is configured to execute a subroutine which uses a participant session identification passed to a data structure to correctly identify participants of a particular auction.

54. The computer-implemented system of claim 53 wherein the system is configured to receive payment information identifying a credit card account, and transmit the credit card account information to an external payment clearance system before changing an ownership entry in the data record relating to the item.

55. The computer-implemented system of claim 54 wherein the system is configured to select a bid based on the one or more predetermined criteria, clear the transaction for the amount of the bid, and change an ownership entry in the data record relating to the item to the participant that submitted the selected bid.

56. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the received auction scheduling information relates to an auction duration.

57. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the received auction scheduling information relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

58. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the received auction scheduling information comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

59. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the received auction scheduling information consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

60. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the received auction scheduling information comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked by the first entity manually.

61. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the received auction scheduling information comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

62. The computer-implemented system of claim 50 wherein the at least one or more predetermined criteria is defined at least in part by the received auction scheduling information.

63. A computer-implemented auction participation system, in communication with an auction processor that process bids for items being auctioned, for enabling participation in an online auction over a packet-switched network, the auction participation system comprising:

an auction data recipient means that receives from a first entity via a server at the auction processor data containing information about at least one item being auctioned, the received data including auction scheduling information for each item and a designation of an item category with which each of the at least one item being auctioned is associated, the designation of an item category being specified by a the first entity,

storing means for storing at least a portion of the received data for each item as a respective data record in a database format;

mapping means for mapping at least as portion of the data stored in the respective data record for each item from the database format into a world wide web presentation format;

an auction process stored in computer-readable memory for conducting an Internet-based ascending-bid auction of an item based at least in part on the specified designation of an item category and the auction scheduling information received from the first entity prior to inception of the auction;

presentation means for presenting the ascending-bid auction to a plurality of participants in the world wide web presentation format;

bid input means for enabling a bid from a participant to be submitted to the auction processor via the packet-switched network;

bid award receiving means for receiving an indication that the bid from the participant was accepted; and

payment information input means for enabling the participant to input payment information in response to receiving an indication that the bid from the participant was accepted.

64. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the presentation means comprises a web browser system that accesses a server at the auction processor to present the ascending-bid auction to a participant.

65. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the auction participation system selects a bid for the item based on one or more predetermined criteria, processes a credit card account for the amount of the bid and changes an ownership entry in the respective data record for the item to the participant that submitted the selected bid.

66. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the received auction scheduling information for each item relates to an auction duration.

67. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the received auction scheduling information for each item relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

68. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the received auction scheduling information for each item comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

69. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the received auction scheduling information for each item consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

70. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the received auction scheduling information for each item comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked manually.

71. The computer-implemented auction participation system of claim 63 wherein the received auction scheduling information for each item comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

72. A computer-implemented system for facilitating commerce at an Internet-based auction, the system comprising:

a networked market maker computer for receiving over a communication network from one or more remote computers operated by users information regarding an item to be electronically presented for an auction, the received information including auction scheduling information and a user-specified designation of a category, selected from a list of categories presented at a remote computer of a user, under which the item is to be auctioned;

an auction processor including a mapping module at the networked market maker computer for processing information received by the networked market maker computer from a database format to a world wide web presentation format and presenting the processed information in the presentation format to be transmitted to auction participants over a packet-switched network, the format including an indication of the user-specified designation of a category of the item to be auctioned, the auction processor configured for execution of computer-executable instructions stored in computer-readable memory that execute an autonomous ascending-bid auction process for executing an ascending-bid auction for the item based at least in part on the user-specified designation of a category and the auction scheduling information regarding an item received from the remote computer of the user prior to execution of the auction; and

bid receiving means for receiving bids for the item presented to auction participants.

73. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein the received auction scheduling information relates to an auction duration.

74. The method computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein the received scheduling information relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

75. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein the received scheduling information comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

76. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein the received scheduling information consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

77. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein the received scheduling information comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked by the user manually.

78. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein the received scheduling information comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

79. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein at least one user is a remote consignment node user that created a data record for the item to be auctioned and electronically presented the data record for the item to the networked market maker computer.

80. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein at least one user is a remote posting terminal user that created a data record for the item to be auctioned and electronically presented the data record for the item to the networked market maker computer.

81. The computer-implemented system of claim 72 wherein the system is configured to allow a central franchising authority to police a network of users to impose a performance structure on the network users and to permit the central franchising authority to revoke a franchise license to electronically present items for auction at the networked market maker computer from poor performing or fraudulent users.

82. A computer-implemented method of facilitating Internet auctions, the method comprising:

receiving, from at least one of a plurality of remote computers over a communication network at a computer system programmed to receive information over the communication network, information provided from a first entity and corresponding to an item to be posted for auction including (i) information about the item to be posted for auction, and (ii) information relating to scheduling an auction for the item, the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction including a specified selection of a predetermined category, the predetermined category selected from a predetermined list of categories maintained by the computer system and presented at least one of the plurality of remote computers;

based on at least a portion of the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction received from at least one of the plurality of remote computers, generating a unique data record identifier corresponding to a respective data record for the item to be posted for auction by a program executing on the computer system;

placing, in the respective data record for the item to be posted for auction, the unique data record identifier;

notifying at least one of the plurality of remote computers of the unique data record identifier generated in response to receiving information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction;

based at least in part on the specified category selection and the information relating to scheduling an auction received prior to initiation of the auction, autonomously initiating an instance of an ascending-bid auction process to conduct an ascending-bid auction for the item at the computer system by executing an auction process program, the autonomous auction process program indicating the selected category and identifying the item to be auctioned;

presenting the ascending-bid auction to a plurality of auction participants via the communication network in response to a request to display information about the item to be auctioned, the request to display the information about the item to be auctioned being processed by a computer program executing on the computer system; and

receiving at the computer system at least one bid on the item being auctioned, the computer system automatically checking for bids and updating a display of the information about the item in response to receipt of the at least one bid.

83. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction received from the at least one of the plurality of remote computers further comprises an item subcategory, selected from a list of item subcategories, under which the item is to be offered for auction.

84. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction received from the at least one of the remote computers comprises a textual description of the item or a graphical depiction of the item or both.

85. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction received from the at least one of the remote computers comprises a textual description of the item, the textual description including subjective information.

86. The computer-implemented method of claim 85 wherein the subjective information includes one or more of the following:

condition of the item being offered for auction, authenticity of the item being offered for auction or special features of the item being offered for auction.

87. The computer-implemented method claim 82 wherein, prior to receiving at the computer system information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction, authorizing an entity to sell items for auction.

88. The computer-implemented method of claim 87 wherein authorizing an entity to sell items for auction comprises receiving identity information from the entity.

89. The computer-implemented method of claim 87 wherein authorizing an entity to sell items for auction comprises identifying financial information for the entity.

90. The computer-implemented method of claim 87 wherein authorizing an entity to sell items for auction comprises identifying a debit/credit account for the entity.

91. The computer-implemented method of claim 90 further comprising debiting the account for the entity by an amount corresponding to a fee.

92. The computer-implemented method of claim 90 further comprising crediting the account for the entity by an amount corresponding to a purchase price of an item sold at auction.

93. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the first entity is a participant who logs into the computer system from a computing platform in order to provide information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction.

94. The computer-implemented method of claim 93 wherein the computing platform comprises a personal computer, a workstation, a cable set-top device, or a video game system.

95. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein an auction participant logs into the computer system from a computing platform in order to browse or bid on items offered for auction.

96. The computer-implemented method of claim 95 wherein the computing platform comprises a personal computer, a workstation, a cable set-top device, or a video game system.

97. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction includes a reserve price for the item to be posted for auction.

98. The computer-implemented method of claim 97 wherein the reserve price is not revealed to auction participants.

99. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein prior to bidding on an item an auction participant browses the predetermined list of categories to search for desired items on which to place bids.

100. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein an item purchased at auction is shipped to a destination specified by a purchasing auction participant.

101. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction includes an indication that the item to be offered for auction is to be advertised to potential bidders.

102. The computer-implemented method of claim 101 wherein an advertisement is displayed in association with a message maintained by the auction computer system.

103. The computer-implemented method of claim 102 wherein the message comprises a welcome message.

104. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 further comprising notifying an auction participant that a bid by that participant has been accepted.

105. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein an auction participant makes electronic payment for an item purchased at auction.

106. The computer-implemented method of claim 105 wherein an auction participant makes electronic payment by providing credit card or debit card information.

107. The computer-implemented method of claim 105 wherein an auction participant makes electronic payment by transferring an accounting for funds from an account maintained for the auction participant and accessible to the computer-implemented auction system.

108. The computer-implemented method of claim 105 wherein an auction participant makes electronic payment using e-money.

109. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the information corresponding to the item to be posted for auction includes a specified time period for the auction.

110. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the auction process program indicates an opening bid for the item offered for auction.

111. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the auction process program indicates a current bid for the item offered for auction.

112. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein presenting the auction to the plurality of auction participants comprises displaying one or more of the following:

a textual description of the item offered for auction, a graphical depiction of the item offered for auction, or bid information relating to the item offered for auction.

113. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein presenting the auction to a plurality of auction participants further comprises displaying advertisements to the plurality of participants.

114. The computer-implemented method of claim 113 wherein the displayed advertisements relate to items offered for auction.

115. The computer-implemented method of claim 113 wherein the displayed advertisements relate to an advertisement administered by a central franchising authority.

116. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the computer system updates the display of the information about the item to be auctioned each time a bid higher than the current bid is received.

117. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 further comprising obtaining an auction participant'"'"'s assent to terms of sale before accepting bids from the auction participant.

118. The computer-implemented method of claim 117 wherein the auction participant'"'"'s assent is supplied via the Internet.

119. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction relates to an auction duration.

120. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

121. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

122. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

123. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked manually.

124. The computer-implemented method of claim 82 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

125. A computer-implemented method of facilitating online electronic auctions, the method comprising:

receiving, at a networked computer programmed to receive information over a communication network, information for each of a plurality of items to be posted for auction provided from at least one of a plurality of first entities, the information for each of the plurality of items to be posted for auction corresponding to a respective item to be auctioned and including (i) information identifying the respective item to be auctioned and designating an item category selected from a list of item categories presented at the networked computer, and (ii) information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item;

storing at least a portion of the received information in a database of information relating to items to be auctioned;

mapping, by a mapping module, at least a portion of the received information stored in the database from a database format into a world wide web presentation format that includes the information identifying the respective item to be auctioned and the selected item category;

displaying the presentation format to a plurality of potential buyers;

based at least in part on the selected item category and the information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item received prior to initiation of an auction, autonomously initiating an instance of an ascending-bid auction process to conduct an ascending-bid online auction for the respective item by executing an auction process program, the auction process including presenting the ascending-bid auction to the plurality of potential buyers and receiving bids on the respective item from one or more of the plurality of potential buyers; and

terminating the online auction of the respective item based on a predetermined condition.

126. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 further comprising notifying a winning buyer that a bid submitted by the winning buyer was a winning bid.

127. The computer-implemented method of claim 126 wherein notifying the winning buyer comprises sending the winning buyer an e-mail message.

128. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the information for each of the plurality of items to be posted for auction corresponding to a respective item to be auctioned includes at least one of an item title and an item description.

129. The computer-implemented method of claim 128 wherein the item description includes an electronic image of the item.

130. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein receiving at the networked computer information for each of the plurality of items to be posted for auction corresponding to a respective item to be auctioned further comprises receiving information designating an item subcategory selected from among a list of item subcategories.

131. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the predetermined condition based on which the online auction is terminated comprises an occurrence of an auction termination time.

132. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein receiving at the networked computer information for each of the plurality of items to be posted for auction corresponding to a respective item to be auctioned further comprises receiving a reserve price for the respective item to be auctioned.

133. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the predetermined condition based on which the online auction is terminated comprises an occurrence of the reserve price being met.

134. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 further comprising notifying an entity of an outcome of the online auction.

135. The computer-implemented method of claim 134 wherein notifying an entity comprises sending the entity an e-mail message.

136. The computer-implemented method of claim 135 wherein the entity is notified of a winning buyer'"'"'s identity.

137. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein receiving at the networked computer information for each of the plurality of items to be Posted for auction corresponding to a respective item to be auctioned further comprises receiving input relating to an advertisement for the item.

138. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item relates to an auction duration.

139. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

140. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

141. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

142. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked manually.

143. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

144. The computer-implemented method of claim 125 wherein the predetermined condition is defined at least in part by the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the respective item.

145. A computer-implemented method of facilitating online electronic auctions, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first computer via the Internet, information provided from at least one of a plurality of remote computers, the at least one remote computer providing information corresponding to an item to be posted for auction including (i) information describing the item to be auctioned, (ii) information for the designation of an item category and an item subcategory selected from an electronically displayed list of item categories and subcategories, and (iii) information relating to scheduling an auction for the item;

storing at least a portion of the received information in a database of information relating to items to be auctioned;

displaying the list of item categories and subcategories via the Internet to a plurality of potential buyers, each potential buyer being able to browse the item categories and subcategories selectively to navigate to or search for a desired item offered for auction; and

for each item to be auctioned computer programming executing from computer-readable memory to;

(i) map the information stored in the database relating to the item from a database format into a world wide web presentation format that includes the information describing the item to be auctioned and the selected item category (ii) display the presentation format to a plurality of potential buyers;

(iii) based at least in part on the information for the designation of an item category and an item subcategory and the information relating to scheduling an auction for the item received prior to initiation of an auction, conduct an autonomous ascending-bid online auction for the item including presenting the ascending-bid auction to the plurality of potential buyers and receiving bids on the item from one or more of the plurality of potential buyers; and

(iv) terminate the online auction of the item based on a predetermined condition.

146. The computer-implemented method of claim 145 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the item relates to an auction duration.

147. The computer-implemented method of claim 145 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the item relates to one or both of an auction starting time and an auction ending time.

148. The computer-implemented method of claim 145 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the item comprises an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

149. The computer-implemented method of claim 145 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the item consists of an indication that the auction is to be started immediately.

150. The computer-implemented method of claim 145 wherein the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the item comprises an indication that the auction is to be invoked manually.

151. The method of claim 145 wherein the received auction scheduling input comprises an indication that the auction is to be initiated at a future time.

152. The computer-implemented method of claim 145 wherein the predetermined condition is defined at least in part by the received information relating to scheduling an auction for the item.

153. A computer-based auction apparatus for facilitating Internet-based auctions where the computer based auction apparatus is under a central franchising authority'"'"'s control, the auction apparatus comprising:

(a) a first computer system in communication with the Internet and configured to execute a plurality of substantially simultaneous processes;

(b) one or more processes stored in computer-readable memory and executing on the first computer system to perform the following;

(i) receive, over a communication network, from a remote program executing on a remote, independently operated computer system, auction item information including;

information describing an item to be offered for auction containing a designation of an item category, selected from a list of item categories, a short title for the item, a textual description of the item, and a digital image of the item, information containing an identification of the entity that is posting the item for auction, and information for scheduling an auction for the item;

(ii) initiate an autonomous ascending-bid auction instance for the item based at least on the information for scheduling an auction for the item received from the remote, independently operated computer system;

(iii) map at least a portion of the received information from a database format into a world wide web presentation format;

(iv) maintain a data structure of participant session identifications for auction participants remotely connected to the auction apparatus via the Internet to correctly identify participants at a particular auction instance;

(v) execute a subroutine to check participant sessions for bids from the auction participants; and

(vi) terminate the autonomous ascending-bid auction instance for the item based on predetermined auction termination criteria.

154. The computer-based auction apparatus of claim 153 wherein the initiated autonomous ascending-bid auction instance comprises an independent auction instance executing substantially simultaneously with a plurality of other autonomous auction instances.

155. The computer-based auction apparatus of claim 153 wherein the remote program executing on the remote, independently operated computer system executes at a remote consignment node associated with a user who created a data record for the item to be auctioned and electronically presented the item to the first computer system.

156. The computer-based auction apparatus of claim 153 wherein the remote program executing on the remote, independently operated computer system is executes at a remote posting terminal associated with a user who created a data record for the item to be auctioned and electronically presented the item to the first computer system.

157. The computer-based auction apparatus of claim 153 wherein a central franchising authority polices a network of users to impose a performance structure on the network users and the central franchising authority revoking a franchise license to electronically present items for auction at the first computer system from poor performing or fraudulent users.