Method and system for generating an auction using a template in an integrated internal auction system

• US 7,835,977 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Singh, Narinder, Penagulur, Narendra, Subramanian, Lenin K
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNHAM, JASON B
• Application Number:
  US11/591,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/37
• 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 seller may define a template using an internal auction application in an integrated internal auction system that may then be used to generate an auction. The template information may be used to provide auction parameter values and/or product information. The template may be created by copying an existing auction or template which may then be modified or the template may be created by a seller providing specific values for the template information. Template information may consist of specific data and rules that may be used to generate a value for an auction parameter when an auction is, for example, created or published. One or more auction templates may be associated with a seller. The seller may select a template to use when creating an auction in order to expedite the auction creation process. The seller may then modify the auction parameters and/or product information before saving the auction.

Claims

1. A method for generating an auction for a product using an auction template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

initiating an auction template creation process by a seller using the internal auction application, wherein the internal auction application is integrated with a seller business information management system that manages retail sales of seller products;

creating the auction template during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template is defined as a function of at least one of an already created auction, a set of seller-specified auction parameters, and a set of seller-selected product information;

storing the created auction template in an auction template database during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template database is integrated in the internal auction system and configured to store other auction templates sharable with multiple internal sellers;

selecting the auction template for the auction from the auction template database during an auction creation process as a function of a seller template selection action;

selecting the product for the auction from an inventory database in the seller business information management system, wherein the seller business information management system tracks the product throughout the auction;

responsive to a seller'"'"'s request, modifying selected auction template during the auction creation process, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction template is modified, wherein the modification is supported by the seller business information management system;

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected auction template on a seller'"'"'s e-commerce site, wherein the internal auction application provides interactive processing with the seller business information management system through the seller'"'"'s e-commerce site; and

storing the extracted auction information of the created auction as an association in a database table, the association linking the created auction to the product from the seller business information management system.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the product for the auction during the auction creation process as a function of a seller action, wherein the product is contained in at least one of an inventory database and a product catalog in a seller business information management system.

3. The method according to claim 2, the creating step further comprising:

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected auction template and the selected product and as a function of at least one communication with the seller business information management system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the auction template during the auction template creation process as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application when the auction template is defined as a function of an already created auction, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction template is modified.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the auction as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction is modified.

6. A method for generating an auction for a product using an auction template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

receiving a first set of parameters as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application during an auction template creation process, wherein the internal auction application is integrated with a seller business information management system that manages retail sales;

creating the auction template as a function of the received first set of parameters during the auction template creation process;

storing the created auction template in an auction template database during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template database is integrated in the internal auction system and configured to store other auction templates sharable with multiple internal sellers;

retrieving a second set of parameters from the seller business information management system during an auction creation process, wherein the seller business information management system tracks the product throughout the auction;

responsive to a seller'"'"'s request, modifying the auction template during the auction creation process, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction template is modified, wherein the modification is supported by the seller business information management system;

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the auction template and the retrieved second set of parameters;

publishing the auction on a seller e-commerce network site, wherein the internal auction application provides interactive processing with the seller business information management system through the seller e-commerce network site; and

storing auction information of the created auction as an association in a database table, the association linking the created auction to the product from the seller business information management system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the seller e-commerce network site is an Internet site.

8. A system for generating an auction for a product using an auction template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

a memory system;

an input/output unit; and

a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) initiate an auction template creation process by a seller using the internal auction application, wherein the internal auction application is integrated with a seller business information management system that manages retail sales of seller products;

(ii) create the auction template during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template is defined as a function of at least one of an already created auction, a set of seller-specified auction parameters, and a set of seller-selected product information;

(iii) store the created auction template in an auction template database during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template database is integrated in the internal auction system and configured to store other auction templates sharable with multiple internal sellers;

(iv) select the auction template for the auction from the auction template database during an auction creation process as a function of a seller template selection action;

(v) select the product for the auction from an inventory database in the seller business information management system, wherein the seller business information management system tracks the product throughout the auction;

(vi) responsive to a seller'"'"'s request, modify selected auction template during the auction creation process, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction template is modified, wherein the modification is supported by the seller business information management system; and

(vii) create by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected auction template on a seller'"'"'s e-commerce site, wherein the internal auction application provides interactive processing with the seller business information management system through the seller'"'"'s e-commerce site; and

(viii) store auction information of the created auction as an association in a database table, the association linking the created auction to the product from the seller business information management system.

9. A system for generating an auction for a product using an auction template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, comprising:

a memory system;

an input/output unit; and

a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) receive a first set of parameters as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application during an auction template creation process, wherein the internal auction application is integrated with a seller business information management system that manages retail sales of seller products;

(ii) create the auction template as a function of the received first set of parameters;

(iii) store the created auction template in an auction template database during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template database is integrated in the internal auction system and configured to store other auction templates sharable with multiple internal sellers;

(iv) retrieve a second set of parameters from the seller business information management system during an auction creation process, wherein the seller business information management system tracks the product throughout the auction;

(v) responsive to a seller'"'"'s request, modify the auction template during the auction creation process, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction template is modified, wherein the modification is supported by the seller business information management system;

(vi) create by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the auction template and the retrieved second set of parameters;

(vii) publish the auction on a seller e-commerce network site, wherein the internal auction application provides interactive processing with the seller business information management system through the seller e-commerce network site; and

(viii) store auction information of the created auction as an association in a database table, the association linking the created auction to the product from the seller business information management system.

10. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for generating an auction for a product using an auction template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, the method comprising:

initiating an auction template creation process by a seller using the internal auction application, wherein the internal auction application is integrated with a seller business information management system that manages retail sales of seller products;

creating the auction template during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template is defined as a function of at least one of an already created auction, a set of seller-specified auction parameters, and a set of seller-selected product information;

storing the created auction template in an auction template database during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template database is integrated in the internal auction system and configured to store other auction templates sharable with multiple internal sellers;

selecting the auction template for the auction from the auction template database during an auction creation process as a function of a seller template selection action;

selecting the product for the auction from an inventory database in the seller business information management system, wherein the seller business information management system tracks the product throughout the auction;

responsive to a seller'"'"'s request, modifying selected auction template during the auction creation process, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction template is modified, wherein the modification is supported by the seller business information management system;

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the selected auction template on a seller'"'"'s e-commerce site, wherein the internal auction application provides interactive processing with the seller business information management system through the seller'"'"'s e-commerce site; and

storing auction information of the created auction as an association in a database table, the association linking the created auction to the product from the seller business information management system.

11. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for generating an auction for a product using an auction template in an internal auction system using an internal auction application, the method comprising:

receiving a first set of parameters as a function of a seller action using the internal auction application during an auction template creation process, wherein the internal auction application is integrated with a seller business information management system that manages retail sales;

creating the auction template as a function of the received first set of parameters during the auction template creation process;

storing the created auction template in a auction template database during the auction template creation process by the seller, wherein the auction template database is integrated in the internal auction system and configured to store other auction templates sharable with multiple internal sellers;

retrieving a second set of parameters from the seller business information management system during an auction creation process, wherein the seller business information management system tracks the product throughout the auction;

responsive to a seller'"'"'s request, modifying the auction template during the auction creation process, wherein at least one of an auction parameter and a product information item for the auction template is modified, wherein the modification is supported by the seller business information management system;

creating by the internal auction application the auction for the product as a function of the auction template and the retrieved second set of parameters; and

publishing the auction on a seller e-commerce network site, wherein the internal auction application provides interactive processing with the seller business information management system through the seller e-commerce network site; and

storing auction information of the created auction as an association in a database table, the association linking the created auction to the product from the seller business information management system.