Method and system for controlling an electronic auction during the transition to a closed state
US6230147A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q40/03
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for conducting electronic auctions is described. A dynamic 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 scheduled closing time. Scheduled closing times can be extended with a flexible overtime feature, in which the properties of the event triggering the extension and the duration 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. The bidding status of a lot 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 open status for further 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 bidder so that the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.