Shared online auction provisioning

US8055583B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Gunter Dueck · Neckargemünd, DE
• Oliver Mark · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Stefan Pappe · Heidelberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 2007
• Grant date: Nov 8, 2011
• Expiry date: Feb 1, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/04
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A solution for conducting an auction, such as an online auction, is provided, which includes provisions for sharing with bidders a portion of a bid. A method for conducting the auction includes identifying an item for auction; receiving a first bid for the item placed at a first time; receiving a second bid for the item placed at a second time, wherein the second bid exceeds the first bid by a bid increment and the second time is different than the first time by a time increment; and assigning a portion of the second bid for distribution to at least one participant of the auction. In various embodiments, the portion may be assigned to all bidders, the winning bidders, only the non-winning bidders, and/or the like. The distribution of the portion may be time and/or bid amount related.