Abstract: A system and method providing for communication and resolution of utility functions between participants, wherein the utility function is evaluated based on local information at the recipient to determine a cost value thereof. A user interface having express representation of both information elements, and associated reliability of the information. An automated system for optimally conveying information based on relevance and reliability.

Abstract: A computerized auction system is used for collecting bids from a plurality of producers. The bids are placed on individual components of a multi-component ensemble. Bids from separate marketers are added and affect the rank of a single ensemble within a potential consumer's ensemble search result. The bids are cooperative as the separate bids on the components are added to form the single bid on the ensemble. The bids are anonymous such that each bidding marketer is kept unaware of whether another marketer's bid was combined with the bidding marketer's bid.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting an auction for an item comprising an auction server in a network such as the Internet. The item is given a target price. As each bidder bids, the amount bid is added to the sum of all earlier bids for the item made by the bidder. As a bidder makes a bid, the auction server collects the amount bid. When the total bid of a bidder exceeds the target price, the bidder wins. If the bidder does not wish to pay the higher price, the bidder is refunded the total of his bids and leaves the auction for the item. If the bidder accepts paying the higher price, the sale is completed. A bidder has the option to obtain a refund of the amount bid for the item and to leave the bidding process for the item at any stage of the bidding process.

Abstract: A lead bidding system and methods allows users to bid on leads based on dynamically qualified electronically transmissible documents and dissemination of those leads. The system and methods reduce the barrier to conversion associated with interacting with electronically transmissible documents and also provides a technique to create customized leads.

Abstract: Disclosed is an on-line sales system using a social auction capable of giving an increased discount rate as time progresses to a reserved purchaser paying for products in part based on a future purchasing condition on products, providing a divided purchase ticket to participate in a social auction to the purchaser so as to make a bid one time only, activating a sale of participating companies by progressing the social auction, supporting an integrated successful bid price corresponding to a bid signal of a purchaser at the time of purchasing products, and activating a sale in an open market from which the divided purchase ticket is issued. According to the on-line sales system using a social auction, the seller sells the divided purchase ticket to assure a future sale, thereby easily securing production funds, implementing planned production, and effectively performing promotion and sales.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for processing requests for proposals. The method includes receiving a request for proposal including a project to be completed and an estimated budget for the project, accepting funds into an escrow account to partially-fund the project, and receiving interactions with the request for proposal from a first and a second potential seller, the interactions including a selected one of (1) discussion regarding the project, and (2) a bid on the project. The method further includes accepting additional funds into the escrow account in order to more fully fund the project, determining that one of (1) a project award indicating that the project has been awarded to the seller has been received or (2) a project term has lapsed, and providing all funds in the escrow account to a group including at least one of the first and the second potential seller.

Abstract: Techniques to auction a portion of a web page are described. A computer implemented application may receive a selection indicative of a portion of a web page from a website to be auctioned. The computer implemented application may accept bids from one or more bidders for the portion of the web page and receive payment for the portion of the web page from a winning bidder. The computer implemented application may receive text and/or graphics to be inserted into the portion of the web page and re-construct the web page by placing the received text and/or graphics into the portion of the web page. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Internet discounted volume pricing with early participation discounting or “Jump-in Pricing” feature in which a person with quantities of a product/services to sell is prompted to enter in some price points on a website for a defined amount of time. As an individual or group of buyers buy/participate in a listing, the price of that product/service declines. The current price is the price that the seller will not pay more than (excluding shipping and taxes if applicable). The sell-out price is the lowest possible price a buyer or collection of buyers will pay (excluding shipping and taxes if applicable) if the entire quantity sells out. The seller offers “Jump-in Pricing” which is a discount to early participants/buyers of a listing to provide an incentive to a person or person(s) to get in early and start the pricing reduction.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating an auction-based fair allocation and usage of thread resources for user messages according to one embodiment in an on-demand services environment. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes receiving job requests and bids from a plurality of organizations over a network, where each job request and the corresponding bid is placed by a user associated with an organization having a resource currency value within a multi-tenant database system via a user interface at a computing device over the network, determining resource currency values associated with pending jobs relating to the plurality of organizations, wherein the resource currency values corresponds to resources dedicated to the pending jobs, and performing an auction of the received bids for resources that are not dedicated and remains available for purchase, where a bid includes a purchase request to purchase the available resources.

Abstract: A virtual marketplace is disclosed providing a trading venue for network resources. Network resources providers may communicate to a virtual marketplace server the availability of network resources for sale. Networks needing extra capacity may access the virtual marketplace and place bids on available network resources. The virtual marketplace server may pair providers with clients to establish a network resource sale.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples is a method for verification of a user action comprising: presenting, on a display, a user input control to take an action; receiving a user input directed to the user input control; presenting a second user input control responsive to the received user input directed to the user input control wherein the second user input control is only presented while the input directed to the user input control is still present; and determining that the user intends to take the action based upon receiving a second user input directed to the second user input control.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated system for automated creation of contract which is adapted for flipping the information from RFQ present in Auction and Bids Information System (iSource) and information present in requisition from e-procurement system into contract; said system comprising: a processor unit; and a computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor unit further comprising: Retrieval System to retrieve the necessary information from RFQ for different suppliers present in Auction and Bids Information System (iSource) and from requisition present in e-procurement system; Storing System to store the retrieved information of RFQ and requisition on a computer readable storage medium; Mapping System to map the information of RFQ and requisition with contract fields; Metadata Flipping System, adapted to flip the mapped information from RFQ and requisition into metadata; and Contract Creating System, adapted to create contract from the information of metadata.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hosting an auction. The system and methods generally include an data processing system configured to receive a bid proposing a bid value from a bidder at a bid time. The system determines that the bid value exceeds a benchmark. The system notes that the bid value becomes a new benchmark and tracks a period of time during which the bid value is the benchmark. The system allots or allocates an incentive to the bidder based on the period of time. A bidder is rewarded for the time during which the bidder's bids are the best bid in the auction.

Abstract: A transaction-based social network for a life science vertical industry is provided. A method for implementing the network includes qualifying a user to join the transaction-based social network based on a minimum set of qualifications. The method also includes creating, from input received by the user, an opportunity with respect to an offer, identifying members of a target user community in the network based on the input from the user, and posting the opportunity over the social network to the members of the target user community. The method further includes receiving at least one response from the target user community that is indicative of a bid to accept the opportunity. The method also includes providing a view of the bid for the user and, once accepted, executing a transaction based on a pre-negotiated fee. The executing includes validating regulatory compliance of content associated with the transaction.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the auction systems and methods described herein provide a web based service that allows medical facilities to both sell and buy medical devices and supplies at a discount. This web based service will enable hospitals that otherwise would have a financial loss, to sell their soon to be expiring products at a discount, and at the same time allow facilities that have an immediate need for devices to purchase them at a lower price based on a more limited expiration than if bought directly from the manufacturer. This maximizes savings on behalf of the buyers and minimizes losses on behalf of the sellers while consolidating inventory in the overall medical device/supply market.

Abstract: A system including a processor configured to communicate over the internet with a plurality of remotely located computer stations and a memory. The memory stores a program that is executable by the processor. The program provides bids for the auction to a plurality of end-users of the plurality of remotely located computer stations, wherein each end-user acquires a bid through a purchase of a product or a service associated with the parcel.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for aggregating individual charitable contributions to fund public-space improvement projects as defined by consensus of the contributors and approved by a designated government officer, and by which service providers may submit competing bids for completing such projects, all by means of a charitable foundation formed for purposes of funding such projects and a website incorporating functions that address the formation and performance of contracts relating to such projects.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and an electronic signature registration server that obtains a request from a user to register for access to a Web site, wherein the request includes login credentials. The login credentials are associated with a first access level such that the user is provided access to a first portion of the Web site. A signature authorization form is generated including a graphical representation of a unique identifier associated with the user. The signature authorization form is provided to the user. Upon receiving a fully executed version of the signature authorization form from the user, the login credentials are associated with a second access level such that the user is provided access to a second portion of the Web site.

Abstract: Auctions with socially-connected private advance offerings are provided by by a social auction integration server by receiving at least one parameter regarding an item to be offered in an online auction by an offeror user; using the parameter and an identifier of the offeror user, searching at least one social network server for identifies of friends and associates that have a recorded affinity for the item or for similar items; preparing a list of the friend users and associate users; configuring a restricted auction wherein only the friend users and associate users are allowed to review and bid on the offered item; and providing the friend users and associate users a digital means for accessing the restricted auction.

Abstract: It has been discovered that instances of an item to be sold in online auctions may be linked to an already created online auction listing for the item. The associating propagates the online auction listing to these other item instances. The propagating allows junior bidders (i.e., losing bidders) to continue pursuing purchase of the associated item instances and allows the junior sellers of the associated item instances to leverage the information of the online auction listing.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable medium having computer program, and related computer implemented methods are provided to determine the relative market value of a sale group and to generate a genetic merit scorecard. Such systems, computer-readable medium having computer program, and related computer implemented methods utilize the genetic merit estimates of relatives of a sale group, along with associated economic weighting factors to determine the relative market value of the sale group. The genetic merit scorecard reflects the relative market value and ranking of the genetic merits of the sale group, as compared to the industry.

Abstract: A method of dynamically altering a user interface based on safety level is provided. A user interface is provided to a user in a vehicle with the user interface including a selectable option to wirelessly place a bid on an electronic auction. The selectable option is based, at least in part, on an auction parameter. A safety level score is then determined for the vehicle. The auction parameter is then dynamically altered based on the speed of the vehicle, resulting in a change to the selectable option.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method supporting microfinance funds aggregation for a retail investor are disclosed. A particular example embodiment includes receiving a purchase request at a host site from an investor at an investor site, the purchase request including information identifying a security offered for sale by a security issuer on the host site; facilitating payment for the security by the investor via a financial site; receiving confirmation of payment for the security; and sending confirmation of payment for the security to the investor.

Abstract: An object is to provide useful information for determining an auction end time to an exhibitor who wishes to determine the auction end time. Accordingly, a server 11 includes an access number calculation unit 76, an auction detection unit 77, and an estimation unit 75. The access number calculation unit 76 obtains the number of accesses of every predetermined time to past auctions for other products based on action time information. The auction detection unit 77 detects the number of held auctions of the other products and end dates and times thereof based on the auction information. The estimation unit 75 identifies an auction holding period based on the number of accesses of every predetermined time for past auctions and the number and the end dates and times of held auctions, and provides data indicating the auction holding period to a user terminal 13 of the exhibitor.

Abstract: There are provided an information processing device, an information processing method, an information processing program, and a recording medium having the information program recorded therein which can present, to a seller, information which enables a setting of, for example, adequate putting-up conditions according to a putting-up purpose of an item. The information processing device acquires transaction history information of an item related to item information of an item specified by a seller for putting-up, from a database which stores transaction history information of items put up in the past. Further, the information processing device extracts transaction history information of other items which suit to a putting-up purpose of the item by the seller, as suited transaction history information, from the extracted transaction history information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring the use of financial market messages. Uses of messages that are efficient and/or improve market liquidity receive positive scores. Traders are charge fees or receive rewards that are dependent upon message quality scores.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system is provided that uses historical and current energy usage data generated by advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters to allow users conduct an analysis of energy usage via a portal. In accordance with one embodiment, a tool is provided to allow customers to display an estimated next month bill.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, provided are methods of providing user requested printed material, including one or more targeted communications to the user. According to one exemplary embodiment, the targeted communications are associated with an auction, whereby an optimal reserve price is determined to maximize profits.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing live auctioneer led sales of products, such as vehicles, between remotely located buyers, sellers, and auctioneers are provided herein. In certain aspects, systems and methods may facilitate one or more auctions led by a remotely located live auctioneer who receives bids from one or more remotely located buyers. Accordingly, in some examples, the auctioneer may accept bids from the buyers, encourage bidding from the buyers, and/or declare (or not declare) a product sold in real-time. In this manner, in certain aspects, the systems and methods enable an auction to be conduct by a live auctioneer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for activating a software application while provisioning a web service to operate with the software application are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a product activation procedure is performed during a workflow to provision a web service to operate with a software application. By activating the software application during the web service provisioning workflow, an end-user can establish ownership of a proper license for the software application without having to input any license information, such as a serial number or product key, associated with the end-user's license.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described which provide secure interactive communication of text and image information between a central server computer and one or more client computers located at remote sites for the purpose of storing and retrieving files describing and identifying unique products. Auctions for the products may then be conducted over the system. Textual information and image data are stored separately at the location of the central server computer, requests for information regarding products to be auctioned are entered from remote terminals, and the information requested is recalled and downloaded for review to be displayed at the remote site. Bids may then be transmitted from the remote computers and a winner of the auction determined by the central computer.

Abstract: One or more proxy bidders is associated with a rule which determines a time to place a bid. The proxy bidder places a bid at the determined time, instead of immediately after the bidder's prior bid is exceeded. Such rules may be selected for all proxy bidders to encourage a desired auction behavior. By controlling the placement of bids based on rules associated with the desired auction behavior, bids may be placed in a manner that seems natural and competitive to bidders in the auction when, in fact, they are placed in accordance with the selected rules. The desired auction behavior may be selected statically for an auction or dynamically during the auction. Historical auction data maybe analyzed to characterize the behavior of an auction, such as the average period of time between bids and the average increment between bids. Rules may be generated to correspond to a behavior so as to provide the same average time and increment between bids.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing live auctioneer led sales of products, such as vehicles, between remotely located buyers, sellers, and auctioneers are provided herein. In certain aspects, systems and methods may facilitate one or more auctions led by a remotely located live auctioneer who receives bids from one or more remotely located buyers. Accordingly, in some examples, the auctioneer may accept bids from the buyers, encourage bidding from the buyers, and/or declare (or not declare) a product sold in real-time. In this manner, in certain aspects, the systems and methods enable an auction to be conduct by a live auctioneer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing live auctioneer led sales of products, such as vehicles, between remotely located buyers, sellers, and auctioneers are provided herein. In certain aspects, systems and methods may facilitate one or more auctions led by a remotely located live auctioneer who receives bids from one or more remotely located buyers. Accordingly, in some examples, the auctioneer may accept bids from the buyers, encourage bidding from the buyers, and/or declare (or not declare) a product sold in real-time. In this manner, in certain aspects, the systems and methods enable an auction to be conduct by a live auctioneer.

Abstract: An advertisement space auction apparatus enabling for a more strategic and open auction transaction to be realized is provided. The advertisement space auction apparatus using a network, comprising a memory storing advertisement space information and being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to the network, a bid data communication unit receiving a bid data submitted via the network from at least one of the plurality of entities, the bid data corresponding to the advertisement space information stored in the memory; and a winning bidder determination unit determining a winning bidder of an advertisement space designated by the advertisement space information, on the basis of the bid data received by the bid data communication unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. In one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of requests for electricity are received from a plurality of end-use consumers. The requests indicate a requested quantity of electricity and a consumer-requested index value indicative of a maximum price a respective end-use consumer will pay for the requested quantity of electricity. A plurality of offers for supplying electricity are received from a plurality of resource suppliers. The offers indicate an offered quantity of electricity and a supplier-requested index value indicative of a minimum price for which a respective supplier will produce the offered quantity of electricity. A dispatched index value is computed at which electricity is to be supplied based at least in part on the consumer-requested index values and the supplier-requested index values.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a lending system for use with electronic commerce web sites such as auction sites. A seller may receive a cash loan for items placed for sale but not yet purchased by a buyer. The seller can be required to pay back the loan after a predetermined amount of time or as soon as the item for sale is sold and payment is received from the buyer. The lender would charge interest or commission for the loan. In this manner, sellers can receive cash for items listed on auction sites before those items are actually sold, generating additional cash flow for the seller.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing reverse auction services are provided. A reverse auction request for transportation or a reverse auction request for delivery is received from a communications device. Geographical location information of an origination location and a destination location for the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is received from the communications device. The reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is transmitted. Bids to the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery are received. The bids to the request for transportation or delivery are transmitted to the communications device.

Abstract: Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include auctions and/or other ways of assigning service providers. Some embodiments may include mobile applications used by one or more participants in a delivery endeavor.

Abstract: A bidding process between a computing device and a plurality of vendors to purchase a desired product. A desired product to be purchased during the bidding process is identified. A specified time window during which the bidding process will be performed is designated. The bidding process with a plurality of vendors who are able to provide the desired product for purchase based at least in part upon one or more profiles is initiated. First purchase information related to the desired product from a first vendor and second purchase information from a second vendor is received in real time during the specified time window. The purchase information is configured to be updated in real time. The purchase of the desired product from a selected one of the first or second vendor based on the first and second purchase information is finalized.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving auction-based online commerce are provided, including methods and systems for facilitating advance, rapid, accurate estimation of shipping costs between a seller and the winner of an online auction. Methods and systems include an application for facilitating seller estimation of shipping costs, including various components of shipping costs, and for providing to the buyer a shipping estimate based on the circumstances of the buyer and the auction.

Abstract: An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a structured settlement transaction information processing system, using the structured settlement transaction data, causes a bid item to be displayed at a first bidder interface and a second bidder interface. In one embodiment, the structured settlement transaction information processing system enables a first bidder to place a first bid on the bid item using the first bidder interface. In one embodiment, the structured settlement transaction information processing system enables a second bidder to place a second bid on the bid item using the second bidder interface. In one embodiment, the structured settlement transaction information processing system, based on at least one of the first bid and the second bid, provides a notification to at least one of the first bidder and the second bidder, the notification being indicative of an intention to sell the bid item.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for attempting to optimize online listings for users of an Internet sales website, such as an online auction website. Recommendations can be provided to the users for improving their listings. The recommendations can be made using rules and statistical models. The listings can be monitored for compliance with the recommendations. The listings can be monitored for effectiveness of such compliance. The rules can be modified in light of such effectiveness. In this manner, listings can tend to be optimized so as to increase the likelihood of a visit from a potential buyer resulting in conversion.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for auction-based network capacity allocation are disclosed. The systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media determine network capacity associated with a first wireless network and determine network capacity associated with a second wireless network. The systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media also output data generated based, at least in part, on the first wireless network capacity determination and the second wireless network capacity determination. In addition, systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media also receive one or more bids associated with at least some of the network capacity associated with the first wireless network and assign at least some of the network capacity associated with the first wireless network to a purchaser system associated with the second wireless networks as a function of the one or more received bids.

Abstract: An exemplary process includes storing telephone numbers in a telephone number database, identifying which telephone numbers in the telephone number database have digits that occur in an alphabetic pattern as defined by a reference list, and designating the telephone numbers with digits occurring in the alphabetic pattern as patterned telephone numbers. An exemplary process of identifying alphabetic patterns includes assigning at least one letter in an alphabet to a first digit, assigning at least one other letter in an alphabet to a second digit, accessing a telephone number database storing telephone numbers having a plurality of digits, identifying a letter combination created by at least two digits of at least one of the telephone numbers in the telephone number database, and determining whether the letter combination forms an alphabetic pattern as defined by a reference list.

Abstract: In both an on-line and a conventional auction, an auctioneer may encourage competitive bidding behavior through the provision of rewards to those bidders whose bids meet predetermined criteria. For example, a bidder may be rewarded if her bid exceeds a prior bid by a threshold value. An auctioneer may further discourage non-competitive bidding behavior by penalizing those bidders whose bids fall below predetermined standards.

Abstract: Techniques for business event processing are presented. Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein may operate to receive a request to perform an operation on a listing previously published by an online marketplace; to identify at least one additional listing having certain characteristics in common with the listing from a plurality of previously published listings including the listing; and to automatically perform the operation on the at least one additional listing.

Abstract: A server stores personal information associated with a user of a wireless communication device. The server also receives from the wireless communication device an image of an item for sale and a price of the item, and appends the image and the price to include the user's email address and the delivery information.

Abstract: A cenotaph memorial facility comprising a plurality of walls containing crypts is dedicated to an honoree who is not interred within the facility. The facility may comprise a large external memorial structure to protect the walls and individual crypts. The cenotaph memorial facility includes a plurality of video cameras to permit remote viewing of various portions of the facility. The video cameras are controlled by a computer system that allows remote access via a network, such as the internet. An individual enters authorization data and, upon authorization, can remotely view one or more portions of the facility. An on-line auction processor can automatically conduct auctions of selected articles using a timed auction over a prolonged bidding period or a real-time auction. In another aspect, a virtual reality (VR) image capture system captures images that may be remotely viewed using VR technology. This may include 3-D imaging, holographic imaging, or the like.