Abstract: Potential ghost bidding and non-serious bidding in an automated auction is detected and alerted to a user by retrieving by a computer one or more historical automated auction records related to an offering party in a current automated auction; detecting by a computer the retrieved records that a same or similar item is being offered in the current automated auction that has been offered in a previous automated auction; responsive to the detecting, increasing a ghost bidding likelihood parameter by a computer; determining by a computer that a bidder in the current automated auction also bid in one or more of the historical automated auctions; responsive to the determining, increasing by a computer the ghost bidding likelihood parameter; and alerting a user of the current automated auction of the ghost bidding likelihood parameter for each determined bidder.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide in one aspect, a method of conducting an electronic auction for a product at a server, wherein a finite number of the product is available at a current price and the current price decreases as an auction time period for completing the electronic auction decreases, the method comprising the server: setting the auction time period for completing the electronic auction; providing a user interface for receiving an input for purchasing one or more of the finite number of the product at the current price; monitoring interest in the electronic auction using an interest indicator associated with the electronic auction; decreasing the current price by a variable price decrement as the auction time period decreases, wherein the variable price decrement corresponds inversely with the interest in the electronic auction; and displaying the current price on the user interface as the current price decreases.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for generating a tier rollup record perform the steps of: receiving a request for one of a product record and a plurality of product records having a determined attribute value; querying a first data set for product records corresponding to the request; receiving one or more unique record identifiers corresponding to the request; querying a second data set for a product record and associated product attribute values corresponding to each unique identifier; receiving the product record and associated product attribute values corresponding to each unique identifier; identifying a most representative product record from the product records and associated product attribute values corresponding to each unique identifier; rolling up the most representative product record; and transmitting the rolled up most representative product record.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media are provided. One example method includes receiving a textual input that forms a part of a user request, the textual input in the form of a prefix that when complete constitutes the request. The method further includes identifying completions based on the prefix, determining one or more content items associated with each completion, computing initial scores including a score for each content item-completion pair including determining a likelihood that a given completion represents the request and a quality of the content item as compared to the completion, computing final scores including scores for each prefix-content item pair using the initial scores, computing a bid for each content item, running an auction to select a content item based on the bids and final scores, and identifying display data associated with the selected content item.

Abstract: A control circuit collects content for on-line behavioral events for a plurality of discrete on-line participants and then uses this identifying information to parse and aggregate that content to provide parsed, aggregated behavioral-event content that can then be offered, for example, via an on-line auction. By one approach the identifying information can serve as a basis to parse the aggregated content by industry to thereby yield, for example, search queries conducted by a variety of persons working for a variety of companies as comprise a given industry. By ensuring a statistically-significant number of sources, and by withholding the identifying information when offering the resultant parsed, aggregated content, the identities of the sources are anonymized to thereby protect and preserve the privacy of these sources.

Abstract: A system and method for providing both service providers and product providers a forum for marketing their services directly to consumers with the system facilitating the payments from the consumers to the providers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a computer-implemented method, system and apparatus to enable data-driven, multi-channel communications to facilitate business processes. By providing more than one channel for communication between market participants, which includes suppliers and consumers, real-time requests for information, services, or the like can be solicited in a way that those selected to provide responses have certain attributes, and the supplier is selected for the solicitation automatically and instantaneously notified of the request based on automatic selection of those attributes. The notification is instantaneously communicated using more than one channel of communication, potentially in a mode that the potential supplier has indicated is a more likely way of actually and instantly receiving the request. The system further provides at least one mechanism by which all of the selected suppliers can instantly respond to the request, which is then communicated to the requestor.

Abstract: A system for rewarding and motivating non-winning bidders is disclosed. The system may list an item of a seller for an auction at a first price. The system may receive a first bid for the item from a first bidder at the first price. The first bidder may be granted control of the auction based on the first bid. The system may then receive a second bid for the item from a second bidder at a second price. The second bidder may control the auction if the second bid is at least a predetermined threshold amount above the first price. The system may request a response from the first bidder to approve the second bid if the second bid is lower than the predetermined threshold amount above the first price. The system give the first bidder a reward based on the difference between the first price and the second price.

Abstract: A mini-kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The mini-kiosk is designed to be placed on a counter-top. The mini-kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The mini-kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.

Abstract: Techniques for assigning values to existing and potential customers, based on their behavior, for the purpose of deciding when to impose a fee structure on the customers are provided. For example, in an embodiment, a computer algorithm receives and evaluates behavior of existing and potential customers and subsequently generates and assigns values to the existing and potential customers based on their behaviors. Based on the generated and assigned value to an individual customer, a particular fee structure is imposed on the individual customer. An assigned value may change to reflect change in the evaluated behavior of the existing or potential customer, which may cause a change in the current imposed fee structure. For example, an assigned value may increase when an individual customer's online transactions become more successful and the fee structure may change to cause the customer's fees to increase.

Abstract: A business process is described for conducting business transactions over the Internet, allowing buyers an opportunity to reduce the price of a product/service based on the buyer's performance during a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA). Sellers offer the product/service within a specified price range, and buyers agree to a binding agreement, in exchange for the opportunity to close the transaction at the lowest price by achieving a high score or performance during the PDA. The price may change during the PDA, and the available price at any given time may be displayed or otherwise made available to the buyer. The price change may be continuous, at intervals, in response to certain events. The PDA may be a video game, electronic board game, sports bet, card game, or any other activity, or against the seller, a software opponent, or a computer opponent. The PDA may involve another buyer competing for the same product/service.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for allocating units to users, for example in the context of an online auction environment. In overview, the technology described herein provides for an auction process whereby a decrementing price is combined with a competitive hidden-bid process. Users participate in the auction for the purpose of obtaining a desired number of units from a stockpile of like units, such as bottles of a particular batch of wine. The users effectively have two modes of participation. The first is to purchase units at a system-defined price, which decrements at predetermined intervals. The second is to place a bid at a user-defined price, this bid being deemed as successful when the system-defined price decrements to a value of equal to or less than the user-defined price.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing an optimized change order during the post-auction period of a completed auction. After the completion of an initial auction, one or more parties to the initial auction may request a change to the terms of the initial auction agreement in the form of a change order comprising a change price and a change quantity. Prior to committing to the change order the parties may subject the terms of the change order to a change auction having a reserve price equal to the change price. If the change auction concludes with a bid that is better than the reserve price, the change order may be canceled and the original winning bidder may receive a portion of the winning bid associated with the change auction.

Abstract: Multiple simultaneous auctions can be monitored and participated in using a single bidding device operated by a single remote bidder. A multi-windowed environment allows for the display of active bidding windows and docked bidding windows. The active bidding windows are fully functional bidding windows and include auction status, product information and the like. The docked bidding windows provide a subset of the information but, nonetheless provide real-time auction status information and allows for bidders to enter bids into the auctioning process without having to move the bidding window into an active status. A customer-identifier selector of identifier allows the remote bidder to associate a customer with a particular bidding window. The customer-identifier advantageously helps the remote bidder to track who purchased items are associated with, as well as providing control structure over the bidding process.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assigning resources in a cloud computing environment via a spot pricing process. The spot pricing process allows virtual machines to be assigned on a preemptible basis to pools based on bids associated with the pools. The bids can be used to determine a price for assignment of preemptible virtual machines. Preemptible virtual machines can then be assigned to pools based at least in part on the submitted bids in relation to the determined price.

Abstract: A real time auction system operates in a non real time mode, and an end game mode in which the users are placed in a forum. In both modes the users are capable of placing bids along with times when those bids should be executed. An agent treats the bids as secret until the time, and then at the time executes those bids.

Abstract: A systems and methods providing queued content selection and delivery to geographically distributed venues and wireless devices and providing ancillary information and services related to such venues, including provisioning, management, and tracking of media selections and information provision.

Abstract: Technologies and implementations for facilitating and participating in bandwidth auctions are generally disclosed.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method is provided. The method may comprise receiving an item identifier from a global positioning system (GPS) apparatus. Data associated with the item identifier is accessed and transmitted to initiate a purchase of the item. In some embodiments, a voice portal may be used to facilitate the purchase.

Abstract: A real time auction system operates in a non real time mode, and an end game mode in which the users are placed in a forum. In both modes the users are capable of placing bids along with times when those bids should be executed. An agent treats the bids as secret until the time, and then at the time executes those bids.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to deriving optimal parameters of a learning algorithm to maximize an objective function of online keyword auctions for bidded terms. Some embodiments of the invention simulate online keyword auctions based on historical data for the bidded terms, wherein the parameters of the simulated auctions such as market reserve prices of the bidded terms are determined by an adaptive learning algorithm. The values of the parameters of the learning algorithm are optimized by a stochastic optimization method to maximize an objective function for the auctions of the bidded terms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for promoting the creation and distribution of creative works. The invention provides a novel cooperative auction means collecting funds for payment for inducing a rightholder to donate rights in a piece of intellectual property to the public domain.

Abstract: Detailed information about a particular used motor vehicle is quickly provided to a potential buyer having a personal digital assistant equipped with a receiving means. To provide the information, it is first necessary to obtain standard information about used motor vehicle values in digital form from a provider of such information. It is then necessary to obtain specific information about an inventory of used motor vehicles from the owner or seller of the vehicles. The standard information and the specific information are then integrated on a server computer and transmitted to the potential buyer.

Abstract: A method, system and program product comprises accessing, from a local computing device, a group of computing devices over a network. An application owned by a first user is transferred to the group for storage within the group in which the application is entered into a play list for the first user, the application is available from the play list for operation by the first user using a computing device compatible with the application, the application is available for swapping with a second user, the application is available for switching with a second user and the application is available for sale by the first user. Copies of the application are deleted from the local computing device.

Abstract: Provided are an auction method and server that enable a seller and bidders to determine the price of a product at their own discretion by enabling the bidders to participate in a bid between the lowest price offered by the seller and the highest price of the product, and give benefit to both the seller and successful bidders by applying the successful bid price of a lowest successful bidder to all the successful bidders as a sale price.

Abstract: A system and method for auction based polling is provided. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. A query is associated with the poll. A priority of the poll is determined based on the parameters. The poll is distributed to one or more second users according to the priority. Results to the poll are gathered. The results are reported to the first user.

Abstract: A system for operating a marketplace for provision of services requiring skill, comprising a plurality of servers coupled to a data network, a registration software module deployed on at least one of the servers and adapted to enable the registration of a plurality of skilled workers, a worker skills management software module deployed on at least one of the servers and adapted to measure or manage skill levels of workers, and a contract management software module deployed on at least one of the servers. According to the embodiment, the contract management software module matches a buyer and a skilled worker based at least on the skilled worker's possessing a required skill and on the price satisfying rules established for the buyer and for the skilled worker.

Abstract: RFID readers transmit a Quiet Technology (QT) command to RFID tags causing at least one of the tags to transition between a private profile and a public profile. When a tag is inventoried in the private profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its private memory. When a tag is inventoried in the public profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its public memory, where the contents of the public memory may be a subset and/or modified version of the private memory contents, or entirely different altogether. The tag's profile can be switched again by another QT command from the reader, or following a loss of power at the tag. An access password and/or a short-range mechanism may be employed to allow only authorized readers to transition tag profiles or interrogate the private memory contents of tags in the public profile.

Abstract: A method for automatically bidding on multiple on-line auction items up for bid where the number of items the bidder wishes to buy is less than the number of items up for bid is disclosed. A method of a seller or auction site giving a bidder the ability to add a listing to a set of listings that can be processed as above is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a group of two or more individuals may be identified. A set of one or more features of the group of two or more individuals may be ascertained. An item may be selected from a plurality of items based, at least in part, upon the set of one or more features of the group of two or more individuals. The item may be recommended or presented to at least a portion of the two or more individuals.

Abstract: An all-pay on-line auction encourages bids for auctioned property to be received throughout the auction by awarding bid behaviors. In an all-pay auction, bidders pay for each bid placed and the price of the auction property increases by an incremental amount. The final bid placed before the close of the auction has the right to acquire the auction property at the final price. In order to encourage bid placing throughout the duration of the auction, endurance bid behavior is monitored and accumulates the duration of high bids for each bidder. An award is provided to the bidder with the greatest accumulated duration. The award may be a right to purchase substantially similar property at the final price of the auction property. Additional awards may be provided for bidders placing a maximum number of bids and own-it-now credits allowing non-winning.

Abstract: A mobile application to conduct an auction based on physical presence is provided. The mobile application may be provided by a system comprising one or more modules. A notification module may identify an item to be sold at an auction. If a pre-auction window time period has arrived, the notification module may transmit auction notification messages to a plurality of client devices located within a predefined geographical area. A bidding module may conduct the auction by providing an auction interface to the client devices within the predefined geographical area. The auction interface includes an option to bid on the item. A completion module may transmit a confirmation to a winning auction participant.

Abstract: A method on a server for managing discount offers for a plurality of users over a communications network. The method includes receiving a discount offer, wherein a discount offer comprises at least a product or service description, an initial price, a discount price less than the initial price, a minimum number of acceptances and a time deadline, and transmitting the discount offer to the plurality of users. The method further includes receiving acceptances of the discount offer, and executing a preliminary credit card authorization transaction for each acceptance received, at the initial price. The method further includes calculating a number of acceptances, detecting the time deadline, and effectuating a sale of the product or service at the discount price to each user that accepted, if the number of acceptances is greater than or equal to the minimum number of acceptances, including executing a final credit card authorization transaction.

Abstract: An incentives points-based on-line auction method is presented that is based upon an on-line system including a catalog of potential auction items and a database of participants that are eligible to take part in the auction and the participants' associated eligible points. The method includes designating a set of auction items from the catalog of potential auction items. Thereafter, participants submit bids via on-line access for the set of auction items. The auction facilities initially prompt a participant to logon to gain access to the auction. Authorized, logged on participants are then provided access to a database describing the auction items and current bid information. A participant may bid upon an auction item. In response, to receiving a bid from a participant, the auction facilities determine whether the participant has sufficient points in a point bank to submit the bid. Proper new high bids are registered by the auction facilities.

Abstract: A comprehensive online bidding and sales management system and method for merchant processing services of global credit card transactions. Merchants using the system can obtain multiple bid proposals for merchant processing services from sales representatives that are automatically ranked by the system based on the best overall price (estimated monthly expense to merchant) and feedback provided by merchants using the system. The merchant is thus provided with an estimated monthly expense and bid ranking associated with each bid proposal. The system provides the sales representative with its estimated revenues and processing expenses, and provides various merchant processing pricing models to the sales representative to analyze its bid proposals and merchant sales opportunities.

Abstract: A customer selects a first product in a retailer channel and scans the product at a POS device. The scan and product are sent to a plurality of suppliers in real time over a network. The suppliers send bids for a related product over the network in real time to the retailer who presents the bids to the customer. The customer purchases the related product thereby increasing sales of his product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating a purchase request to a dealer immediately. A Data Center system has a system database accessible to a plurality of dealers. A potential buyer submits a purchase request over a computer network to the Data Center system. The purchase request may include product identification data and buyer location information. The Data Center system identifies at least one appropriate dealer to receive the purchase request. The Data Center creates a purchase request record from the data and information provided in the purchase request. The Data Center then communicates the purchase request to the appropriate dealer by immediately storing the purchase request record into the system database such that the purchase request is accessible only to the at least one identified dealer. The purchase request becomes available to the at least one identified dealer immediately upon the creation of the purchase request record.

Abstract: A method for conducting an online auction includes the steps of establishing a reserve price for an item and accepting pre-purchased bids from online bidders for the item. A value of all accepted bids for the item may be accumulated in a processor. The accumulated value may be published online. The item may be awarded to the bidder whose bid results in the accumulated value of bids being at least equal to the reserve price.

Abstract: A server receives identifying information regarding a plurality of signals pertaining to financial investment quantitative analysis from various third parties. At least some of this identifying information is then posted and on-line auctions are conducted for individual ones of this plurality of signals.

Abstract: System and Method or Process that validates documents in hierarchical cross-linked purpose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and 5 methods for implementing an automated auction process that is held at a designated time on the Internet, and that ends after bidding has been completed. In accordance with these systems and methods, a server connected to a plurality of workstations may establish 10 several auctions that allow for efficient trading of multiple goods, while simulating the live and dynamic setting of traditional auctions.

Abstract: A system and method of click modeling are disclosed. A ranking algorithm is modified using a click model. The click model makes inferences based on user click data. The user click data includes indications of user intent to transact a shopping action for an item for sale. Item listings are ranked for a search results page using the ranking algorithm in response to receiving a search query. Each item listing comprises an item for sale on an e-commerce site. The user click data can also include user clicks of item listings in a search results page. The shopping action can include bidding on an item for sale or purchasing an item for sale.

Abstract: The present invention implements an auction in which multiple types of goods may be auctioned in a dynamic process. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a system and method for computer implemented dynamic multi-unit auction in which the price paid or received by bidders tends to be independent of their own bids, in which participants may be provided with information concerning their competitors' bids as the auction progresses, and in which the confidentiality of high values may be maintained. Participants' quantities bid at a given time may be restricted to be less than or equal to the quantities bid at an earlier time. These features provide the advantage of improving economic efficiency of the auction design over the prior art.

Abstract: A method and a system to automatically coordinate remote inspectors are provided. Initially, a listing is identified for remote inspection in an online publication system. The listing may describe an item for sale that is, in turn, associated with a geographical location and a category. One or more remote inspectors are identified based on the geographical location and the category associated with the item for sale. The listing and respective profiles of each of the one or more remote inspectors is published to a buyer. A selection of a selected remote inspector is received from the buyer. A template inspection report is provided to the selected remote inspector. Once the remote inspector has inspected the item for sale, the buyer is provided a completed inspection report received from the selected remote inspector.

Abstract: An online auction website has anti-counterfeiting measures. The website requires a seller of an item to input information about the product for sale, including at least a brand of the product and a product identification code. If the brand code and product identification code are not entered, the website does not allow the seller to post the item for sale. If entered, the brand and the product identification code are included in the listing on the online auction webpage that advertises the product for sale during the auction period. Verification may be performed on the item to determine its authenticity. The verification process includes comparing the listed brand and product identification codes with a plurality of authentic brand and product identification codes. When the brand and product identification codes are determined to be counterfeit, the listing is terminated and the sale of counterfeit items is prevented.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for online buying and selling goods and services within the context of social networking. The social relation closeness between a buyer and a seller is determined using information from social networking services and a business transaction record database. Trust and credibility between buyers and sellers may be derived from the social relation closeness between them. Therefore, the initial transaction barriers may be lowered. The business relation closeness between a buyer and a seller may be determined and may be used to search for potential buyers and sellers. Furthermore, buyers and sellers may acquire more information from their social and business relations so as to aid the sales decisions and detect frauds. To provide desired privacy and credibility, a seller may use groups and requirement on the closeness of social and business relation with the seller to control access to the seller's item information.

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: The method to create a secondary market using a web auction to price annuity payments comprises of an initial owner, a payor, an entity, an intermediary advisor, an annuity, and a lump sum of money. A plurality of payments is a fixed sum of money. The method also includes a method to create a wide area network, which comprises of a market price assessment module of web auction technology. The market price assessment module comprises of web auction technology comprises of a database module and a due diligence module. The due diligence module comprises of a buyer module, a seller module, and a bidding module. The buyer module comprises of the initial owner, the payor, and a source of funds. The seller module comprises of a copy of annuity, a credit report, an affidavit, and a uniform commercial code filing. The bidding module comprises of a reverse financial pricing engine.

Abstract: A system for providing relationship management in an auction environment can include a relationship management system and an auction system. The relationship management system and the auction system are communicatively coupled to one another. The relationship management system is configured to provide a relationship management function in conjunction with access to the auction system.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method to facilitate propagating a plurality of transaction listings to a network-based transaction facility. An input interface is presented at a seller application to receive from a user, a plurality of transaction listings, each transaction listing including an associated start time. Also, a data file is composed at the seller application to include the plurality of transaction listings. Moreover, the data file is propagated, using the seller application, from the client computer to the network-based transaction facility.