Abstract: Techniques for generating revenues from a bidding process that announces a winning bid that is lowest but unique among all bidders are disclosed. Opposite from a traditional auction in which the highest bid always wins, the present invention dictates a lowest and unique bid wins. A seller generates revenue by selling an item to the highest bidder in a traditional auction while a seller generates revenue from a bidding process of selling an item to the lowest and unique bidder in the present invention. In other words, the final sale price of an item in the present invention is no longer a significant portion of the revenue, the majority of the revenue comes from the process of bidding for the item by all participating bidders.

Abstract: A computer user interface for use in a transport vehicle (10), which defines a virtual control panel in the upper open area of the vehicle steering wheel (12). The user enters inputs by action in appropriate sections of the virtual control panel area. A computer controlled display (20) illustrates a map to the user of locations of sections in the virtual control panel area, and information that can be input by user action with particular sections. A sensor (22) monitors the virtual control panel area, and produces electronic information corresponding to user action in the virtual control panel area. Software logic in a computer (46) analyzes the electronic information to determine if there has been user action and the location thereof, for designating an action as a particular user input. Based upon the designation, the computer produces an appropriate output, such as operating or adjusting vehicle systems.

Abstract: A Distributed Computer Resource Bartering System, or DCRBS, software is described whereby a fraction of the computing resources of the individual Peers is bartered amongst them with a single Coordinator software module and a multitude of Peer software modules. The Coordinator and Peer software modules would simultaneously communicate and functionally operate with one another through the software and hardware infrastructure of a computer networking environment such as the Internet. The bartering items of the DCRBS software are further individually valuated and classified into a number of major Bartering Categories, or BTRCT, to effect a natural and commerce driven exchange mechanism. The specific BTRCT includes, but without limitation to, computing power, computing memory, computing storage, computer peripherals, computer files, Internet Access and money.