Abstract: A technological means that collects order applications from a larger number of buyers in a group-purchasing reverse auction. During an auction session T-k, a control unit 310 in a reverse auction support device 30 performs the following processes in parallel: displaying a latest bid price in response to a request from a buyer terminal 10-m; adding an order entry information item OD received from a buyer terminal 10-m, to an order management database ODB-k; displaying a latest total order count and latest bid price in response to a request from a supplier terminal 20-n; and appending a bid information item RD received from a supplier terminal 20-n, to a bid management database RDB-k. After the auction session T-k has ended, the control unit 310 selects a bid information item RD1ST that has the highest bid rank, from among all the bid information items RD in the bid management database RDB-k.

Abstract: In a B-to B transaction performed via a telecommunication network, a supplier can obtain the opportunity of having a new business customer while a buyer can figure out a reasonable price of an item to be purchased, thereby reducing useless sourcing cost. Information indicative of items each buyer purchased in the past is stored correlated with each buyer in a purchase assistance device, which assists each buyer in purchases of items via electronic business transaction from any one of a plurality of suppliers, the items having a specification desired by each buyer. Further, information on similar items having the same specification is stored in the purchase assistance device correlated with the items that each buyer purchased. In response to a question about items a buyer purchased in the past, the information on similar items is presented to the buyer in the purchase assistance device, together with the information about the item.

Abstract: A control method of reverse auction that is implemented by a server connected to a plurality of supplier terminals through a communication network. The control method first receives bids from the plurality of supplier terminals through the communication network. Then, the server calculates a bid price ratio for relatively comparing bid prices of the received bids. Further, the server determines the distribution of a total procurement amount of a reverse auction target item based on the bid price ratio.

Abstract: A reverse auction method implemented by a server connected to a plurality of buyer terminals and a plurality of supplier terminals through a network. The method selects desired purchase terms as candidates forjoint purchase from desired purchase terms received from the plurality of buyer terminals, and transmits an invitation to participate in joint purchase to a buyer terminal of a buyer corresponding to at least the selected desired purchase terms. Then, the method receives a participation response to the invitation from a buyer terminal of a buyer intending to participate in reverse auction and determining a combination of buyers participating in joint purchase according to the participation response.

Abstract: A method for controlling joint purchase reverse auction. The method first determines a contract price for a total procurement amount putting together purchase desires of a plurality of buyers according to a bid by at least one supplier. Then, it calculates a contract price of each buyer from the contract price for the total procurement amount at least according to a purchase scale of the buyer or a procurement price prior to reverse auction of the buyer.

Abstract: An information processing system to implement reverse auction for a price list is disclosed. The system includes a price list storage unit storing an individual transaction value when a supplier performs transaction under a reference transaction condition as a price list of a supplier, a requirement storage unit storing a tentative number of transaction times used in the reverse auction in association with the reference transaction condition; and a reverse auction unit performing the reverse auction where a bidder is a supplier and a bid price is a total amount of individual transaction values when assuming to perform the tentative number of times of transactions under each reference transaction condition with reference to the price list storage unit and the requirement storage unit.

Abstract: A rod in the form of a composite metal wire having a harder metal core surrounded by a softer metal cladding is introduced together with lubricant into a die comprising an approach which includes a first frustoconical opening defining a vertical angle between 0.degree. and 5.degree. (exclusive of 0.degree.) and a second frustoconical opening defining a vertical angle between 6.degree. and 20.degree.. The lubricant is pressurized in the first frustoconical opening of the die approach while the rod is drawn under fluid lubrication.