Abstract: An on-line (Internet or web-based) auction intended for selling real property and other unique items has several features and advantages adopted for such transactions. In one version, a descending price auction is used with the price descending at time intervals in unpredictable increments; the first bidder acquires the property. An unpublished reserve price is set initially by the seller, but he can lower the reserve price during the auction if desired. Typically the seller pays the auction organizer an up-front fee which is a percentage of the property's listing price before the auction. The buyer also pays a percentage of the purchase price to the auction organizer when the property is sold. In another type of auction, the price is incremented at amounts determined by the auction organizer, and amongst several bidders at each successive price level, only one is randomly chosen, the randomly chosen bidder is sold the property when there are no bidders at the next higher price level.

Abstract: An automotive steer-by-wire system is disclosed that includes a first network. The first network connects a first set of controllers for controlling a first set of motors. The steer-by-wire system further includes a second network that is independent of the first network and connects a second set of controllers for controlling a second set of motors. The steer-by-wire system includes a third network that connects the first set of controllers and the second set of controllers for controlling the first or second set of motors if the first or second network is inoperative, whereby information is transmitted via the third network independent of the first network and the second network.

Abstract: An automotive steer-by-wire system is disclosed that includes a first network. The first network connects a first set of controllers for controlling a first set of motors. The steer-by-wire system further includes a second network that is independent of the first network and connects a second set of controllers for controlling a second set of motors. The steer-by-wire system includes a third network that connects the first set of controllers and the second set of controllers for controlling the first or second set of motors if the first or second network is inoperative, whereby information is transmitted via the third network independent of the first network and the second network.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a wheel alignment procedure for a vehicle having a steer-by-wire steering system. The wheel alignment procedure includes determining an offset alignment value for a road wheel of a vehicle. The offset alignment value may be determined as the difference between the sensed wheel angle and a measured true angular position of the road wheel. The method further includes the step of adjusting the road wheel position as a function of the offset alignment value. Accordingly, the vehicle road wheel can be aligned by adjusting a calibration value in a controller without requiring physical adjustment of a mechanical linkage.