Abstract: The ability to participate in an active auction is enabled for remote bidders by allowing the remote bidder to use a bidding device coupled to an active auction through a network. The remote bidding device receives live audio from the auction with minimal delay, and can receive and provide bidding information to the auction in real time. As such, the remote bidder can participate with equal standing as local participants.

Abstract: Information about participants in an auction are received and analyzed along with information about products to be auctioned and other information to generate an interest gauge. The interest gauge may reflect the interest of a buyer, a seller, an auction house or any other entity in the auctioning event. Based on the interest gauge, the operations of the auction can be augmented and/or modified to be optimal in view of revenue generation, products moved, and a balance between the two. For instance, the buyer interest gauge could be used to create packages of items to be auctioned in a combinatorial auction.

Abstract: An environment is established in which a variety of participating entities, including but not limited to auction houses, manufacturers, third party product and service providers, individuals, etc., can interface and benefit from the vast amount of data that is naturally collected or assimilated in the process of evaluating products to be introduced to an auction line.

Abstract: An electronic inspection report system includes a dynamic integrity checker. Upon reception of inspection data from mobile devices, the date from similar and related fields is cross-correlated to identify any inconsistencies or discrepancies. This data is also compared with third party data that may be related to the item or similar item.

Abstract: An electronic inspection report system includes a central report generator and a data collection device. The central report generator is adapted to produce multiple types of inspection report template. The central report generator is adapted to select a type of inspection report template to provide to a data collection device based upon various criteria. The central report generator is adapted to receive electronic information from various databases and format the information such that the information can be used in inspection reports. While inspecting an item, an inspector uses a data collection device to access an inspection report template and fill in fields of the inspection report template. The data collection device can be configured to check the consistency of information carried in fields of the inspection report and signal the inspector when some of the information is inconsistent. The central report generator can include a repository of completed inspection reports.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system to deliver real-time video data over the Internet in a bandwidth efficient manner. A streaming processor receives raw video data from a video source and communicates a compressed version of the video data to a reflector network. The video data is compress by grouping pixels into blocks and comparing blocks of adjacent frames of video data to identify any changes. Only blocks that have been changed are transmitted to the reflector network. In addition, if a block has been changed in a manner to create a previously transmitted block, then only an identification index for the block is transmitted. The actual content of the block can then be recreated by comparing the index to a list of previously received blocks. The reflector network provides the compressed video stream to multiple clients through a series of reflectors. Each client can customize the quality of the video stream received by requesting a full-stream of a sub-stream from the reflector network.

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: 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: A method for adding a negotiation interface between remote consignors and bidders to a traditional-style live auction, comprising the steps of providing audio/video system apparatus; providing clerk system apparatus; providing marquee system apparatus; providing bid system apparatus; and providing negotiation apparatus for enabling selective direct price negotiations between remote auction consignors and remote auction bidders.

Abstract: An auctioning environment integrated into a virtual world system includes a computing platform that provides a virtual world environment and the integrated auctioning element. The system interfaces to a third party system to receive auctioning data representative of an auction that is taking place in the real world and in real time. The auctioning data is then used to formulate or augment a user interface for presenting an environment to a user of the virtual world system to participate in the auction. The environment can be presented in a variety of manners and in one embodiment includes an avatar for the auctioneer, the item being auctioned and any bidders present and participating at the live auction event.

Abstract: An integration of an online auctioning system with the user interface look and feel of a desired application can be performed at varying levels. At one level, a simple mapping of characteristics and actions in the auctioning environment are mapped to characters, actions, features, etc. of the user interface. At another level, the bidder participates in a live auction in a manner that is akin to playing or operating the user interface of the desired application. At yet another level, the user interface and the desire application do not interface to a live auction at all, but rather, define a new game or application that is auction based.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system to deliver real-time video data over the Internet in a bandwidth efficient manner. A streaming processor receives raw video data from a video source and communicates a compressed version of the video data to a reflector network. The video data is compress by grouping pixels into blocks and comparing blocks of adjacent frames of video data to identify any changes. Only blocks that have been changed are transmitted to the reflector network. In addition, if a block has been changed in a manner to create a previously transmitted block, then only an identification index for the block is transmitted. The actual content of the block can then be recreated by comparing the index to a list of previously received blocks. The reflector network provides the compressed video stream to multiple clients through a series of reflectors. Each client can customize the quality of the video stream received by requesting a full-stream of a sub-stream from the reflector network.

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: A remote bidding supplement for traditional-style live auctions, comprising an audio/video system for streaming instantaneous and buffer-free live audio and video data from a live auction site to one or more remote auction bidders having a bidding device for receiving the data and for transmitting instantaneously remote auction bids for each item being auctioned at the live auction site; a clerk system for controlling and accepting auction bids received at the live auction site from onsite auction bidder and from remote auction bidders for each item being auctioned at the live auction site; a marquee system for displaying instantaneously at the live auction site auction bid information, including accepted auction bids, for each item being auctioned at the live auction site; and a bid system for broadcasting instantaneously to all remote auction bidders and to the marquee system the auction bid information for each item being auctioned at the live auction site, for receiving instantaneously auction bids from e

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: Disclosed is a method and system to deliver real-time video data over the Internet in a bandwidth efficient manner. A streaming processor receives raw video data from a video source and communicates a compressed version of the video data to a reflector network. The video data is compress by grouping pixels into blocks and comparing blocks of adjacent frames of video data to identify any changes. Only blocks that have been changed are transmitted to the reflector network. In addition, if a block has been changed in a manner to create a previously transmitted block, then only an identification index for the block is transmitted. The actual content of the block can then be recreated by comparing the index to a list of previously received blocks. The reflector network provides the compressed video stream to multiple clients through a series of reflectors. Each client can customize the quality of the video stream received by requesting a full-stream of a sub-stream from the reflector network.

Abstract: An online auctioning system that includes functions and features to help apply psychological tactics to increase sells, bidding activity and bid levels. The auctioning system allows and administrator to view items available for the auction, group them in a manner that may give the appearance of scarcity and/or may improve the relative worth of the items. One aspect of the invention is to provide a bidding/sell agnostic credit rating system that enables participants to qualify for a certain number of credits during the auction independent of what the particular items actually sell for during the auction. Each item in the auction may include a credit value and the credit values may also be used in grouping items to further create the appearance of scarcity and/or relative worth.

Abstract: An anonymous bidding system that allows bidders to participate in a live auction by placing bids for items, but that does not disclose the identify of the bidding parties. Bidding participants may utilize a bidding device, such as a handheld device, to receive information regarding the auction. This information can include a description of the item up for auction, the asking price, and the current high bidder. By actuating the bidding device, a signal is sent to the bidding system to indicate that a bid request is being submitted. The bid request includes a bidder identifier that is unique to the bidding party, but that does not disclose the identify of the bidding party to others in the audience. Thus, the parties can participate in the live auction without drawing attention to their participation.

Abstract: Products can be listed on one electronic platform and then easily moved to another network based platform based on the occurrence of a triggering event. If a product owner lists a product on an electronic platform, there is an expectation of the product being sold. However, if a triggering event occurs, such as the product is listed for a specific time period without being sold, or the bidding activity is below a desired threshold or simply the owner decides it is time to try something new, the owner can select one or more destination platforms on which to list the product. For each platform, descriptive information about the product is obtained using a variety of techniques and then provided to the destination platform for the listing of the product.

Abstract: Products obtained on one network based platform can be flipped to another network based platform for resell. A party logs on to an online auction system to participate in an auction. If the party wins the product, the party may then manually or automatically have the product re-listed on another platform (or in some circumstances the same platform) to be sold once again. The auction winner can select one or more destination platforms on which to list the product. For each platform, descriptive information about the product is obtained using a variety of techniques and then provided to the destination platform for the listing of the product. The descriptive information can be obtained from the information available in the acquiring platform, public records such as though available over the Internet, database records, interpretation of serial numbers or VIN numbers, user profile information, information directly entered by the winner of the auction or other parties, etc.