Abstract: A method for conducting a buyer-initiated variable price online auction comprises receiving from a buyer a description of an item; starting an auction for the item; providing the description to a first and a second potential seller; accepting a first and a second bid for the item from the first and the second potential seller, respectively; and ending the auction, whereupon a winner of the auction is automatically determined from among the first and the second potential seller based on an association of the winner with a winning bid automatically determined based on the first and the second bid. Auction result notifications may be automatically provided to the buyer, the winning bidder and bidders who do not win the auction. The buyer may specify a maximum price the buyer is willing to pay for the item. The online auction may be facilitated by a network auction facility in communication with network nodes used by the buyer and potential sellers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authorizing multicast group membership based on network policies, such as machine and user identities. An end station communicates with a LAN switch over a LAN link. The LAN switch inhibits the end station from joining any multicast group before the end station or a user on the end station becomes authenticated. Once the end station or a user on the end station becomes authenticated, the LAN switch authorizes the end station to join one or more multicast groups in conformance with a multicast group authorization specified for the end station or the user. The LAN switch enforces the multicast group authorization attendant to “snooping” of IGMP membership reports received from the end station or processing of CGMP join messages received from a router.

Abstract: A method and instrument for allowing public investment in an intellectual property (IP) business, such as a patent business, of a publicly held corporation. An exemplary method comprises defining an IP business within the corporation, and issuing a stock to the public that tracks the performance of the IP business. An exemplary instrument comprises a stock issued to the public for tracking the performance of an IP business within the corporation. The IP business may be defined to be coextensive with the corporation's intellectual property business division (IPBD). Alternatively, the IP business may be defined to be coextensive with the corporation's IP, or a part of its IP, such as issued and pending patents.