Abstract: A distributed auction system allows remote bidders to interactively participate by computer in live auctions conducted on-site by an auctioneer. A client program that runs on the computers of the remote bidders displays real time auction status information extracted from status messages, and provides functionality of the remote bidders to submit live bids that are based on such status information. A network of nodes may be used to filter out invalid bids from the remote bidders so that such bids need not be processed by an auction server.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the present invention, the characteristics and parameters of a purchaser's computer are ascertained and alternative methods for packaging, transmitting, and instantiating digitally encoded content are considered in order to select a transfer method with low or minimal overhead. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the overhead is computed as a time to usability. In alternative embodiments, different metrics for determining overheads are employed.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, digital audio content is analyzed with respect to specific compression/decompression algorithms to identify watermark modification points and degradation modification points within a particular digital audio file for insertion of watermarks and failure points. Watermarks contain information, such as a numerical label or identification tag, and other information, into the digital audio content in such a way that the watermark is virtually imperceptible to a listener and in such a way that the watermark survives compression and decompression by popular digital-content-compression-and-decompression tools. Failure points involve inserting additional, imperceptible signals at degradation modification points within digital audio content that, upon compression and decompression by means of common digital-content-compression-and-decompression tools, results in a markedly perceptible and annoying degradation of the audio content.

Abstract: A method and system for securing retrieval of content, and transcription of the retrieved content to a physical medium in a form not readily susceptible to interception. Encrypted and compressed content is retrieved from a series of servers, via the Internet or other communications pathway, by a consumer. Once the content is present in local storage, or is accessible through a high-rate-of-transfer medium, client-side software running on the consumer's computer or other appliance coordinates with one or more servers to decompress and re-encrypt the content into memory of the consumer's computer or other appliance, and then to decrypt and transfer, a portion at a time, the content from the memory of the consumer's computer or other appliance to a writeable CD within a CD drive of the consumer's computer or other computing appliance, producing a final information-containing CD.