System for Interactive Computer-Assisted On-Line Auctions
A system and method for an interactive, computer-assisted on-line auction wherein at least one array of images of objects for auction are scrolled on a display device so that a viewer can view the objects, obtain detailed information regarding objects of interest an submit bids on those objects the viewer desires to purchase. The objects in the array can be sorted into rows and columns by criteria such as manufacturer, type of good, or time until which bids are accepted. The system can include an array for objects that can currently be bid upon and another array for objects that can be bid upon at a future time. Certain objects of interest to a viewer can be selectively rotated for three-dimensional viewing by clicking on an appropriate button. A viewer can select a plurality of objects of interest, wherein monitoring screens are then composed and displayed on the display device for each selected object, each monitoring screen providing the viewer with an enlarged graphical representation of an object, detailed textual information regarding an object, and information regarding the auction for an object such as current bid price, time remaining to submit a bid and a bid submission box. The system also provides a system of selectively programmable alerts which can use visual or audible cues to alert the viewer to some occurrence, such as a predetermined amount of time remaining to submit a bid on an object.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/628773, filed Jul. 29, 2000, entitled “System for Interactive Computer-Assisted On-Line Auctions”, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/146,702, filed Jul. 30, 1999.
COPYRIGHT NOTICEContained herein is material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent disclosure by any person as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus for conducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions on-line, for pure Internet auctions, and real-time presentation of physical auctions. The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can also be use in all on-line object and catalogue presentations and other E-commerce sales and advertising channels and mechanisms.
Description of Related ArtTraditional physical auctions of goods and services take place as events with defined time periods, at defined and limited physical locations where the buyers, on-lookers, commissioned sellers, sellers, trained auctioneers, and the goods gather. In some instances, with pre-arranged facility, remote buyers can be linked at real-time to the auction, via private or public radio, television, or telephone network, and call-in bids remotely over telephone connections. The real-time broadcast or narrowcast of an auction through radio, television, or telephone networks can be costly, and access is usually limited to specific locations/rooms with the relays or connections. Therefore, the conventional physical auction events are considered restricted to a limited buyer audience who can either physically attend the auction at location, during that specific time frame, or be present at a remotely linked facility also at that specific time frame. The costly, time specific physical gathering of a “live” auction event is only worthwhile or feasible for both the auctioneer's and the buyers' sides, if, and only if there is a large number of items to be sold. However, only one item can be “auctioned” at a time, in a physical live auction event. Thus, each item has a very limited time allotment to be on the auction stage.
Some items stimulate more interest than others in an unpredictable way in a time limited physical live auction event. The buyers come to, and leave the event also in somewhat of unpredictable ways, it is difficult for a live auction event to publish and commit to a fixed item-by-item schedule in a catalogue ahead of the event. Therefore, buyers do not know what item would be auctioned at what time frame, and what items would be auctioned next even while at the auction. Buyers do travel to the location; frequently to miss the items most interested, unless he or she is willing to arrive on-time, and commit to sit through the entire auction event without breaks. Wealthy collectors or dealers often go through the preview, note the interested items manually, and give instructions as to the highest price they would be willing to pay for each item to hired professional buyers/bidders to attend the event and do the bidding. The process is manual, labor intensive, and somewhat risky for both the hiring collectors and their hired buyers.
The new Internet “cyber” Auction format, on the other hand, allows buyers, sellers, and spectators to browse and search for information, descriptions, and auction status of goods, and submit bids without geographical or strict time limitations. All items, independently, can be “auctioned” during the same time period, in parallel, and simultaneously. The duration for each “item” in “open auction” is largely defined by the owner of the item or his agent, and independent of other items. The duration is measured in days or weeks, rather than the minutes as custom and necessary in a physical live auction. The beginning and ending times of “open auctions” are published individually in each item's entry. Data entry is left to the owners of objects with templates provided by the sites. The sites has no organized data on what objects may become available for auction, and do not publish up-coming auctions.
At Ebay.Com (
Bidding is entered electronically on a bidding screen that usually follows the bidding information, object description, and photograph(s) of the object. For a single item auction, the bid entered at any given time must “beat” the current highest bid to be relevant and logged into bidding history as the updated highest bid. For a “Dutch Auction,” where multiple numbers of an identical item are auctioned, the bid must be higher than the current lowest valid bid. Every “current highest bid” is there to be outbid before the “auction time” is still open. It is highly desirable to a serious buyer to monitor the bidding status, and bid only when “closing” time comes near.
With the current state of the art in online auction, such monitoring is accomplished through manually logging onto the site at any particular time, go to the pages where a particular item of interest is described, look up the bidding status of that particular item, and the closing time of this particular auction. Set an alarm clock for certain intervals before its “closing time,” for final check, which could be days later. At any moment between the time you last manually checked the auction status, and the time of the alarm, the auction status can only be updated by manually and periodically logging on to the site, and going to the particular pages describing the item, one item at a time. If the buyer is interested in a number of items, the process is extremely tedious, time consuming, and unreliable. One can enter a bid, request email notification from the site when the bid is “outbid” by another buyer. However, this is a one-time only notification. To be notified again, one must enter another bid that beats the current highest bid, and risking buying the object at that price, or to be outbid again.
For a physical live auction event, there is no way to monitor the event other than being physically present.
Although facilitated to provide simultaneous auctions, Internet format of the known-art does not allow viewing, monitoring, or tracking of simultaneous auctions of multiple items. As described previously, a buyer can elect to visit the “biding” screen, enter a bid for each interested item, and request to have electronic-mail (email) sent to his/her email account as a one-time notification when a bid is outbid. Or the buyer can periodically log-on to the auction site, and manually search and browse for status information of interested items, one at a time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus for conducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions on-line, for pure Internet auctions, and for real-time internet presentation of live physical auctions. The “current” auction objects are presented in moving graphical arrays that can be sorted by columns or rows, commanded to moved to show items beyond the screen, or stopped to select individual items to obtain further information or to be monitored and tracked. The “up coming” objects that are soon to be “open” for bidding are shown on a separate strip on the screen. The strip “cycles” onto the screen to accommodate displaying more objects, than the screen size can accommodate. The moving strip can also be activated to step in the opposite direction, or stopped for detailed view, or selected for monitoring, tracking, or to obtain further information. The displaying and selection method and apparatus can also be used for other e-commerce sales channels and catalogs.
Selected objects from different categories, or even different sites can be monitored and tracked on the same screen.
Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to display three-dimensional objects. Split screen allows video broadcasting, narrow casting, or streaming of “live auction” events alongside detailed still or virtual reality images of auctioned objects, their descriptions, and the bidding entry form, as well as the running strip cataloguing the upcoming lots/items.
The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can also be use in other types of on-line object and catalogue displays, and other E-commerce channels and services, in addition to the auction format.
Each row of the array can advance to left, back to right, continually move (GO button) to show more items, or stop, at command by clicking on the commend buttons at the left margin of the row. The “upcoming” column on the right has similar functions. The movement for the column is up-down movement.
In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3 categories and the “featured.” The same method and apparatus can present items of the same category, or the subcategories within a category, for example, separating sports cars of different manufacturer.
The screen is automatically tracked/updated by synchronizing with the server data at user programmable intervals. Object that should be seen from all sides has an “On” button in a portion of its still image. Clicking the “ON” button turns on the Virtual Reality with automated rotation as well as mouse driven rotation features. The “ON” button can be replaced by “VR” or any other form that representing turning on “Virtual Reality.” Detailed information for each monitored object can be called individually by clicking on the “Detail” button, or selectively and collectively by clicking the “select” boxes, and submitting requests to the server after completing the selection process. The object positioning in the array can be sorted with various criteria at user request or default setting. The “alert” can also be programmed, for example, to surround “End Time” box with small blinking stars, or any other attention causing signal, to signal the end of “open” auction within 30 minutes (or an hour), and blinking red stars for “My bid” button when “my bid” is out bid.
The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus for conducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions on-line, for pure Internet auctions, and for real-time linking to physical auctions. The “current” auction objects are presented in moving graphical arrays 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D that can be sorted by rows 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D or columns, and moved bi-directionally to show more items than the computer screen size can accommodate, or stopped to select individual items to obtain further information, or to be monitored and tracked. The “up coming” objects that are soon to be “open” for bidding are shown on a separate strip 24 on the screen. The strip 24 and the sorted rows 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D or columns can be commanded to “cycle” onto the screen continually to display objects beyond the screen. The moving strip can also be activated to step in both directions, and stopped for detailed view or selection for monitoring, tracking, or to obtain further information. The displaying and selection method and apparatus can also be used for displaying catalogs and other e-commerce channels and services.
Selected objects from different categories, or even different sites can be monitored and tracked on the same screen.
Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to display three-dimensional objects. Split screen 60 (
The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can also be use in other types of on-line object and catalogue displays and other E-commerce channels, mechanisms, and services in addition to the auction format.
The present invention presents objects presently open for auction in each category on a graphical array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D, with the “up coming auctions” running on a margin strip 24. A time stamp 26 signifies the time the information is loaded to the computer at its latest synchronization/up-date. The array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D can be sorted by user specified or default criteria in columns or rows. Command buttons 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D or 28E providing options allowing viewers to start, or stop the cycling, use the scroll button to scroll up or down, or left or right, to see more items. The bidder/viewer selects interested objects from the array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D of either the same category, or from different categories, or even from different sites, and/or the interested “upcoming” objects from the margin strip 24. The “auction wizard” of the current invention fetches the detailed information and enlarged graphics of the selected items from the site databases, and composes a personalized auction monitor screen (
Differentiated level of selections can be made, and the array presentation can be sorted by category, or with other criteria of differentiation. “Alert” is programmed to user selectable criteria, such as closing time, outbid, etc. Default setting can be provided, for example, to alert closing time in one hour or less, or outbid by others.
Dropping items from monitoring screen (
Automated 3D Virtual Reality presentation is used to display three-dimensional objects, such as sculptures, cars, lamps, or furniture, revolving on the screen automatically. “ON” Buttons 40 are provided to the VR presentation for viewer to elect using the mouse to rotate the object, or to resume the automated rotation. The “ON” button 40 is provided on still images of three-dimensional objects for activating Virtual Reality presentation upon clicking.
“Split Screen” 60 accommodates broadcasting, narrow casting, and streaming video 60A for viewing the live auction events, alongside the web images, VR or 3D presentations of the object 60B, detailed textual descriptions, and the online “bidding” mechanism 60C, for linking “live auction” sessions to the on-line auction network.
An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implemented with the current invention is illustrated in
A set of command buttons 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D are placed at the left margin of each row 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D, respectively, to enable each row 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D of the array to advance to the left, or back to the right by pressing the mouse button on the arrows 30 or 31, or to continually move for showing more items beyond the screen by clicking on the “GO” button 32, or stop at command by clicking on the “STOP” button 33. The “Other” button 34 allows the viewer to select to view items from other categorization. The “upcoming” column on the right (strip 24) has similar functions. The movement for the column is up-down movement via arrows 30′ and 31′ instead of the left-right for the rows of “present auctions.”
In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3 categories and the “featured,” items for the rows. Other criteria can be used, such as displaying subcategory items from the same category, for example, sports cars of different manufacturer, or displaying same category items sorting by ending time, etc.
Each item on the array is selectable. The viewer can select as many items from the array as desired for monitoring, for detailed information, or for bidding. When the selection process is completed, the viewer “submits” the selection by clicking the mouse button on the “Submit” button 37 located at the bottom of the screen.
Selecting objects monitored in screen
The present invention is implemented using software which can be written in many programming languages, or implemented with many web-page generation tools. The present invention can be used on a global or local computer network, on a personal computer, on viewable storage media such as a CD ROM, on a wireless telephone, on a wireless personal assistant such as a Palm Pilot®, or on any type of wired or wireless device that enables digitally stored information to be viewed on a display device. Also, information displayed and viewed using the present invention can be printed, stored to other storage medium, and electronically mailed to third parties.
Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled to the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.
Claims
1. A computer implemented method for displaying digital information on a display device associated with a computer processor and at least one memory, comprising:
- displaying on the display device a plurality of digital information elements, wherein the digital information elements represent virtualized ones of physical items;
- enabling a user to select at least one of the digital information elements;
- displaying information about the item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein said information includes a description of, and link to conduct commerce activity related to, the physical item represented by the selected digital information element; and
- enabling the user to change a display perspective on the display device of one or more of the digital information elements.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the items represented by the one or more digital information elements are displayed three-dimensionally to a user.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in the display perspective involves rotating the one or more digital elements about at least one of the three-dimensions.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the change in the display perspective reveals at least one view of the physical item represented by a digital information element that was not visible before initiation of the change in the display perspective.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the display perspective occurs without user input to initiate the change.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying information about the item represented by the digital information element is in response to a user selection.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical item represented by the digital information element is at least one of a painting, photograph, coin, sculpture, furniture item, piece of jewelry, timepiece, and electronic device.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.
9. A system comprising:
- a computer readable storage medium capable of non-transitorily storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more computer processors, wherein the one or more processors are communicatively coupled to a display device configured to be controlled by the one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
- display on the display device a plurality of digital information elements, wherein the digital information elements represent physical items viewed in virtual reality;
- enable a user to select at least one of the digital information elements;
- display information about the physical item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein the information includes a description of, and a link to conduct commerce activity related to, the physical item represented by the selected digital information element; and
- enable changing of a displayed perspective of the virtual realization of the physical item represented by the selected digital information element.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs are configured to express in three dimensions the digital displaying on the display device of the image of the physical item represented by its associated digital information element.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more programs are configured to enable a change in the displayed perspective of a selected digital information element representing the physical item, such that the displaying of at least one of the selected physical items undergoes a three-dimensional rotation.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the change in displayed perspective reveals at least one view of the user-selected item of interest represented by a digital information element that was not displayed before receiving a user action to change the displayed perspective.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein a user is an administrator of the digital information elements associated with items represented by said digital information elements stored on the said storage medium.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein a user is a consumer of the item of interest.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs are configured to enable an administrator user to program at least one selected item to undergo a change in the displayed perspective on the display device automatically when a webpage containing information associated with the selected item is accessed.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more programs are configured to enable automatic changing of displayed perspective of the displaying of an item of interest selected by a consumer user, without requiring an action from the consumer user to initiate the change.
17. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to the selection, the one or more programs are configured to simultaneously display a plurality of information from at least two sources about the at least one item of interest represented by the user-selected digital information element.
18. The system of claim 9, wherein the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.
19. The system of claim 9, wherein the item represented by the selected digital information element is at least one of a painting, a photograph, a coin, a sculpture, a furniture item, a piece of jewelry, a timepiece or an electronic device.
20. A computer implemented method for conducting commerce and displaying on a display device information regarding objects that can be purchased, wherein the display device is controlled by a computer with a processor and memory and one or more programs, the method comprising:
- displaying on a display device a plurality of digital information elements, wherein the digital information elements represent items that can be purchased, and are capable of being displayed in three-dimensional perspective in virtual reality;
- enabling a user to select at least one of the digital information elements;
- displaying information relating to the item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein the information includes a description of the item represented by the selected digital information element, and a link to conduct a commerce activity relating to the item;
- enabling the user to change the viewing perspective of the digital information elements on the display device;
- monitoring the commerce activity status of the item represented by a digital information element; and
- notifying the user when commerce activity occurs with respect to the item represented by a selected digital information element.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user notification occurs on a webpage.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the user notification is transmitted in the form of an electronic mail.
23. The method of claim 20, the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user notification is in response to a bid being placed that exceeds a bid placed by the user.
25. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing perspective involves the three-dimensional rotation of at least one item represented by the selected digital information element.
26. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing perspective reveals at least one view of the user-selected item of interest that was not displayed before the user initiating the action to change the viewing perspective.
27. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is an administrator.
28. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is a consumer of the item.
29. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing perspective occurs without user input to initiate the change in the viewing perspective.
30. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying of information related to a selected item represented by its associated digital information element is in response to a user selection.
31. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying of information relating to an item represented by the selected digital information element includes displaying the status of commerce activity associated with the item.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.
33. The method of claim 20, wherein the item represented by the selected digital information element is at least one of a painting, a photograph, a coin, a sculpture, a furniture item, a piece of jewelry, a timepiece or an electronic device.
Type: Application
Filed: May 6, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2017
Patent Grant number: 10282779
Inventor: Catherine Lin-Hendel (Los Gatos, CA)
Application Number: 14/271,366