Abstract: An importable electronic template and methods of creating and utilizing the importable template. The template includes an alphanumeric field created by a template creation entity and a response field created by the template creation entity. Data is electronically entered into the response field by a responding entity. The importable electronic template is incorporated into a general purpose electronic template.

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: A technological means that collects order applications from a larger number of buyers in a group-purchasing reverse auction. During an auction session T-k, a control unit 310 in a reverse auction support device 30 performs the following processes in parallel: displaying a latest bid price in response to a request from a buyer terminal 10-m; adding an order entry information item OD received from a buyer terminal 10-m, to an order management database ODB-k; displaying a latest total order count and latest bid price in response to a request from a supplier terminal 20-n; and appending a bid information item RD received from a supplier terminal 20-n, to a bid management database RDB-k. After the auction session T-k has ended, the control unit 310 selects a bid information item RD1ST that has the highest bid rank, from among all the bid information items RD in the bid management database RDB-k.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of purchasing real-world items includes the steps of defining a virtual currency with no stable derivative to a government-recognized currency, electronically assigning a quantity of the currency to at least one user account, offering at least one tangible item in a multi-user competitive purchasing process, accepting an offer from a user associated with the user account, the offer being a promise to exchange a quantity of virtual currency for the tangible item, carrying out the multi-user competitive purchasing process, determining a winner of the competitive purchasing process, and assigning ownership of the tangible item to the winner of the competitive purchasing process.

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: A method and systems for auction price-setting for a listing using a fixed price-setting process are disclosed. A seller is provided with an option to offer the listing in the fixed price-setting process or the auction price-setting process. A fixed price offer for the listing is published based on a criterion. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and process of conducting a buyer driven, on demand, electronic auction for products, such as automobiles. The method and process includes an auction central processing unit connected to multiple user interfaces. A product qualification, inventory qualification, backend administration, product data, scheduler and bidder modules are also included. An auction is conducted wherein the products presented in the set auction are driven by buyer demand, may be instituted upon determination of a predetermined level of interest, and products may simultaneously be bid upon.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for auction-based network capacity allocation are disclosed. The systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media determine network capacity associated with a first wireless network and determine network capacity associated with a second wireless network. The systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media also output data generated based, at least in part, on the first wireless network capacity determination and the second wireless network capacity determination. In addition, systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media also receive one or more bids associated with at least some of the network capacity associated with the first wireless network and assign at least some of the network capacity associated with the first wireless network to a purchaser system associated with the second wireless networks as a function of the one or more received bids.

Abstract: The invention is an online Dutch auction where sellers can optimize the auction's pricing algorithm and related parameters to suit their needs and market conditions. Using the pricing algorithm, the invention creates BidBlocks for each price point, and places them in a tabular format or calendar where appropriate to simplify bidding. The invention always presents a “Buy It Now” option to shoppers to purchase the item at the current discount, or alternatively allows bidding on future price points. Active bidders are displayed in a Leaderboard which summarizes their status and relative placement. Numerous other features enhance the operability and usefulness of this invention for both buyers and sellers.

Abstract: The present invention implements an auction in which multiple types of goods may be auctioned in a dynamic process. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a system and method for computer implemented dynamic multi-unit auction in which the price paid or received by bidders tends to be independent of their own bids, in which participants may be provided with information concerning their competitors' bids as the auction progresses, and in which the confidentiality of high values may be maintained. Participants' quantities bid at a given time may be restricted to be less than or equal to the quantities bid at an earlier time. These features provide the advantage of improving economic efficiency of the auction design over the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method to sell or procure complementary goods. A complementary good according to the invention is a good whose value or utility is enhanced when paired with another good, such a pair of goods is a communication license to encumbered spectrum and a complementary clearing right to clear the spectrum of its encumbrance. The invention provides automated procedures to facilitate the fashioning and sale of clearing rights so as to enhance the value of the communications license.

Abstract: The aim of this system is to enable a negotiation between groups of buyers and variety of sellers. The negotiation between the buyers and sellers is possible through an automatic system of matching between buyers' requests and sellers' offers. The buyers' requests are united by the system in terms of quantity and quality of the requests. Then, the negotiation between the buyers and sellers is conducted between the united requests of the buyers and the coupons/offers which the sellers offer to that group until a transaction is made and both sides agree on the terms of the transaction.

Abstract: A method is provided for distributing limited resources. The method comprising the following steps. A plurality of limited resources about to expire on a given day is determined. The plurality of limited resources is made available simultaneously. Resource requests from a plurality of clients for a registration period are allowed starting at a predetermined time. The resource requests are processed after the registration period by correlating the limited resources with the received resource requests.

Abstract: Items are sold via a wireless mobile telecommunications network in which multimedia presentations describing items offered for sale are broadcast for reception by wireless mobile devices. Users of the devices can transmit responses indicating requests to buy the items or bid for them in auctions.

Abstract: A system and method of integrating a penny auction and a sweepstakes includes presenting a split screen view to a user, with the split screen view containing a first portion and a second portion, the first portion displaying a penny auction and the second portion displaying a sweepstakes game, and receiving a request from the user to purchase one or more bids for use on the penny auction in the first portion of the split screen view. Based on the received request, the user is awarded one or more entries for the sweepstakes in the second portion of the split screen display.

Abstract: An Internet-based, multi-user-adaptable system for connecting auction agencies to interested customers and providing users notifications of upcoming auctions. The auction query and notification system compiles data from auction agencies and compares that information to user preferences, notifying individual users in a specified manner of upcoming auctions. The system further provides the ability to both connect auction agencies to a wider customer base and notify customers of upcoming auctions regarding their desired subject matter in a preferred area via email, text, or instant message.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for conducting a timed, online auction are described. In an example method, implemented in a server apparatus configured for communication with one or more network-connected user devices, current bidding information, for at least one item for sale, is sent to the one or more network-connected user devices, during an initial portion of a timed online auction event. Beginning at a predetermined time before termination of the auction event for the item, the server apparatus determines that one or more auction users have selected to participate in an interactive mode, and maintains a virtual auction room for participating users. This maintaining of the virtual auction room includes generating animation sequences based on bidding activity received from the participating users and sending the generated animation sequences to network-connected user devices corresponding to the participating users.

Abstract: In a process for creating media content, media submissions are requested and electronically received from end users and stored in a computer database. The submissions are searched for material to be included in the media content, and cross-checked against the other submissions for originality and timeliness. After the material is selected from one or more submissions, the content is developed and released to an audience for review. The end users whose submission material was included in the released content are rewarded. In one embodiment, third parties are permitted to access and search the submissions on an open exchange. The third parties can bid for rights in submissions on the open exchange. After receiving these bids, they are forwarded to the particular submission's end user for acceptance or rejection. Appropriate billing and payment processes are used to bill and pay the parties involved.

Abstract: An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for providing a competitive sales environment in a virtual world. In one embodiment, the invention comprises receiving a request for product or service information from a consumer avatar, querying a database of vendors based on the request for product or service information, identifying at least one vendor relevant to the request for product or service information, notifying the at least one vendor of the request, and making available to the consumer avatar a sales environment based on the request for product or service information.

Abstract: A method for mitigating financial risks associated with participating in an auction in which an auctioneer uses an online platform to auction a commodity to auction participants' remote terminals in communication with the platform via a communication network by charging the participants participation fees that aggregate to an amount which is at least equal to a predetermined percentage of the auctioneer's cost of acquiring the commodity.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for efficient delivery of a plurality of information regarding items for auction. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a server entity adapted to communicate with a plurality of information sources (such as sources having vehicle history information, estimated valuation information, etc.) The server entity compiles information received from the plurality of sources and formats the information for efficient delivery to a client device via e.g., SMS based text messaging, internet-based instant messaging, or the like. In another salient aspect of the invention, a client enters an auction identification number (AID) rather than a longer alpha-numeric VIN or other identification number. The server entity may also calculate and communicate estimates and/or alerts/reminders of when bidding will begin for particular items for auction which the client has expressed interest in. Exemplary client interface and business methods are also given.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable medium having computer program, and related computer implemented methods are provided to determine the relative market value of a sale group and to generate a genetic merit scorecard. Such systems, computer-readable medium having computer program, and related computer implemented methods utilize the genetic merit estimates of relatives of a sale group, along with associated economic weighting factors to determine the relative market value of the sale group. The genetic merit scorecard reflects the relative market value and ranking of the genetic merits of the sale group, as compared to the industry.

Abstract: Various component values of original content items are extracted via an initial publication and republication of content items. An original, unpublished content item is initially made available for discovery and purchase by different content distributors. When a content distributor first purchases the content item for publication, it is no longer available to other content distributors for an initial time period which can be configured based on different component values of the content item. Upon the expiry of the initial time period, the content item is again provided to various content distributors for republication.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate a purchase of a product by a user from a seller.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method and system for conducting an online lowering reserve auction including creating an auction by specifying an item for auctioning, a retail price of the item, a total number of options offered for sale during the auction, a sale price of each option, and a time duration for the auction, while the auction is open, selling an option, while the auction is open, receiving a bid for the item, if the total number of options offered for sale are purchased, designating as the winning bid the highest bid amount received, if the auction time for the item has expired and if the combination of the amount of the highest bid received and of the proceeds from the sale of the options are greater than the retail price of the item, designating as the winning bid the highest bid amount received.

Abstract: An improved system and method for generating a maximum utility slate of advertisements for online advertisement auctions is provided. Various utility factors for each advertisement that may be a candidate in a slate of advertisements may be applied within a framework in order to generate a maximum utility slate of advertisements. Either backward or forward dynamic programming may be applied to recursively evaluate the utility of subslates of advertisements in order to generate a maximum utility slate of advertisements. In an embodiment, a network with directed edges and associated costs may be defined, and the longest path may be found in the directed network for constructing a maximum utility slate of advertisements. Various utility factors may be applied for different objectives of an auctioneer and the framework presented may be extended for revenue ordering, exclusion of bidders, ordering slates according to first and second price utilities, and so forth.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for trading goods and services through recurring auctions. Recurring auctions are increasingly popular form of markets for perishable and time-sensitive resources. Traditional auctions strive to motivate bidders to bid their true valuation of the resources traded. Yet, when successful, they also quickly divide the recurring auction bidders into permanent winners and permanent losers. The latter have no incentive to stay in the market, so they leave, decreasing the competitive pressure and depressing pricing. The present invention introduces a novel winner selection method to maintain customers' interest in auction participation that employs participant retention mechanism in assigning traded resources to bidders. The winners are selected from a wider range of bidder ranks than in traditional auction mechanisms.

Abstract: A system and method (10) for online bidding wherein a seller (16) creates sale terms including a start or maximum sale price (22) and an end or minimum sale price (24) and a length of time (20) for each particular item or service (30) they want to sell. The sale of each item or service (30) items begins at the start price (22) and drops steadily throughout the length of time of the auction (20) until the item or service reaches the end price (24). A purchaser or bidder (12) has full access to the sale terms provided by the seller (16) including the start price (22), the end price (24), and the time length of the sale (20). A bidder (12) can bid based on either price or time.

Abstract: An auction system and method, which identifies at least one lot to be auctioned, having a plurality of units within the lot and associated auction parameters; transmits a remaining quantity of units within the lot from a central server to a plurality of remote locations; receives bid identifications for remaining units within the lot at the contemporaneous offering price from the plurality of remote locations; and decrements the offering price over time. The decrement may be adaptive to a bid activity pattern, and the bid activity pattern may be stored in a database. A local server may be provided to communicate between the central server and remote locations while changing the format of the information communicated. The packets preferably include compressed information, and preferably include quantity remaining information for a plurality of auction lot.

Abstract: Example techniques for determining a price for content may include the following operations: obtaining bids from content providers, where the bids correspond to amounts that the content providers will pay to present content on a portal hosted by a publisher; obtaining surcharges corresponding to an effect on the publisher of presenting content from the content providers on the portal; using one or more processing devices to adjust the bids in accordance with corresponding surcharges to thereby produce adjusted bids; comparing the adjusted bids to determine a winner of an auction to present content on the portal hosted by the publisher; determining a price for the winner to pay based on the surcharge; and charging the winner the price for presenting content on the portal.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of auctioning a digital multimedia interactive session between a celebrity and a system user. Both the celebrity and the user are members of a digital community such as a social network, though they may have different types of member accounts. Celebrities are required to record a live video during the account generation process and this video is reviewed by system administrators to parse out persons purporting to be celebrities, but aren't. Upon successful vetting, the celebrity then establishes a desired time, date, and topic for a digital multimedia interactive session, culminating in the submission of a request to the system. The request is reviewed and approved by the system administrators who launch an auction on a website. Users can bid in the auction up until the predetermined close date. Auction winners of the auction are provided the opportunity to interact with the celebrity.

Abstract: In both an on-line and a conventional auction, an auctioneer may encourage competitive bidding behavior through the provision of rewards to those bidders whose bids meet predetermined criteria. For example, a bidder may be rewarded if her bid exceeds a prior bid by a threshold value. An auctioneer may further discourage non-competitive bidding behavior by penalizing those bidders whose bids fall below predetermined standards.

Abstract: A system and a method for the resale of one or more forward-sold goods and/or services allows a transaction to be specified as one in which the goods or services may be resold by the purchaser until a time close to actual delivery. The merchant maintains control of the conditions of the resale. If a resale occurs, the merchant receives a commission. The account of the original purchaser is credited with the resale price minus the commission. The availability of goods for resale can be determined by searching a web site for such goods.

Abstract: A system and a method for the resale of one or more forward-sold goods and/or services are provided that allows a transaction to be specified as one in which the goods or services may be resold by the purchaser until a time close to actual delivery. The merchant maintains control of the conditions of the resale. If a resale occurs, the merchant receives a commission. The account of the original purchaser is credited with the resale price minus the commission. For an immediate resale, a strike price is set by the purchaser at the time of purchase of a resellable forward-sold good. If the strike price is met by a bidder, this allows immediate transfer of the forward-sold good to the bidder. The availability of goods for resale can be determined by searching a web site for such goods.

Abstract: A networked computer arrangement and method in which a manufacturer or service provider may communicate to a plurality of traders the items, including goods and/or services, which may be available for purchase, the quantities of those available items, and any other conditions to be met for the purchase of the available items. Traders may apply guest bidder profiles or entitlement schema to the available goods lists to produce offerings for a plurality of guest brokers. Only bid-relevant product information is presented to each guest broker as needed in order to protect the offering party's overall position on the offered good(s). Guest broker profiles or entitlement schema may be based on perspective contractual arrangements between potential brokers, traders, and a manufacturer or service provider. Offerings are presented to the guest brokers, who are restricted from participating in the bidding process.

Abstract: Shoppers at physical retailers are incentivized to purchase products from a physical retailer. The user provides a product identifier using a user device. The product identifier is used to identify the product being viewed by the user. Online retailers are queried to obtain online bids to sell the product. An incentive is identified for the user based on the product and the physical retailer. The incentive and an online retailer bid are provided to the user for the user to determine whether to purchase the product at the online retailer bid price or using the incentive. The incentive may be based on location information indicating user device movement. The incentive may require the user to perform an action, such as posting to a social network. A different incentive may be provided to the user if the user is leaving the physical retailer to promote purchase at the physical retailer.

Abstract: A method and/or process and/or configuration and/or apparatus and/or system that produce a Virtual Entertainment Auction Room (VEAR) and its components. VEAR is conditional and fee based offer with a plurality of individual auctions. One aspect of VEAR is a configuration that enable communication and collaborate with third party reward programs and/or inventory management systems. VEAR is configured to launch through web enabled free standing and/or hand held and/or counter top or bar top gaming machines, computers and/or mobile devices. It could be produced as open or server based or networked system.

Abstract: A system for transmitting information related to a network-based marketplace includes identifying information that may be interesting, useful, and entertaining to the users and to the potential users of the network-based marketplace. The identified information may be other than information that is already being displayed in listings by the network-based marketplace. The identified information may be about the sellers, the buyers or other items related to the items offered for sale.

Abstract: A system that facilitates publishing and consuming information that is of time sensitivity, for example, price information. Methods are employed to achieve completeness and freshness in information for a given domain. A preferred embodiment is a shopping site that is capable of comparing prices, purchasing bundled products and dealing with coupons.

Abstract: The method for regulated management of virtual visions which their creators use to communicate in a multilayered communicative fragmentation positioned in a network environment will be applied mainly, but not only, to platforms for communication between network users such as social networks, astral media, etc. According to the method the users (1) via user devices (2) connect to the computer network (3) and get an opportunity to use the services of the provider (4), set up a user account (5) and access the services (6) of the provider (4). Then the users create one or more virtual visions (8) with the number of virtual visions being unlimited. The creation of a virtual vision (8) is recorded as an entry (9) in the data base (10) supported by the service provider (4). When creating a virtual vision (8) the creator (1) specifies the conditions for objectification of the vision in the services of the provider (4).

Abstract: Usage of shared resources can be managed by enabling users to obtain different types of guarantees at different times for various types and/or levels of resource capacity. A user can select to have an amount or rate of capacity dedicated to that user. A user can also select reserved capacity for at least a portion of the requests, tasks, or program execution for that user, where the user has priority to that capacity but other users can utilize the excess capacity during other periods. Users can alternatively specify to use the excess capacity or other variable, non-guaranteed capacity. The capacity can be for any appropriate functional aspect of a resource, such as computational capacity, throughput, latency, bandwidth, and storage. Users can submit bids for various types and combinations of excess capacity, and winning bids can receive dedicated use of the excess capacity for at least a period of time.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining and delivering secure online content includes facilitating registration of secure content with an online content placement auction system, auditing the registered content to ensure security requirements for the registered content are met, and holding an auction among bidders for placement of content in a secure online content space. The process of holding an auction for the content space includes receiving a call for secure content to be served in the content space, transmitting a bid request to bidders in response to the call, receiving bid replies having bid amounts and proposed content to be securely served in the content space, and determining a qualifying subset of the received bid replies having proposed content approved as secure.

Abstract: A data representation of auctions in an online auction system and a bidding history associated with the auctions and the online auction system are maintained in a computer system for multiple users. A set of the users to whom to promote a selected auction is determined based at least in part on the bidding history. A message that promotes the selected auction is sent to each respective one of the set of the users. The message includes a control configured to open a web page that facilitates bidding in the selected auction through the online auction system.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the system and method for managing sales and fulfillment services described herein may include a fulfillment coordination service. The fulfillment coordination service may be configured to receive a selection of one or more items of a merchant. The one or more items may be registered for fulfillment service with a fulfillment service provider. The fulfillment coordination service may also be configured to generate a sales listing for each selected item for listing with a sales listing provider. The fulfillment coordination service may in various embodiments receive an order indication for one or more of the selected items listed on the sales listing. The fulfillment coordination service may be configured to send a fulfillment request to the fulfillment service provider for the one or more items indicated by the order indication.

Abstract: An online auction system includes a set of memory resources that store auction data and one or more processors. The one or more processors implement multiple auction forums for transacting a corresponding set of assets. The one or more processors enable a registrant to participate in any of the multiple auction forums by providing the registrant with multiple interfaces to prompt the user for input or action. In some embodiments, the one or more processors provide an entity type interface to prompt the registrant to declare an entity type of the registrant. The one or more processors operate to determine a set of requirements for the registrant based at least in part on (i) a type designation provided by the user, and (ii) a geographic region of one or more assets that are being transacted by the multiple auction forums.

Abstract: A computer implemented trading engine is disclosed. The trading engine is configured to connect with a plurality of computing devices and a plurality of servers; said trading engine further configured to manage trading circles between accounts maintained in association with at least two of said computing devices, said engine trading further configured to manage a first electronic data message representing at least one offer and at least one additional electronic data message representing an accepted trade proposal for said at least one offer.

Abstract: An auction price-setting method to present an auction price-setting process and a fixed price process to provide a fixed price offer for an item and to publish the fixed price offer on a listing based on a criteria.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for building and serving dynamic product advertisements. A request is received for content including request data. Product data is accessed representing multiple product records, each associated with a different product. Multiple matching rules are applied to each of the product records in order to identify a subset of product records satisfying the matching rules. For each of the product records satisfying the matching rules, multiple scores are generated, each score representing the relevance of the product to the request based on the request data. The scores are aggregated. One or more of the product records are selected based at least on the aggregate scores. A dynamic product content item is served in response to the request featuring the products associated with the one or more selected product records.

Abstract: An electronic mail such as a remind mail is sent at a timing which encourages bidding on an auction to apply to purchase a product. An electronic mail sending device sends a first electronic mail which notifies a user of a terminal device of a first application deadline in a transaction for which the first application deadline to purchase a product is set, and which includes link information to a webpage which lists information about the product to be traded, decides whether or not the application information is received by the first application deadline, compares the access time to the webpage and the reference time, and when the access time comes later than the reference time, makes a relative send time of a second electronic mail to be sent next come earlier than a relative send time of the first electronic mail which has already been sent.