Patent ID: 8010415
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, at a computer of a remote bidder, a status message containing real time auction status information regarding a live auction conducted by a human auctioneer in the presence of on-site bidders, said real time auction status information specifying at least a current high bid amount and an asking price for an item being auctioned off by the auctioneer; extracting the high bid amount and the asking price from the status message via execution of a client program running on the computer of the remote bidder, said client program providing functionality for the remote bidder to monitor and participate in the live auction in real time from a location that is remote from a physical location of the live auction, said high bid amount and asking price being specific values that correspond to a current status of the live auction, said asking price exceeding the high bid amount, and being a value specified by a human proxy who attends the auction; updating an auction status screen displayed on the computer of the remote bidder to indicate at least the high bid amount and the asking price extracted from the status message, said auction status screen generated by the client program, and including a display element that is selectable by the remote bidder to submit a bid in the amount of said asking price extracted from the status message such that the remote bidder can participate in real time in the live auction; in response to selection of the display element by the remote bidder, automatically generating, by execution of said client program by the computer of the remote bidder, a bid message representing a bid in the amount of the asking price as extracted from the status message, and transmitting the bid message from the computer of the remote bidder to an auction system, whereby the remote bidder submits said bid without entering a bid amount; and repeating said steps of receiving a status message, extracting the high bid amount and asking price, and updating the auction status screen, as the live auction progresses such that the auction status screen reveals changes in the high bid amount and asking price over time.