Patent ID: 7272579
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for an auction, comprising: receiving, through a network, a request for an item from a first machines; sending, through the network, the request for the item to a second machine; receiving, through the network, a first bid from a sender at the second machine, the first bid being based on the request for the item; sending, through the network, the request for the item to a third machine; receiving, through the network, a second bid from a sender at the third machine, the second bid being based on the request for the item; ranking the first bid and the second bid based on a comparison of each bid with the request for the item, the ranking including a first status indicator for the first bid and a second status indicator for the second bid, each of the first and second status indicators indicating one of a leading bid and a lagging bid; automatically initiating a re-bid for each lagging bid, the re-bid initiation including comparing each leading bid with a pre-set limit for the sender of the lagging bid; and determining a result of the auction based on the request for the item, the first bid and the second bid; wherein the result of the auction is based on a match between the request for the item and at least one of (i) the first bid and (ii) the second bid, the match including at least one of (i) an exact match between the request for the item and at least one of the first bid and the second bid and (ii) at least one of the first bid and the second bid satisfying the request for the item.