Reverse auction system, method and computer program product

A reverse auction system, method and computer program product are provided. A tender is received from a buyer over a network. Such tender includes information relating to a desired good or service. A plurality of suppliers is identified based on the information, and the tender is anonymously forwarded to the identified suppliers over the network. In use, a plurality of bids is received in response to the tender from a plurality of the suppliers over the network, and such bids are consolidated. Further, the consolidated bids are forwarded to the buyer over the network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to network-based auctioning, and more particularly to reverse auctioning systems.

BACKGROUND

The rise of networked computing environments such as the Internet is rapidly changing the way that modern businesses market and sell their goods and/or services to buyers. Conventional business transactions, as practiced in the nonelectronic, non-networked world, may be imitated and in some instances improved by utilizing these cutting edge technologies. Because the Internet is global in scope, and further because electronic information is easier and less expensive to store, transmit and analyze than paper-based information, the Internet provides a unique opportunity for buyers and suppliers (e.g. sellers, etc.) to reach each other using novel approaches.

One such approach that has gained popularity in recent years is the electronic auction. Auctions over electronic networks have the potential to address large numbers of buyers by posting auction items (descriptions of goods and/or services) traditionally available only to those in the vicinity of the auction or to those who actively seek out the auction in some other manner. By vastly increasing the number of potential buyers with little or no marginal increase in the costs of administering the auction, a supplier increases both the chances that a sale will be made as well as the likelihood that favorable sales terms will be realized.

In a similar manner, reverse auctions work to maximize a buyer's returns. In a reverse auction, buyers post the names and/or descriptions of products or services that they wish to purchase from one of a select group of suppliers. The suppliers bid against each other, using successively lower bids, in order to gain the opportunity to provide the buyer with the product or service. In the reverse auction system, the supplier with the lowest bid after a certain portion of time traditionally wins the right to supply the buyer with the product or service for that price. Reverse auctions allow buyers to obtain excellent prices on goods and services while minimizing the amount of comparison shopping necessary to obtain such prices. Reverse auctions may also benefit suppliers in that they can acquire information about the pricing, terms and/or other conditions utilized by their competitors.

By connecting buyers and suppliers directly with each other, the Internet is eliminating the “middleman” that is present in normal businesses, thereby working to maximize returns for both buyers and suppliers. However, there is still much work to be done to optimize the reverse auction experience.

SUMMARY

A reverse auction system, method and computer program product are provided. A tender is received from a buyer over a network. Such tender includes information relating to a desired good or service. A plurality of suppliers is identified based on the information, and the tender is anonymously forwarded to the identified suppliers over the network. In use, a plurality of bids is received in response to the tender from a plurality of the suppliers over the network, and such bids are consolidated. Further, the consolidated bids are forwarded to the buyer over the network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a network architecture100, in accordance with one embodiment. As shown, a network102is provided. In the context of the present network architecture100, the network102may take any form including, but not limited to a telecommunications network, a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, etc. While only one network is shown, it should be understood that two or more similar or different networks102may be provided.

Coupled to the network102is a plurality of devices. For example, a server device104and an end user computer106may be coupled to the network102for communication purposes. Such end user computer106may include a desktop computer, lap-top computer, and/or any other type of logic. Still yet, various other devices may be coupled to the network102including a personal digital assistant (PDA) device108, a mobile phone device110, etc.

It should be noted that any of the foregoing devices in the present network architecture100, as well as any other unillustrated hardware and/or software, may be equipped with reverse auctioning capabilities. More exemplary information regarding such architecture and associated functionality will be set forth hereinafter in greater detail.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary computer system200, in accordance with one embodiment. As an option, the computer system200may be implemented in the context of any of the devices of the network architecture100ofFIG. 1. Of course, the computer system200may be implemented in any desired environment.

As shown, a computer system200is provided including at least one central processor201which is connected to a communication bus202. The computer system200also includes main memory204[e.g. random access memory (RAM), etc.]. The computer system200also includes a graphics processor206and a display208, i.e. a computer monitor.

The computer system200may also include a secondary storage210. The secondary storage210includes, for example, a hard disk drive and/or a removable storage drive, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit in a well known manner.

Computer programs, or computer control logic algorithms, may be stored in the main memory204and/or the secondary storage210. Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system200to perform various functions. The memory204, storage210and/or any other storage are possible examples of computer-readable media.

FIG. 3shows a method300for reverse bidding in e-commerce transactions, in accordance with one embodiment. As an option, the present method300may be implemented in the context of the architecture and environment ofFIGS. 1and/or2. Of course, however, the method300may be implemented in any desired environment.

As shown in operation302, a tender from a buyer including information relating to a desired good or service is received over a network. The network may include the Internet, and/or any other network (e.g. see, for example, the network102ofFIG. 1, etc.) capable of receiving the tender from the buyer. Further, the tender may be received by e-mail, by receiving input via a website, and/or by any other manner capable of receiving the tender from the buyer utilizing any desired network.

In the context of the present description, the term tender may refer to any offer to provide something of value (e.g. money, services, etc.) in exchange for the good or service. Still yet, the information may include a price, a description of the desired good or service, a category of the desired good or service, a desired location of the supplier, a location of the buyer, a desired date of receipt of the good or service by the buyer, a deadline for bid submissions by prospective suppliers, a deadline to request additional information (for reasons that will soon become apparent), etc. For that matter, the information may include any information that relates to the desired good or service (which is further deemed to include the desired transaction associated with obtaining such good or service).

A plurality of suppliers is then identified based on the information of operation302, as illustrated in operation304. The plurality of suppliers may include any suppliers capable of or potentially being capable of supplying the desired good or service. For example, the suppliers may be identified according to a category of the good or service. Thus, for instance, if a buyer desires to purchase a toy, suppliers of toys may be identified. Additionally, the plurality of suppliers may be filtered according to the information. Just by way of example, only suppliers within a city specified in the tender by the buyer may be identified. For that matter, in the context of the present description, the suppliers may be identified in any way that utilizes, at least in part, the aforementioned information from operation302.

The tender of operation302is then anonymously forwarded to the identified suppliers of operation304over the network, as shown in operation306. The tender may be anonymously forwarded by e-mail (e.g. utilizing a third-party domain name, etc.), by delivering via a website, and/or by any other manner capable of forwarding the tender to the identified suppliers utilizing any desired network. Thus, the tender may be submitted to suppliers while also maintaining the anonymity and therefore the privacy of the buyer.

Strictly as an option, a request for additional information from at least one of the suppliers may then be received over the network, as shown in operation308. Again, the request may be made in any form, such as by e-mail, by receiving input via a website, and/or by any other manner capable of receiving the request from the at least one supplier utilizing any desired network.

The request may be a specific request from a particular supplier, or may be an automatically generated request from a supplier. For example, the supplier may be capable of automatically sending a request for particular additional information in response to tenders. Still yet, an automated feature may be provided that reviews the information received with the tender, and then requests any additional information that is required to ensure that the supplier always receives a minimal set of information.

If multiple suppliers request additional information, the requests may optionally be collected and consolidated. Of course, such requests may be consolidated in any way, such as, for example, listing all requests in a single document or web page. The request may include anything, such as a request for a deadline for bid submissions, a request for a deadline of receipt of the good or service by the buyer, a request for a deadline for sending additional requests to the buyer, etc. Again, the additional information may include any information that relates to the desired good or service (which is further deemed to include the desired transaction associated with obtaining such good or service).

The request for additional information is then forwarded to the buyer over the network, as in operation310. Yet again, the request may be forwarded by e-mail, by delivery via a website, and/or by any other manner capable of forwarding the request to the buyer utilizing any desired network.

If multiple suppliers make requests in operation308, the requests may be forwarded to the buyer in a consolidated format, thus allowing the buyer to only respond to one set of requests (and possibly reduce and/or eliminate the need to respond to more than one redundant request). However, in other embodiments, each request for additional information by a supplier may be forwarded separately to the buyer such that the buyer is required to respond separately to each request.

Next, in operation312, a response to the request for additional information is received from the buyer over the network, and is then forwarded to the at least one supplier, as shown in operation314. Again, such response may be received and forwarded via any of the modes discussed hereinabove. The response may include any information desired to be communicated by the buyer to the supplier(s), in response to the request(s).

A plurality of bids may then be received in response to the tender from a plurality of the suppliers over the network, as illustrated in operation316. The bids may involve any data capable of allowing a buyer to select at least one bid including, but not limited to a price for the good or service, a time the good or service may be made available to the buyer, a description of the good or service, etc.

The plurality of bids may also be consolidated as shown in operation318. Such consolidation may include creating a summary list of all of the bids. The consolidated bids may also include unedited bids, so that the buyer receives all relevant data received from the suppliers. Furthermore, such summary list may associate each bid with a supplier and any other data given by the supplier in association with the bid. Of course, such summary list may also be formatted in any desired manner, such as by price in descending order, etc.

The consolidated bids are then forwarded to the buyer over the network, as shown in operation320. Specifically, the consolidated bids of operation318may be forwarded to the buyer in the form of the list. In this way, the buyer is able to view all of the bids collectively. The buyer may then contact at least one supplier with respect to a listed bid, and may choose a supplier to provide the desired good or service.

In one embodiment, the buyer may contact any desired supplier directly without an intermediary. In other contemplated embodiments, the buyer may select the bid associated with the chosen supplier, such that the selection is capable of being received and forwarded, in a manner similar to the communications set forth hereinabove. Of course, it should be noted that the buyer may decide not to contact any of the suppliers. Therefore, an efficient and anonymous service is provided to a buyer for receiving offers from suppliers in association with a tender made by the buyer.

As an option, a bill may be sent to at least one of the suppliers. For example, the bill may be based on a registration by a supplier for receiving tenders from buyers (such that only registered, paying suppliers receive bids), a number of tenders received by the supplier, a number of bids submitted by a supplier, a number of winning bids, and/or any other criteria associated with use of the present system. To this end, a business model may be provided in association with such a system.

In one embodiment, the various operations302-320may be carried out by one or more service providers separate from the buyer and suppliers. More illustrative information will now be set forth regarding various optional architectures and features with which the foregoing method300may or may not be implemented by such a service provider. It should be strongly noted that the following information is set forth for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting in any manner. Any of the following features may be optionally incorporated with or without the exclusion of other features described.

FIG. 4shows a method400for reverse bidding in e-commerce transactions, in accordance with another embodiment. As an option, the present method400may be implemented in the context of the architecture and environment ofFIGS. 1-3(including the definitions provided in the description ofFIG. 3). Of course, however, the method400may be implemented in any desired environment.

As shown, a buyer402submits a tender to a service provider404, as shown in operation410. The service provider may optionally be separate from the buyer402and advertising suppliers406. Furthermore, the service provider404may operate a server device (e.g. see, for example, the server device104ofFIG. 1, etc.) that is coupled between client devices (e.g. see, for example, the devices106,108, and110ofFIG. 1, etc.) that are operated by the buyer402and the advertising suppliers406. The tender may be made in any form and may be associated with any good or service.

The tender is then anonymously e-mailed to at least one advertising supplier406, as in operation412. The advertising supplier406may be associated with the desired good or service in such a way that the number of advertising suppliers406receiving the e-mail that would not be able to supply the good or service are limited.

A request for information is sent from the advertising supplier406to the service provider404, as illustrated in operation414. If a plurality of requests for information is sent from a plurality of advertising suppliers406in operation414, the requests are consolidated, as shown in operation415. The consolidated requests are then forwarded to the buyer402, as shown in operation416. The buyer402may then respond to the requests for information which is sent to the service provider404, as in operation418. The response may subsequently be forwarded to all advertising suppliers406that received the tender, only those that bid, or only those that sent the original request (see operation420).

Each advertising supplier406that received the tender in operation412may then submit a bid to the service provider404for providing the good or service associated with the buyer's402tender, as shown in operation422. If a plurality of bids is submitted to the service provider404in operation422, the bids may be consolidated into a bid list, as in operation424. The bid list may then be e-mailed to the buyer402(see operation426), and the buyer402may utilize the bid list for looking-up any number of businesses associated with the bids of advertising suppliers406, as illustrated in operation428. Additionally, the buyer402may be allowed to research the advertising suppliers406.

The buyer402may then optionally contact any such business directly for purchasing the good or service, as in operation430. As shown, a bill may also be sent from the service provider404to at least one of the advertising suppliers406(see operation432). In this way, a buyer402may be provided with a way of submitting a tender for a good or service and receiving any number of bids from prospective suppliers406in an optionally anonymous and efficient manner.