Abstract:
Methods are provided for a dual purchase process. The method includes enabling, via a first computer system, both an auction purchase process and a fixed-price purchase process for purchase of an item. In addition, responsive to receipt of a bid for the item, the method includes disabling the fixed-price purchase process.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/820,574 filed Mar. 28, 2001, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/242,729 filed Oct. 23, 2000, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The present application relates generally to the field of e-commerce and, more specifically, to a pre-auction seller determined price for an Internet-based auction facility.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Many Internet-based auction facilities have developed in the past several years. Through Internet-based auction facilities, potential sellers can enter information about their product or service for potential buyers to bid on. The information submitted by potential sellers is then organized and stored by the Internet-based auction facility. Potential buyers can search through the organized seller information to find products or services they wish to bid on.  
         [0004]     Once a buyer locates an item to bid on, the buyer can compete with other buyers for the item by submitting bids during a specified auction time period. At the end of the specified auction time period, the highest bid buyer is notified and the transaction between the seller and the highest bid buyer is facilitated.  
         [0005]     While the current Internet-based auction facility works well for some items, there are several disadvantages. For example, many items in an Internet-based auction facility have at most one bid during the specified auction time. An interested buyer must sometimes wait days for an auction to end even though his bid is the only bid received. Also, there are many potential buyers who don&#39;t like auction formats.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The methods and machine readable medium is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-based transaction facility in the form of an Internet-based auction facility;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database for the transaction facility;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of receiving offering information from a seller including whether to offer the item at a pre-auction seller determined price;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of generating a buyer preferred index page using category preferences or search criteria;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are flow charts illustrating an exemplary method of displaying user interfaces for and conducting an auction facility with an auction purchase process and optionally a fixed-price purchase process;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary seller interface to receive information on seller&#39;s offerings;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary buyer interface to facilitate a buyer in locating items to purchase or bid on;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary item list generated in response to buyer&#39;s category selection or search criteria provided in the user interface of  FIG. 7 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary buyer interface used to receive buyer information including an indication to use the fixed-price purchase process or the auction purchase process.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     Methods and machine readable mediums for providing an option to sell and buy at a pre-auction seller determined price in an Internet-based auction facility are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. Nevertheless, it will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the claimed methods and machine readable mediums may be practiced without these specific details.  
       Terminology  
       [0017]     For the purposes of the present specification, the term “transaction” shall be taken to include any communications between two or more entities and shall be construed to include, but not be limited to, commercial transactions including sale and purchase transactions, auctions and the like.  
       Transaction Facility  
       [0018]     An embodiment of an electronic transaction facility is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-based transaction facility in the form of an Internet-based auction facility  10 . While an exemplary embodiment is described within the context of an auction facility, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the methods and machine readable mediums described herein may find application in many different types of computer-based, and network-based, commerce facilities. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that auction facilities of other architectures may be utilized. The instructions stored in the auction facility (which can be executed by a processor) can be stored on a machine-readable medium including, but not limited to read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, or electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals.  
         [0020]     The auction facility  10  includes one or more of a number of types of front-end servers, namely page servers  12  that deliver web pages (e.g., markup language documents), picture servers  14  that dynamically deliver images to be displayed within Web pages, listing servers  16 , CGI servers  18  that provide an intelligent interface to the back-end of auction facility  10 , and search servers  20  that handle search requests to the auction facility  10 . E-mail servers  21  provide, inter alia, automated e-mail communications to users of the auction facility  10 .  
         [0021]     The back-end servers include a database engine server  22 , a search index server  24  and a credit card database server  26 , each of which maintains and facilitates access to a respective database.  
         [0022]     The Internet-based auction facility  10  may be accessed by a client program  30 , such as a browser (e.g., the Internet Explorer distributed by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond Wash.) that executes on a client machine  32  and accesses the auction facility  10  via a network such as, for example, the Internet  34 . Other examples of networks that a client may utilize to access the auction facility  10  include a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network (e.g. a cellular network), or the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) (or PSTN) network.  
       Database Structure  
       [0023]      FIG. 2  is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database  23 , maintained by and accessed via the database engine server  22 , which at least partially implements and supports the auction facility  10 . The database  23  may, in one embodiment, be implemented as a relational database, and includes a number of tables having entries, or records, that are linked by indices and keys. In an alternative embodiment, the database  23  may be implemented as a collection of blocks in an block-oriented database. While  FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of a database, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the methods and machine readable mediums described herein may be used with other database structures.  
         [0024]     Central to the database  23  is a user table  40 , which contains a record for each user of the auction facility  10 . A user may operate as a seller, buyer, or both, within auction facility  10 . The database  23  also includes item tables  42  that may be linked to the user table  40 . Specifically, the item tables  42  include a seller items table  44  and a buyer items table  46 . A user record in the user table  40  may be linked to multiple items that are being, or have been auctioned via the auction facility  10 . A link indicates whether the user is a seller or a buyer with respect to items for which records exist within the items tables  42 . While offerings by the seller are referred to as “items” in the specification, “items” includes any product or service offered by the seller. The database  23  also includes a note table  48  populated with note records that may be linked to one or more item records within the item tables  42  and/or to one or more user records within the user table  40 . Each note record within the note table  48  may include, inter alia, a comment, description, history or other information pertaining to an item being auctioned via the auction facility  10  or to a user of the auction facility  10 .  
         [0025]     A number of other tables are also shown to be linked to the user table  40 , namely a user past aliases table  50 , a feedback table  52 , a bids table  54 , an accounts table  56 , and an account balances table  58 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart for an exemplary embodiment of a method to acquire offering information from a seller. The seller issues a listing request (block  100 ) to the auction facility  10 , and the auction facility generates instructions (block  110 ) offering the seller the option to sell his item using an auction purchase process option and/or a fixed-price purchase process option. After the instructions have been transmitted (block  120 ), and a page server  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) displays the instructions, the seller decides whether to offer a buyer the chance to buy the offering at a pre-auction seller determined price in a fixed-price purchase process. The seller transmits a purchase process indicator by either an affirmative (block  140 ) or a negative (block  150 ). The server can receive and store in note table  48  of database  23  ( FIG. 2 ) this information for later use (block  160 ). The seller also transmits other offering information, such as a description, picture, reserve price, and contact information to be collected and stored in note table  48  of database  23  (see  FIG. 2 ) (block  160 ). Optionally, if the seller sends a pre-auction seller determined price that is less than the reserve price he or she sends, the seller can be notified of an error.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a flow chart showing one embodiment of a buyer&#39;s interaction with the Internet-based auction facility. The buyer locates the site by inputting the auction facility identifier (block  600 ) into the client program  30  running on client machine  32  (see  FIG. 2 ) which transmits the auction facility identifier (block  610 ) through the Internet  34  (See  FIG. 1 ). The Internet-based auction facility receives the transmission and (block  620 ) a listing server  16  (see  FIG. 1 ) generates a broad list of available categories of items stored in items table  42  (see  FIG. 2 ) for the buyer to select from. The auction facility  10  (block  630 ) transmits the category list and transmits an interface, which can be presented by a page server  12  (see  FIG. 1 ), to allow the buyer to enter search criteria which may be independent of the category list. The buyer selects a category preference from the category list or generates a search criteria (block  640 ). The buyer then transmits (block  650 ) the category preference or search criteria, again, through the Internet  34  (see  FIG. 1 ). Upon receipt of the category preference or search criteria, the auction facility uses a search server  20  (see  FIG. 1 ) to generate an item index page of relevant offerings including visual indicators displayed in respect to items in which the seller is allowing a buyer to buy the item at a pre-auction seller determined price (block  660 ). The item index page is transmitted to the buyer (block  680 ). After receiving the item index page (block  670 ), the buyer generates a request for an item to purchase or bid on. Picture servers  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) can also be used to show the buyer pictures (if available) of the item. The buyer&#39;s request is then transmitted (block  200 ).  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a flow chart illustrating how the client interfaces with the auction facility, located on a first computer system, when a pre-auction seller determined price is an alternative option to bidding. After the facility receives the buyer&#39;s request (block  200 ), decision block  210  decides if there is still time remaining in the item&#39;s auction (item requested by the buyer). If a predetermine period of time has passed, the buyer will not be allowed to place a bid or buy at the pre-auction seller determined price. Instead the auction will end and the highest bidder (if there is one) will be determined (block  380 ). If there is time remaining, then the determination is made in decision block  220  whether a prior bid has been received. If a prior bid has been received, then the pre-auction seller determined price is no longer available to the buyer and the buyer&#39;s only option is to bid. If no prior bid has been received, and the item has a pre-auction seller determined price available, a first user interface will be created (block  230 ). The auction facility  10  will make the typical auction purchase process available through the user interface (block  240 ) and will make the fixed price purchase process available to the client (block  250 ). The pre-auction seller determined price is retrieved for the user interface (block  260 ). The first user interface is converted into a markup language document suitable for viewing by the buyer (block  270 ). The generated markup language document is then transmitted for viewing by the buyer on a second computer system using page servers  12  on the first computer system (block  280 ) (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0029]     If, at decision block  220 , it is determined that an initial bid value has been received, a second user interface will be generated (block  390 ). The typical auction purchase process is then made available through the user interface (block  400 ). The second user interface is converted into a markup language document suitable for viewing by the buyer (block  270 ). The generated markup language document is then transmitted to the buyer (block  280 ).  
         [0030]     After the markup language document has been transmitted to the buyer, a determination is made at decision block  420 , based on the transmitted markup language document whether the fixed price purchase process is available to the buyer. If the fixed price purchase process is available to the buyer, the buyer then makes a determination at decision block  290  whether to buy the item at the pre-auction seller determined price or whether to bid on the item. If the buyer chooses to purchase the item using the fixed price purchase process, his indication to buy at the pre-auction seller determined price is transmitted to the auction facility.  
         [0031]     If the fixed price purchase process is not available to the buyer (as determined in decision block  420 ) or fixed price purchase process is available, but the buyer chooses not to use the fixed price purchase process, the buyer generates a bid (block  310 ). The bid is then transmitted to the auction facility (block  320 ).  
         [0032]     Upon receiving a transmission from the buyer, a determination is made at decision block  330  whether the buyer has chosen the fixed price purchase process. If the buyer has chosen the fixed price purchase process, the auction is stopped (block  340 ) and a transaction is initiated between the buyer and the seller (block  410 ). Optionally, the auction facility can check the buyer&#39;s credit before stopping the auction.  
         [0033]     If the buyer has not opted to use the fixed price purchase process, as determined by the auction facility at decision block  330  (either because it wasn&#39;t available or he or she preferred to place a bid instead), the bid is received (block  350 ). Optionally, if the bid is greater than the pre-auction seller determined price (and the fixed price purchase process is still available), the auction facility may invite the buyer to use the fixed price purchase process. Upon receipt of the bid, the fixed price purchase process option is removed (block  360 ) and a determination is made at decision block  370  to see if there is any time remaining in the auction. If there is time remaining in the auction, bids can be received and processed in the above manner until there is no more time remaining in the auction. However, if there is no more time remaining in the auction, the highest valid bid is determined from the received bids (block  380 ), and a transaction is initiated between the highest bidder and the seller (block  410 ).  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  provides an exemplary embodiment of the user interface  500  created at block  110  in  FIG. 3  to relay offering options to the seller and collect information on the seller&#39;s item. The user interface  500  includes a description ( 513 ) that describes an exemplary “Buy It Now” feature that provides the seller the option to allow a buyer to buy the item at a pre-auction seller determined price  514 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  provides an exemplary embodiment of the category list  517  and search criteria request generated by object  620  in  FIG. 4 . A buyer can generate search criteria (block  640 ) by typing the search criteria (block  516 ).  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  provides an exemplary embodiment of the item index page generated at block  660  in  FIG. 4 . A possible placement of the fixed-price purchase process availability icon  518  is shown next to the item. Also displayed in the embodiment of the item index page is a list of prices  514  which could either be the current bid or the pre-auction seller determined price if available.  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows an exemplary embodiment of the markup language document generated at block  270  in  FIG. 5A . Regular auction panel  503  is generated (blocks  240  and  400 ). Fixed price purchase process panel  504  is generated (block  250 ) in  FIG. 5A . The buyer can submit a bid  520  or, depending on the availability of the fixed price purchase process, can start the fixed price purchase process in panel  504 .  
         [0038]     Thus methods and machine readable mediums have been described. Although the methods and machine readable mediums have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the methods and machine readable mediums. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.