Abstract:
An auction system and method is disclosed which displays a graphical representation of a buy bid and ask bid along a scale. A user may enter a new bid by moving the computer screen cursor to a position on the scale and initiating an entry command. The system then reconfigures the scale to reflect the newly entered bid.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    This application is based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/168,816 filed Dec. 3, 1999.  
         FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to virtual auctions, and more particularly to a virtual market place being accessible in real-time to many users through a computer network wherein the bids and selection of new bids are illustrated graphically.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Whether an auction is performed over the Internet or in a more traditional setting, they are historically one-dimensional in nature and scope. In other works, an auctioneer attempts to secure a series of progressively higher bids until a highest bid is secured and a sale made. At times a reverse auction is held, whereby the bidding process is done in reverse and eventually the lowest bidder makes the sale.  
           [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to add a new dimension to the auction process. In a true, free-flowing marketplace it is not uncommon for an individual or company to be a buyer at one price and a seller simultaneously at a slightly higher price. For example, an agricultural trading company might be a buyer of barge corn at New Orleans at $2.15 per bushel, and at the same time be a seller at $2.19 per bushel. However to date, all Internet auction and trading platforms have been one dimensional in nature. The bid/ask marketplace according to the present invention allows these 2-dimensional transactions to occur simultaneously.  
           [0005]    Further, current one-dimensional Internet trading platforms may be able to secure the highest price, or lowest price for a given product. However, from the time the highest price (or lowest price) is obtained until the time the buyer accepts or denies the high (or low) offer price can be several hours, or even days. It is an object of the present invention to seek out the best price and determine whether the buyer either accepts or denies the price within minutes of when the auction is closed. It is important to note that if a buyer or seller decides to utilize a proxy bid or offer (not present when the auction was held) they should automatically agree to the purchase or sale if their price is accepted.  
           [0006]    Another problem associated with auction sites has been the opportunity for error in entering a buy or ask bid. The bidder typically enters a new bid by manually typing a new bid monetary amount and submitting the new amount electronically to the auctioneer. However, because of the pace of some auctions bidders often hurriedly submit and enter their bids without carefully examining their submission. As such, bids are often entered in an incorrect amount which may result in the bidder buying or selling the item at an unwanted price. For example, a buyer may wish to enter a buy bid amount of $24.50 but instead accidently type in and enter a buy bid of $25.40, which could result in the acceptance of the erroneous buy bid in an amount higher than the desired buy bid.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a method of auctioning that reduces the opportunity for errors in entering the bid amount. It is the provision of such that the present invention is primarily directed.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a computer network utilized according to a preferred form of the invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates an auction application architecture according to a preferred form of the invention;  
         [0010]    FIGS.  3 - 12  are a series of illustrations showing the monitor screen of a workstation through the different steps of an auction. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    With reference next to the drawing, when the system according to the present invention is utilized, the trading platform identifies and keeps track of all participants registered for a given auction. In turn, the auction platform sends a message to each participant telling them whether they have the current bid or do not have the bid. Conventional bid/ask markets require that the user refresh their screen to get the latest bid. In contrast, the present invention preferably utilizes Java based bidding screens and automatically transmits bids to all participants as they occur in real-time.  
         [0012]    The bidding process in a real-time marketplace can be fast and furious. Bidding does not necessarily occur in even price increments as prices can jump several increments at a time. Conventional systems which have bidders type in bids manually can often cause errors (for example, it would be easy for a person to type in $20.5 instead of the desired $2.05). The graphical interface illustrated by a color bar indicating the current buy bid and current ask bid, also known as sell or offer bid, on a scale according to the present invention allows market participants (buyers or sellers) to change the bid amount graphically through the color bar to a desired bidding level, thereby eliminating any typing and associated errors. A numerical representation (i.e. $2.05) as well as the change in the color bar indicates further price changes. Numerical price changes and the price spread between bid and ask are displayed graphically. Audio feedback, i.e. a beep, when the bid changes, can also be incorporated according to a preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention.  
         [0013]    The look and feel of real-time bidding with graphical interface can take on various forms. Multiple lots, each with its own bidding graphic can be displayed on one screen. In the preferred embodiment, these graphics are displayed as a line graph; a bar chart; or any other suitable graphical interface.  
         [0014]    The present invention further incorporates instantaneous scale changes, as the bid/ask prices approach each other. In other words, the system according to the preferred embodiment preferably automatically rescales the graphics to dynamically calculate and represent the changing environment and hence bidding increments. For example, the following illustrates how this would occur:  
                                             TABLE 1                       Current Buy                   Bid   Current Sell Bid   Bid/Ask Spread   Bidding Increment                                $100.00   $150.00   $50.00   $5.00       $125.00   $135.00   $10.00   $1.00       $128.00   $130.00   $2.00   $0.25                  
 
         [0015]    Basically, the starting buy bid is $100.00 and the starting sell bid is $150.00, resulting in a bid/ask spread of $50.00. The system according to the present invention preferably is preprogrammed to use 10 bidding increments in this particular example resulting in an increment of $5.00 for each bid. After further bidding the spread, as indicated in the second entry in Table 1, the bid/ask spread is reduced to $10.00 resulting in a bidding increment of $1.00 being generated. Finally, the bid/ask spread has been reduced to $2.00, however in this particular example the system is provided with a minimum bid increment of $0.25 and hence that is generated and used for final bidding. A trade, and hence both the ask and bid being $129.25, being completed at $129.25 for example. It should be understood that the minimal bid increment is determined by the amount of spread between the buy bid and sell bid, but that it must also maintain standard pricing increments. Also, the minimal increment may be established by a seller or the auctioneer. A mathematical formula may be instituted to derive these minimal bid increments according to the spread.  
         [0016]    This distinct format allows for a quick and efficient trading platform, and at the same time achieves the best price. Again, it is important to note that the same graphic is scaled accordingly throughout the process, which allows for easy visualization, whether the price spread is $50.00 or $0.50. Alternatively, the scale can remain unchanged (see, FIGS.  4 A- 9 B, for example).  
         [0017]    Further, live markets require communications between traders and the market. The system according to the present invention has the ability to instantaneously send discrete messages to an individual participant or a global message to all (although a verbal transmission will be achievable when broadband technology becomes more widely adopted by our market participants). Participants likewise will be able to communicate back to the market in private. For example, a large 1,000,000-unit order, with 100,000-unit minimums is occurring across a platform according to the present invention. The winning bidder decides to take 400,000-units of the order, and now the remaining 600,000 units must offered. The market manager can send a discrete message to the winning bidder and in turn discover that their bid was only good for 400,000 units. The market manager can then tell participants that 600,000 units are still up for play, and continue the market. The present invention can support various auction types, including: Multi-lot Regular and Reverse Auctions; Single-lot Regular and Reverse Auctions; Multi-lot and Single-lot Bid/Ask Auctions; and Multi-lot Dutch Auctions (fully-automated).  
         [0018]    Referring now to the numerous figures, wherein like references identify like elements of the invention, FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a computer network  10  utilized according to a preferred form of the invention. The network  10  includes a primary web server  20 , a secondary web server  30  (which collectively form conventional Windows Load Balancing Services Cluster as is well known), a primary database server  40 , a development web server  50 , and a development database server  60  all connected through a router  70  to a computer network  80 . In the preferred form the computer network  80  takes the form of the Internet with a connection being made by a T1 line for example.  
         [0019]    Referring now also to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated an auction application architecture used according to a preferred form of the invention. The system according to the present invention includes a client or user interface  90 , routing software  100  preferably implemented on the web server  20  and auction controller software  110  preferably implemented on the database server  40 . It should be understood the interface  90  and routing software  100 , and the routing software  100  and auction controller  110  are communicable with one another. The web servers preferably used include dual Pentium III processors, are redundant and include Raid 5 drives which provide data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction, as is well known. Automatic database mirroring and daily tape backups are also preferably implemented.  
         [0020]    The Client  90  preferably runs as a Java applet in browser software locally at a user&#39;s site. There are preferably separate applets available for single (e.g., PVA) and multi-lot auctions and for auction management. The applets preferably connect directly to the Software Router  100  using TCP/IP sockets and a proprietary transfer protocol. The applets preferably continually listen for messages from the Software Router  100  and monitor connection viability. The applets are preferably compatible with industry standard browser software (i.e., Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator) and support dynamic HTML and client script for online auction lot listings and forms-based input (new listings). The applets are preferably implemented using “pure” Java 1.1 for bidder applications which results in Netscape 4.06 and IE 4.0 and greater browsers being supported.  
         [0021]    The software router  100  preferably maintains client socket connections and stores a list of IP addresses of all connected users. The software router  100  further preferably handles messaging to and from clients  90  and the auction controller  110 , however does not perform any of the business (auction) logic.  
         [0022]    The software router  100  runs as a custom Microsoft Windows NT service. Windows Load Balancing Services (“WLBS”) provides for redundancy and high-availability so client ( 90 ) connections are maintained even in the event of a back-end server (database server  110 ) disruption.  
         [0023]    The auction controller  110  preferably runs under Microsoft Transaction Server, handles client messages sent through the Router software  100 , returns all relevant auction information to clients  90  via the router software  100 , handles all database updates and notifies clients  90  of changes via the router software  100 , and checks and maintains database state. The database server  110  is preferably implemented using SQL Server 7.0. The auction controller  110  preferably runs under Microsoft Transaction Server for efficiency (connection pooling) and automatic transaction support.  
         [0024]    The system according to the preferred form of the present invention is readily scalable as it conforms to Microsoft Windows Distributed internet Applications Architecture (Windows DNA), the architecture permits multiple auctions to be run concurrently, all transmitted messages are very small (&lt;&lt;1K) which provides for very low bandwidth connections and thousands of simultaneous bidders, and Windows Load Balancing Services (WLBS) allows for multiple Web services and Software Router services to be run simultaneously.  
         [0025]    According to a preferred form of the invention, a client  90  can be initialized as follows. The user connects via a web browser after a login and password are validated and an auction is selected. A Java Bidder Applet (JBA)  90  loads from Web Server  20  and establishes a direct socket connection to the Software Router (SR)  100 . The JBA  90  sends a request to the SR  100  for auction info and supplies buyerid (buyer identification) and auctionid (auction identification) (i.e. data to identify th operator of JBA  90  and the auction the operator of JBA  90  wishes to join). The SR  100  retrieves auction and active lot information from Auction Controller (AC)  110  and sends it back to JBA  90 .  
         [0026]    Once initiated, bids can be placed in accordance with the following preferred method. The JBA  90  sends a message to the SR  100  to place a bid and supplies auctionid, lot number, bid amount, and buyerid (same information as before plus the amount and price). The SR  100  sends the bid request to the AC  100  which checks to see if the bid is acceptable. If so, the AC  110  posts the new bid in the database and sends a message back to SR  100 . The SR  100  in turn sends the message back to bidder JBA  90  indicating the bid was accepted and broadcasts the new bid amount to all connected JBA clients  90 . If not, the AC  110  sends an error message back to SR  100 , which routes an error message back to bidder JBA  90 .  
         [0027]    Preferably, there is a corresponding JAVA Auction Applet (“JAA”) which enables authorized users to manage auction for example by: starting or stopping an auction; sending personalized or global messages to bidders; editing lot information including: lot status, asking bid, etc.; and disabling bidders. A JAA preferably communicates through the software router  100  with the AC  110  in the same manner as a JBA. Preferably, all actions performed through a JAA and impact an auction causes the SR  100  to send updated auction data to all bidders (JBA&#39;s).  
         [0028]    Both auction management (JAA) and bidding (JBA) use the same messaging protocol, although many more messages are available to the auction management applications. The protocol utilized preferably is designed to minimize an amount of information transmitted across the Internet, so that many simultaneous users can participate in auctions without saturating the connection to the SR  100 . Moreover, the messaging protocol is preferably extensible so that new functions can be made available to bidders and auction managers as the need arises.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 3, therein is illustrated a user interface  300  according to a preferred form of the present invention. The interface  300  includes a sell bid selector (graphical scale element)  310 , sell current offer amount window  320 , a current seller identifier window  330 , a new sell offer amount identifier window  340 , and a new offer bid submit button  350 . Similarly, the interface  300  further includes a buy bid selector (graphical scale element)  360 , buy current bid amount window  370 , a current buyer identifier window  380 , new buy bid amount identifier window  390 , and a new buy bid submit button  400 . The interface  300  further includes a lot status indicator window  410 , a chat window  420  and a chat history window  430 . The computer monitor also displays a conventional, movable screen cursor  435  the position of which is manually controlled by the user through movement of the computer mouse, entry by key pad or other similar device, and the operation of which is controlled by the computer operating system.  
         [0030]    With continued reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an example of an automatic auction wherein the starting sell offer (bid) is $50.00 as shown in current offer amount window  320 , and the starting buy bid is $40.00 as shown in the buy current bid amount window  370 . The system automatically set the new sell offer amount identifier window  340  at the next decreasing incremental level of $49.00 and the new buy bid identifier window  390  at the next increasing incremental level of $41.00. Graphically, the sell bid selector  310  also incrementally illustrates the prospective new sell offer amount of $ 49 . 00 . It should be noted that the difference between the current offer of $50.00 and the new sell offer amount of $49.00 is colored or shaded, herein cross-hatched, differently from that of the current bid so that users can readily identify the difference. Similarly, the difference between the current bid amount of $40.00 and the new buy bid amount of $41.00 is graphically indicated by difference in color, shading or as herein cross-hatching.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIG. 4, a user, in this example a buyer, may disregard the automatic incremental increase in the next sell offer or buy bid shown by the cross hatched section in order to increase the user&#39;s bid in an amount greater than the one incremental level. To do so, the user moves the screen cursor  435  to the incremental level upon the buy bid selector  360  which represents the user&#39;s desired buy bid. Herein, the buyer has bypassed the automatic buy bid of $41.00 and has instead moved the cursor to the $44.00 increment level upon the buy bid selector  360 . The user then initiates an entry signal by conventionally clicking upon the computer mouse left click key. Entry results monetary values in the graphical incremental level are shown in the new buy bid amount identifier window  390 . Thus, the user is able to confirm the desired entry both graphically upon the buy bid selector  360  and numerically within the new bid amount identifier window  390 . It should be noted that this is accomplished through conventional positioning recognition software by recording the relative x-y position of each element of the bid selector  310  or  360  and correlating it to the relative x-y position of the cursor  435 . For example, a cursor position of  450 / 250  is correlated to the underlying scale wherein an x-y position of  450 / 250  indicates a bid amount of $44.00. The user then finalizes entry of the bid amount by moving the cursor  435  to and clicking upon the new buy bid submit button  400 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 5, once the buy bid is accepted by the auctioneer the buy bid selector  360  and buy current bid amount window  370  are reconfigured to indicate the new buy bid amount of $ 44 . 00 . The current buyer identifier window  380  is also updated to indicate that the user&#39;s bid has been accepted and therefore that user is the current buyer with the indication of the current buyer being “YOU”. The buy bid selector  360  and new buy bid amount identifier  390  are updated to indicate a new automatic incremental increase of one incremental level, i.e. the new buy bid level is increased to $45.00.  
         [0033]    With reference next to FIG. 6, should the seller user decrease the current sell bid amount from $50.00 to $47.00, either through a series of automatic transactions or by manually increasing the sell bid by more that one incremental level as previously describe through the use of the cursor  435 , the spread between the sell current offer amount of $47.00 and the buy current bid amount of $44.00 is less that the preferred ten incremental levels. As such, the sell bid selector  310  and the buy bid selector  360  are graphically reconfigured so that the monetary amount of each incremental level is reduced, as previously discussed the incremental levels may be determined by simply mathematical formulas. Here, the incremental level is reduced from $1.00 to 50 cents. It should be noted that the incremental level must be equal to or greater than a minimum value set by either market parameters or the seller of the goods. The system automatically changes the incremental level so that bidders can refine their bids as the spread decreases. This automatic reconfiguration of the graphics allows users to immediately recognize the narrowing of the spread and to recognize that the bid increments need not be as large. This aids in preventing bidders from unknowingly increasing the next bid beyond a recognized minimal increase.  
         [0034]    With reference next to FIG. 7, there is shown the entry of another buyer who has increased the buy bid from $44.00 to $ 45 . 00 . This results in a change in the buy current bid amount window  370  to $45.00, a change in the current buyer identifier  380  to “INTERNET BUYER”, a change in the new buy bid amount identifier  390  to $44.25, and a graphical reconfiguration of the buy bid selector  360  to reflect both the new current bid amount and the new incrementally increased next bid amount of $45.25.  
         [0035]    With reference next to FIG. 8, there is shown a buyer moving the cursor  435  to an incremental bid level of $45.75. The entry and acceptance of this bid resulting in the that illustrated in FIG. 9. Now, the current bid amount is $45.75 and the new incrementally increased next bid amount is automatically set at the next incremental increase level of $46.00.  
         [0036]    With reference next to FIG. 10, the seller has decreased the sell current offer from $47.00 to $46.25. Again, the seller may accomplish such a change through either the automatic incremental increases or through the manual method utilizing the cursor to enter the desire incremental level. The sell current offer amount window  320 , new sell offer amount identifier window  340 , and graphically the sell bid selector  310  are all reconfigured to update the change in the current offer amount.  
         [0037]    With reference next to FIG. 11, there is shown a buyer moving the cursor  435  to an incremental bid level of $46.25. The entry and acceptance of this bid results in the buy current bid amount of $46.25 equalling the sell current offer amount of $46.25, as shown in FIG. 12. This equalling of the buy and sell bids results in the purchase of the good being auctioned. It should be understood that messages could have been sent between the first and second users or between users and the auctioneer using the chat window  420 , with all past messages being displayed in the chat history  430 .  
         [0038]    It should be understood that the present invention may include a graphic display having only one selector (graphical element) wherein the sell bid may be shown on the one portion of the selector and the buy bid shown on another portion of the selector with the bid incremental levels shown therebetween. The user may then graphically change the bid amount by conventionally clicking and dragging the graphic image with the use of the cursor  435 .  
         [0039]    It should be understood that the present invention may be used in connection with a global computer network system interconnecting multiple remote users each having a computer or workstation or with a central computer system having multiple video workstation monitors.  
         [0040]    It thus is seen that a new method of auctioning and system for conducting auctions is now provided that has distinct advantages over the prior art. While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.