Patent Publication Number: US-7711608-B2

Title: Auction system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an auction system. In particular, the present invention relates to an auction system in which a recording medium is attached to each auction item and auction participants can bid in an auction using mobile data devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Auctions in which an auction clerk allows a plurality of auction participants to submit a bid price for an auction item and sells the item to the highest bidder are popular. Furthermore, internet auctions have been developed in which an auction participant browses or searches for an auction item over the Internet. If the auction participant finds the desired item, the auction participant can place a bid on the item by setting a bid price and carrying out a predetermined operation. 
     A variety of technologies that increase the productivity of an auction have been proposed. 
     For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-122629 describes a winning bid information storage system in which information about an auction item can be stored in a database immediately after an auction participant has won the auction item so as to increase the operating efficiency of the auction. 
     In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-228231 describes technology in which an auction participant can place bids on a plurality of auction items and, when the winner of a bid on one item is determined, the auction participant can set appropriate bid prices for the other auction items without the need for monitoring the bid status of the plurality of auction items. 
     However, in known internet auction systems, auction participants cannot view actual auction items, but can only view images of the auction items. Thus, some auction participants are reluctant to buy the auction items. Additionally, the above-described winning bid information storage system does not describe technology for executing an auction while managing intermediate steps of the bid (i.e., the bidding status), although information about a successful bid item of an auction can be immediately stored in a database. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an auction system using an IC tag for allowing auction participants to directly view an auction item and execute the auction only with participation of the auction members without spending unnecessary time and effort. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, an auction system for determining a bid price for an auction item includes a recording medium for storing item information about the auction item, the recording medium being attached to the auction item, and a data device including readout means for reading out the item information and bidding means for inputting a bid price of the auction item. In this auction system, an auction participant can receive information about auction items and place a bid on the item using the data device. Since an information management server manages item information about the auction items, the auction system can execute the auction only with participation of the auction members without spending unnecessary time and effort. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, an auction system for determining a bid price for an auction item includes a recording medium for storing item information about the auction item, the recording medium being attached to the auction item, a mobile data device including readout means for reading out the item information and bidding means for inputting a bid price of the auction item, and an information management apparatus including storing means and winner determining means. The storing means stores the current highest bid price sent from the mobile data device, information for identifying a bidder who placed the highest bid price, information for identifying the auction item having the highest bid price, and information about a condition for closing the auction on the auction item. The winner determining means determines a winning bidder for the auction item on the basis of the highest bid price when the condition for closing the auction on the auction item is satisfied. In this auction system, an auction participant can receive information about auction items and place a bid on the item using the mobile data device. Since an information management server manages item information about the auction items, the auction system can execute the auction only with participation of the auction members without spending unnecessary time and effort. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an auction system for determining a bid price for an auction item includes a recording medium for storing item information about the auction item, the recording medium being attached to the auction item, a mobile data device including first readout means for reading out the item information and writing means for writing a bid price of the auction item to the recording medium, and an information management apparatus including second readout means, storing means, and winner determining means. The second readout means reads out the item information. The storing means stores the current highest bid price read out by the second readout means, information for identifying a bidder who placed the highest bid price, and information for identifying an auction item having the highest bid price. The winner determining means determines a winning bidder for the auction item on the basis of the highest bid price when an ending time of the auction on the auction item has been reached. In this auction system, an auction participant can read information about the auction item from the recording medium and write new item information to the recording medium using the mobile data device. Since an information management server manages item information about the auction items, the auction system can execute the auction only with participation of the auction members without spending unnecessary time and effort. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an auction system for determining a bid price for an auction item includes a recording medium for storing item information about the auction item, the recording medium being attached to the auction item, a mobile data device including readout means for reading out the item information and bidding means for inputting a bid price of the auction item, and an information management apparatus connected to the mobile data device via a network and including storing means and winner determining means. The storing means stores the current highest bid price sent from the mobile data device, information for identifying a bidder who placed the highest bid price, and information for identifying an auction item having the highest bid price. The winner determining means determines a winning bidder for the auction item on the basis of the highest bid price when an ending time of the auction on the auction item has been reached. In this auction system, an auction participant can read information about the auction item from the recording medium and register new item information to an information management server using the mobile data device. Since the information management server manages the item information about the auction items, the auction system can execute the auction only with participation of the auction members without spending unnecessary time and effort. 
     The auction system can further include a notification unit. Here, the information about a condition for closing the auction on the auction item is information about an ending time of the auction on the auction item. The notification unit notifies the bidder who placed the highest bid price of information that the bidder has won the auction item when an ending time of the auction on the auction item has been reached. According to this auction system, a bidder who placed the highest bid price can confirm that the bidder has won the auction item when the auction ends. 
     The auction system can further include a notification unit. Here, the information about a condition for closing the auction on the auction item is information about a bid price. The notification unit notifies a bidder who placed a bid price equal to a price that a seller of the auction item desires of information that the bidder has won the auction item. According to this auction system, a bidder who placed the highest bid price can confirm that the bidder has won the auction item when the auction ends. 
     The auction system can further include bid ending time monitoring means. Here, the information about a condition for closing the auction on the auction item is information about an ending time of the auction on the auction item, and the bid ending time monitoring means notifies information management apparatus that the ending time of the auction has been reached. According to this auction system, an auction system in which an auction ending time is notified by the bid ending time monitoring means can be provided. 
     In the auction system, the information about a condition for closing the auction on the auction item may be information about an ending time of the auction on the auction item, and the ending time of the auction may be notified by a third party. According to this auction system, an auction system in which an auction ending time is notified by a third party can be provided. 
     In the auction system, the recording medium may include an IC tag. According to this auction system, an auction participant can read the item information from the IC tag and write new item information to the IC tag within the service area of the IC tag using the mobile data device. 
     In the auction system, the recording medium may include a two-dimensional code. According to this auction system, an auction participant can read the item information from the two-dimensional code using the mobile data device. 
     In the auction system, the mobile data device may include a mobile RFID reader/writer. According to this auction system, an auction participant can read the item information from the IC tag and write new item information to the IC tag within the service area of the IC tag using the mobile RFID reader/writer. 
     In the auction system, the mobile data device may include a cell phone. According to this auction system, an auction participant can bid in the auction using the cell phone within the service area of the cell phone. 
     As described above, in the auction system, a recording medium is attached to an auction item. An auction participant reads item information from the recording medium. If the auction participant desires to bid on the auction item, the auction participant writes a bid price to the recording medium. Thus, the auction participant can directly view the auction item and bid on the auction item without spending unnecessary time and effort. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an auction system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an auction system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary hardware configuration of a mobile data device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary hardware configuration of an information management server according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary hardware configuration of a mobile data device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary hardware configuration of an information management server according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the operation of an auction progress control unit; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of the operation of an ID/password provider unit; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart of the operation of an auction progress control unit; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of the operation of a control unit; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart of the operation of a mobile RFID reader/writer unit; 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart of the operation of the control unit; 
         FIG. 13  is a flow chart of the operation of a mail sending unit; 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart of the operation of the control unit; 
         FIG. 15  is a flow chart of the operation of a mobile RFID reader/writer unit; 
         FIG. 16  is a flow chart of the operation of the control unit; 
         FIG. 17  is a flow chart of the operation of the mobile RFID reader/writer unit; 
         FIG. 18  is a flow chart of the operation of the mobile RFID reader/writer unit; 
         FIG. 19  is a flow chart of the operation of a communications unit; 
         FIG. 20  is a flow chart of the operation of a control unit; 
         FIG. 21  is a flow chart of the operation of an ID/password provider unit; 
         FIG. 22  is a flow chart of the operation of an information scanning unit; 
         FIG. 23  is a flow chart of the operation of a control unit; 
         FIG. 24  is a flow chart of the operation of the control unit; 
         FIG. 25  is a flow chart of the operation of the control unit; 
         FIG. 26  is a flow chart of the operation of the control unit; and 
         FIG. 27  is a flow chart of the operation of a mail sending unit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention are now herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
     According to a first exemplary embodiment, an IC tag is attached to an auction item as a recording medium. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an auction system according to the first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an auction system, an IC tag is attached to an auction item. The IC tag stores information, such as an item identification (ID), the performance of the item, an auction starting time, and an auction ending time. Each of auction participants has a mobile radio frequency identification (RFID) reader/writer  20  that can read and write the item information from and to an IC tag attached to the auction item. Additionally, an information management apparatus  10  periodically updates the item information of the auction item. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of the information management apparatus  10 . The information management apparatus  10  includes an auction member information management unit  3 , an ID/password provider unit  1 , an RFID reader/writer unit  6 , an auction information management unit  8 , a timer monitoring unit  7 , a mail sending unit  2 , and an auction progress control unit  5  to which all of the above-described units are connected. The auction member information management unit  3  stores contact information and payment information about auction participants. The ID/password provider unit  1  provides an auction participant with an ID and password in response to the operation of an operation unit  9  by the auction participant. The RFID reader/writer unit  6  reads or writes item information (e.g., an item ID, the performance of an item, an auction starting time, an auction ending time, and the current highest bid) from or to the IC tag attached to the auction item. The auction information management unit  8  stores the item information read by the RFID reader/writer unit  6 . The timer monitoring unit  7  periodically sends notification for the auction progress control unit  5  to read the information on an IC tag attached to an auction item. The mail sending unit  2  sends the highest winning bidder an email indicating that the item has been won. The auction progress control unit  5  controls all the units of the information management apparatus  10 . Also, the auction progress control unit  5  selects the winning bidder when an auction closing condition is satisfied. Furthermore, a communications unit  4  is connected to the auction member information management unit  3  and the auction information management unit  8 . The communications unit  4  receives an inquiry as to auction information from the mobile RFID reader/writer  20 , which is described below. 
     The process in which an auction participant inputs the contact information and the information management apparatus  10  issues an ID and password to the auction participant is described next. 
     First, the process of the auction progress control unit  5  by which member information is received is described next with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     At step S 001 , the auction progress control unit  5  determines whether it has received, from the operation unit  9 , a notification that an auction participant has input the user contact information and payment information. The user contact information comprises an email address of the auction participant. If the auction participant wins the auction item, a notification of that information is sent to that email address. The payment information indicates how the auction participant intends to make a payment for the item that the auction participant won a bid on. For example, the auction participant enters the bank account details thereof. The purchase amount is transferred from that bank account so that the auction participant can immediately purchase the item. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification of the input of contact information and payment information is present), the processing proceeds to step S 002 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 001 . 
     At step S 002 , the auction progress control unit  5  stores the contact information and payment information input to the auction member information management unit  3 . Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 003 . 
     At step S 003 , the auction progress control unit  5  starts the ID/password provider unit  1  so as to provide the auction participant with an ID and password. The ID and password are necessary for the auction participant to bid in an auction using the mobile RFID reader/writer  20 . If the information management apparatus  10  authenticates the auction participant, the auction participant can write item information into an IC tag using the mobile RFID reader/writer  20 . The authentication process can prevent third parties from spoofing the auction participant and setting a bid price. Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     The process of the ID/password provider unit  1  performed to issue an ID and password is described next with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     At step S 004 , the ID/password provider unit  1  determines whether it has received a start instruction from the auction progress control unit  5 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the start instruction is present), the processing proceeds to step S 005 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 004 . 
     At step S 005 , the ID/password provider unit  1  provides the auction participant with a unique user ID and a unique password. 
     At step S 006 , the ID/password provider unit  1  sends information about the issued user ID and password to the auction progress control unit  5 . The processing is then completed. 
     The process of the auction progress control unit  5  performed to store the contact information about the auction participant is described next with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     At step S 007 , the auction progress control unit  5  determines whether it has received the issued user ID and password from the ID/password provider unit  1 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the issued user ID and password are received), the processing proceeds to step S 008 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 007 . 
     At step S 008 , the auction progress control unit  5  stores the contact information about the auction participant in the auction member information management unit  3  in association with the ID and password. The processing is then completed. 
     The process of the information management apparatus  10  performed to update the item information about the auction item and notify an auction participant who has won the item of that winning information when it is found that the auction ending time of the item has lapsed is described next. 
     First, the process of the auction progress control unit  5  performed to start an RFID reader/writer unit  6  is described next with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     At step S 101 , the auction progress control unit  5  determines whether it has received a notification of the time to update the item information from the timer monitoring unit  7 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification of the time to update the item information has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 102 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 101 . 
     At step S 102 , the auction progress control unit  5  starts the RFID reader/writer unit  6  of the information management apparatus  10 . The processing is then completed. 
     Subsequently, the process of the RFID reader/writer unit  6  performed to read the item information is described next with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
     At step S 103 , the RFID reader/writer unit  6  determines whether it has received a start instruction from the auction progress control unit  5 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the start instruction has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 104 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 103 . 
     At step S 104 , the RFID reader/writer unit  6  reads the item information from an IC tag attached to the auction item. The processing then proceeds to step S 105 . 
     At step S 105 , the RFID reader/writer unit  6  stores the readout item information in the auction information management unit  8 . The processing then proceeds to step S 106 . 
     At step S 106 , the RFID reader/writer unit  6  determines whether the auction ending time in the readout item information has lapsed. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the auction ending time has lapsed), the processing proceeds to step S 107 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing is completed. 
     At step S 107 , the RFID reader/writer unit  6  sets a flag so that an auction participant cannot write information on the IC tag of the item whose auction ending time has lapsed. Thus, an auction participant cannot write a bid price on the IC tag of the item whose auction ending time has lapsed. The processing then proceeds to step S 108 . 
     At step S 108 , the RFID reader/writer unit  6  notifies the auction progress control unit  5  of the item ID of the item whose auction ending time has lapsed and the user ID of the winner of the item. The processing is then completed. 
     The process of the auction progress control unit  5  performed to start the mail sending unit  2  is described next with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
     At step S 109 , the auction progress control unit  5  determines whether it has received the item ID of the item whose auction ending time has lapsed and the user ID of the winner of the item from the RFID reader/writer unit  6 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the item ID and user ID has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 110 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 109 . 
     At step S 110 , the auction progress control unit  5  references the notified user ID and retrieves the contact information and payment information of the auction participant who won the bid on the item from the auction member information management unit  3 . The processing then proceeds to step S 111 . 
     At step S 111 , the auction progress control unit  5  starts the mail sending unit  2  and notifies the mail sending unit  2  of the contact information and payment information of the auction participant who won the bid on the item received at step S 110 . Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     The process of the mail sending unit  2  performed to send an email to the auction participant who won the bid on the item is described next with reference to  FIG. 13 . 
     At step S 112 , the mail sending unit  2  determines whether it has received a start instruction from the auction progress control unit  5 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the start instruction has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 113 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 112 . 
     At step S 113 , the mail sending unit  2  sends an email to the address received from the auction progress control unit  5 . The email contains the item ID and a purchase price of the item that the auction participant won the bid on. Thus, the auction participant can confirm that the auction participant won the bid on the auction item. Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     In this embodiment, the information management apparatus  10  monitors the auction ending time of an auction item. When the auction ending time has lapsed, the auction is completed. However, another configuration can be provided. For example, when an auction participant wants to sell an item at some price, the auction participant sets a desired price for the item. Thereafter, the information management apparatus  10  may monitor bid prices of the item. When another auction participant places a bid on the item at the desired price, the auction may be completed. 
     The operation of the auction participant performed to read item information in an IC tag attached to an auction item and write a bid price to the IC tag using the mobile RFID reader/writer  20  is described next. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of the mobile RFID reader/writer  20 . 
     The mobile RFID reader/writer  20  includes a mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  for reading and writing item information from and to an IC tag attached to an auction item, a display unit  11  for displaying the item information, an operation unit  12  used for the reading and writing operation by an auction participant, and a control unit  14  to which all the above-described units are connected. The control unit  14  carries out overall control of the above-described units. 
     The process of the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  is described next with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First, the process of the control unit  14  performed to start the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  is described next. 
     At step S 201 , the control unit  14  determines whether it has received, from the operation unit  12 , a notification that an auction participant has operated the operation unit  12  to instruct reading of the IC tag. In the first embodiment, since an IC tag is attached to an auction item, the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  can read out all the item information of auction items located within the service area of the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15 . Thus, the auction participant can read all the item information when, for example, the auction participant wants to compare the performance of the items with each other. Thereafter, by operating the mobile RFID reader/writer  20 , the auction participant can select bid items. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification is received), the processing proceeds to step S 202 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 201 . 
     At step S 202 , the control unit  14  starts the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15 . The processing is then completed. 
     The process of the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  performed to read the IC tag is described next with reference to  FIG. 15 . 
     At step S 203 , the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  determines whether it has received a start instruction from the control unit  14 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the start instruction has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 204 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 203 . 
     At step S 204 , the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  reads item information from the IC tag attached to an auction item. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 205 . 
     At step S 205 , the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  determines whether the current time is before the auction ending time of the auction item on the basis of the readout item information in the IC tag. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the current time is before the auction ending time), the processing proceeds to step S 206 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing proceeds to step S 207 . 
     At step S 206 , the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  notifies the control unit  14  of the completion of reading the IC tag (i.e., the information indicating that the auction ending time has not lapsed yet). The processing is then completed. 
     At step S 207 , the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  notifies the control unit  14  of the completion of reading the IC tag (i.e., the information indicating that the auction ending time has lapsed). The processing is then completed. 
     The process of the control unit  14  performed to display the information indicating that the auction ending time has lapsed on the display unit  11  is described next with reference to  FIG. 16 . 
     At step S 208 , the control unit  14  determines whether it has received the notification of the completion of reading the IC tag (the information indicating that the auction ending time has lapsed) from the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification is present), the processing proceeds to step S 209 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 208 . 
     At step S 209 , the control unit  14  displays a message “The auction ending time has lapsed. You cannot place a bid.” on the display unit  11 . Thus, the control unit  14  prompts the auction participant to change the bid item. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 210 . 
     At step S 210 , the control unit  14  displays a standby display screen on the display unit  11 . Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     The process of the control unit  14  performed to display the item information on the display unit  11  is described next with reference to  FIG. 17 . 
     At step S 211 , the control unit  14  determines whether it has received the notification of the completion of reading the IC tag (the information indicating that the auction ending time has not lapsed yet) from the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification is present), the processing proceeds to step S 212 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 211 . 
     At step S 212 , the control unit  14  displays the item information on the display unit  11 . The auction participant can carry out a bid operation on the basis of the readout item information. Thus, in the first embodiment, since an IC tag is attached to an auction item, an auction participant can immediately check the current highest bid price using the mobile RFID reader/writer  20 . Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 213 . 
     At step S 213 , the control unit  14  determines whether the auction participant has carried out a bid operation. In the first embodiment, the term “bid operation” refers to an operation in which an auction participant sets a price higher than the current highest bid price and attempts to purchase the auction item. Thus, in the first embodiment, since an IC tag is attached to an auction item, an auction participant can immediately write a bid price to the IC tag using the mobile RFID reader/writer  20 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the bid operation has been carried out), the processing proceeds to step S 214 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 213 . 
     At step S 214 , the control unit  14  determines whether the bid price set by the auction participant is higher than the current highest bid price. In auctions, an auction participant cannot win an item unless the auction participant sets a bid price higher than the current highest bid price. Therefore, the determination at step S 214  is required. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the set bid price is higher than the current highest bid price), the processing proceeds to step S 215 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing proceeds to step S 216 . 
     At step S 216 , the control unit  14  displays a message “You cannot bid because your bid price is less than the current highest bid price.” on the display unit  11  so as to prompt the auction participant to change the bid price. Thereafter, the processing returns to step S 213 . 
     At step S 215 , the control unit  14  starts the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15 . Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     The process of the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  performed to write a bid price to the IC tag is described next with reference to  FIG. 18 . 
     At step S 217 , the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  determines whether it has received a start instruction from the control unit  14 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the start instruction has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 218 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 217 . 
     At step S 218 , the mobile RFID reader/writer unit  15  writes the user ID and the bid price to the IC tag. Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     According to a second exemplary embodiment, a two-dimensional code is attached to an auction item as a recording medium. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an auction system according to the second embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the auction system, an information management server  30  is connected to a network, such as the Internet. A two-dimensional code is attached to an auction item. The two-dimensional code stores information, such as an auction item ID, the performance of the item, an auction starting time, and an auction ending time. A typical example of the two-dimensional code is a QR code. Each of auction participants has a mobile data device  40  capable of being connected to the information management server  30  via the network. Examples of the mobile data device  40  include a cell phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA). 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of the mobile data device  40 . The mobile data device  40  includes a read only memory (ROM)  37 , a random access memory (RAM)  38 , a storage unit  39 , a communications unit  34 , an information scanning unit  36 , a display unit  31 , an operation unit  32 , and a control unit  35  to which all the above-described units are connected. The control unit  35  carries out overall control of the mobile data device  40 . The information scanning unit  36  reads out a two-dimensional code attached to an auction item. The display unit  31  displays information contained in the readout two-dimensional code. The operation unit  32  receives a variety of operations by the auction participant. The storage unit  39  stores a program for decoding the two-dimensional code and decoded item information about an auction item. The ROM  37  stores an operating system (OS) of the mobile data device  40  and communications programs. The RAM  38  temporarily stores the program loaded from the storage unit  39  and an image scanned by the information scanning unit  36 . Thus, the RAM  38  is used for executing the program and processing the information. The communications unit  34  provides a communication function for communicating with the network. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of the information management server  30 . The information management server  30  includes a member information management unit  43  for storing contact information and payment information about the auction participants, an ID/password provider unit  41  for providing an auction participant with an ID and password, a mail sending unit  42  for sending the highest bidder an email indicating that the item has been won, a communications unit  45  for communicating data with the mobile data device  40 , an information management database (DB)  46  for storing the item information about auction items and bid prices offered by the auction participants, and a control unit  44  to which all of the above-described units are connected. The control unit  44  performs overall control of the information management server  30 . 
     The process in which an auction participant inputs the contact information and the information management server  30  provides the auction participant with an ID and password is now herein described. 
     First, the operation of the mobile data device  40  is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The process of the communications unit  34  to send contact information about an auction participant is described next with reference to  FIG. 19 . 
     At step S 301 , the communications unit  34  determines whether it has received, from the control unit  35 , a notification that an auction participant has input the user contact information and payment information via the operation unit  32 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification of the input of contact information and payment information is present), the processing proceeds to step S 302 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 301 . 
     At step S 302 , the communications unit  34  sends the information, such as the contact information of the auction participant received from the control unit  35 , to the communications unit  45  of the information management server  30 . The processing is then completed. 
     The operation of the information management server  30  is described next with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The process of the control unit  44  to start the ID/password provider unit  41  is described next with reference to  FIG. 20 . 
     At step S 303 , the control unit  44  determines whether it has received, from the communications unit  45 , a notification that the communications unit  45  has received the contact information and payment information about the auction participant from the communications unit  34  of the mobile data device  40 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification of the input of contact information and payment information is present), the processing proceeds to step S 304 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 303 . 
     At step S 304 , the control unit  44  starts the ID/password provider unit  41  so as to provide the auction participant with an ID and password. The ID and password are necessary for the auction participant to bid in an auction using the mobile data device  40 . When the information management server  30  has authenticated the auction participant, the auction participant can register a bid price on the desired auction item to the information management server  30  using the mobile data device  40 . 
     The process of the ID/password provider unit  41  performed to provide an ID and password is described next with reference to  FIG. 21 . 
     At step S 305 , the ID/password provider unit  41  determines whether it has received a start instruction from the control unit  44 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the start instruction is present), the processing proceeds to step S 306 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 305 . 
     At step S 306 , the ID/password provider unit  41  provides the auction participant with a unique user ID and a unique password. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 307 . 
     At step S 307 , the ID/password provider unit  41  sends information about the issued user ID and password to the control unit  44 . The processing is then completed. 
     Subsequently, the control unit  44  starts the communications unit  45  in order to send the issued user ID and password to the auction participant. The communications unit  45  sends the issued user ID and password to the mobile data device  40  so that the auction participant can receive his or her own user ID and password. Using these user ID and password, the auction participant can register a bid price for the auction item to the information management server  30 . 
     The operation of the auction participant performed to read a two-dimensional code attached to the auction item and the process of the mobile data device  40  performed to retrieve the item information are described next. 
     The operation of the mobile data device  40  is described next with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The operation of the information scanning unit  36  performed to scan the two-dimensional code is described next with reference to  FIG. 22 . 
     At step S 401 , the information scanning unit  36  determines whether the two-dimensional code has been scanned by the auction participant. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the two-dimensional code has been scanned), the processing proceeds to step S 402 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 401 . 
     At step S 402 , the information scanning unit  36  stores the image of the scanned two-dimensional code in the RAM  38 . The processing then proceeds to step S 403 . 
     At step S 403 , the information scanning unit  36  notifies the control unit  35  of the completion of storing the scanned two-dimensional code. The processing is then completed. 
     The process of the control unit  35  performed to decode the two-dimensional code is described next with reference to  FIG. 23 . 
     At step S 404 , the control unit  35  determines whether it has received a notification of the completion of storing the image from the information scanning unit  36 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification of the completion of storing the image has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 405 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 404 . 
     At step S 405 , the control unit  35  decodes the image of the scanned two-dimensional code. To decode the scanned two-dimensional code, the control unit  35  loads a program for decoding a two-dimensional code from the storage unit  39  into the RAM  38  and runs the program. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 406 . 
     At step S 406 , the control unit  35  displays item information obtained by decoding the two-dimensional code on the display unit  31 . Thus, the auction participant can identify the item information (e.g., an item ID, the performance of the item, an auction starting time, and an auction ending time). 
     At step S 407 , the control unit  35  stores the item information in the storage unit  39 . Thereafter, the processing is completed. Thus, the auction participant can immediately view the item information when the auction participant desires to view the item information and even when the auction participant is located far from the auction house. 
     The operation of the auction participant performed to check the highest bid price for the desired auction item using the mobile data device  40  is described next. 
     The process of the control unit  44  performed to check the highest bid price is described next with reference to  FIG. 24 . 
     At step S 408 , the control unit  44  determines whether it has received, from the communications unit  45 , a notification that the communications unit  45  has received, from the communications unit  34  of the mobile data device  40 , a notification that an auction participant has performed an item checking operation. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification of the item checking operation is present), the processing proceeds to step S 409 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 408 . As used herein, the term “item checking operation” refers to an operation in which an auction participant inputs the user ID and password so as to check the current highest bid price for the auction item corresponding to the item ID. 
     At step S 409 , the control unit  44  authenticates the auction participant on the basis of the user ID and the password received from the communications unit  45 . Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 410 . 
     At step S 410 , the control unit  44  references the item ID and retrieves the current highest bid price for the auction item corresponding to the item ID from the information management DB  46 . The processing then proceeds to step S 411 . 
     At step S 411 , in order to notify the auction participant of the current highest bid price for the auction item retrieved at step S 410 , the control unit  44  starts the communications unit  45  and sends the current highest bid price to the communications unit  45 . Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     Subsequently, the current highest bid price is sent from the communications unit  45  to the mobile data device  40  so that the auction participant can receive the current highest bid price for the desired auction item. The auction participant then places a bid on the auction item as needed. 
     The operation of the auction participant performed to place a bid on the desired auction item is described next. 
     The process of the information management server  30  is described next with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The operation of the control unit  44  performed to update the highest bid price is described next with reference to  FIG. 25 . 
     At step S 501 , the control unit  44  determines whether it has received, from the communications unit  45 , a notification that the communications unit  45  has received, from the communications unit  34  of the mobile data device  40 , a notification that an auction participant has performed a bid operation. If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the notification of the bid operation is present), the processing proceeds to step S 502 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 501 . As used herein, the term “bid operation” refers to an operation in which an auction participant inputs the user ID and password, the item ID, and the bid price so as to update the current highest bid price for the auction item. 
     At step S 502 , the control unit  44  authenticates the auction participant on the basis of the user ID and the password received from the communications unit  45 . Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S 503 . 
     At step S 503 , in order to update the current highest bid price, the control unit  44  references the item ID and retrieves the item information corresponding to the item ID from the information management DB  46 . The processing then proceeds to step S 504 . 
     At step S 504 , the control unit  44  updates the current highest bid price in the item information received at step S 503 . Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     The process of the information management server  30  performed to notify the auction participant of the information that the auction participant has won the bid on the auction item is described next with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The operation of the control unit  44  performed to start the mail sending unit  42  is described next with reference to  FIG. 26 . 
     The control unit  44  monitors the auction ending time in the item information stored in the information management DB  46 . At step S 601 , the control unit  44  determines whether an auction item whose auction ending time has lapsed is present in the item information stored in the information management DB  46 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., an auction item whose auction ending time has lapsed is present), the processing proceeds to step S 602 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 601 . 
     At step S 602 , the control unit  44  retrieves the user ID of the auction participant who has offered the highest bid price for the auction item whose auction ending time has lapsed. The processing then proceeds to step S 603 . 
     At step S 603 , the control unit  44  references the user ID retrieved at step S 602  and retrieves the contact information and payment information of the auction participant who has won the bid on the item from the member information management unit  43 . The processing then proceeds to step S 604 . 
     At step S 604 , the control unit  44  starts the mail sending unit  42  and notifies the mail sending unit  42  of the contact information and the payment information of the auction participant who has won the bid on the item, and the item ID and the purchase price of the auction item that the auction participant has won the bid on. Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     The process of the mail sending unit  42  performed to send an email to the auction participant who has won the bid on the item is described next with reference to  FIG. 27 . 
     At step S 605 , the mail sending unit  42  determines whether it has received a start instruction from the control unit  44 . If the determination is affirmative (i.e., the start instruction has been received), the processing proceeds to step S 606 . However, if the determination is negative, the processing returns to step S 605 . 
     At step S 606 , the mail sending unit  42  references the contact information received from the control unit  44  and sends an email to the auction participant who has won the bid on the auction item. The email contains the item ID and a purchase price of the item that the auction participant has won the bid on. Thus, the auction participant can confirm that the auction participant has won the bid on the auction item. Thereafter, the processing is completed. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in following claims.