Abstract:
An apparatus and method for providing assistance to a participant in an on-line auction is disclosed. The assistance is based upon selection of a bid advisor program. The bid advisor program offers a choice of three different types of pricing data derived from three different data bases—an historical data base, a current price offering data base, a market value data base. Once the participant selects the type of pricing hint desired, an algorithm searches the appropriate data base for the closest match on pricing and displays the suggested price. When the participant selects a price, the bid is placed and the bid assistant program either goes to another bid or is closed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing pricing hints to a consumer participating in an auction conducted over the Internet.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    E-commerce on the Internet expands along with the number of households that have computers. Many consumers shop from home over the Internet by way of auctions. Some vendors provide a price ceiling which over estimates product value. Pricing search engines exist for retail sites, but not for auction sites. Current auction sites do not provide the consumer with an online capability to evaluate current market value of the items for sale on the auction site. In many cases, items being auctioned have a retail value, or a computable market value that could be made available to the consumer. By identifying the competitive cost of the product, the auction participant will be allowed to make a better decision in making a bid to purchase the product, thereby increasing the chances for winning the bid. In addition, the auction web site owner receives a percentage of the final price paid. Therefore, the closer the auction participant bid is to the market value, the higher the profit potential for the auction host.  
           [0003]    What is needed beyond the prior art is a way to provide a pricing “hint” based on a dynamic market value, an historical pricing of the same item, or an established price for which the product is currently selling.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention which meets the needs identified above is an apparatus and method for providing assistance to a participant in an on-line auction that allows selection of a bid advisor program. The bid advisor program offers a choice of three different types of pricing data derived from three different data bases—an historical data base, a current price offering data base, a market value data base. Once the participant selects the type of pricing hint desired, an algorithm searches the appropriate data base for the closest match on pricing and displays the suggested price. When the participant selects a price, the bid is placed and the bid assistant program either goes to another bid or is closed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is depiction of a distributed data processing system;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a depiction of a server computer;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a depiction of a client computer;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a depiction of the server memory; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the bid assistant program. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a distributed data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented and is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation, for the processes of the present invention. Distributed data processing system  100  is a network of computers which contains network  102 , which is the medium used to provide communication links between various devices and computers connected together within distributed data processing system  100 . Network  102  may include permanent connections, such as wire or fiber optic cables, or temporary connections made through telephone connections. In the depicted example, server  104  is connected to network  102  along with storage unit  106 . In addition, clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  also are connected to a network  102 . Clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers.  
         [0012]    For purposes of this application, a network computer is any computer, coupled to a network, which receives a program or other application from another computer coupled to the network. In the depicted example, server  104  provides Web based applications to clients  108 ,  110  and  112 . Clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  are clients to server  104 . Distributed data processing system  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. In the depicted example, distributed data processing system  100  is the Internet with network  102  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. Distributed data processing system  100  may also be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).  
         [0013]    Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts a data processing system, which may be implemented as a server, such as server  104  in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention. Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors such as first processor  202  and second processor  204  connected to system bus  206 . Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus  206  is memory controller/cache  208 , which provides an interface to local memory  209 . I/O bus bridge  210  is connected to system bus  206  and provides an interface to I/O bus  212 . Memory controller/cache  208  and I/O bus bridge  210  may be integrated as depicted. Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge  214  connected to I/O bus  212  provides an interface to first PCI local bus  216 . Modem  218  may be connected to first PCI bus local  216 . Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communication links to network computers  108 ,  110 , and  112  in FIG. 1 may be provided through modem  218  and network adapter  220  connected to first PCI local bus  216  through add-in boards. Additional PCI bus bridges such as second PCI bus bridge  222  and third PCI bus bridge  224  provide interfaces for additional PCI local buses such as second PCI local bus  226  and third PCI local bus  228 , from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, server  200  allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter  230  and hard disk  232  may also be connected to I/O bus  212  as depicted, either directly or indirectly. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as an optical disk drive and the like also may be used in addition or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. The data processing system depicted in FIG. 2 may be, for example, an IBM RISC/System 6000 system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system.  
         [0014]    With reference now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrates a data processing system in which the invention may be implemented. Data processing system  300  is an example of either a stand-alone computer, if not connected to distributed data processing system  100 , or a client computer, if connected to distributed data processing system  100 . Data processing system  300  employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Micro Channel and ISA may be used. Processor  302  and main memory  304  are connected to PCI local bus  306  through PCI bridge  303 . PCI bridge  303  also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for Processor  302 . Additional connections to PCI local bus  306  may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  310 , SCSI host bus adapter  312 , and expansion bus interface  314  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter  316 , graphics adapter  318 , and audio/video adapter (A/V)  319  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface  314  provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter  320 , modem  322 , and additional memory  324 . SCSI host bus adapter  312  provides a connection for hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , and CD-ROM  330  in the depicted example. Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. An operating system runs on processor  302  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system  300  in FIG. 3. The operating system may be a commercially available operating system such as OS/2, which is available from International Business Machines Corporation. “OS/2” is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. An object oriented programming system, such as Java, may run in conjunction with the operating system and provides calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  300 . “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Incorporated. Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs may be located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  326 , and they may be loaded into main memory  304  for execution by processor  302 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in FIG. 3 may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3. Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system. For example, data processing system  300 , if configured as a network computer, may not include SCSI host bus adapter  312 , hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , and CD-ROM  330 , as noted by the box with the dotted line in FIG. 3 denoting optional inclusion. In that case, the computer, to be properly called a client computer, must include some type of network communication interface, such as LAN adapter  310 , modem  322 , or the like. As another example, data processing system  300  may be a stand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on some type of network communication interface, whether or not data processing system  300  comprises some type of network communication interface. As a further example, data processing system  300  may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data. The depicted example in FIG. 3 and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in a form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media, such a floppy disc, a hard disk drive, a RAM, and CD-ROMs, and transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 depicts first memory space  400  containing bid advisor  500  (See FIG. 5). Memory  400  contains first auction program  410 , first available memory  420 , search historical data program  430 , search current offerings program  432 , and search market value program  434 . Also contained in memory  400  are historical data base  440 , current offerings data base  442 , and market value data base  444 . Search historical data program  430  accesses historical data base  440 , identifies a product in historical data base  440  that matches an online sale offering, and causes the price paid for the product to be displayed. Search current offerings program  432  accesses current offerings data base  442 , identifies a product matching the on-line sale offering that is currently being publicly offered for sale, such as at a retail store, a web site, or catalog, and causes the current offering price to be displayed. Market value program  434  accesses current market value data base  444 , identifies a given number of products that are similar to the on-line sale offering, calculates a market value for the on-line sale offer from the similar products, and causes the calculated value to be displayed. In the preferred embodiment, memory space  400  is located in a server computer such data processing system  200  in FIG. 2.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 depicts second memory space  500  containing second available memory  510 , first web browser program  520 , second auction program  522 , and second bid advisor program  524 . In an alternate embodiment, second auction program  522  may be contained in first web browser program  520 . As used herein, the term web browser shall mean a software program that (1) accesses and displays Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents in a computer connected to the Internet and (2) accesses files and software related to the HTML documents. Second auction program  522  is included in first web browser program  520  as original installation, or as an update or plug-in downloaded from a network such as network  102  (see FIG. 1). Second memory  500  may be located in a computer such as data processing system  300  (see FIG. 3).  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 depicts third memory space  600  containing second web browser program  620 , third available space  610 , third auction program  630 , and third bid advisor program  632 . In an alternate embodiment, third auction program  630  may be installed in third memory space  600  by downloading from a network such as network  102  (see FIG. 1), or loading from a disk or from a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Third memory space  600  may be located in a computer such as data processing system  300  (see FIG. 3).  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 depicts fourth memory space  700 . Fourth memory space has historical data base  440 , current offering data base  442  and market value data base  446 . In an alternate embodiment, where second auction program  522  or third auction program  630  are located in the memory of a computer such as data processing system  300  (see FIG. 3), the data bases to support second bid advisor program  524  and third bid advisor program  632  may be located alone in one or more server computers such as data processing system  200  in FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8, depicts a flow chart for bid advisor  800 . In the preferred embodiment, bid advisor  800  is located in the memory of a server computer such as data processing system  200 . (see FIG. 2). Alternatively, bid advisor  800  may be built into a web browser program, incorporated into a web browser program as a plug-in, or placed in the memory of a computer along with a web browser program in a computer such as data processing system  300  (see FIG. 3). Bid advisor  800  begins ( 802 ). An item is selected by the user ( 804 ). Bid advisor  800  determines whether the user wants assistance with his or her bid ( 806 ). If the user does not wants assistance, then bid advisor  800  displays a message asking the user to place a bid ( 808 ). If the user does want assistance options, then the user invokes bid assistant ( 810 ). Bid assistant  810  determines whether the user wants to use historical data ( 812 ), current offerings ( 816 ), or market value ( 820 ) based on the user selection. If the user selects historical data ( 812 ), a pricing hint is displayed ( 814 ) based on historical data. The pricing hint based on historical data is identified by accessing a historical data base, identifying a price paid at an earlier date for a product matching the online sale offering, and displaying the historical price on the user&#39;s computer. The foregoing actions are accomplished by a search historical data program within a bid advisor program in the memory of a server computer, or alternatively in the memory of the auction participant&#39;s computer such as search historical data program  430  (see FIG. 4). If the user selects current offerings ( 816 ) then a pricing hint is displayed ( 818 ) based on current offerings. The pricing hint based on current offerings is identified by accessing a current offerings data base, identifying the price at which the on-line sale offering is currently being publicly offered for sale, and displaying the currently offered price on the user&#39;s computer. The foregoing actions are accomplished by a search current offering program within a bid advisor program in the memory of a server computer, or alternatively in the memory of the auction participant&#39;s computer such as search current offerings program  432  of FIG. 4. If the user selects market value, then a hint is displayed ( 820 ) based on market value. The pricing hint based on market value is identified by accessing a market value data base, identifying a given number of similar products to the on-line sale offering, calculating a market value based on the similar products, and displaying the market value on the user&#39;s computer. The foregoing actions are accomplished by a compute market value program within a bid advisor program in the memory of a server computer, or alternatively in the memory of the auction participant&#39;s computer such as compute market value program  434  (see FIG. 4). Next a determination is made as to whether the user is ready to select a price ( 824 ). If the user is ready to select a price, the user makes a bid ( 826 ) based upon that price. If the user is not ready to select a price, bid advisor  800  determines whether the user wants to make a bid on another item. ( 828 ). If the user wants to makea bid on another item, the program returns to step  804 . If the user does not want to bid on another item, the program ends ( 830 ).  
         [0020]    The advantages provided by the present invention should be apparent in light of the detailed description provided above. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not limited to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.