Patent ID: 7827073

Claim:
A method for an online auction system, performed by computer software embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and executed by a processor on at least one computer server and comprising the steps of: determining values representing a relationship between a seller and a plurality of bidders, based on social connections of the seller and social connections of the bidders, selecting an auction method based on the values representing a relationship between the seller and the bidders, and performing the selected auction method, for purpose of selling an item of the seller at a winning bid quoted by any of the bidders, wherein the step of performing the selected auction method further comprises: determining a value representing a relationship between the seller and a further bidder, based on the social connections of the seller and social connections of the further bidder, and allowing or denying the further bidder to participate in the performing of the selected auction method, based on the value representing a relationship between the seller and the further bidder.