Patent ID: 7290009

Claim:
A network computer server system for controlling a plurality of network access lines to provide subscriber access to a computer network, the server system comprising: an access line interface for partitioning the plurality of network access lines as first stage lines and second stage lines: a processor operatively coupled to the access line interface, the processor being operatively coupled to computer readable media encoded with instructions to perform the steps of: determining an available number of second stage lines; queuing arriving subscribers bidding for network access in the first stage lines and periodically admitting at least a portion of the arriving subscribers into the second stage lines based on respective bid prices and the availability of second stage lines; determining a spot price of the resource based on at least one arrival subscriber not admitted to the second stage lines; determining a reservation fee for secured access to the network for the admitted subscribers to secure future network access at a given bid price; determining whether a subscriber has accepted the reservation fee and controlling the access line interface to operatively couple that subscriber to the network via a second stage line as a reserved subscriber; determining whether a subscriber has rejected the reservation fee and controlling the access line interface to operatively coupled that subscriber to the network via a second stage line as an unreserved subscriber; controlling the access line interface to disconnect from the network non-reserved subscribers whose bid prices are below the spot price; and activating a reservation of reserved subscribers whose bid price is below the spot price, and controlling the access line interface to maintain network access for the reserved subscriber for a duration of the reservation; and a memory device operatively coupled to the processor, the memory device for storing a data base of subscriber account data.