Patent ID: 8392265

Claim:
A method for participating in auctions using a viewing device, comprising: selecting a channel from a list of channels using a remote control device having a unique identification number, each channel in the list of channels associated with a different auction and the selection of the channel determines an auction to view; recording the channel selected in a memory device of the remote control device along with time and date the channel was selected; selecting an auction button on the remote control device indicating an interest in participating in the auction; sending the channel selected and the date and time the channel was selected to a remote computer; retrieving auction information from a library database, coupled to the remote computer, using the channel selected and the date and time the channel was selected to identify the auction; displaying the auction on the viewing device for participation by the user; prompting a user to enter a personal identification number (PIN) to confirm identity of the user after selection of the auction; sending the PIN and the unique identification number of the remote control device concurrently to the remote computer for use in a successful bid on an item in the auction; and confirming on the viewing device the user is a participant in the auction.