Patent ID: 8370212

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving, via a processor, a plurality of bids for an item during a silent auction, in which the silent auction is open to receiving bids during a time period that is determined before commencement of the silent auction; determining, via the processor, that the time period has expired; in response to the time period expiring, triggering, via the processor, a tiered process to determine an end to the silent auction, in which the tiered process further comprises: determining, via the processor, that a first quantity of bids received during the first time period is less than a first numeric value; in response to determining that the first quantity of bids is less than the first numeric value, transmitting, via the processor, an indication that the silent auction will remain open for a second time a period; determining, via the processor, that a second quantity of bids received during the second time period is less than a second numeric value; in response to determining that the second quantity of bids is less than the second numeric value, transmitting, via the processor, an indication that the silent auction has ended; determining, via the processor based on the tiered process, that the silent auction has ended; and transmitting to a remote device a message to a bidder who offered a highest price at the end of the silent auction, in which the message indicates to the bidder that he has won the item, in which the remote device and the processor are in electronic communication over a network.