Patent ID: 7716090

Claim:
A system that integrates a remote audience over a data network with an onsite audience existing within a traditional-style, live auction site, for auctioning an item, the system comprising: a processor for processing auction bids received from one or more remote clients and onsite bidders for the item being auctioned and delivery bid status information to the one or more remote; an audio system located on the data network, the audio system configured to: capture live audio data from the live auction site; stream the live audio over the data network in an unbuffered manner and in real-time while maintaining a delay of approximately one second or less directed towards one or more remote clients by reducing the audio quality as necessary; and reduce the stream of the live audio if it interferes with the delivery of bid status information; a remote client interface over which the system is configured to: receive auction bids from the one or more remote clients for the item being auctioned; and deliver the streaming live audio contemporaneously with the bid status information to the one or more remote clients.