Patent ID: 7933829

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for vending a digital file, the method being performed by one or more computers, the method including: receiving a plurality of bids, each bid being submitted by a bidder, and each bid having a bid value; assigning a weighting factor to each bid, wherein the weighting factor for each bid is proportional to the bid value divided by a highest bid value in the plurality of bids; selecting a first bid from the plurality of bids independent of the weighting factor assigned to the first bid, the first bid having been submitted by a first bidder, the first bid having a first bid value; pseudo-randomly selecting a second bid from the plurality of bids in a manner that is dependent, at least in part, on a the weighting factor assigned to the second bid, the second bid having a second bid value; performing, by the one or more computers, a comparison of the first bid value with the second bid value; using the results of the comparison to determine whether to vend a copy of the digital file to the first bidder, wherein a number of copies of the digital file to be vended is not specified in advance of receiving the plurality of bids; sending, by the one or more computers, a copy of the digital file to the first bidder if a determination is made in said using step to vend a copy of the digital file to the first bidder; and sending, by the one or more computers, a message to the first bidder if a determination is made in said using step not to vend a copy of the digital file to the first bidder.