Patent ID: 7729975

Claim:
A method implemented in a system, said system comprising a first computer and at least one other computer which is located remotely from the first computer and interconnected by a communication system, said method for conducting an auction of a plurality of items wherein at least the first computer receives bids and determines an allocation of at least one of the items, the auction including a dynamic auction phase followed by a later phase, the later phase comprising a package auction, the method comprising: a) implementing the dynamic auction phase on said first computer, said dynamic auction phase comprising: a1) receiving bids at the first computer from at least one bidder using the at least one other computer, said bids including at least an indicator of at least one of the items; a2) determining whether the dynamic auction phase of the auction should continue, based on received bids; a3) outputting auction information; and a4) repeating a1)-a3) if the dynamic auction phase of the auction is determined to continue; b) changing from the dynamic auction phase to the later phase, following a determination not to continue the dynamic auction phase; and c) implementing the later phase of the auction on said first computer, the later phase comprising a package auction, said later phase comprising: c1) receiving bids at the first computer from at least one bidder using the at least one other computer, said bids including at least an indicator of a package of items and an associated price for the package; and c2) determining an allocation of at least one of the items to one of the bidders based on received bids.