Patent ID: 7343342

Claim:
A method for implementing an auction of heterogeneous objects of at least two types, two or more bidders participating in the auction, the auction allowing assignment of objects of the same type to one or more of the bidders at different prices, the method comprising: a) accepting bids from participating bidders, b) determining, based on the bids, whether there is at least one object which is desired by only one bidder and, c) in the event there is at least one object which is desired by only one bidder, assigning the determined object or objects to the determined bidder, and wherein the determining comprises: b1) selecting a bidder, b2) selecting an object type, b3) determining if bids of other bidders for this object type total less than available objects of this type, and in that event the assigning comprises assigning to the selected bidder the smaller of: the difference between number of available objects of this selected type and sum of bids by other bidders for this object type; and the selected bidder's bid for objects of this selected type.