Patent ID: 8131616

Claim:
A network computer server system for controlling a plurality of network access connections to provide information exchange from a subscriber to a computer network, the server system comprising: an access connection interface for partitioning the plurality of network access connections as first stage connections and second stage connections; a processor operatively coupled to the access connection interface, the processor: determining an available number of second stage connections; queuing arriving subscribers bidding for network access in the first stage connections and periodically admitting a predetermined number of the arriving subscribers into the second stage connections based on respective bid amounts and the availability of second stage connections; determining a spot price of the network access connections based on at least one arrival subscriber not admitted; determining a reservation fee for guaranteed access to the network connections for the admitted subscribers to secure future network access at a given bid price; determining whether a subscriber has accepted the reservation fee and controlling the access connection interface to operatively couple that subscriber to the network via a second stage connection as a reserved subscriber; determining whether a subscriber has rejected the reservation fee and controlling the access connection interface to operatively couple that subscriber to the network via a second stage connection as an unreserved subscriber; controlling the access connection interface to disconnect from the network non-reserved subscribers whose bid prices are below the spot price; and activating a reservation of reserved subscribers whose bid price is below the spot price, and controlling the access connection interface to maintain network access for the reserved subscriber for a duration of the reservation; and a memory device operatively coupled to the processor, the memory device for storing a database of subscriber account data.