U.S. patent application number 14/271366 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-31 for system for interactive computer-assisted on-line auctions.
The applicant listed for this patent is Catherine Lin-Hendel. Invention is credited to Catherine Lin-Hendel.
Application Number | 20170249695 14/271366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40672495 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170249695 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Lin-Hendel; Catherine |
August 31, 2017 |
System for Interactive Computer-Assisted On-Line Auctions
Abstract
A system and method for an interactive, computer-assisted
on-line auction wherein at least one array of images of objects for
auction are scrolled on a display device so that a viewer can view
the objects, obtain detailed information regarding objects of
interest an submit bids on those objects the viewer desires to
purchase. The objects in the array can be sorted into rows and
columns by criteria such as manufacturer, type of good, or time
until which bids are accepted. The system can include an array for
objects that can currently be bid upon and another array for
objects that can be bid upon at a future time. Certain objects of
interest to a viewer can be selectively rotated for
three-dimensional viewing by clicking on an appropriate button. A
viewer can select a plurality of objects of interest, wherein
monitoring screens are then composed and displayed on the display
device for each selected object, each monitoring screen providing
the viewer with an enlarged graphical representation of an object,
detailed textual information regarding an object, and information
regarding the auction for an object such as current bid price, time
remaining to submit a bid and a bid submission box. The system also
provides a system of selectively programmable alerts which can use
visual or audible cues to alert the viewer to some occurrence, such
as a predetermined amount of time remaining to submit a bid on an
object.
Inventors: |
Lin-Hendel; Catherine; (Los
Gatos, CA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lin-Hendel; Catherine |
Los Gatos |
CA |
US |
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Prior
Publication: |
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Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20150324898 A1 |
November 12, 2015 |
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Family ID: |
40672495 |
Appl. No.: |
14/271366 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15330939 |
Mar 12, 2014 |
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14271366 |
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13472226 |
May 15, 2012 |
8688546 |
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15330939 |
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12464047 |
May 11, 2009 |
8204801 |
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13472226 |
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09628773 |
Jul 29, 2000 |
7542920 |
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12464047 |
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60146702 |
Jul 30, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/08 20130101;
G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G06Q 30/0643 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/08 20060101
G06Q030/08; G06Q 30/06 20060101 G06Q030/06 |
Claims
1. A computer implemented method for displaying digital information
on a display device associated with a computer processor and at
least one memory, comprising: displaying on the display device a
plurality of digital information elements, wherein the digital
information elements represent virtualized ones of physical items;
enabling a user to select at least one of the digital information
elements; displaying information about the item represented by the
selected digital information element, wherein said information
includes a description of, and link to conduct commerce activity
related to, the physical item represented by the selected digital
information element; and enabling the user to change a display
perspective on the display device of one or more of the digital
information elements.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the items represented by the one
or more digital information elements are displayed
three-dimensionally to a user.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in the display
perspective involves rotating the one or more digital elements
about at least one of the three-dimensions.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the change in the display
perspective reveals at least one view of the physical item
represented by a digital information element that was not visible
before initiation of the change in the display perspective.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the display
perspective occurs without user input to initiate the change.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying information about
the item represented by the digital information element is in
response to a user selection.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical item represented by
the digital information element is at least one of a painting,
photograph, coin, sculpture, furniture item, piece of jewelry,
timepiece, and electronic device.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the commerce activity relates to
a bid associated with an auction.
9. A system comprising: a computer readable storage medium capable
of non-transitorily storing one or more programs configured for
execution by one or more computer processors, wherein the one or
more processors are communicatively coupled to a display device
configured to be controlled by the one or more programs, the one or
more programs comprising instructions that cause the one or more
processors to: display on the display device a plurality of digital
information elements, wherein the digital information elements
represent physical items viewed in virtual reality; enable a user
to select at least one of the digital information elements; display
information about the physical item represented by the selected
digital information element, wherein the information includes a
description of, and a link to conduct commerce activity related to,
the physical item represented by the selected digital information
element; and enable changing of a displayed perspective of the
virtual realization of the physical item represented by the
selected digital information element.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs are
configured to express in three dimensions the digital displaying on
the display device of the image of the physical item represented by
its associated digital information element.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more programs are
configured to enable a change in the displayed perspective of a
selected digital information element representing the physical
item, such that the displaying of at least one of the selected
physical items undergoes a three-dimensional rotation.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the change in displayed
perspective reveals at least one view of the user-selected item of
interest represented by a digital information element that was not
displayed before receiving a user action to change the displayed
perspective.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein a user is an administrator of
the digital information elements associated with items represented
by said digital information elements stored on the said storage
medium.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein a user is a consumer of the item
of interest.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs are
configured to enable an administrator user to program at least one
selected item to undergo a change in the displayed perspective on
the display device automatically when a webpage containing
information associated with the selected item is accessed.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more programs are
configured to enable automatic changing of displayed perspective of
the displaying of an item of interest selected by a consumer user,
without requiring an action from the consumer user to initiate the
change.
17. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to the selection,
the one or more programs are configured to simultaneously display a
plurality of information from at least two sources about the at
least one item of interest represented by the user-selected digital
information element.
18. The system of claim 9, wherein the commerce activity relates to
a bid associated with an auction.
19. The system of claim 9, wherein the item represented by the
selected digital information element is at least one of a painting,
a photograph, a coin, a sculpture, a furniture item, a piece of
jewelry, a timepiece or an electronic device.
20. A computer implemented method for conducting commerce and
displaying on a display device information regarding objects that
can be purchased, wherein the display device is controlled by a
computer with a processor and memory and one or more programs, the
method comprising: displaying on a display device a plurality of
digital information elements, wherein the digital information
elements represent items that can be purchased, and are capable of
being displayed in three-dimensional perspective in virtual
reality; enabling a user to select at least one of the digital
information elements; displaying information relating to the item
represented by the selected digital information element, wherein
the information includes a description of the item represented by
the selected digital information element, and a link to conduct a
commerce activity relating to the item; enabling the user to change
the viewing perspective of the digital information elements on the
display device; monitoring the commerce activity status of the item
represented by a digital information element; and notifying the
user when commerce activity occurs with respect to the item
represented by a selected digital information element.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user notification occurs on
a webpage.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the user notification is
transmitted in the form of an electronic mail.
23. The method of claim 20, the commerce activity relates to a bid
associated with an auction.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user notification is in
response to a bid being placed that exceeds a bid placed by the
user.
25. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing
perspective involves the three-dimensional rotation of at least one
item represented by the selected digital information element.
26. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing
perspective reveals at least one view of the user-selected item of
interest that was not displayed before the user initiating the
action to change the viewing perspective.
27. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is an
administrator.
28. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is a consumer of the
item.
29. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing
perspective occurs without user input to initiate the change in the
viewing perspective.
30. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying of information
related to a selected item represented by its associated digital
information element is in response to a user selection.
31. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying of information
relating to an item represented by the selected digital information
element includes displaying the status of commerce activity
associated with the item.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the commerce activity relates
to a bid associated with an auction.
33. The method of claim 20, wherein the item represented by the
selected digital information element is at least one of a painting,
a photograph, a coin, a sculpture, a furniture item, a piece of
jewelry, a timepiece or an electronic device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/628773, filed Jul. 29, 2000, entitled
"System for Interactive Computer-Assisted On-Line Auctions", which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/146,702, filed Jul. 30, 1999.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] Contained herein is material that is subject to copyright
protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
reproduction of the patent disclosure by any person as it appears
in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but
otherwise reserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus
for conducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions
on-line, for pure Internet auctions, and real-time presentation of
physical auctions. The methods and apparatus disclosed in this
application can also be use in all on-line object and catalogue
presentations and other E-commerce sales and advertising channels
and mechanisms.
Description of Related Art
[0004] Traditional physical auctions of goods and services take
place as events with defined time periods, at defined and limited
physical locations where the buyers, on-lookers, commissioned
sellers, sellers, trained auctioneers, and the goods gather. In
some instances, with pre-arranged facility, remote buyers can be
linked at real-time to the auction, via private or public radio,
television, or telephone network, and call-in bids remotely over
telephone connections. The real-time broadcast or narrowcast of an
auction through radio, television, or telephone networks can be
costly, and access is usually limited to specific locations/rooms
with the relays or connections. Therefore, the conventional
physical auction events are considered restricted to a limited
buyer audience who can either physically attend the auction at
location, during that specific time frame, or be present at a
remotely linked facility also at that specific time frame. The
costly, time specific physical gathering of a "live" auction event
is only worthwhile or feasible for both the auctioneer's and the
buyers' sides, if, and only if there is a large number of items to
be sold. However, only one item can be "auctioned" at a time, in a
physical live auction event. Thus, each item has a very limited
time allotment to be on the auction stage.
[0005] Some items stimulate more interest than others in an
unpredictable way in a time limited physical live auction event.
The buyers come to, and leave the event also in somewhat of
unpredictable ways, it is difficult for a live auction event to
publish and commit to a fixed item-by-item schedule in a catalogue
ahead of the event. Therefore, buyers do not know what item would
be auctioned at what time frame, and what items would be auctioned
next even while at the auction. Buyers do travel to the location;
frequently to miss the items most interested, unless he or she is
willing to arrive on-time, and commit to sit through the entire
auction event without breaks. Wealthy collectors or dealers often
go through the preview, note the interested items manually, and
give instructions as to the highest price they would be willing to
pay for each item to hired professional buyers/bidders to attend
the event and do the bidding. The process is manual, labor
intensive, and somewhat risky for both the hiring collectors and
their hired buyers.
[0006] The new Internet "cyber" Auction format, on the other hand,
allows buyers, sellers, and spectators to browse and search for
information, descriptions, and auction status of goods, and submit
bids without geographical or strict time limitations. All items,
independently, can be "auctioned" during the same time period, in
parallel, and simultaneously. The duration for each "item" in "open
auction" is largely defined by the owner of the item or his agent,
and independent of other items. The duration is measured in days or
weeks, rather than the minutes as custom and necessary in a
physical live auction. The beginning and ending times of "open
auctions" are published individually in each item's entry. Data
entry is left to the owners of objects with templates provided by
the sites. The sites has no organized data on what objects may
become available for auction, and do not publish up-coming
auctions.
[0007] At Ebay.Com (FIG. 1, Jul. 15, 1999), the largest Internet
auction site, millions of objects are "auctioned" at any given
time. Search for goods is accomplished through browsing the
extensive category trees/paths (FIG. 1A), or entering item type or
name through a "search" function. The auction item list obtained
through category browsing is astoundingly large, on the order of
hundreds to thousands of items, over many tens of web-pages (each
can be more than one physically printed page), listed with an
abbreviated one-line entry or a thumbnail entry for each item.
FIGS. 1B-1G are 6 pages of a list of "Featured" furniture auction
items, and FIG. 1H-1J is the 1.sup.st page of 37 pages of 1761
furniture items being auctioned on the Ebay.Com site on Jul. 15,
1999. Note that the right most column indicates the "ending time"
of the auctions, mostly ending around July 22 through July 25, a
ten day auction time span, impossible to accommodate in
conventional "live" auctions, which measure auction time for each
item in minutes. Choosing items out of such a large list can only
be accomplished by reading through tens or hundreds of one-line
abbreviated descriptions of each item, and choosing one item from
the list to view the more detailed information about the item,
one-at-a-time. Once an item is thus chosen, the browser/buyer
clicks on the line or thumbnail entry of the item on the list (see
FIG. 1K-1M, item 122 on the page), and waits for its descriptions
to be sent to the screen from the remote site server (FIGS. 1N and
1O.) If the buyer wishes to view more items from the list of
hundreds of items, it can only be done, again, one-at-a-time, by
clicking "back" to the list, and choose another item, click on the
item, wait for page download, thus repeating. When the buyer is
viewing information about one interested item, the information for
other items previously viewed are gone from the screen. The buyer
must print all information of every item, before clicking "back" to
the list to access information of another item. The comparison
between similar or interested items can only be reasonably done by
reading the volume of printout pages of these items. At the mean
time, the auction status and current high-bid of some items may
have already changed. Although such process is tedious and time
consuming, for many people, it is still preferred over making the
effort required to attend a conventional physical "live"
auction.
[0008] Bidding is entered electronically on a bidding screen that
usually follows the bidding information, object description, and
photograph(s) of the object. For a single item auction, the bid
entered at any given time must "beat" the current highest bid to be
relevant and logged into bidding history as the updated highest
bid. For a "Dutch Auction," where multiple numbers of an identical
item are auctioned, the bid must be higher than the current lowest
valid bid. Every "current highest bid" is there to be outbid before
the "auction time" is still open. It is highly desirable to a
serious buyer to monitor the bidding status, and bid only when
"closing" time comes near.
[0009] With the current state of the art in online auction, such
monitoring is accomplished through manually logging onto the site
at any particular time, go to the pages where a particular item of
interest is described, look up the bidding status of that
particular item, and the closing time of this particular auction.
Set an alarm clock for certain intervals before its "closing time,"
for final check, which could be days later. At any moment between
the time you last manually checked the auction status, and the time
of the alarm, the auction status can only be updated by manually
and periodically logging on to the site, and going to the
particular pages describing the item, one item at a time. If the
buyer is interested in a number of items, the process is extremely
tedious, time consuming, and unreliable. One can enter a bid,
request email notification from the site when the bid is "outbid"
by another buyer. However, this is a one-time only notification. To
be notified again, one must enter another bid that beats the
current highest bid, and risking buying the object at that price,
or to be outbid again.
[0010] For a physical live auction event, there is no way to
monitor the event other than being physically present.
[0011] FIGS. 2A-2I are screen prints of Auction.Yahoo.Com, and
FIGS. 3A-3J are screen prints of AmazonAuction.Com, illustrating
the two sites' identical formats to Ebay.Com. This universal
Internet Auction Format is used with very minor variations on the
theme in all state-of-the-art auction sites. Basically, the home
pages of the auction sites contain a primary category listing, a
"featured" listing, a "search" entry box, and some
informational/promotional icons, textual descriptions, and links.
Clicking on a category title on the primary category list brings
the next page containing the listing of the next level of
categories under that particular category, and a list of the
"featured" items in that category. Clicking on one "featured" title
brings information about that one particular "featured" item.
Similarly, clicking on brief descriptions of promotional or
informational entries and icons brings more detailed information
about the entry. Clicking on a subcategory brings the listing of
the next level subcategories and the "featured" items in that
subcategory, until the particular category path is exhausted. Then,
all items under that end category is listed over many web pages,
accessible one web-page at a time, each containing more than one
physical print page. Links to information of Items listed on a web
page are accessible also one-item-at a time. Entering a search word
or a search phrase brings a list of items that contain the word or
phrase in the tagging header or in the description.
[0012] Although facilitated to provide simultaneous auctions,
Internet format of the known-art does not allow viewing,
monitoring, or tracking of simultaneous auctions of multiple items.
As described previously, a buyer can elect to visit the "biding"
screen, enter a bid for each interested item, and request to have
electronic-mail (email) sent to his/her email account as a one-time
notification when a bid is outbid. Or the buyer can periodically
log-on to the auction site, and manually search and browse for
status information of interested items, one at a time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus
for conducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions
on-line, for pure Internet auctions, and for real-time internet
presentation of live physical auctions. The "current" auction
objects are presented in moving graphical arrays that can be sorted
by columns or rows, commanded to moved to show items beyond the
screen, or stopped to select individual items to obtain further
information or to be monitored and tracked. The "up coming" objects
that are soon to be "open" for bidding are shown on a separate
strip on the screen. The strip "cycles" onto the screen to
accommodate displaying more objects, than the screen size can
accommodate. The moving strip can also be activated to step in the
opposite direction, or stopped for detailed view, or selected for
monitoring, tracking, or to obtain further information. The
displaying and selection method and apparatus can also be used for
other e-commerce sales channels and catalogs.
[0014] Selected objects from different categories, or even
different sites can be monitored and tracked on the same
screen.
[0015] Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to display
three-dimensional objects. Split screen allows video broadcasting,
narrow casting, or streaming of "live auction" events alongside
detailed still or virtual reality images of auctioned objects,
their descriptions, and the bidding entry form, as well as the
running strip cataloguing the upcoming lots/items.
[0016] The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can
also be use in other types of on-line object and catalogue
displays, and other E-commerce channels and services, in addition
to the auction format.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIGS. 1A-1O are conventional EBAY auction web site
views.
[0018] FIGS. 2A-2I are conventional YAHOO! auction web site
views.
[0019] FIGS. 3A-3J are conventional AMAZIN.COM auction web site
views.
[0020] FIGS. 4A-4D: An example of an On-Line Auction presentation
implemented with the current invention.
[0021] FIG. 4A shows the "featured", and "search," or "category"
browsing results are shown in a graphical array, with
multiple-select capabilities. The "upcoming" auctions are announced
in a cycling or stationary (scrolled to view) margin-strip at the
right side. The "present" auctions are presented in rows.
[0022] Each row of the array can advance to left, back to right,
continually move (GO button) to show more items, or stop, at
command by clicking on the commend buttons at the left margin of
the row. The "upcoming" column on the right has similar functions.
The movement for the column is up-down movement.
[0023] In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3
categories and the "featured." The same method and apparatus can
present items of the same category, or the subcategories within a
category, for example, separating sports cars of different
manufacturer.
[0024] FIG. 4B shows the screen shot of the Auction home-page
screen at some time later. Due to exercising the moving functions,
some items have changed positions on the array, some items have
left the screen, and some items not shown in 4A appear on the
screen.
[0025] FIG. 4C shows the selected items from FIGS. 4A and 4B appear
on a monitoring screen.
[0026] The screen is automatically tracked/updated by synchronizing
with the server data at user programmable intervals. Object that
should be seen from all sides has an "On" button in a portion of
its still image. Clicking the "ON" button turns on the Virtual
Reality with automated rotation as well as mouse driven rotation
features. The "ON" button can be replaced by "VR" or any other form
that representing turning on "Virtual Reality." Detailed
information for each monitored object can be called individually by
clicking on the "Detail" button, or selectively and collectively by
clicking the "select" boxes, and submitting requests to the server
after completing the selection process. The object positioning in
the array can be sorted with various criteria at user request or
default setting. The "alert" can also be programmed, for example,
to surround "End Time" box with small blinking stars, or any other
attention causing signal, to signal the end of "open" auction
within 30 minutes (or an hour), and blinking red stars for "My bid"
button when "my bid" is out bid.
[0027] FIG. 4D shows selection of objects monitored in screen FIG.
4C for viewing detailed information and access bidding apparatus
collectively, would bring this screen after submitting the
selection. In this example, The Egli Ucelli landscape painting, the
Jaguar S-series, and the Algarve rug are selected.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows an example of the "Live" Auction Format of the
Present Invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus
for conducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions
on-line, for pure Internet auctions, and for real-time linking to
physical auctions. The "current" auction objects are presented in
moving graphical arrays 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D that can be sorted by
rows 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D or columns, and moved bi-directionally
to show more items than the computer screen size can accommodate,
or stopped to select individual items to obtain further
information, or to be monitored and tracked. The "up coming"
objects that are soon to be "open" for bidding are shown on a
separate strip 24 on the screen. The strip 24 and the sorted rows
22A, 22B, 22C and 22D or columns can be commanded to "cycle" onto
the screen continually to display objects beyond the screen. The
moving strip can also be activated to step in both directions, and
stopped for detailed view or selection for monitoring, tracking, or
to obtain further information. The displaying and selection method
and apparatus can also be used for displaying catalogs and other
e-commerce channels and services.
[0030] Selected objects from different categories, or even
different sites can be monitored and tracked on the same
screen.
[0031] Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to display
three-dimensional objects. Split screen 60 (FIG. 5) allows video
broadcasting, narrow casting or streaming of "live auction" events,
or fashion catwalk events 60A alongside detailed images of
auctioned objects 60B, their descriptions, and the bidding entry
form, as well as the running strip cataloguing the upcoming
lots/items for auction or catwalk.
[0032] The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can
also be use in other types of on-line object and catalogue displays
and other E-commerce channels, mechanisms, and services in addition
to the auction format.
[0033] The present invention presents objects presently open for
auction in each category on a graphical array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D,
with the "up coming auctions" running on a margin strip 24. A time
stamp 26 signifies the time the information is loaded to the
computer at its latest synchronization/up-date. The array 20A, 20B,
20C or 20D can be sorted by user specified or default criteria in
columns or rows. Command buttons 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D or 28E
providing options allowing viewers to start, or stop the cycling,
use the scroll button to scroll up or down, or left or right, to
see more items. The bidder/viewer selects interested objects from
the array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D of either the same category, or from
different categories, or even from different sites, and/or the
interested "upcoming" objects from the margin strip 24. The
"auction wizard" of the current invention fetches the detailed
information and enlarged graphics of the selected items from the
site databases, and composes a personalized auction monitor screen
(FIG. 4C) for the bidder/viewer. The screen is automatically
updated with new status, at user programmable intervals. If the
bidder/viewer's computer is disconnected from the server, the
synchronization occurs automatically upon reconnection.
[0034] Differentiated level of selections can be made, and the
array presentation can be sorted by category, or with other
criteria of differentiation. "Alert" is programmed to user
selectable criteria, such as closing time, outbid, etc. Default
setting can be provided, for example, to alert closing time in one
hour or less, or outbid by others.
[0035] Dropping items from monitoring screen (FIG. 4C) can also be
programmed to criteria, such as highest bid going beyond a certain
price, or successful final bid of another similar item, etc.
Monitoring is automatically dropped when closing is over, and
status sent to "closed auction report" folder.
[0036] Automated 3D Virtual Reality presentation is used to display
three-dimensional objects, such as sculptures, cars, lamps, or
furniture, revolving on the screen automatically. "ON" Buttons 40
are provided to the VR presentation for viewer to elect using the
mouse to rotate the object, or to resume the automated rotation.
The "ON" button 40 is provided on still images of three-dimensional
objects for activating Virtual Reality presentation upon
clicking.
[0037] "Split Screen" 60 accommodates broadcasting, narrow casting,
and streaming video 60A for viewing the live auction events,
alongside the web images, VR or 3D presentations of the object 60B,
detailed textual descriptions, and the online "bidding" mechanism
60C, for linking "live auction" sessions to the on-line auction
network.
[0038] An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implemented
with the current invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D. FIG. 4A
shows "search," or "category" browsing results, and the "featured"
items in a graphical array, with multiple-select capabilities. The
"upcoming" auctions are announced in a cycling or stationary
(scrolled to view) margin-strip 24 at the right side. The "present"
auctions are presented in rows 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D, and sorted in
rows according to category criteria.
[0039] A set of command buttons 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D are placed at
the left margin of each row 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D, respectively, to
enable each row 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D of the array to advance to
the left, or back to the right by pressing the mouse button on the
arrows 30 or 31, or to continually move for showing more items
beyond the screen by clicking on the "GO" button 32, or stop at
command by clicking on the "STOP" button 33. The "Other" button 34
allows the viewer to select to view items from other
categorization. The "upcoming" column on the right (strip 24) has
similar functions. The movement for the column is up-down movement
via arrows 30' and 31' instead of the left-right for the rows of
"present auctions."
[0040] In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3
categories and the "featured," items for the rows. Other criteria
can be used, such as displaying subcategory items from the same
category, for example, sports cars of different manufacturer, or
displaying same category items sorting by ending time, etc.
[0041] Each item on the array is selectable. The viewer can select
as many items from the array as desired for monitoring, for
detailed information, or for bidding. When the selection process is
completed, the viewer "submits" the selection by clicking the mouse
button on the "Submit" button 37 located at the bottom of the
screen.
[0042] FIG. 4B shows the FIG. 4A screen at some later time. Due to
exercising the moving functions, some items have changed positions
on the array, some items have left the screen, and some items not
shown in FIG. 4A appear on the screen.
[0043] FIG. 4C displays the viewer-selected items from FIGS. 4A and
4B on a monitoring screen. The screen is automatically
tracked/updated by synchronizing with the server data at user
programmed or default intervals. Three-dimensional object that
should be seen from all sides has an "On" button 40 in a portion of
its still image. Clicking the "ON" button 40 turns on the Virtual
Reality with automated rotation as well as mouse driven rotation
features. The "ON" button 40 can be replaced by "VR" or any other
form that representing turning on "Virtual Reality." Detailed
information for each monitored object can be called individually by
clicking on the "Detailed" button 45A, or selectively and
collectively by clicking the "select" boxes 45B, and submitting
requests to the server after completing the selection process. The
object positioning in the array can be sorted with various criteria
at user request or default setting. The "alert" can also be
programmed, for example, to surround "End Time" box 43B with small
blinking stars, or any other attention causing signal, to signal
the end of "open" auction within 30 minutes (or an hour), and
blinking red stars for "My bid" button 45C when "my bid" is out
bid.
[0044] Selecting objects monitored in screen FIG. 4C for viewing
further detailed information and access-bidding apparatus
collectively would bring the screen 50 shown in FIG. 4D after
submitting the selection. In this example, The Egli Ucelli
landscape painting, the Jaguar S-series, and the Algarve rug are
selected. The Jaguar has Virtual Reality presentation, activated by
clicking on the "ON" button 40. The column 24B in the middle are
textual descriptions for the items, and the Auction bids column 24C
to the right is where the auction status is presented, updated, and
where bids (in "Bid Amount" box 56) can be entered. The membership
ID number 52 only has to be entered once. The scroll bars 54
indicates there is more information in the box than what is shown.
When the cursor is moved into the frame, where only partial
information is shown, the full frame would pop-up.
[0045] FIG. 5 shows an example of the "Live" Auction Format of the
Present Invention. The 2 boxes at left are real-time, live
streaming, broadcasting, or narrowcasting of live scenes at the
physical auctions. The upper portion of the second column 60B from
the left displays either still image of a 2-D object, or still
image of a 3-D object, with Virtual Reality option upon clicking on
the still image. The upper portion of the 3.sup.rd column 60C
includes bidding screen 62A and description screen 62B. The lower
portion 62C displays the next item to be auctioned, and the right
column 60D displays the upcoming objects after the next auction in
their time order. Bringing the cursor onto an image, the brief
description is shown in a floating box. Clicking on the image
brings detailed descriptions.
[0046] The present invention is implemented using software which
can be written in many programming languages, or implemented with
many web-page generation tools. The present invention can be used
on a global or local computer network, on a personal computer, on
viewable storage media such as a CD ROM, on a wireless telephone,
on a wireless personal assistant such as a Palm Pilot.RTM., or on
any type of wired or wireless device that enables digitally stored
information to be viewed on a display device. Also, information
displayed and viewed using the present invention can be printed,
stored to other storage medium, and electronically mailed to third
parties.
[0047] Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of the
present invention will be apparent to those skilled to the art in
view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is
to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of
teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the
invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially
without departing from the spirit of the invention and the
exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of
the appended claims is reserved.
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