REAL TIME AUCTION WITH END GAME

摘要

A real time auction system operates in a non real time mode, and an end game mode in which the users are placed in a forum. In both modes the users are capable of placing bids along with times when those bids should be executed. An agent treats the bids as secret until the time, and then at the time executes those bids.

主权项

1. A method of hosting a computer-based auction over the internet, comprising: using a computer to produce information representing a webpage indicative of an electronic auction, where said webpage shows bid amounts and accepts bids over the internet; said computer producing second information as part of said information representing a webpage, said second information having a first parameter indicative of an ending time for said electronic auction; said computer also storing information indicative of time intervals between updates of said webpage; prior to said ending time, said computer, in response to a manual request to open or refresh said webpage indicative of an electronic auction from a user of one or more client computers, transmitting said entire webpage indicative of an electronic auction; wherein said webpage indicative of an electronic auction automatically receives new bid information at said time interval without users of said one or more client computers making a manual request for said new information, and does not update said entire webpage indicative of an electronic auction unless said users of said one or more client computers makes a manual request to refresh said entire webpage indicative of an electronic auction.