Auction system

摘要

A method for auctioning a lot, in which a plurality of messages are received from a plurality of bidders for the lot, with each message including a bid for the lot. A bid acceptance message is sent by SMS to each of the bidders notifying the bidder of the status of the bidder's bid. Each bidder is charged for sending the bid acceptance message. The bidder associated with the lowest unique bid for the lot is determined.

主权项

1. An auctioning system for facilitating bidder participation in an auction for the purchase of a lot, comprising:
at least one data processing device and a memory in communication with the at least one data processing device, the memory storing instructions which, when executed executable by the at least one data processing device, cause the at least one data processing device to: (a) receive a plurality of messages from a plurality of bidders for the lot, each message including a bid for the lot; (b) determine whether each of the plurality of messages comprises an acceptable bid; (c) for each acceptable bid received from one of the bidders
(i) determine whether said bid is unique;(ii) if the at least one data processing device determines that said bid is not unique:
(A) cause a first bid acceptance message to be sent by reverse billed SMS to a communication device of said bidder, said first bid acceptance message including a notification that said bid is not unique; and(iii) if the at least one data processing device determines that said bid is unique, determine whether said bid is a lowest unique bid;(iv) if the at least one data processing device determines that said bid is the lowest unique bid:
(A) cause a second bid acceptance message to be sent by reverse billed SMS to the communication device of said bidder, said second bid acceptance message including a notification that said bid is the lowest unique bid;and(v) if the at least one data processing device determines that said bid is unique but not the lowest unique bid:
(A) cause a third bid acceptance message to be sent by reverse billed SMS to the communication device of said bidder, said third bid acceptance message including a notification that said bid is unique but not the lowest unique bid;and (d) at a close of the auction, determine which one of the bidders is associated with the lowest unique bid, wherein the lowest unique bid is a winning bid in the auction for the purchase of the lot, wherein at least one acceptable bid is not the winning bid.