The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2001
Filed:
May. 14, 1999
Marc Alaia, Glenshaw, PA (US);
David J. Becker, Sewickley, PA (US);
Anthony F. Bernard, Wexford, PA (US);
Daniel C. Heckmann, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Sam E. Kinney, Jr., Sewickley, PA (US);
Glen T. Meakem, Sewickley, PA (US);
Vincent F. Rago, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Jason Reneau, Boston, MA (US);
Frederick W. Roberts, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
William D. Rupp, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Robert G. Stevens, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
FreeMarkets, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and system for conducting electronic auctions is described. A mic lot closing extension feature avoids collisions in closing times of multiple lots by dynamically extending the closing time of a subsequent lot if a preceding lot's closing time is extended to be too close to the subsequent lot's then-currently can be extended with a flexible overtime feature, in which the properties of the event triggering the extension and the of the overtime period(s) can be tailored to a particular auction, particular lots of products within an auction, and to the particular time within an auction process. t can be set to a “pending” status after the nominal closing time for submission of bids to allow bidders to alert the auction coordinator of technical problems in submission of bids. This allows the possibility for a lot to be return to bidding by all bidders. The auction may be paused by the auction coordinator to correct technical, market and miscellaneous problems that may arise during the course of an auction. Individual bid ceilings can be set for each e required to bid lower than certain thresholds determined in advance of the auction. Failsafe error detection is performed to prevent erroneous bids from entering the auction. The auction coordinator has the ability to override any ent prejudice to the auction.