PTO/SB/16 (8196)
`Approved for use through 01/31198, OMB 0651-0037
`Patent and Trademark Office; U.S, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of Information unless It displays a valid OMB control number
`Attorney Docket No.
`04113.P006Z
`Type a plus sign (+) inside this box
`[+]
`
`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT COVER SHEET
`This is a request for filing a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT under 37 CFR 1.53 (c).
`
`INVENTORisl/APPlICANT(s)
`
`LAST NAME
`
`FIRST NAME
`
`l;~ U~~,J~I
`
`Catherine
`
`MIDDLE NAME!
`INITIAL
`
`RESIDENCE (CITY AND
`EITHER STATE OR
`FOREIGN COUNTRY)
`
`Los Gatos, California
`
`0
`f-o a.
`.~ .
`;:,
`,...,
`~~ u
`Ih
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (280 characters max)
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTIVE, COMPUTER ASSISTED ON-LINE AUCTIONS
`
`CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS (including country: if not United States)
`Grego!y D. Caldwell, Reg. No. 39,926
`BLAKELY, SOKOLOFF, TAYLOR & ZAFMAN, LLP
`12400 Wilshire Boulevard, Seventh Floor
`Los Angeles, California 90025-1026
`TeleRhone: (503} 684-6200
`
`FAX: {503} 684-3245
`
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS {check all that a,;,mly:}
`
`-.2QL Specification
`
`Number of Pages
`
`12
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`-.2QL Drawing(s)
`
`Number of Sheets
`
`91
`
`Small Entity Statement
`
`Other (specify)
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT OF FiliNG FEES FOR THIS
`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT {check one}
`
`~ A check or money order is enclosed to cover the filing fees
`
`~ The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any deficiency in
`filing fees and credit Deposit Account No. 02-2666
`
`Filing Fee Amount ($)
`
`:]2150.00
`
`This invention was made by an agency of the United States Govemment or under contract with an agency of the United States
`Govemment.,
`xx
`No
`
`== Yes, the name of the U.S, Government Agency and the Government
`
`! ontract Number are: _______ _
`
`SIGNATURE
`
`TYPED or PRINTED NAME:
`
`REGISTRATION NO . ......::r:~=-=-__ _
`(if appropriate)
`Additional inventors are being named on separately numbered sheets attached hereto
`
`12101/97
`
`- 1 -
`
`PTO/SS/05 (12/97)
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`TITLE OF THE INVENTION
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTIVE, COMPUTER ASSISTED
`ON-LINE AUCTIONS
`
`INVENTOR
`
`CATHERINE LIN-HENDEL
`
`Prepared by
`
`BLAKELY, SOKOLOFF, TAYLOR & ZAFMAN
`12400 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
`SEVENTH FLOOR
`Los ANGELES, CA 90025-1026
`(408) 720-8598
`
`"Express Mail" mailing label number
`EL034432328US
`
`Date of Deposit
`July 30~ 1999
`I hereby certify that this paper or fee is being deposited with the United States
`Postal Service "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" service under 37 CFR
`1.10 on the date indicated above and is addressed to the Commissioner of
`Patents and Trademarks, Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`Michelle J. Turner
`
`ffk ~r,Pr,-in..;;...,t~,-narme of person mailing paper or fee)
`
`(Signature
`I
`
`1
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`COPYRIGHT NOTICE
`
`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
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`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
`
`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 "life" 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 life auction event. Thus, each item has a very
`limited time allotment to be on the auction stage.
`
`Some items stimulate more interest than others in an unpredictable way in
`a time limited physical life auction event. The buyers come to, and leave the
`event also in somewhat of unpredictable ways, it is difficult for a life auction event
`
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`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.
`
`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 life 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.
`
`At Ebay.Com (Figure 1, July 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 (Figures 1 A,
`and 1 B), or enter item type or name through a "search" function. The auction
`item list obtained through category browsing are astoundingly large, in 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 abbreviated one-line entry or
`a thumbnail entry for each item. Figure 1 C1 through Figure 1 C6 list "Featured"
`furniture auction items, and Figure 1C7 is the 1st page of 37 pages of 1761
`furniture items currently being auctioned on the Ebay.Com site on July 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 "life" 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 Figure 1 C2, 5th item on the page), and wait for its descriptions to
`be sent to the screen from the remote site server (Figures 101 through 10 3.) If
`the buyer wishes to view more items from the list of hundreds of items, it can only
`
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`,~
`
`"
`
`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 "life" auction.
`
`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.
`
`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 log on to the site, go 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.
`
`For a physical life auction event, there is no way to monitor other than
`being physically present.
`
`Figures 2 are screen prints of Auction. Yahoo. Com. and Figures 3 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
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`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.
`
`:.~
`
`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
`
`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 life 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.
`
`Selected objects from different categories, or even different sites can be
`monitored and tracked on the same screen.
`
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`Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to display three(cid:173)
`dimensional objects. Split screen allows video broadcasting, narrow casting, or
`streaming of "life 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.
`
`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
`
`Figure 1. Ebay.Com. Known-Art Auction Format. Only ONE link (one item)-
`can be clicked at any time on any page, as in all Internet web pages.
`
`1 A shows the home page, with its 1 st level categories listed on the left side
`of the page, the "featured" items listed in the middle of the page, and the
`"search" box at top center of the page.
`
`1 B shows the next level categories under Antiques Category listed on the
`home page. The "featured" items are listed on the right side of the page.
`
`1 C1 to 1 C9 is sent from the site server when the "Furniture" sub-category
`is clicked on Figure 1 B.
`
`1 C1 through 1 C6 are one-line descriptions of "featured" items in the
`Furniture category.
`
`1 C7 through 1 C9 are the first of the 37 web-pages listings of 1,761
`furniture items currently being auctioned on the site.
`
`101 through 103 are detailed description and bidding status of the item
`listed on Figure 1 C2, 6th item from the top: Super Turn of Century Oak
`Victorian Secretary.
`
`1 E1 is the "Search" result for "bedroom furniture" in the Antiques category.
`There are only two items found.
`
`1 E2 is the "Search" result for the same phrase "bedroom furniture in all
`categories, with 17 items found, including many Dollhouse bedroom sets.
`
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`Figure 2: Auction. Yahoo. Com. Known-Art Auction Format.
`
`2A is the home page with the 1 st level category listing.
`
`28 lists subcategories under "Antiques & Collectables." The page is sent
`from the site server when the "Antiques & Collectables" category on the
`home page 2A is clicked.
`
`2C lists subcategories under the "Furniture" category on 28. The page is
`sent from the site-server when the "Furniture" category on 2B is clicked.
`
`2D: lists the 5 featured items on the top of the page, and a total of 16
`items in the "Living Room Set" category. The page is sent from the site
`server, when the "Living Room Set" category on 2C is clicked.
`
`2E: shows the "Armoires" subcategory under the "Furniture" category
`listed on 2C. There are a total of 12 items. The 5 "featured" items are
`shown on the top of the page.
`
`2F1 and 2F2: The "Chests" subcategory under the "Furniture" Category
`listed on 2C.
`
`2G 1 and 2G2: The description of an item listed on 2F1 , the Oriental Hope
`Chest. Only one item can be clicked and reviewed at a time.
`
`Figure 3: The Auctions.Amazon.Com. Known-Art Auction Format.
`
`3A: is the home page, listing the 1 st level categories on the left side, and 6
`"featured" items in the middle of the page.
`
`3B1 through 3B3: lists the second level categories under the "Antiques"
`category, and the "Featured Auctions" in the "Antiques" category.
`
`3C1 to 3C5: lists the first 50 items out of a total of 464 items in the "Books
`& Manuscripts" category under the "Antiques" category. Information can
`only be gotten one item, one link at a time, as in all Internet sites.
`
`Figure 4: An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implemented with the
`current invention.
`
`4A. 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)
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`margin-strip at the right side. The "present" auctions are presented in
`rows
`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(cid:173)
`down movement.
`
`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.
`
`4B. 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.
`
`4C: The selected items from 4A and 4B appear on a monitoring screen.
`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.
`
`40: Selecting objects monitored in screen 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.
`
`Figure 5: An example of the "Life" Auction Format of the Present Invention.
`
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
`
`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 that can be sorted by rows 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 on the screen. The strip and the
`sorted rows 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.
`
`Selected objects from different categories, or even different sites can be
`monitored and tracked on the same screen.
`
`Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to display three(cid:173)
`dimensional objects. Split screen allows video broadcasting, narrow casting or
`streaming of "life auction" events, or fashion catwalk events alongside detailed
`images of auctioned objects, their descriptions, and the bidding entry form, as
`well as the running strip cataloguing the upcoming lots/items for auction or
`catwalk.
`
`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.
`
`The present invention presents objects presently open for auction in each
`category on a graphical array, with the "up coming auctions" running on a margin
`strip. A time stamp signifies the time the information is loaded to the computer at
`its latest synchronization/up-date. The array can be sorted by user specified or
`default criteria in columns or rows. Command buttons 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 bidderlviewer selects interested objects from
`the array of either the same category, or from different categories, or even from
`different sites, and/or the interested "upcoming" objects from the margin strip.
`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 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.
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`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.
`
`Dropping items from monitoring screen 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.
`
`Automated 3D Virtual Reality presentation is used to display three(cid:173)
`dimensional objects, such as sculptures, cars, lamps, or furniture, revolving on
`the screen automatically. Buttons are provided to the VR presentation for viewer
`to elect using the mouse to rotate the object, or to resume the automated
`rotation. A "VR," button is provided on still images of three-dimensional objects
`for activating Virtual Reality presentation upon clicking.
`
`""
`
`"Split Screen" accommodates broadcasting, narrow casting, and
`streaming video for viewing the life auction events, alongside the web images,
`VR or 3D presentations of the object, detailed textual descriptions, and the online
`"bidding" mechanism, for linking "life auction" sessions to the on-line auction
`network.
`
`An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implemented with the
`current invention is illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 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 at the right side. The "present"
`auctions are presented in rows, and sorted in rows according to category criteria.
`A set of command buttons are placed at the left margin of each row to enable
`each row of the array to advance to the left, or back to the right by pressing the
`mouse button on the arrows, or to continually move for showing more items
`beyond the screen by clicking on the "GO" button, or stop at command by
`clicking on the "STOP" button. The "Other" button allows the viewer to select to
`view items from other categorization. The "upcoming" column on the right has
`similar functions. The movement for the column is up-down movement instead of
`the left-right for the rows of "present auctions."
`
`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 ..
`
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`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 located at the bottom of the
`screen.
`
`Figure 48 shows the Figure 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 4A appear
`on the screen.
`
`Figure 4C: Displays the viewer-selected items from 4A and 48 on a
`monitoring screen. The screen is automatically tracked/updated by
`synchronizing with the seNer data at user programmed or default inteNals.
`Three-dimensional object that should be seen from a" 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 we" 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 "Detailed" button, or selectively and collectively by
`clicking the "select" boxes, and submitting requests to the seNer 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.
`
`Selecting objects monitored in screen 4C for viewing further 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 AlgaNe rug are selected. The Jaguar has
`Virtual Reality presentation, activated by clicking on the "ON" button. The
`column in the middle are textual descriptions for the items, and the Auction bids
`column to the right is where the auction status is presented, updated, and where
`bids can be entered. The membership ID number only has to be entered once.
`The scroll bars 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.
`
`Figure 5: Shows an example of the "Life" Auction Format of the Present
`Invention. The 2 boxes at left are real~time, life streaming, broadcasting, or
`narrowcasting of life scenes at the phYSical auctions. The upper portion of the
`second column 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.
`
`11
`
`eBay Ex. 1024, Page 12
`
`

`

`\
`
`The upper portion of the 3rd column includes bidding screen and description
`screen. The lower portion displays the next item to be auctioned, and the right
`column 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.
`
`-::::;::::
`
`12
`
`eBay Ex. 1024, Page 13
`
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`

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`Ab.Ql!L~Ua.y I ~fuHarbQI I IiQi).kmaJks I ~agy StQre I Jobs
`y~t Local- eBav L.t\1 G.~LQIQbal! I Cana~ I
`I ~rrnall.Y I B*iiq,;l"jL<;;!
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`Last updated: 07/15/99, 17:30:00 PDT
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`Copyright © 1995-1999 ~I!ayJn<::.All Rights Reserved.
`Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay l)Ji~.l
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