Please type a plus sign (+) inside this -
`
`Docket Number:
`
`700·155P
`
`box
`--~
`~ : PROVISIONAL APPLICA TION FOR PA TENT COVER SHEET (Large Entity)
`~ -
`This is a request for filing a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT under 37 CFR 1.53 (c).
`0
`--==
`c...,)==C
`\0 -\0= =
`
`Given Name (first and middle [if any])
`
`Family Name or Surname
`
`Residence (City and either State or Foreign Country)
`
`INVENTOR(S)/APPLICANT(S)
`
`RANDALL
`PETER
`JONATHAN
`
`RACKSON
`TREVISANI
`KRANE
`
`STAMFORD, CT
`SANTA FE, NM
`NEW YORK, NY
`
`] Additional inventors are being named on page 2 attached hereto
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (280 characters max)
`INTERNET·BASED MULTIPLE AUCTION COORDINATION SYSTEM
`
`Direct a/l correspondence to:
`
`D Customer Number I
`
`CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Place Customer Number
`Bar Code Label here
`
`OR
`I~ Firm or
`Individual Name Anthony R. Barkume
`Address
`14 South Main Street, Suite 200
`
`f~
`
`f~
`in
`"~
`~~
`t~~
`;:::
`
`;5
`i~ =
`;~
`
`Address
`
`City
`Country
`
`Sayville
`
`USA
`
`State
`
`NY
`
`Telephone 516·244·3503
`
`ZIP
`Fax
`
`11782
`
`516·244·7645
`
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS (check aI/ that apply)
`
`Numbe,of Pages ffi
`
`Number of Sheets
`
`4
`
`D Other (specify)
`
`I
`
`~ Specification
`~ Drawing(s)
`
`I
`METHOD OF PAYMENT OF FILING FEES FOR THIS PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT (check one)
`FILING FEE
`AMOUNT
`
`A check or money order is enclosed to cover the filing fees
`
`~
`D The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge filing fees or
`
`credit any overpayment to Deposit Account Number:
`
`I
`I
`The invention was made by an agency of,the United States Government or under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.
`~ No.
`D Yes, the name of the U.S. Government agency and the Government contract number are:
`
`~
`
`Respectfully SUbm;n~
`
`SIGNATURE
`
`'.1/1. ~ DATE ____ ~~~~~19~9~9 ____ _
`
`TYPED or PRINTECYNAME ANTHONY R. BARKUME
`
`TELEPHONE
`
`516·244·3503
`
`REGISTRATION NO.
`(if appropriate)
`
`33,831
`
`USE ONL Y FOR FILING A PROVISIONAL APPLICA TION FOR PA TENT
`SEND TO: Box Provisional Application, Assistaltt Commissioner for Patents, Washington, DC 20231
`I
`
`[Page 1 of 1
`
`P19LARGE/REV04
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 1
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`

`

`Docket No. 700-155P
`
`UNITED STATES PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`
`OF: RANDALL RACKSON,
`
`PETER TREVISANI,
`
`JONATHAN KRANE
`
`FOR: INTERNET-BASED MULTIPLE AUCTION COORDINATION
`
`SYSTEM
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 2
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`

`

`Docket No. 700 155P
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to auction systems
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`where a user specifies parameters of an item for sale in the
`
`auction system and where bidders submit offers for the items
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`5
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`for auction.
`
`Prior art auction methods require a seller to
`
`contact an auction representative in order to place an item
`
`for sale through an auction process. The item is typically
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`10
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`transferred to an auction location prior to the auction date.
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`Bidders assemble on the auction date and bid on items of
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`interest. Electronic enhancements have been made to the
`
`auction process to allow remote bidders and sellers to engage
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`in auctions for items. These enhancements have typically
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`involved facilitating the auction process while keeping the
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`same general foundation where a user offers a product for
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`auction through an intermediary (auctioneer) that executes the
`
`"
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`auction and receives bids for the item. At the end of a
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`specified period of time or when no further bids are
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`the intermediary closes the auction to further bidding and the
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`highest bidder pays for and receives the item. While the
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`seller and bidder may be represented by other parties, the
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`ultimate control of the auction is performed in a centralized
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`manner where the auctioneer runs the process.
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`25
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`Prior art electronic auction systems on the World
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`Wide Web have implemented a similar methodology to allow more
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`widespread visibility of items to be auctioned to allow
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`sellers to submit items for auction on-line where user's bids
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`30
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`from around the world may be received and recorded as the
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`auction progresses. The seller contacts an auction server to
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`1
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 3
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`

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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`indicate that an item is available for sale. The seller
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`identifies the item and specifies the parameters of the
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`auction. The actual auction process is executed by the
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`auction server in accordance with the seller specified rules
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`5
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`for the auction of that item. The item does not have to be
`
`located where the auction is run but the auct
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`server has
`
`the exclusive right to run the auction. When the auction is
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`over, the highest bidder is contacted and the goods are
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`shipped from the seller to the highest bidder. The terms for
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`10
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`the sale are specified in the auction, but the coordination of
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`the shipping is usually arranged between the buyer and seller.
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`In order for a seller to use the auction
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`, the
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`seller must register and provide an item description. The
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`auction sites may require that sellers provide some means of
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`authentication that the items represented are of the quality
`
`described. Different auction sites may have different forms
`
`of verification or may require that the item be submitted or
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`12
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`i~
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`shipped to the auction site prior to auction. For those sites
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`that do not require shipping the product prior to auction, the
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`shipping of the product may be arranged between the seller and
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`the buyer.
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`25
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`sellers to offer goods for sale, the seller has to determine
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`While these auction sites provide a means for
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`the best auction site for the product to be sold. The seller
`
`may receive substantially more or less than expected depending
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`on the number of bidders and what they are willing to pay.
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`It
`
`is therefore to the benefit of the seller to choose the best
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`30
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`auction
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`for that type of product. The best site may be
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`the site that has the most user traffic, or it may be a
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`2
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 4
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`

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`Docket No. 700 155P
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`specialized site that offers items for sale in limited classes
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`of products. For example I a coin collector could offer a
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`highly desirable coin for sale at a general auction site such
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`as EbaYI or alternatively the coin collector may choose to
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`5
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`place the coin at an auction site that caters to knowledgeable
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`coin buyers. Other services may be provided to show the seller
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`the
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`of similar products. This may require the
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`ler to
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`investigate different web sites to determine which auction
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`site has the most traffic or has sold similar items at the
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`10
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`highest price.
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`The final sale price is ultimately dependent on the
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`number of bidders for a product at that site. A seller hoping
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`to
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`the highest price is therefore limited to the users
`
`accessing that web site that are bidding on that product.
`
`Auction servers have provided users with different means to
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`increase the visibility of the item to be sold by establishing
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`~
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`classification methods that allow the userls item to be more
`
`frequently retrieved by the search engine. The user typically
`
`pays an added amount for preferred placement of their item on
`
`the web pages generated. These aspects of placement I while
`
`providing better visibility on that web site do not offer the
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`visibility beyond that auction server.
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`25
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,835,896, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`
`PROCESSING AND TRANSMITTING ELECTRONIC AUCTION INFORMATION,
`
`assigned to OnSale Inc., discloses an automated system used
`
`for auctions on the Internet where the user submits bids to
`
`the system which validates the bids and ultimately noti
`
`30
`
`the successful bidder(s) when the auction is over. During the
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`auction process, the server updates the page image stored on
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`3
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 5
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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`the server so new users requesting the page see the most
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`recent bid information. Recently outbid users are notified
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`via email of higher bids. Users may also be represented by
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`automated processes (proxy bid, column 9 lines 18-35) that bid
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`5
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`incrementally in an automated fashion up to a predefined user
`
`specified value. Different auction types are supported such
`
`as Standard Auction, Dutch Auction, and Progressive Auction.
`
`A bid closing process called "Floating Closing Time" is
`
`additionally disclosed whereby inactivity for a period of time
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`10
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`will end the auction of the item prior to the fixed closing
`
`time specified in the auction.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,890,138 COMPUTER AUCTION SYSTEM,
`
`assigned to Bid.Com International Inc., discloses another
`
`Internet based auction system where users access a central
`
`database of products to purchase items from a quantity of
`
`similar items. The timeframe of the offer is strictly
`
`controlled and a number of items are offered where the price
`
`decreases unt
`
`of the items are sold or until the
`
`timeframe of the sale expires. The system updates the
`
`displayed availability information at periodic intervals where
`
`the period is shortened as the sale comes to an end.
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`25
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`METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUCTIONS, discloses an auction
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,905,975, COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED
`
`system where users may define bidding rules that are
`
`subsequently enforced throughout the bidding process for an
`
`item, thus allowing users to control the amount of time that
`
`they are required to devote to the bidding process. The
`
`30
`
`user's system and the auctioneers system communicate
`
`automatically to determine how the bidding is incremented
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`4
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 6
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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`according to the rules defined. Complex rules may be
`
`implemented where the user may specify quantities of an item
`
`to be purchased at various prices.
`
`5
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`What is desired therefore is a methodology for
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`placing an item for auction that has access to and is visible
`
`through more than one auction service at the same time where
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`the bids received by any of the auction representatives affect
`
`and are coordinated with each other t such that each service
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`10
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`receives the reflects the highest price for that item received
`
`by any of the participating auction representatives.
`
`The objective of the system is to provide maximum
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`visibility of an item to be auctioned by mirroring the
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`on
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`several auction servers simultaneously (i.e. e-bay,
`
`OnSale.com). As the auction progresses t when a user bid is
`
`entered at one site, it is duplicated at the other sites where
`
`the item has been listed. The server process watches each
`
`site and creates a bid on the other sites
`
`real-t
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`that
`
`corresponds to the bid made at the first site. When the sale
`
`is complete t
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`the auction server must notify each of the other
`
`servers of the winner status according to the rules for that
`
`server. By increasing the number of bids for an item the price
`
`will rise, also by gaining visibility for the item, the
`
`i3
`
`~~
`
`25
`
`has the most potential to receive the highest ultimate price.
`
`It is also desirable to use the functionality of the
`
`server of this invention to provide an optimized method for a
`
`bidder to have the server place bids at one or more of a
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`30
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`plurality of connected auction servers for a bidder to
`
`identify those items with the lowest prices.
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`5
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 7
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`

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`Docket No. 700 155P
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`A system and method are disclosed for coordinating
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`5
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`an auction for an item between a multi-auction server t a
`
`plurality of remote auction servers t and a plurality of bidder
`
`computers t all of which are interconnected by a computer
`
`network. The multi-auction server performing the steps of
`
`receiving parameters for the item to be auctioned from a
`
`10
`
`seller t
`
`transmitting the parameters for the item to a
`
`plurality of remote auction servers t
`
`throughout the auction
`
`detecting that a bid for the item has been received by at
`
`least one of the remote auction servers t determining which of
`
`the remote auction servers should receive a replicated bid t
`
`and transmitting a replicated bid to each of the remote
`
`auction servers so determined. A second embodiment of the
`
`invention describes the method wherein more than one remote
`
`auction server receives a bid for the item t and wherein the
`
`multi-auction server detects that a bid for the item has been
`
`~
`
`received by more than one of the remote auction servers,
`
`establishes which of the received bids is an optimal bid for
`
`the item, and transmits the optimal bid as the replicated bid
`
`to each of the remote auction servers.
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`25
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`A networked system is described for coordinating the
`
`sale of an item to an optimal bidder across a plurality
`
`remote auction servers t where the system comprises a networked
`
`multi-auction server system, a plurality of networked remote
`
`auction servers t and a plurality of bidder computers. The
`
`30
`
`multi-auction server comprises means
`
`communicating with
`
`the plurality of remote auction server computers t means for
`
`replicating the item to be auctioned at the plurality of
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`6
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 8
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`

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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`networked remote auction servers, means
`
`detecting a
`
`plurality of bids from a plurality of remote auction server
`
`computers, means for determining which of said plurality of
`
`detected bids is the optimal bid, and means for replicating
`
`5
`
`the optimal bid across the plurality of remote auction server
`
`computers.
`
`The remote auction servers each comprise means for
`
`receiving parameters for the item to be auctioned from the
`
`10
`
`multi-auction server, means for receiving bids for the item to
`
`be auctioned from the plurality of bidder computers and said
`
`multi-auction server computer, and means for updating the bid
`
`for the item to be auctioned.
`
`The plurality of bidder computers each comprise
`
`means for bidding on the item to be auctioned at one of the
`
`remote auction servers.
`
`A method is additionally disclosed for allowing a
`
`bidder to communicate with a mUlti-auction server to request
`
`the multi-auction server to selectively place bids at remote
`
`auction servers for a plurality of items where one item is
`
`desired. This method comprises the bidder specifying to the
`
`multi-auction server the item type to be bid upon, the bidder
`
`25
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`specifying to the multi-auction server the
`
`for bidding,
`
`the multi-auction server determining which items at the remote
`
`auction servers match the bidder requested item, the multi(cid:173)
`
`auction server periodically checking each of the remote
`
`auction sites to determine which site and item to bid onr and
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`30
`
`the mUlti-auction server bidding on the item specified at the
`
`remote auction servers such that the optimal bid is active at
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`7
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 9
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`

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`one of the remote auction servers according to the bidder
`
`Docket No. 700-155P
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`rules.
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`5
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`Figure 1 is a block diagram of the prior art systems
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`involved in Internet-based auctions;
`
`Figure 2 is a diagram of the computing systems of the
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`10
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`multi-auction server system of the present invention;
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`Figure 3 is a diagram of the bid and replication process
`
`steps of the present invention;
`
`Figure 4 is a flow chart of the process steps for
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`specifying and replicating bids across a plurality of remote
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`auction servers.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`The system and method of the present invention
`
`provides a the ability for a seller or bidder to input
`
`parameters of an item to be acquired or sold to achieve the
`
`optimal price for the item. For a seller, the system allows
`
`25
`
`sellers to maximize the visibility of the item to be auctioned
`
`by replicating the item across a plurality of auction
`
`locations. For a bidder, the system provides the ability for
`
`a bidder to specify bid rules to determine where and how to
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`best achieve the purchasing objectives of the bidder across a
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`30
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`plurality of auction locations.
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`8
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 10
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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`The prior art method of selling and buying items
`
`through networked computer-based auction systems will be
`
`described with respect to Figure 1 in order for the user to
`
`more fully appreciate the advances afforded by this system for
`
`5
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`the seller and bidder. For example, in Internet auctions of
`
`the prior art, the seller from a seller computer system 10
`
`determines which remote auction server to use to sell the item
`
`to be auctioned. The remote auction server for the purposes
`
`of this disclosure, may represent an auction service portal
`
`10
`
`such as provided by eBay (remote auction server 12), while
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`auction server 14 may be used to represent the auction
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`services provided by Yahoo. The seller uses a computer 10 to
`
`connect over the Internet 16 to one of the servers (12 or 14) .
`
`Supposing the seller selects the eBay server 12, the seller
`
`then specifies the description, quantity, auction close date
`
`and optionally a reserve price of the object. A plurality of
`
`bidders from bidder computers 20,22 may connect to the eBay
`
`server 12 to view the seller's description and review prior
`
`bid activity or to place a bid on the item. Once the auction
`
`begins, bids for the item are processed strictly through the
`
`seller selected auction server (eBay) until the close of the
`
`auction. The bidders may not bid on this item from any other
`
`auction server. The seller 10 then contacts the winning
`
`bidder 20 and shipping and payment are arranged between the
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`25
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`seller and the bidder. As part of the auction closing
`
`process, the auction server 12 charges the seller an insertion
`
`fee for running the auction, where the cost is either based on
`
`the final sale price of the item or a fixed fee depending on
`
`the type of item. The fee is either charged to an account
`
`30
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`held for the seller in the remote auction server or the
`
`seller's credit card is charged the fee.
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`9
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 11
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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`A networked system is described for implementing the
`
`aforementioned method of coordinating the sale of an item to
`
`an optimal bidder across a plurality of remote auction
`
`5
`
`servers, where the system comprises a networked multi-auction
`
`server system, a plurality of networked remote auction
`
`servers, and a plurality of bidder computers. The multi(cid:173)
`
`auction server comprises communications means to transfer
`
`parameters of the item to be auctioned to the plurality of
`
`10
`
`networked remote auction servers, means for detecting a
`
`plurality of bids from a plurality of remote auction server
`
`computers for the item, means for determining which of said
`
`plurality of detected bids is the optimal bid, and means for
`
`replicating the optimal bid across the plurality of remote
`
`auction server computers.
`
`The remote auction servers each comprise means for
`
`receiving parameters for the item to be auctioned from the
`
`multi-auction server, means for receiving bids for the item to
`
`~
`w
`
`be auctioned from the plurality of bidder computers and
`
`multi-auction server computer, and means for updating the bid
`
`for the item to be auctioned.
`
`25
`
`means for bidding on the item to be auctioned at one of the
`
`The plurality of bidder computers each comprise
`
`remote auction servers.
`
`The multi-auction server comprises one or more
`
`computing devices with memory means for storing parameters of
`
`30
`
`the items to be auctioned, and identification data for the
`
`sellers and bidders, and selling rules and bidding rules.
`
`10
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 12
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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`Preferably a database is used to contain these items where
`
`individual items are stored as data records that have
`
`relationships to the bids received. The means for detecting
`
`will be described in detail in the description of the method
`
`5
`
`of the present invention. The remote auction server
`
`composition is commonly known in the prior art and the means
`
`for receiving bids is based in Internet accessibility via the
`
`World Wide Web where a plurality of bidders operating from
`
`computing devices may submit bids for an item of interest.
`
`10
`
`In contrast to the aforementioned
`
`art method
`
`of conducting an auction, the method and system of the present
`
`invention (see Figure 2) comprises a seller 10, multi auction
`
`agent 30, a plurality of remote auction
`
`ives 12, 14
`
`and a plurality of bidders 20, 22 where the multi-auction
`
`agent 30 places an item for auction through the plurality
`
`remote auction representatives 12, 14 where the bidders may
`
`bid via any of the representatives where the multi-auction
`
`agent 30 coordinates the bids by replicating the bids to the
`
`participating remote auction representatives 12, 14 that are
`
`determined by the multi-auction agent30 .
`
`In addition to a manual mode of operation, this
`
`system may be implemented in a computerized method of
`
`25
`
`operation.
`
`In this manner either phone-based communications
`
`or computer-based coordination may be employed to repl
`
`bids for an item to be sold. The multi-auction agent 30 (or
`
`server) performs the functions required to provide bid
`
`detection and replication for the system. The remote auction
`
`30
`
`representative 12, 14 (or server) performs the tasks of
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`11
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 13
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`Docket No. 700-155P
`
`executing the auction and managing bids received by that
`
`remote auction representative.
`
`In a simplistic version of the present invention,
`
`5
`
`the method of replicating an item across a plurality of remote
`
`auction servers comprises the steps of transmitting the
`
`parameters for the item to be auctioned to the remote auct
`
`representatives; detecting that a bid for the item has been
`
`received by at least one of the remote auction
`
`10
`
`representatives; determining which of the remote auction
`
`representatives should receive a replicated bid; and
`
`transmitting the replicated bid to each of the remote auction
`
`representatives so determined.
`
`1m ~;
`
`In a comprehensive version of the invention (see
`
`Figure 3 and 4) where computers or other communication means
`
`are used to coordinate activities, the seller 16 contacts the
`
`multi-auction agent 30 at step 100, the seller 16
`
`identification data to the multi-auction agent 30 and
`
`2
`
`describes the item or items to be sold at auction at step 104.
`
`In the preferred embodiment, the multi auction agent performs
`
`an optional check to review historical records at step 110 to
`
`determine how similar items have sold. The multi auction
`
`agent determines from the historical information the optimum
`
`25
`
`parameters to be applied to the items at step 112.
`
`If the seller has more than one item, at step 116
`
`the items may be sold together or separately.
`
`If the items
`
`are different but make up a set, they would probably be sold
`
`30
`
`together. Alternatively the items could be auctioned
`
`separately, where each item would be described for sale
`
`12
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 14
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`Docket No. 700 155P
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`individually at step 120.
`
`If the items were the same,
`
`different auction methods could be employed to maximize the
`
`final auction price of the items.
`
`In one method, one item at
`
`a time could be released to remote auction representatives to
`
`5
`
`be auctioned.
`
`In another version, the items could be listed
`
`as one item to be sold, where multiple bidders may be allowed
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`to bid for less than the quantity available. A reserve price
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`established by the seller may be used to restrict or select
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`the bids that may win the auction by finding the combination
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`10
`
`of bids for a particular quantity of an item that meet or
`
`exceed the total reserve specified by the seller. For example
`
`if a seller has three items that are to be sold, bidders may
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`be able to bid on one I
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`two or all three of the items l where
`
`the bidder specifies in the bid the number requested and the
`
`corresponding bid price. The multi-auction server may select
`
`~~
`
`a combination of bidders from several remote auction servers
`
`~~
`~
`
`to be combined to meet the reserve price established by the
`
`seller. The seller may specify that anyone item exceeding
`
`the unit price as determined from the reserve price and the
`
`available quantity, may be sold individually or the seller may
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`accept a combination of bids where higher than reserve and
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`below reserve bids in combination exceed the minimum bid
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`price. Multiple bidders may also be successful in the Dutch
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`auction format where the bids decrease until the final bid
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`25
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`price is determined. These bids are replicated in a similar
`
`manner.
`
`The determining means of the multi-auction agent
`
`determines which remote auction representatives are to be
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`30
`
`contacted at step 124. This determination may be based on
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`historical records or known auction locations
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`similar
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`13
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 15
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`

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`Docket No. 700 155P
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`items.
`
`If an item to be auctioned can be listed at step 130
`
`under more than one category or with different descriptive
`
`information, the item may be transmitted to the remote auction
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`representative more than once where each occurrence is linked
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`5
`
`to each other by the multi-auction agent without causing the
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`remote auction representative to perform any coordination
`
`functions.
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`10
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`remote auction representatives to "list ll the item for an
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`The multi-auction agent at this point contacts the
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`upcoming auction. The agent may use the information determined
`
`in the prior steps to generate the descriptive information
`
`that is included in the auction request.
`
`In the preferred
`
`embodiment, the communications means of the multi-auction
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`agent contacts each of the remote representatives and relays
`
`(transmits) a record for a seller for the remote auction
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`representative to process into its system at step 140. In more
`
`sophisticated systems, the remote auction server typically
`
`generates some type of confirmation number and indicia to
`
`2
`
`identify the item which may then be recorded in memory of the
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`system by the multi-auction agent and is used for subsequent
`
`communications. The agent may specify the parameters of the
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`offer to include some or all of the following: starting date
`
`and time; closing date and time; reserve price; quantity of
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`25
`
`items; item description which may comprise in addition to
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`text, graphic representation such as image file, photograph;
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`audio file; video clip or other content that provides a
`
`representation of the item. These parameters may be defined
`
`by the sel
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`or be generated by the multi-auction agent.
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`30
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`14
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 16
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`Docket No. 700-155P
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`An item to be auctioned is identified at the remote
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`auction representative by the submitting entity where this may
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`refer to the identity of the seller or the multi-auction agent
`
`may supply contact information indicative of the multi-auction
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`5
`
`agent to the remote auction representative. In the case where
`
`the item is listed on a remote auction server several times
`
`under different nomenclature where each of the references are
`
`traceable back to one item for auction, the multi-auction
`
`agent needs to track the bids to assure that while each
`
`10
`
`appears to be a different item, they are in fact replications
`
`of the same item.
`
`The active auction for the item is started by
`
`remote auction representatives where the multi-auction server
`
`detects the bids received by the remote auction representative
`
`for the item or items at step 144. The multi auction
`
`representative determines which of the remote auction
`
`representatives are to receive replicated bids at step 150.
`
`The bids are replicated at step 154 at the remote auction
`
`servers that were determined at step 150. This detection,
`
`determining and replication steps are repeated until the end
`
`or close of the action at step 160. The detailed operation of
`
`the bidding through closing process steps will be described
`
`more fully below.
`
`t.O
`
`~~
`
`25
`
`A detailed flow of the bid process will now be
`
`described with respect to Figure 3.
`
`In the preferred
`
`embodiment of a computerized version of the system, following
`
`the initial definition of the parameters of the item by the
`
`30
`
`seller to the multi-auction server (step 200), the multi
`
`auction server contacts each of the remote auction servers
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`15
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 17
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`

`

`Docket No. 700-155P
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`(210, and 212) that have been selected to auction the item as
`
`previously described. Each of the remote auction servers
`
`initiates the auction independently of each other as if they
`
`had total control of the auction process.
`
`5
`
`If the bidder 20 makes a bid at remote auction
`
`server 12 (step 220), the multi-auction server 30 detects the
`
`bid (step 222) by watching each of the items being auctioned
`
`by each of the remote auction representatives to detect when a
`
`10
`
`bid occurs on that item.
`
`In the preferred embodiment this
`
`detection may be based on the reception of a message generated
`
`by the remote auction representative whenever the item
`
`receives a bid. This message may be an email notification
`
`message, a phone call, a satellite pager message or any other
`
`type of communication generated from the remote auction
`
`representative. Alternatively the detection may be based upon
`
`data updates at the remote auction representative web site,
`
`I·
`
`where the update reflects a change in the bid amount that is
`
`~~
`~
`~~
`
`detectable remotely by the multi-auction agent. The multi-
`
`auction agent may use the functionality provided by the remote
`
`auction server where a bid causes current bidders or the
`
`seller to be notified of bids for the item. A starting bid
`
`may be placed by the remote auction agent to begin the
`
`notification process if required or permitted.
`
`If the remote
`
`25
`
`auction does not support this type of notification process the
`
`multi-auction agent may periodically request a refresh of the
`
`bid information for the item.
`
`In this manner a plurality of
`
`virtual connections may be established between the remote
`
`auction representatives' web site's for each item page and
`
`30
`
`multi-auction agent, where in response to a request
`
`a
`
`refresh of the page contents, the remote auction
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`16
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 18
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`

`

`Docket No. 700-155P
`
`representative prepares and sends the response containing the
`
`remote current bid information/ upon receipt the multi-auction
`
`agent may parse the content received to determine a change in
`
`the bid as compared to the known bid by the multi auction
`
`5
`
`agent.
`
`If more than one bid is detected with the same bid
`
`value a priority scheme is used to determine which bid is the
`
`optimal bid.
`
`In the preferred embodiment, this priority
`
`scheme checks the time stamp of the bid as stored by the
`
`remote auction representative. This time stamp is compared
`
`10
`
`between each of the bids having the same bid value to
`
`determine which bid is the first received. A local table may
`
`be used to synchronize times for each remote server where the
`
`time reported is compared to a local standard and the
`
`differences or offsets are used to normalize the times such
`
`that they are adjusted to one standard. This standard time is
`
`used to determine which bid is the first bid received. A
`
`correction request may be submitted to the remote auction
`
`server to modify the current high bidder to the bidder
`
`determined by the remote auction bidder.
`
`If this
`
`functionality is not supported, the multi-auction server
`
`records the true actual bidder that has the current high value
`
`based on this time analysis. This type of reconciliat
`
`would not be required in the middle of the auction, but is
`
`significant at the end of the auction and will be addressed
`
`~=
`
`2~
`~u
`
`25
`
`during the description of the closing process.
`
`The system can operate where the multi-auction
`
`server responds immediately to the detection at the remote
`
`auction servers where the multi auction server contacts each
`
`30
`
`of the remote auction servers to replicate the detected bid/
`
`or the multi auction server may communicate with
`
`of the
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`17
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`eBay Ex. 1025, Page 19
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`

`

`Docket No. 700 155P
`
`remote auction servers to retrieve the current bid for the
`
`item to identify the optimal bidder from those pending bids
`
`prior to replicating that optimal bid. This optimal bid is
`
`then replicated at each of the remote auction server
`
`5
`
`In one embodiment, the multi-auction agent
`
`periodically communicates with each of the selected remote
`
`auction representatives where the period is a function of the
`
`activities occurring at the auction being executed by the
`
`10
`
`remote auction representative. When the period is based on
`
`the time remaining to the close of the auction, the multi(cid:173)
`
`auction agent may con