(19)
(11) EP 1 122 668 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
26.09.2001 Bulletin 2001/39

(43) Date of publication A2:
08.08.2001 Bulletin 2001/32

(21) Application number: 01111703.3

(22) Date of filing: 17.09.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 17/60
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 18.09.1998 US 101141 P
04.12.1998 US 110846 P
19.02.1999 US 252790

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
99951498.7 / 1114384

(71) Applicant: Freemarkets, Inc.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Alaia, Marc
    Glenshaw, PA 15116 (US)
  • Becker, David J.
    Sewickley, PA 15143 (US)
  • Bernard, Anthony F.
    Wexford, PA 15090 (US)
  • Heckmann, Daniel C.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15227 (US)
  • Kinney, Sam E., Jun.
    Sewickley, PA 15143 (US)
  • Meakam, Glen T.
    Sewickley, PA 15143 (US)
  • Rago, Vincent E.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15221 (US)
  • Reneau, Jason
    Boston, MA 02115 (US)
  • Roberts, Frederick W.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15221 (US)
  • Rupp, William D.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15239 (US)
  • Stevens, Robert G.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15232 (US)

(74) Representative: Schmidt, Steffen J., Dipl.-Ing. 
Wuesthoff & Wuesthoff, Patent- und Rechtsanwälte, Schweigerstrasse 2
81541 München
81541 München (DE)

   


(54) Method and system for conducting electronic auctions


(57) A method of controlling automatic bid adjustments in an electronic auction system in the form of a computer network in real time is described. The method comprises setting at least one lot, each lot comprising one or more line items, providing a user interface for setting adjustment rules at a line item level for line item bids, inputting an adjusted bid at a lot level and, in response to the input of said adjusted bid at said lot level, automatically calculating adjusted bids at said line item level in real time in accordance with said adjustment rules. The invention also relates to an electronic auction system in the form of a computer network for performing the method.






Search report