JP2001195511A - Method of attaining anonymity of lister during on-line auction - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect the anonymity of bidders and a lister in the initial stages of an on-line auction. SOLUTION: An auction list containing the explanation of an item, a starting price and a bottom price is presented. Bidding responds to the auction list and each of bidding receives bidding containing the price. During the auction, anonymous communication is enabled between the lister and the bidders through an anonymous electronic mail server. Bidding is received from a bidder, who satisfies or exceeds the bottom price, and that bidder acquires the contact information of the lister.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 348,732, filed Jul. 6, 1999.

[0002] The present invention relates to online transactions, and more particularly to online auctions and reverse transactions in which a buyer initiates a transaction to purchase goods or services by posting an offer, and more particularly to the present invention. Relates to an online reverse auction.

[0003]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To facilitate transactions on the Internet, the concept of reverse online transactions is used. For example, Pricelin
e. Com, Inc. is available at www.com. priceline.
Offer travel tickets and accommodations via a reverse transaction format on a website at www.com.com. P
riceline. According to the method used by the Com website, buyers who settle with a credit card can use a time-limited sales application, a firm offer (f
rm offer) can be performed. The firm offer is transmitted to a predetermined ticket seller. The first seller to receive the offer ties the buyer to the sales contract. Note that the buyer's offer amount is not posted. The merchant may either accept or decline the offer. There is no further price competition between distributors. No. 5,794,207 to Walker et al. Includes Priceline. C
Various aspects of the reverse transaction format used in om have been described. This US patent is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004]

Some disadvantages of reverse transactions are also described. For example, Price
line. In the reverse transaction format used on Com's website, a buyer guaranteed by a credit card or other financial instrument makes a firm offer. The buyer waits to see if the seller accepts the farm offer. The buyer has made a farm offer, which prevents the buyer from actually considering another travel arrangement. This limits the buyer to one firm offer. Buyer 1
Restricting to one firm offer may prevent the buyer from looking for other merchants and may prevent the buyer from purchasing goods or services at the lowest possible price. This is especially true for buyers who are overpriced.

[0005] The buyer has multiple reverse offers (counte).
It would be desirable to have a method that provides an inverse transaction format with the option to consider In this way, the buyer is more securely protected because the buyer can choose from many reverse offers before entering into the contract.

In general, privacy is important for those who shop online. Popular online auctions are available at www. ebay. com, eBay,
Inc. Provided by Privacy is protected by allowing only registered users to access contact information (ie, email addresses) of other registered users. This design allows an unspecified number of people to
It has the obvious purpose of collecting the e-mail addresses of Bay users and preventing them from creating spam mail. Fortunately, in a normal auction format, any potential buyer remains anonymous until the price is determined.

[0007] eBay, Inc. A drawback of the online auction used by Yahoo is that registered users, including sellers, can obtain contact information (i.e., email addresses) for other registered users. With thousands of registered users, privacy is relatively unprotected for these registered users. In addition, a person who bids on an item will present his email address to thousands of registered users. This happens regardless of whether the bid was successful.

[0008] A buyer's email address is a valuable resource for many sellers. In some cases, clues for sale such as email addresses (s
Overly eager sellers with an ales lead may send unwanted emails to buyers in rapid succession until the buyer purchases or changes his email address. Therefore, there is a need for a method of maintaining buyer anonymity in online transactions in order to prevent unnecessary emails.

[0009] Respond. com. , Inc. Is
http: // www. response. com / has a beta version of the online reverse transaction format on the web. This website allows buyers to post purchase offers and sellers to contact buyers for the purpose of responding to purchase offers. The buyer's email address is not revealed to the seller from the purchase offer. Respond. This reverse sailing format, pioneered by com, Inc., promotes buyer anonymity by filtering buyer email addresses from posted purchase offers. The summary quoted from this website describes how anonymity is protected.

"The buyer is kept anonymous with the seller. If you send us your email address to Response.com, you will be able to send a seller reply email to you. Your e-mail address will not be disclosed to anyone, and if you receive an e-mail from a seller, it is up to you to contact the seller (remember that the seller does not know your e-mail address) .) "Response. com. , Inc. Website has taken a good first step in protecting buyer anonymity, but once a buyer receives offers from multiple sellers, buyers need to contact the seller directly, for example by email. I found it. When the buyer contacts the seller directly, the anonymity with the seller disappears. Thus, typically, buyers cannot anonymously ask questions or negotiate prices anonymously with sellers.

[0011] Buyers may be fed up with providing e-mail addresses to multiple sellers for fear of spam. The fear of this spam email
The number of questions from the buyer to the seller regarding various qualities of the item being purchased may be limited. Fear of spam can also limit buyers' desire to negotiate prices with sellers. Therefore, a method of reducing the number of sellers accessing the contact information of the buyer and improving the anonymity of the buyer is desired. There is also a need for a turnkey scheme that allows buyers to make the best deal with a voluntary seller.

[0012] In addition, www. eBay. In online auctions such as those held at com, many of the sellers of items (listers)
Individuals not normally engaged in commercial retailing (priv
ate party). Others also retail items from their home office or garage. Such listers want to protect their anonymity to the greatest extent possible. An online auction that protects the privacy of Lister by minimizing the disclosure of contact information of Lister is desired.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an online auction, a method for protecting anonymity of a lister according to the present invention includes a lister listing items for auction and a bidder bidding on the listed items. Providing an online auction site; posting an auction listing to the online auction site, wherein the auction listing includes a description of the item, a starting price, and a minimum price; Receiving bids, wherein the bids are responsive to an auction listing, each bid including a price;
Enabling anonymous communication between Lister and bidders during the auction, via an anonymous email server, and from at least one bidder meeting or exceeding a minimum price; Receiving bids and enabling bidders with bids meeting or exceeding the minimum price to obtain contact information for the Lister, thereby achieving the objectives described above.

[0014] The first bidder may meet or exceed the minimum price and obtain contact information for the Lister.

The auction ends when the second bidder wins the auction, and the first bidder may use the contact information of the lister to contact the lister after the auction ends.

[0016] The first bidder who meets the lowest price but loses the auction may complete the transaction with Lister after the auction ends.

[0017] Multiple bidders may have their bids meet or exceed a minimum price.

The lister may remain anonymous to all but the bidder who won the auction and those who have bids that meet or exceed the lowest price.

The present invention includes systems and methods for maintaining buyer anonymity in online transactions. The system includes a host server, an e-mail server and a database. The system is accessible by system users, ie, buyers and sellers. Each user has contact information including an email address. Each user pre-registers with the system via the host server and provides user contact information including the email address to the host. The host assigns a user ID to each user. The host stores the user contact information and the assigned user ID in a database, allowing the host server to verify the user ID and transfer anonymous emails between users.

The host server hosts a website interface. This interface is accessible by registered system users via a communication network. The website interface includes an online reverse auction operated by a host server.

According to the reverse auction principle, a host receives a purchase offer from a buyer. The host then receives at least one offer-response from at least one seller.
Preferably, a plurality of offer responses are received from a plurality of sellers. The purchase offer and offer-response are posted on the website interface to allow the registered user with access to the communication network to view the offer and offer-response. In another embodiment, the host server posts the purchase offer and the offer response to an unspecified number of people (ie, non-users).

According to one aspect of the invention, the host authorizes the modification of the offer response. The host posts the new and modified offer-response responses virtually instantaneously, allowing multiple sellers to bid lower than other sellers in a reverse auction format. The lower price ensures that the buyer gets the lowest possible price and minimizes the need for the buyer to communicate with the seller about the price of the item.

The system takes into account in advance that the buyer asks the seller questions. Such questions may relate to item characteristics, prices, item conditions, availability, shipping conditions, warranties, and other conditions. The email server communicates with the host server and the user database to facilitate anonymous communication between buyers and sellers. The email server has an email address filter for removing email addresses from emails sent from buyers to sellers. As used herein, "buyer" and "seller" include potential buyers and potential sellers.

[0024] All offer replies posted by the seller include the seller user ID. The buyer directs the email to the seller user ID via the host server web interface and the email server. The email server filters evidence of buyer contact information and sends only inquiries from buyers with the buyer's user ID. The seller responds to the buyer's inquiry with an interrogation response via the email server. The e-mail server accesses the database and associates the e-mail address with the buyer's user ID. The e-mail server forwards the seller's query response to the buyer. Thus, sellers never have access to buyer contact information.

According to a variant of the invention, the system comprises a negotiation room server. The negotiation room server communicates with the host and the web interface. The web interface includes a negotiation toggle that allows a buyer to initiate a real-time chat with a particular seller. The chat can be pre-planned or instant. The negotiation room server communicates with the database to filter buyer contact information. Therefore, an anonymous chat room is set up, which facilitates anonymous negotiation between the buyer and the seller.

The present invention protects the buyer's anonymity by supplementing the reverse auction system with an anonymous email server that transfers anonymous emails between buyers and sellers. Anonymous chat rooms also supplement the reverse auction system to facilitate instant anonymous communication between buyers and sellers. A chat room and email server combined with a host server and a reverse auction format provide an arm length transaction between buyers and sellers.
Transactions, barter trades, and other hybrid transactions are made easier. The reverse auction format makes transactions more efficient by allowing sellers to price lower than other sellers and providing buyers with the lowest possible price. The reverse auction format minimizes the need for price negotiation between buyers and sellers.

[0027]

FIG. 1 shows a system according to the present invention, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The system 10 includes a host server 12, a database 14, an email server 16, a buyer 18, and a seller 20. The system 10 protects buyer anonymity in online transactions such as reverse transactions, online auctions, and reverse online auctions.

The phrase "item" is understood to include goods and services. The phrase "buyer" is defined to include potential buyers. The term "seller" is defined to include those who are likely to be sellers. According to the present invention, buyer 1
8 and seller 20 buy and sell items. Items include goods, services, or both.

The system 10 is particularly useful for reverse transactions and reverse auctions. A reverse transaction, as defined herein, is a transaction initiated by a buyer in the form of an offer to purchase an item. The purchase offer is directed to an unspecified number of people or a predetermined group of sellers.

A reverse auction is a reverse transaction that allows a seller to respond to a buyer's purchase offer. For the purposes of the present invention, a seller's response to a buyer's purchase offer is referred to as a "vs. offer response." Each offer and each offer response is published to an unspecified number of people or to a predetermined group, such as a group of registered users of the system 10. According to the reverse auction principle, posted anti-offer replies typically include a quote or price that can be modified by the seller 20. Once the offer response is posted, the seller 20 can view the offer responses of other sellers. This feature allows a plurality of sellers 20 to bid on each other in a competitive manner and to provide more favorable prices to buyers 18.

The system 10 can accommodate any number of buyers 1
8 and a communication network 22 accessible by the seller 20 as well. Communication network 22
Is preferably the Internet. According to another aspect of the invention, communication network 22 is a closed network, such as an intranet. Any communication network capable of communicating text, audio, and / or images can be used in accordance with the present invention.

The host server 12 is in communication with a communication network. Host server 12 receives a purchase offer from at least one buyer 18. Next, the host server 12 receives at least one offer-response response regarding the purchase offer of the buyer 18. The host server 12 posts the purchase offer and the offer response to the communication network. Preferably, the host server is a web-based server that posts a conventional web page for displaying purchase offers and offer-responses.

The system 10 includes a database 14 for storing user IDs, passcodes, and data for each user stored on the host server 12. Database 14 allows host 12 to verify the user ID and passcode.

In order to post the purchase offer and the response to the offer on the host 12, it is necessary to complete user registration in advance. The host verifies the user ID and passcode, and permits only registered users to use the system.

When the host accepts the registration, it can automatically screen the registrants, thereby eliminating the registrants based on predetermined criteria. For example, a host may connect to a credit reporting agent or the like to filter out unwanted registrants from the system 10.

The system 10 allows for anonymous communication between users. The user ID stored on the database used by the host 12 does not include user data. By posting the offer and the offer-response response using the user ID, anonymous communication is achieved. The host does not provide a mechanism by which a user can obtain another email address. However, if it is not desirable to be anonymous, the user may optionally share an email to the seller. Thus, the user's e-mail address, name, and other contact information are stored confidentially on host server 12 via database 14 and are not shared by host server 12.

The electronic mail communication between the users is performed by the system 1 via the host server 12 and the electronic mail server 16.
0 is transmitted. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, email server 16 communicates with host server 12 and user database 14 to facilitate anonymous communication between buyer 18 and seller 20.

The e-mail server 16 stores the database 1
4 to verify the user ID and associate the email address with each user ID. The e-mail server 16 searches for an e-mail between the users using the user ID. The e-mail server 16 has an e-mail address filter for removing an e-mail address from the sent e-mail. Therefore, the electronic mail server 16 functions as an anonymous electronic mail transfer device.

The anonymous e-mail transmitter holds buyer contact information, including e-mail addresses and secrets. For buyer anonymity, it is highly desirable to prevent overly eager sellers from sending spam to curious buyers. The concept of combining an anonymous email forwarder with an item sales system is one of the novel features of the present invention.

The hardware of the host server and the e-mail server are configured such that the host server receives communications (eg, e-mail) initiated by a user viewing a web page hosted by the host server. . Such communications are verified and, if appropriate, forwarded through an email server. However, it will be appreciated that the hardware configuration may be incorporated into one machine or may be incorporated into multiple machines.

It can be seen that e-mail is broadly defined to include all electronic communications, regardless of format. For example, an email may include audio attachments, image attachments, and even compressed audio and image streams. The user ID may be a digitally signed ID. A user's email address is understood to be a generic term that includes any electronic address.

The buyer does not always have enough information to accept or reject the offer response. Thus, the present invention provides two simple ways in which a buyer can anonymously query a seller. One is an anonymous electronic mail method and the other is an anonymous chat method.

The purchase offer and the offer response are posted on the host together with the user ID. According to one aspect of the invention, the e-mail server can receive a query response from the seller. Upon receiving the interrogation response, the email server 16 accesses the database 14 to associate the interrogation response with the buyer 18,
Then, the inquiry response is transferred to the associated buyer 18.

Preferably, the e-mail server 16 comprises an aggressive word filter (off) that prevents the e-mail server from forwarding e-mail containing offensive (offensive) words.
active term filter). The host server 12 also includes an offensive language filter that prevents the host server 12 from posting offensive language in purchase offers and offer-responses.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 24 used by the system of FIG. The method 24 includes posting a purchase offer on a host server 26, accessing a purchase offer 28, posting a voucher response on the host 30, and anonymously asking the seller for information about voucher responses. Step 32 of matching
Receiving the interrogation response, and transferring the interrogation response to the buyer.

At step 28, seller 20 accesses the purchase offer and evaluates his ability to satisfy buyer 18. In step 30, seller 20 posts the offer response corresponding to the purchase offer on the host server. At step 32, the seller is anonymously queried for information regarding the seller's response to the offer. This inquiry is usually made via e-mail. The seller responds to the inquiry in the form of an inquiry response addressed to the buyer's user ID. In step 34, the server receives a query response from the seller. The e-mail server identifies the buyer's user ID from the query response. The email server associates the user ID with the buyer's email address. In step 36, the email server forwards the interrogation response to the buyer.

Although e-mail is preferred, if the e-mail is not available, the mail
l), a fax or other means may be used to send an interrogation response to the buyer.

FIG. 3 shows a system 40 for a reverse auction. The system 40 includes a first seller 42, a second
, And an nth seller 46. First seller 42, second seller 44, and nth seller 46 each respond to a purchase offer initiated by buyer 18. Thus, if buyer 18 posts a purchase offer to the communication network via host 12, multiple sellers can review the purchase offer. For the purpose of selling items, the host server 12 allows each seller to post an offer response to a purchase offer.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the host allows each seller to post one offer response. According to another aspect of the present invention, host 12 allows sellers to post multiple offer responses. Multiple offer-to-offer replies by the same seller are desirable, for example, when the seller is a car dealer and owns many cars that fall within the scope of the buyer's purchase offer.

The plurality of offer replies are sent to sellers 42,4
4 and 46 to the host server 12. Multiple offer replies are returned to multiple sellers 42,4
4, and 46, and can be viewed by buyer 18, and other network users.

[0051] Offer replies posted by a particular seller can be modified by this particular seller.
The host server 12 is optimized to post such modifications to the network substantially instantaneously. By instantly posting the modified anti-offer response, a reverse auction is formed between sellers 42, 44, and 46, necessitating a price negotiation between buyer 18 and sellers 42, 44, and 46. Is minimized. According to one aspect of the invention, the seller automatically notifies when an offer response is added or modified, so that the reverse auction ends quickly.

FIG. 4A illustrates a method 50 used by the system of FIG. The method includes the steps of the method 24 of FIG. 2, as well as determining whether the response is satisfactory 52 and modifying the offer response 54. Step 56 involves the buyer accessing a plurality of offer-response responses 30. Step 58
Involves the seller responding blindly to the buyer's inquiry without knowing the other party. After step 58, where the seller responded to the buyer's inquiry without knowing the other party, the buyer receives a seller's inquiry response (step 34 of FIG. 2). The buyer evaluates the offer or interrogation response and ends step 60 to complete the transaction with one or more sellers.

The buyer posts the purchase offer on the host server (step 26). This purchase offer is posted on a web page and accessed by three sellers (steps 28a, 28b and 28c). Each seller posts a response to the purchase offer on a web page (steps 30a, 30b, 30c). Each seller,
Check the web page to view competing offers and determine if the offer response is satisfactory (steps 52a, 52b and 52).
c). If the seller's offer response is not satisfactory, the seller modifies his offer response 54a, 54b and 54c. The buyer accesses a plurality of offer responses (step 56). Next, the buyer may complete a transaction with one or more sellers (step 60), or may query any seller anonymously (steps 32a and 32b).

For example, the buyer may not have enough information to determine whether to complete the transaction (step 60). Accordingly, in steps 32a and 32b, the buyer
You can contact the seller anonymously. Each seller responds to the buyer's inquiry without knowing the other (steps 58a and 58b). Seller's response is
Sent and received via email (step 34 in FIG. 2). The seller's response will not be published on the host server's web page. Response to offer 30
With a, 30b, and 30c, and interrogation responses 32a and 32b, the buyer may have enough information to complete the transaction (step 60). Transactions with any one or more sellers may be completed. The buyer may optionally forgo further communication with the seller. Buyer steps 60
It can be seen that the buyer remains anonymous to each seller unless he decides to proceed (where the seller needs, for example, the buyer's payment information and shipping address).

FIG. 4B shows the buyer offer interface posted by the host server. The buyer offer interface includes a listing form 61 for posting a purchase offer on a host server.
The listing form includes at least a first option 64 that accepts all offers, a second option 66 that accepts all offers less than a predetermined value, and a third option 68 that allows only lowest priced offers. Includes a pricing criteria toggle 62 with three offer pricing criteria options. By toggle 62,
The buyer can instruct the host server to selectively filter anti-offer responses based on each desired decision criterion. If the host receives a matching offer response from listing form 61 that meets the price criteria, the host server posts the filtered matching offer response to the network.

FIG. 5 shows a host server 12, a database 14, an e-mail server 16, a buyer 18, and a seller 2.
0 and a system 70 including a negotiation room server 72. The negotiation room server 72 communicates with the host server 12 to enable anonymous online chat between the buyer 18 and the seller 20.

Preferably, host server 12 posts a negotiation room toggle on the web page interface. When the buyer 18 activates the toggle, the email server 16
A notification indicating that a chat is requested is immediately sent to the seller 20. At the same time, the negotiation room server 72 sends the buyer 18
And a negotiation interface accessible by seller 20 simultaneously. If seller 20 does not respond, email server 16 sends buyer 18 an email notification that a chat appointment needs to be set. The buyer 18 sends an anonymous appointment invitation to the seller 20 via the negotiation room server 72 and the e-mail server 16 to negotiate a chat appointment. The promised invitation specifies the time of the proposed promise.

Preferably, the negotiation room interface comprises:
It can be accessed simultaneously by real-time communication by one buyer and one seller. Since the negotiation room server 72 has an identity filter, the buyer's identity remains anonymous if the buyer 18 uses the negotiation room interface.

The negotiation room server 72 includes an offensive language filter that prevents the negotiation room interface from posting offensive language. Offensive language filters operate in real time, monitor chats between buyers and sellers,
And filter. This filter identifies and removes offensive language used during chats and eliminates buyers and sellers using offensive language.

FIG. 6 shows a step 26 of posting a purchase offer, accessing a purchase offer 28, posting a response to an offer to a host 30, starting a chat on a negotiation room server 82, and completing the transaction. 5 shows a method 80 including a step 60 of performing

In operation, the system of the present invention protects buyer anonymity during online transactions such as reverse auctions. The system includes a host server having a web-based interface and communicating with a communication network, the host server receiving and posting purchase offers from buyers and counter-offer replies from sellers via the web-based interface. I do. Each offer response is made in response to a purchase offer. The host server posts the purchase offer and the offer response to the communication network. The user database stored on the host server stores the user contact information of the user ID. The user contact information includes an email address. An anonymous email server communicates with the host server and the user database. The e-mail server can receive the query from the buyer, forward the query anonymously, receive the query reply from the seller, and forward the query reply to the seller.

The e-mail server includes an e-mail address filter. The email from the buyer typically includes the buyer's email address. Upon receiving an email query from a buyer, the email server filters any email addresses from the query before forwarding the query to the seller.

The host server can be accessed simultaneously by a plurality of sellers, a plurality of sellers can post a plurality of offer responses, and a plurality of sellers can review a plurality of offer responses simultaneously. The host server can prompt the seller to bid lower than the other sellers by modifying each offer response. The host server is optimized to post the modifications substantially instantaneously, thereby forming a real-time reverse auction.

FIG. 7 shows a method 90 for protecting the anonymity of buyers and sellers during the early stages of an online auction. The method 90 includes steps 92, 94, 9
6, 98, and 100. The method of FIG. eBay. It can be seen that it belongs to a regular auction with the lowest price as offered at com. Until the auction closes, Lister is a potential seller and bidders are potential buyers. One purpose of the method 90 is to maximize the practical protection of the anonymity of any lister (ie, potential seller). Method 90 is preferably implemented in connection with an auction system having anonymous mail server 16 (FIG. 1), wherein communication between bidders and listers during an auction being auctioned is via mail server 16. Done anonymously. The duration of the auction is finite. After the auction ends, communication via the e-mail server is not promoted. Therefore, after the auction ends, the auction does not promote spam mail to various bidders.

[0065] Any anonymous communication facilitated by the email server during the auction takes place, allowing bidders or listers to disclose contact information such as telephone numbers or email addresses. Become. However, auction websites keep such contact information as anonymous as possible.

Step 92 provides an online auction site where the lister adds items to the auction to the list and allows bidders to bid on the listed items. Step 94 posts the auction listing with the lowest price. Step 96 receives the bid in response to the auction listing. Step 98 allows anonymous communication between Lister and the bidder until the lowest price is met. Step 100 includes enabling each bidder having a bid that meets or exceeds the lowest price to obtain contact information for the Lister. Therefore, the only bidders who can get the contact information for the Lister are those who have bids that meet or exceed the minimum price. By using the lowest price as a threshold, the disclosure of Lister's contact information can be used by serious bidders (under generally accepted auction rules) to sign contracts to purchase items on Lister's list. Limited to only.

The method 90 has the advantage that seller contact information can be disclosed only to serious bidders so that the seller's anonymity is protected during the early stages of the auction. In the second half of the auction, after the minimum price is satisfied, the buyer who has satisfied the minimum price can obtain the seller information and contact the seller after the auction ends. This means that if a bidder loses an auction,
The benefit of having seller contact information is that serious bidders can continue to track the seller.
This is also a benefit for sellers with multiple items, as the seller can negotiate a deal with the serious buyer after the auction closes. Seller contact information is not provided to bidders who are inferior to serious bidders (bidders who did not meet the minimum price), so that sellers do not receive unnecessary e-mail (spam mail).

Finally, all bidders exceeding the lowest price can be successful bidders, in the sense that the contact information of the lister is finally known, and then the transaction with the lister can be performed.

A system and method for an online reverse auction involves posting an offer and shopping on a web-based host server interface.
The seller will post a response to the offer. Once the response to the offer is made public, sellers can bid on each other and conduct a reverse auction. Buyers and sellers (users) have contact information and user IDs. The system includes a user contact information and a user I
A database for storing D is included. The system includes an anonymous email server that communicates with the database via the host and transfers communications anonymously between users. The system also includes a negotiation room server that communicates with the host and the database to filter user contact information and enable anonymous negotiations between users.

In the early stages of an online auction, ways to protect the anonymity of bidders and listers include:
Includes facilitating communication between bidders and listers (potential sellers) using anonymous email servers. Normally, each auction listing is
D, item description, starting price, and lowest price. The method includes receiving a bid in response to the list from a potential buyer. The method includes enabling anonymous communication between the Lister and the bidder during the auction via the anonymous email server. Only if the minimum price is met or exceeded by the bidder will the bidder be entitled to receive contact information for the Lister. This allows serious bidders who have met or exceeded the minimum price, but have lost the auction to other bidders, and can subsequently transact with the seller. Sellers will remain anonymous to all bidders except serious bidders who have met the lowest price.

Although the above detailed description has described various embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the above description is made for the purpose of explanation only, and is not intended to limit the disclosed invention. I want to be. According to the present invention, multiple systems can screen communications. The host may function as an email server and a chat server. Therefore, the present invention provides a multi-machine network (mul)
ti-machine network). The invention may be performed by a single host machine providing multiple functions. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

[0072]

The present invention allows a plurality of sellers to bid lower in a reverse auction format than other sellers. By setting a lower value,
It ensures that the buyer gets the lowest possible price and minimizes the need for the buyer to communicate with the seller about the price of the item.

Also, according to the present invention, the system may include a negotiation room server. The negotiation room server communicates with the host and the web interface. The web interface includes a negotiation toggle that allows a buyer to initiate a real-time chat with a particular seller. Anonymous chat rooms facilitate anonymous negotiations between buyers and sellers.

Further, according to the present invention, the anonymous electronic mail server for transferring anonymous electronic mail between the buyer and the seller can supplement the reverse auction system, thereby protecting the anonymity of the buyer. Anonymous chat rooms also supplement the reverse auction system to facilitate instant anonymous communication between buyers and sellers.

Also, according to the present invention, transactions are made more efficient by giving sellers lower prices than other sellers and providing buyers with the lowest possible price.

Further, according to the present invention, the contact information of the seller is disclosed only to the serious bidders who have satisfied the minimum price so that the anonymity of the seller is protected in the initial stage of the auction. A bidder who satisfies such a minimum price can contact the seller after the end of the auction by obtaining the information of the seller. Seller contact information is not provided to bidders who are inferior to serious bidders (bidders who did not meet the minimum price), so that sellers do not receive unnecessary e-mail (spam mail).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for inquiring a seller anonymously.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the system of FIG. 1 when there are a plurality of sellers.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a reverse auction method used by the system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4B is an example of a listing form for a buyer to send an offer to make a purchase.

5 is a diagram illustrating the system of FIG. 1 with a negotiation room server provided to facilitate business negotiations between sellers and buyers.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method using the system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the method according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 System 12 Host Server 14 Database 16 Email Server 18 Buyer 20 Seller 22 Communication Network

Continuation of front page (71) Applicant 500001013 2710 Walsh Avenue, Suite 300, Santa Clara, CA 95051, U.S.A. S. A. F term (reference) 3E038 GA02 KA10 5B049 AA01 BB11 BB36 DD01 EE05 FF03 FF09 GG02 GG04 GG07 GG10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for protecting anonymity of a lister in an online auction, the method comprising: providing a lister listing items for auction and a bidder bidding on the listed items; Providing an online auction site; posting an auction listing to the online auction site, wherein the auction listing includes an item description, a starting price, and a minimum price; Receiving bids, the bids responding to the auction listing, each bid including a price, during the auction, via the anonymous email server, with the lister. Enabling anonymous communication with the bidder; At least one of greater than or it satisfies the outermost low-cost
A method comprising: receiving a bid from one bidder; and enabling the bidder with a bid that meets or exceeds the minimum price to obtain contact information for a Lister. 2. The online auction of claim 1, wherein the first bidder determines the anonymity of the lister in an online auction according to claim 1, wherein the bid meets or exceeds the minimum price and obtains contact information for the lister. How to protect. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the auction ends when a second bidder wins the auction, and the first bidder uses the contact information of the lister to contact the lister after the end of the auction. Item 3. A method for protecting anonymity of a lister in an online auction according to item 2. 4. The online auction of claim 3, wherein the first bidder that meets the minimum price but loses the auction completes a transaction with the lister after the auction ends. How to protect anonymity. 5. The method for protecting anonymity of a lister in an online auction according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of bidders whose bids meet or exceed the minimum price. 6. The lister is maintained anonymous to all but the bidder who has won the auction and bidders who meet or exceed the minimum price. 5. A method for protecting anonymity of a lister in an online auction according to 5.