WO2002013084A1

WO2002013084A1 - Personal auction service system and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2002013084A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000472
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong Yoon; Soon-Am Hong; Tae-Gyun Lim; Ji-Hyoun Youn
Original assignee: Esellpia Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-08-08
Filing date: 2001-03-23
Publication date: 2002-02-14
Also published as: AU2001244776A1; KR20020012703A

Abstract

Disclosed is a personal auction service system and method which comprises: a first server for processing a user terminal's access request, managing cyber documents displayed in the cyber space on a network, and displaying at least one personal auction service history to the user terminal; a second server for determining categories of the auction service desired by the usr via the first server, requesting an authentication state on the user from an authentication server, and managing information on the auctions executed by the user; a third server for supporting the user to build a desired personal auction site; and a fourth server for storing information on the user and the user's personal auction management history. The present invention generates a personal auction corner on the user's personal homepage to enable personal auctions without accessing other sites, and enables the users to form an electronic commerce centered community.

Description

Personal Auction Service System and Method thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a personal auction service system and method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for generating a personal auction corner on a user's personal homepage, searching auction products thereon, and detecting bid and contract states.

(b) Description of the Related Art

As the Internet previously used among special groups has become greatly popularized, concepts of transactions have changed. In general, electronic commerce (EC) enables consumers to shop around and buy desired commodities on virtual shopping mall sites via a network such as the

Internet without visiting local shops. Since electronic commerce reduces consumers' travel time and corresponding expenses, it is gradually becoming a major commerce pattern. Internet auctions as well as electronic commerce are becoming popular to many people. On the other hand, conventional auctions are managed by predetermined service providers, and when consumers desire to join the

service providers' sites to participate in the auctions, they should visit the service providers' sites, other sites cooperating with the service providers, or

other users' homepages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an auction corner on a user's personal homepage to enable personal auctions without

accessing other sites.

It is another object of the present invention to enable users to directly start .auctions or shopping business to create an electronic commerce centered community.

In one aspect of the present invention, in an auction system for performing, when a user terminal and a plurality of partner sites each of which has a database for storing predetermined information including member information are connected through a network, authentication via an authentication server according to a user terminal's access request and

providing auction information when at least one user requests the auction information, a personal auction system comprises: a first server for

processing the user terminal's access request, managing cyber documents

contained in cyberspace via the network, and displaying at least one

personal auction history on the user terminal; a second server for

determining categories of the auction desired by the user via the first server, requesting the user's authentication states from the authentication server,

and managing information on the auction behaviors executed by the user; a

third server for supporting building of a personal auction site desired by the user; and a fourth server for storing information on the user and the user's

personal auction management history.

In another aspect of the present invention, in an auction method using an auction system for performing, when a user terminal and a plurality of partner sites each of which has a database for storing predetermined information including member information are connected through a network, authentication via an authentication server according to a user terminal's

access request and providing auction information based upon information stored in an information storage device when at least one user requests the auction information, a personal auction method comprises: (a) generating a personal auction site according to the user terminal's access; (b) adding

access information to the personal auction site, and storing the access information in the information storage device; and (c) enabling users to execute a personal auction between the users via the personal auction site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and

constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles

of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a personal auction system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows an integration and dispersion management concept on information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a personal auction method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by the inventor(s) of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not restrictive.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a personal auction system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the personal auction system comprises a router 400 for optimizing a route of request information when a user computer 100 and at

least one partner site 200 are connected to the Internet 300 and they request information from the router 400; a web server 500 for processing an access

request according to the user's access request, managing web pages

contained in cyberspace via the Internet 300, and displaying a plurality of personal auctions and transaction histories; an interface server 600 for determining categories of the auction desired by the user, requesting authentication states of the user, and managing information on the user's

auction behaviors; a design server 700 for supporting designing of personal auction web pages; a transaction server 800 for processing the auctions and information communication between the users, processing authentication requests from the interface server 600, and transmitting corresponding appropriate responses; a database server 1000 for classifying various partner sites into plural levels, establishing application ranges of the stored information, and storing information on members and the personal auctions; an authentication server 900 for receiving the user's authentication request

from the transaction server 800, searching information stored in the database server 1000, and processing authentication state results; and a

system resource 1100 that is a program displayed on the web page

according to the categories of the personal auctions selected by the user.

The web server 500 further comprises a web-page-providing unit 510 for displaying web pages corresponding to the information selected by the

user on a web browser.

The interface server 600 comprises a client transaction management unit 610 for enabling a user to perform transactions via the partner sites 200; and a personal auction management unit 620 for supporting personal auctions between users, and managing information on the personal auction history performed by the user.

The design server 700 comprises a personal auction web page design unit 710 for. adding a personal auction web page to a personal homepage.

The transaction server 800 comprises a task-processing unit 810 for processing auctions, information communication, authentication requests and responses between users.

The authentication server 900 further comprises an authentication- processing unit 910 for authenticating the user.

The database server 1000 comprises: a client database 1010 for storing detailed information on the members; a transaction database 1020 for storing information on the history of the transactions executed by the user via the partner sites 200; and a personal auction database 1030 for storing

information on the personal auction management history managed by the

user via the personal auction web page. The system resource 1 100 further comprises: an interface file

including information on the transactions of the respective partner sites; and a common interface file including transaction information such as bulletin

boards and various events commonly provided by the partner sites. The user computer 100 is connected to the Internet 300 via a LAN, an exclusive line, or an Internet service provider (ISP) 310. Access to the Internet 300 is also performed via an Internet phone or a mobile phone.

The partner site 200 comprises a web server, an authentication server and a membership database, and provides transaction services to users.

FIG. 2 shows an integration and dispersion management concept on information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, when a user accesses one of the partner sites, the respective partner sites manage their sites and member information. When the User as a member desires to move to a unique electronic commerce site of the partner site, the user's membership authentication is

checked and the user is moved to the electronic commerce site having interface and rules of the partner sites. Products displayed and sold on the

respective partner sites and transactions thereon are shared by all the partner sites. For example, the products displayed on the partner site A are

also displayed on the independent partner site B and other partner sites via individual interfaces, and all the transactions such as buying and bidding are

also shared. The users who access via the respective partner sites are

authenticated on the partner sites, and authentication results are transmitted to a personal auction system to generate transactions. Also, in the case the user accesses via the personal auction system, the user is authenticated on the respective partner sites since a request for whether to authenticate the user is transmitted to the respective partner sites and corresponding authentication results by the partner sites are transmitted to the personal auction system. Since the members are authenticated via member information of the corresponding partner sites, safe transactions and auctions are guaranteed without a drain of member information.

In the preferred embodiment, the database is divided into three levels. The first is a network level defined by a sharing between the individual networks, the second is a sharing level defined by the cooperative sharing of information between the partner sites, and the third is a unique level defined as a partner site's unique level for directly accessing the user.

Referring to FIG. 1 , respective databases represent the unique levels: the first network connected by cooperation between the partner sites is the

sharing level, and the sharing between the first network and the second

network is the network level.

The transaction sites of the partners A and B, a person Y and the community K respectively have unique databases, and the personal auction system comprises a common database for storing information that can be

shared by the respective sites. For example, when the user accesses the

partner site A, the user as a member can request desired data from the database of the partner site A and the common data of the personal auction system. Also, when the transaction sites of the partners A and B, a person Y and the community K are connected to the first network and manage information in an integrated manner via the respective databases and the common database, the above-noted transaction sites connected to the first network can be connected to the unique databases of the transaction sites of the partners A and B, a person Y and the community K connected to the second network, and accordingly, the information stored in the common database of the second network can be shared.

An operation of the personal auction system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to a drawing.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a personal auction method according to

a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, when a user executes a browser (not illustrated) installed in the user computer 100, the user computer 100 is connected to the Internet

300 in step S100. When the user inputs a uniform resource locator (URL) of the personal auction service site to the browser in step S110, the user is

connected to the web server 500 of the personal auction system via the

browser. The web-page-providing unit 510 of the web server 500 displays

the personal auction and transaction homepage, and a user's log-in web

page on the user's browser of the user computer 100 in step S120. The user

inputs a user ID and a password to the log-in web page, and the web server 500 transmits the user ID and the password to the transaction server 800. The task-processing unit 810 of the transaction server 800 transmits the user ID and the password to the authentication server 900, and the authentication processing unit 910 calls the user information stored in the client database

1010 of the database server 1000, analyzes the user information, and determines membership states in step S130. When the user who logs in is found to be a member, the authentication server 900 transmits authentication checking results to the web server 500, and the web-page-providing unit 510 displays a web page that displays at least one service provided to the, members, on the browser. The user selects a service for making personal auction web pages from the service items, and builds desired personal auction web pages in step S140. If the user is not a member, the web-page- providing unit 510 displays a log-in failure web page on the browser and

enables the user to complete a predetermined form to become a member.

The user inputs user input items in the member registration form to be registered in step S150.

When building the personal auction web page, the user can either

select a desired product category from twelve product categories and add it

to the user's homepage, or make the user's own product category lower

than the lowest classification of the twelve categories.

When the user selects a method for selecting a desired product

category and adds it to the user's homepage in step S160, the personal

auction web page design unit 710 of the design server 700 displays design

forms for the user to configure a desired personal auction web page on the

browser. The personal auction web page design unit 710 configures the

personal auction web page according to the user's purpose and selects a

desires product category from among the twelve product categories. After

the configuration, the personal auction web page design unit 710 adds the

configured personal auction web page to the user's homepage in step S170.

When a setting of all the product categories is finished and the user clicks a

confirmation button (not illustrated), the personal auction web page design

unit 710 provides a URL including a predetermined number to the user in

step S180.

If the user selects a method for registering the user's products with a

class lower than the lowest class of the twelve product categories, the

personal auction web page design unit 710 registers the user's product classification list with the lower class through the above-noted setting of the

product classification and configuring of the homepage in step S190. When

the registration is completed and the user clicks a confirmation button (not

illustrated), the personal auction web page design unit 710 provides a URL

including a predetermined number to the user in step S1 80.

The personal auction web page design unit 710 stores the URL

information including the predetermined number in the client database 1020

in step S200. Also, the personal auction web page design unit 710 transmits the URL and the predetermined number to the browser. The user receives

URL information via the user computer 100 in step S210. The user performs

and manages the personal auctions via the generated personal auction site

in step S220, and the personal auction management unit 620 of the interface server 600 detects a personal auction management history managed by the

user, and stores the detected history information in the personal auction

database 1030. The personal auction system can also provide mileage

points or additional benefits to the user.

The service according to the preferred embodiment is an escrow

service. That is, the personal auction system previously receives money from

buyers who desire to make purchases via the personal auction, and when

the buyer approves the purchase of desired products from a seller who sells

various products, the personal auction system transfers the price to the corresponding seller. If the buyer raises a claim or desires to be refunded, the personal auction system makes up for the money and accordingly, the user can use that money at another auction or it can be refunded.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. As described above, the personal auction system and method generates a personal auction corner on the user's personal homepage to provide personal auctions without accessing other web sites.

Also, the present invention enables the users to participate in the auction or shopping business between them and make an electronic commerce centered community.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . In an auction system for performing, when a user terminal and a

plurality of partner sites each of which has a database for storing predetermined information including member information are connected through a network, authentication via an authentication server according to a user terminal's access request and providing auction information when at

least one user requests the auction information, a personal auction system comprising: a first server for processing the user terminal's access request,

managing cyber documents contained in cyberspace via the network, and displaying at least one personal auction history on the user terminal; a second server for determining categories of the auction desired by the user via the first server, requesting the user's authentication states

from the authentication server, and managing information on auction behaviors executed by the user; a third server for supporting building of a personal auction site desired by the user; and a fourth server for storing information on the user and the user's

personal auction management history.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second server comprises:

a client transaction management unit for enabling the user to execute transactions via the partner sites; and

a personal auction management unit for enabling users to perform a

personal auction between the users, and managing personal auction history information of the users.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third server comprises a personal auction web page design unit for adding a personal auction web page to the user's personal homepage.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fourth server comprises: a client database for storing detailed information on users registered as members; a transaction database for storing information on the transaction history executed by the user via the partner sites; and a personal auction database for storing information on the personal auction management history managed by the user via a personal auction web page designed by the third server.

5. In an auction method using an auction system for performing, when a user terminal and a plurality of partner sites each of which has a database for storing predetermined information including member

information are connected through a network, authentication via an authentication server according to a user terminal's access request and

providing auction information based upon information stored in an information storage device when at least one user requests the auction

information, a personal auction method comprising:

(a) generating a personal auction site according to the user

terminal's access;

(b) adding access information to the personal auction site, and storing the access information in the information storage device; and ^'

(c) enabling users to execute a personal auction between the users via the personal auction site.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein (a) comprises: selecting a desired product category from among a plurality of product categories when generating the personal auction site; and adding a personal auction web page to the user's homepage

according to the product category selected by the user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein (a) comprises: randomly generating the user's own product category at a class lower than a lowest

class of product categories of a predetermined number.

8.^" The method of claim 5, wherein the access information is a uniform resource locator (URL) including a predetermined number provided

to the user terminal.

9. The method of one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the personal auction

method previously receives money from buyers who desire to make purchases via the personal auction, and when a buyer approves a purchase of desired products from a seller who sell various products, the personal auction system transfers the price to the corresponding seller, and if the buyer raises a claim or desires to be refunded, the personal auction system makes up for the money and accordingly, the user can use that money at another auction or it can be refunded.