JP2000306035A - Real-time action method and system using radio communication device, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase participation in on-line auction by increasing a bidding price in the on-line auction using mobile telephone which displays auction information on its display screen. SOLUTION: A radio mobile device 108 is included in the on-line auction system 100. Auction information is supplied from an auction server 102 to the mobile device 108 through a proxy server 116. The auction information is displayed together with a bidding price increase form enabling the user of a client device to present a bidding price increased for specific auction. Bidding price increase information relating to the bidding price increase form is sent by the proxy server 116 to the auction server 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]Cross-reference of related applications  This application is related to US Pat. No. 580, issued Aug. 15, 1998.
No. 9415, “METHOD AND ARCHITECTURE
CTURE FOR AN INTERACTIVE
TWO-WAY DATA COMMUNICATION
N NETWORK ", a continuation application, October 1997
U.S. patent application Ser.
ETHOD AND ARCHITECTURE FO
R ANINTERACTIVE TWO-WAY D
ATA COMMUNICATION NETWOR
K ", which is a continuation-in-part application.
No. 9415 is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002]

The present invention relates to electronic trading, and more particularly to online auctions that can be done anytime, anywhere.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, auctions have become available on the Internet. These auctions are conducted by the auction website. An example of a current auction website is eBay (http
p: // www. ebay. com) and Onsale
Inc. (http://www.onsale.com). These auction websites allow sellers to auction a wide range of products or services. Bidders from anywhere in the world connected to the Internet need only access the auction website to auction.

[0004] Encouraging participation in auctions is important because the more participants, the more likely the price will be to auction during the auction. Auction websites also benefit from higher prices. This is because auction websites typically receive a percentage of the selling price. Currently, both your proxy proxy bidding by auction websites and higher priced email (email) notifications are used to encourage user participation.

[0005] The eBay auction web site allows bidders to automatically set a bidder's bid at a predetermined increment up to the maximum bid if another bidder places a higher bid on the bidder's lowest bid. To allow proxy bids to authorize an eBay auctioneer (ie, an eBay auction server). One drawback of proxy bidding on an auction website on behalf of one person is that many bidders do not want to allow proxy bidding, and even if they do,
They tend to keep their maximum bids relatively low. Because they believe that automatic proxy bidding results in higher final selling prices. Instead, these bidders believe that by monitoring the bidding process, they may win lower bids and manually increase the bid price as needed. However, it is not always easy to monitor the bidding process, especially when the bidder is not staying on a desktop computer with a network connection to the Internet or using a laptop computer where the bidder moves and often loses access to the Internet. Sometimes difficult. In addition, laptop computers also often either cannot connect to the Internet or cannot interact with the auction if Internet access is not available.

[0006] Both eBay and Onsale send emails to bidders (potential buyers) when the final bid price is bid higher by other bidders (referred to as overpriced email notifications). ). These email messages are envisioned to encourage bidders to increase their bids for particular products or services. Such e
A particular disadvantage of email is that email is often not delivered to recipient bidders in a timely manner. For example,
Often the bidder has not been in front of his desktop computer for a significant period of time. Another example is that bidders using laptop computers often turn off the laptop computer or do not have Internet access (this typically occurs when the laptop computer is in radio range). Yes, or requires that a telephone line be available). Even if the email was delivered in a timely manner, if the bidder still wishes to bid on the product or service, he must have immediate access to a computer coupled to the Internet to update his maximum bid. This is often not feasible to distract the bidder. In such cases, the bidder cannot monitor the bidding process. As a result, the bidder's participation is often unaware that it has been overpriced by other bidders and encounters the inability to increase the bid price in a timely manner.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for improved technology to increase participation in online auctions from anywhere, at any time.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for increasing participation in an online auction.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One feature of the present invention is to allow a mobile device user to actively participate in an online auction from anywhere at any time.
Another feature of the present invention allows remote proxy bidding to be controlled in real time by the bidder himself (or an agent independent of the auction server).

The invention can be implemented in various ways, including:
It may be embodied as a device, a computer-readable medium, or a computer system. Several embodiments of the present invention are described below.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a notification is received from a mobile telephone's wireless network that a previous bid by a particular bidder has been overpriced; obtaining auction information relating to the auctioned item; A method for increasing a bid price for an item to be auctioned in an online auction using a mobile phone, which comprises displaying auction information on a display screen of a mobile phone. Additionally, the method of the present invention receives an increased bid price for an item to be auctioned if a particular bidder decides to increase the bid price; And sending to an online auction.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile device receives a warning type auction message related to an online auction; notifies the user of the mobile device of receipt of the auction message by the warning type; Determining whether to request auction information for the message; displaying the auction information on a display device when the determining step (c) determines that auction information is requested;
A method is provided for participating in an online auction using a mobile device having a display screen comprising steps for submitting a bid price for the online auction.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an intermediate server acting as a gateway between a mobile device and an auction server performing an online auction receives an auction update message regarding an online auction of an item; Obtain proxy bidding information for an online auction of devices and items, and automatically prepare an increased bid for the item to be auctioned based on the auction proxy information; the increased bid is prepared on behalf of the mobile device; online A method is provided for automatically increasing the bid price for an item auctioned in an online auction comprising the steps of sending an increased bid price to an auction.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the auction server comprises: an auction server for conducting an online auction for an item that allows a bidder to submit a bid price electronically; a proxy server for supporting wireless network users; The proxy server receives an auction update message from the auction server and stores auction information regarding an online auction in which a wireless network user participates, after which the proxy server allows the wireless network user to access the stored auction information. An online auction system is provided that supports a wireless network user as a bidder.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer program code for receiving on a mobile device that a previous bid by a particular bidder has been overpriced; and a computer program for obtaining auction information relating to an auctioned item. Code; computer program code for displaying auction information on the display screen of the mobile device; computer program code for determining that an increased bid for the item is to be auctioned; sending the increased bid to an online auction. A computer readable medium is provided that includes computer program code for increasing a bid price for an item to be auctioned in an online auction using a mobile device comprising the computer program code.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer program code for receiving an auction message relating to an online auction at a mobile device; a computer program code for notifying a mobile device user of receipt of an auction message; Computer program code for determining whether to request auction information for an auction message; and computer program code for displaying auction information on a display device when the determining computer program code determines that auction information is requested. An online auction using a mobile device having a display screen comprising: a computer program code for presenting a bid for an online auction. Computer readable medium that participates in emissions is provided.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, computer program code for receiving an auction update message related to an online auction of an item at an intermediate server acting as a gateway between the mobile device and an auction server performing an online auction. Computer program code for obtaining proxy bid information on the mobile device and the online auction of the item at the intermediate server; and increased bidding prepared on behalf of the mobile device for the item auctioned based on the auction proxy information. A computer readable medium is provided for automatically increasing a bid price for an item auctioned in an online auction comprising computer program code for automatically preparing a price. That.

The advantages of the present invention are numerous. Different embodiments or configurations have one or more of the following advantages. One advantage of the present invention is that bidders are better informed of the bidding process. Another advantage of the present invention is that mobile bidders can easily increase bid prices as desired. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that sellers and auctioneers benefit from an increase in participants and higher selling prices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

The present invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals represent like structures.

The present invention relates to a technique for increasing participation in an online auction. One feature of the present invention allows a user of a mobile device to actively participate in an online auction anytime and anywhere. Another feature of the present invention is that it is controlled by the bidder himself and allows remote proxy bidding in real time from anywhere at any time.

[0021] Various types of mobile devices capable of data communication are in common use today. Examples of mobile devices include pagers, mobile phones (including cellular phones), personal digital assistants (PDAs), palmtop computers, and electronic schedulers. Due to size and travel requirements, mobile devices typically have substantially less computing resources than desktop or laptop computers. Mobile devices also typically have a small display screen for interacting with the user and limited input mechanisms (eg, keypad, buttons, telephone keypad, or active softkeys and icons). Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to FIGS. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the detailed description given herein with reference to the drawings is for illustrative purposes, and that the present invention extends beyond the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an online auction system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The online auction system 100 includes an auction server 102 where one or more auctions for purchasing one or more products or services are conducted.

Online auction system 100 allows both wired and wireless types of computing devices to participate in one or more auctions managed by auction server 102. In particular, the online auction system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a computer A 104 and a computer B 106, where a user can participate in an online auction. in addition,
A wireless mobile device 108 is also included in the online auction system 100 and represents a wireless station where a user can participate in an online auction. Although FIG. 1 shows only three devices 104, 106, 108, the online auction system 100 may support multiple computing or user devices.

[0024] The auction server 102 is typically coupled to the wired network 110 through a high speed connection.
The wired network 110 is preferably the Internet, but may also include other networks, such as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). Additionally, Internet Service Provider (ISP) A112, I
SP B 114 is also coupled to wireless network 110 through a high speed connection. An example of high-speed connection is a dedicated line (leaa
sed line) (for example, line T1-T4). Computer A104 is connected to ISP A112 through a link.
Which makes a dial-up connection via a telephone line or a dedicated line. Computer B 106 is coupled via a link to ISP B 114, which typically makes a dial-up connection via a telephone or leased line. The link between computers 104, 106 and ISPs 112, 114 is initiated by a network browser running on computers 104, 106, respectively.

Online auction system 100 also includes wireless network 110 and wireless network 118.
Proxy server 1 that provides a gateway between
16 inclusive. Wireless network 110 and proxy server 1 coupled to proxy server 116 through a high-speed connection
16 is coupled to the wireless network 118 through a wireless infrastructure that allows the wireless communication device 108 to transmit and receive radio frequency signals so that data can be transmitted between the wireless network 118 and the wireless communication device 108. Examples of wireless network 118 are Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CD)
MA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and so on.

The auction server 102 operates to manage one or more auctions for the purchase of one or more products or services. During a live online auction, users can bid on products or services using a network browser running on computer A 104, computer B 106, or wireless computing device 108. With respect to the user of computer A 104 or computer B 106, through a network browser, the user accesses auction server 102 to identify the particular product or service to bid on. Thereby, the user can submit the bid price to the auction server 102 through the use of the network browser. Examples of suitable network browsers for use on computer B 106 and computer A 104 are Netscape Navigator from Netscape Communications or Microsoft Explorer from Microsoft.

Additionally, a user of the mobile device 108 can participate in online auctions even when it is mobile and often not powered on or used.
In one embodiment, the proxy server 116 is the mobile device 10
8 can manage the interaction with the auction server 102. In that way, the auction server 102
Treats a user of a mobile device 108 in the same way that a user of a computer 104, 106 (wired communication device) is treated. In one embodiment, a micronetwork browser allows a user to access auction server 102 to identify a particular product or service and submit a bid. One suitable micronetwork browser is U.S.A., Redwood, California.
This is a micro browser commercially available from nwired Planet. The micro-browser can be used by the auction server 102 just as a user would use a wired device.
While allowing for direct or indirect interaction with the device, it provides a myriad of benefits and benefits that are not generally available to wired device users, as described below. Additionally,
Details of the operation of the proxy server 116 are provided below with respect to FIGS.

[0028] Once the auction server 102 receives a user bid price, the bid price is processed according to auction rules. First, the incoming bid price must be associated with the auction for a particular item (ie, product or service). The next incoming bid price is processed for the associated auction. Normal,
Incoming bid processing compares the incoming bid to the current high bid and only compares the incoming bid to the new current high bid if the incoming bid is higher than the current high bid. Finalize the bid price. Bid prices are also typically timestamped, thereby taking into account the order in which they were accepted. In some auctions, the bidder knows the current higher bid and therefore can become the current higher bidder before other bidders bid higher.

Typically, the auction server 102 wants to inform these bidders who has previously offered bid prices that have been bid higher by other subsequent bidders. Such notifications are typically provided to previous bidders via email messages. For example, if the user of computer A 104 subsequently submits a bid to the higher-valued auction server 102 with the bid price submitted by the user of computer B 106, the auction server 102 Send an e-mail message to computer A104 to notify the user of the higher price (sent to the user of computer A104). At this point, the user of computer A 104 offers the possibility to submit an increased bid to bid higher than the bid provided by the user of computer B 106. One of the problems with examples is that both users must have constant access to the computer, otherwise they will inadvertently lose the opportunity to bid. The present invention allows such notifications to be provided to the user of the mobile device. With a dedicated application built into the mobile device, users can monitor and participate in auctions in near real-time, anytime, anywhere.

The notifications are typically handheld device markup language (HDML), hypertext markup language (HTML), compact HTML, wireless markup language (WML), extensible markup language (XML) or optionally. The converted or extracted version is expressed in the form of a markup language. When a notification is received, it is displayed on the screen of the mobile device when it is powered on, so that the user looks at the status of his bid and decides how to proceed. If the mobile device is powered off or goes out of service, such notifications are typically buffered in the proxy server 116 and delivered when the mobile device becomes available. Additionally, the notification comprises an alert that causes the mobile device to react upon receipt. The general types of alerts for notification are extensive. For example, the type of alert may cause the mobile device to emit a series of high pitch sounds, vibrate or flash the mobile device so that the user of the device will immediately notice the notification from the auction server. Including.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a client bid price increasing process 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The client bid increase process 200 allows the mobile device to receive the notification and participate in the auction by submitting the increased bid if desired. The client bid increase process 200 is performed, for example, with respect to the mobile device 108 shown in FIG.

The client bid increase process 200 begins with a decision 202 that determines whether a notification has been received. Until the notification is received, the client bid increase process 200 is effectively disabled. Once decision 2
02 determines that a notification has been received, the client bid increase process 200 is effectively performed.

Once done, the user is notified 204 of the notification. Depending on the particular mobile device and type of notification alert, the user is notified in various ways. Mobile computing devices, which typically have a small display screen, display notifications to the user. The notification simply indicates that there is new auction information or more specific information about the auction. When the auction server provides the email notification, the mobile computing device displays the sender and subject of the email inbox notification message provided to the mobile computing device.

Next, decision 206 determines whether detailed auction information has been requested. From time to time, the notification provides a hyperlink to the resource comprising the detailed auction information, and the user decides whether to play or request the auction information and when. In the above example, the body of the email is played by the linkage provided in the header of the email containing the sender and subject of the notification message. The user obtains auction information by various means of mobile / fax machine / wired device, for example through e-mail, by pressing certain buttons on the mobile computing device or activating the displayed graphical icons.

When decision 206 determines that auction information is not requested, decision 208 determines whether a request to quit client bid increase processing 200 has been received. When the decision 208 determines that a request to quit has been received, the client bid increase process 200 is complete and ends. On the other hand, decision 208
Decides that he has not received a request to quit,
The client bid increase process 200 returns to repeat the decision 206.

Alternatively, when the decision 206 determines that the auction information request has been received, the auction information associated with the notification is played 210 (from a proxy server or an auction server depending on the preference of the actual configuration). The auction information is originally provided from an auction server, such as auction server 102 shown in FIG. 2, to the mobile computing device through a proxy server (or gateway server). A proxy server is needed to temporarily store auction information sent from the auction server to the mobile computing device. However, for increased performance and monitoring, the proxy server also operates to store information about the auction for use by mobile devices. This allows the proxy server to provide enhanced auction features not provided by the auction server or more controlled features even when provided by the auction server. One example of a more controlled feature is proxy bidding managed by a proxy server. Information related to the auction is sent from the auction server to the proxy server at a predetermined time
"Pushed" or "pulled". Examples of information stored on the proxy server identify the auction website,
User identification for the bidder, including password, item number for the item being bid, final bid price, remote proxy bid enable flag, current bid price, bidding history, and remaining bid time.

In either case, once the auction information is reproduced 210 and thus provided to the mobile device,
The played auction information is displayed 212. In this embodiment, mobile device 108 includes a display screen on which auction information can be displayed. In one embodiment, the auction information is provided in a markup language such as HTML, HDML, or WML and is displayed on a display screen using a network browser running on the mobile device. In one embodiment, the auction information is displayed with a bid increase form that allows a user of the client device to submit an increased bid for a particular auction. In another embodiment, the bid increase form is another screen (or markup language document).

Thereafter, in any case, decision 214
Determines whether a bid increase form has been submitted. Presentation of the form to the server is accomplished through use of the network browser when the form is a document in a markup language displayed by the network browser. The mobile device user completes the form and causes the bid increase form to be presented using one or more buttons (or soft buttons) of the mobile device.

When the bid increase form has not been submitted, decision 218 determines whether a request to quit has been made. When the decision 218 determines that the request to quit has not yet been received, the client bid increase process 200 returns to repeat the decision 214 to again determine whether a bid increase form has been submitted. . On the other hand, when decision 218 determines that a request to quit has been received, client bid increase processing 200 is complete and ends.

Alternatively, when the decision 214 determines that the bid increase form has been submitted, the bid increase information associated with the bid increase form is sent 216 to the auction manager. With respect to the online auction system 100 shown in FIG.
Sent to 2. The proxy server may also provide bid increase information if the proxy server takes additional control to provide increased auction features not provided by the auction server or more controlled features even when provided by the auction server. Remember. 216 after the bid increase information has been sent, the client bid increase process 200 is complete and ends.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a server message delivery process 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The server message delivery processing 300 is performed by, for example, the proxy server 116 shown in FIG.

The server message delivery processing 300 determines whether or not an auction update message has been received 3
Start at 02. Here, the auction update message is received from an auction server, such as auction server 102 shown in the figure. If an auction update message has not been received yet, server message delivery process 300 simply waits for an auction update message to be received.

Once decision 302 determines that an auction update message has been received, decision 304 determines whether proxy bidding has been enabled. As an example, in one embodiment, decision 304 uses a remote proxy bid enable flag stored by the proxy server. The auction update message for the wireless computing device is reformatted 30 when the decision 304 determines that proxy bidding is not enabled.
6. In one embodiment, the received auction update message is a standard Internet email protocol, such as Simple Message Transport Protocol (SMTP), and then reformatted to a suitable format by a mobile device, such as, for example, HDML or WML. Is done. In another embodiment, the auction update message is received in HTML format and then converted to HDML or WML.

Next, the reformatted auction update message is placed in the message delivery queue 3
08. From the message delivery queue, the reformatted auction update message is delivered or sent to the wireless computing device such that another electronic message is then sent to the wireless computing device. Following placement 308 of the reformatted auction update message in the message delivery queue,
The server message delivery processing 300 is completed and ends.

Alternatively, when decision 304 determines that proxy bidding is enabled, server message delivery process 300 takes a different action to allow proxy bidding to occur without user interaction. In other words, a proxy server, eg, proxy server 116, that performs server message delivery process 300 can submit an increased bid price to an ongoing auction on behalf of a mobile device user. In particular, a bid increase response message is prepared 310 based on the proxy bid information. For example, the proxy bid information is pre-stored on the proxy server or made available at the proxy server,
It may include information such as bid price increase, maximum bid price, bid timing. After the bid increase response message is prepared, the bid increase response message is sent to the auction manager (or auction server) 3
12. After the bid price increase response message is sent, the server message delivery process 300 is completed and ends. If the server does not place a proxy bid on behalf of the mobile computing device, the user of the mobile computing device presents a bid increase form as described above with respect to FIG. Even when proxy bidding is enabled, the server also provides the mobile computing device with auction updates to notify the user of the mobile computing device of the status of the auction or the increase in bids. In other embodiments, the server message delivery process need not be provided for any proxy bidding.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a server bid price increase process 400 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Server bid increase processing 400 relates to the processing performed by a server, such as proxy server 116, when mobile device users submit a bid increase form to increase their bids for an online auction. The bid increase process 400 describes below whether the server processes the bid increase form.

A server bid increase process 400 determines 402 whether a bid increase form has been received.
Start with. If no bid increase form has been received, server bid increase processing 400 waits for such bid increase form to be received. Once the decision 402 determines that the bid increase form has been received, the bid increase form is associated 404 with the auction update message. Here, the auction update message has been previously received by the proxy server and has been shown to the user of the mobile device as auction information. Next, a bid increase response message is prepared 406 based on the auction update message and the bid increase form. The bid increase response message is then sent 408 to the auction manager. After 408 after the bid increase response message has been sent, the bid increase process 400 is completed and ends. In one embodiment, the bid increase response message is configured in such a way that it has a format similar to the response message to the auction update message. In such an embodiment, the bid increase response message may be another response message (e.g., increase bid) received from a user of a computer (e.g., computers 104, 106) interacting with the auction server over a wired network using email. To be monitored by the auction manager as well).

The present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. Computer readable media can be any data storage device that can store data and thereafter can be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable media include read-only memory, random access memory, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, carrier waves. The computer readable medium is also distributed over a network coupled to the computer system, whereby the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed form.

Many features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description, and thus, the claims are intended to cover all such advantages and features of the invention. In addition, the present invention should not be limited to the exact structure or operation illustrated and described, as countless changes and modifications are readily made by those skilled in the art. Therefore, all suitable modifications and equivalents are within the scope of the invention.

[0050]

The advantages of the present invention are numerous. Different embodiments or configurations have one or more of the following advantages. One advantage of the present invention is that bidders are better informed of the bidding process. Another advantage of the present invention is that mobile bidders can easily increase bid prices as desired. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that sellers and auctioneers benefit from an increase in participants and higher selling prices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an online auction system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a client bid price increasing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a server message delivery process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a server bid price increase process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100 auction system 102 auction server 104 computer A 106 computer B 108 wireless mobile device 110 wired network 114 112 Internet service provider (ISP) A, B 116 proxy server 118 wireless network

Claims (36)

[Claims] (A) receiving notification from a mobile telephone wireless network that a previous bid by a particular bidder has been overpriced; (b) obtaining auction information relating to an item to be auctioned; (c) mobile. A method for increasing a bid price for an item to be auctioned in an online auction using a mobile phone, which comprises displaying auction information on a phone display screen. 2. (d) receiving an increased bid for the item to be auctioned if a particular bidder decides to increase the bid; and (e) sending the increased bid to the wireless network. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending to an online auction via an online auction. 3. The receiving step (d) includes: (d1) displaying a bid increase form on a display screen of the mobile device; (d2) a specific bidder displays the bid increase form on the display screen. 3. The method of claim 2, comprising forming an increased bid after completion. 4. The mobile telephone is a cellular telephone.
The described method. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (d) determining an increased bid price for the item to be auctioned; (e) sending the increased bid price to an online auction via a wireless network. . 6. The mobile telephone is a cellular telephone.
The described method. 7. The receiving step (d) comprises: (d1) determining an applied increased bid price; and (d2) displaying the applied increased bid price on a display screen. Item 6. The method according to Item 5. 8. The receiving step (d) includes: (d3) selecting the applied increased bid price to determine the applied increased bid price, or selecting the applied increased bid price. 8. The method of claim 7, comprising the step of: 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving step (d1) comprises receiving an increased bid price applied from a particular bidder. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular bidder is a mobile device user. 11. The auction server according to claim 1, wherein the auction information is obtained from an auction server forming an online auction.
The described method. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the auction information is coupled to an online auction auction server and obtained from a proxy server supporting a mobile computing device. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is a micro-browser providing at least said obtaining step (b) and said displaying step (c). 14. A mobile device receives a warning type auction message related to an online auction at the mobile device; (b) notifies a user of the mobile device of receiving the auction message according to the warning type; (c) the mobile device user Determining whether to request auction information for the auction message; (d) displaying the auction information on a display device when the determining step (c) determines that auction information is requested; (e). A method for participating in an online auction using a mobile device having a display screen comprising steps for submitting a bid price for the online auction. 15. The notifying step (b) includes displaying at least a portion of an auction message on a display screen of a mobile device when the warning type is a display; and audible sound when the warning type is a sound. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: vibrating the mobile device if the alert type is vibration. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step (e) of submitting a price further comprises: (f) receiving a bid price from a user for the item to be auctioned; and (g) sending the bid price to an online auction. . 17. The determining step (f) comprises: (f1) displaying a form of a bid price on a display screen of the mobile device; (f2) forming an increased bid price completed by a user. Item 17. The method according to Item 16. 18. The receiving step (a) after receiving an auction message after being reformatted for display on a display screen of a mobile device, wherein the displaying step (d) comprises the step of: 15. The method of claim 14, comprising displaying the reformatted auction message on a display device when it is determined that has been requested. 19. An intermediate server acting as a gateway between a mobile device and an auction server forming an online auction, receiving an auction update message related to an online auction of an item; (b) the intermediate device comprising: a mobile device; Obtaining proxy bid information regarding an online auction of the item; (c) automatically preparing an increased bid price for the item to be auctioned based on the auction proxy information, wherein the increased bid price is prepared on behalf of the mobile device; (D) A method of automatically increasing a bid price for an item to be auctioned in an online auction comprising a step of sending an increased bid price to the online auction. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the intermediate server is a proxy server. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the auction proxy information includes a predetermined maximum bid for an online auction for an item. 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the auction proxy information includes a predetermined bid increase amount used to determine an increasing bid price. 23. An auction server for conducting an online auction for an item that allows a bidder to submit a bid price electronically; and a proxy server for supporting wireless network users, wherein the proxy server is provided by the auction server. Upon receiving the auction update message, storing the auction information regarding the online auction in which the wireless network user participates, the proxy server then uses the wireless network user as a bidder to allow the wireless network user to access the stored auction information. Online auction system to support. 24. The online auction system of claim 23, wherein the proxy server sends an auction update message to an appropriate wireless network user. 25. The online auction system according to claim 24, wherein the proxy server reformats the auction update message before sending the auction update message to an appropriate wireless network user. 26. The online auction system of claim 23, wherein the proxy server automatically submits the increased bid price to the auction server on behalf of the appropriate wireless network user without interacting with the wireless network user. 27. Computer program code for receiving notification of a prior bid by a particular bidder on a mobile device being high; computer program code for obtaining auction information relating to an item to be auctioned; display screen of the mobile device. A mobile device comprising: computer program code for displaying auction information thereon; computer program code for determining an increased bid for an item to be auctioned; and computer program code for sending the increased bid to an online auction. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code for increasing a bid price for an item to be auctioned in an online auction using a computer. 28. The computer program code for determining, wherein the computer program code displays a bid increase form on a display screen of a mobile device;
Computer program code for completing a bid increase form on a display screen to form an increased bid. 29. The computer program code for determining the applied increased bid price; and the computer program code for displaying the applied increased bid price. Computer readable media. 30. The computer program code for determining the increased bid price, selecting the applied increased bid price, or editing the applied increased bid price. 30. The computer readable medium according to claim 29, comprising: 31. Computer program code for receiving an auction message for an online auction at a mobile device; computer program code for notifying a mobile device user of receipt of an auction message; a mobile device user requesting auction information for an auction message. A computer program code for determining whether or not the auction information is requested; and a computer program code for displaying auction information on a display device when the determined computer program code determines that auction information is requested;
A computer-readable medium for participating in an online auction using a mobile device having a display screen comprising a computer program code for submitting a bid for an online auction. 32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the notifying computer program code comprises computer program code for displaying at least a portion of an auction message on a display screen of a mobile device. 33. The computer program code for presenting a bid price further comprising: computer program code for determining a bid price for an item to be auctioned; and computer program code for sending the bid price to an online auction. Computer readable medium. 34. Computer program code for displaying a bid type on a display screen of a mobile device,
32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the computer program code for determining further comprises computer program code for completing a bid type on a display screen to form an increased bid price. 35. The computer program code for receiving, after being reformatted for display on a display screen of a mobile device, receiving an auction message, the computer program code for display comprising: 32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, comprising computer program code for displaying a reformatted auction message on a display device when the computer program code determines that auction information has been requested. 36. Computer program code for receiving an auction update message pertaining to an online auction of an item at an intermediate server acting as a gateway between the mobile device and an auction server performing an online auction; Computer program code for obtaining proxy bid information for the item and the online auction of the item; and a computer for automatically preparing an increased bid price prepared on behalf of the mobile device for the item auctioned based on the auction proxy information. Bid price for an item auctioned in an online auction, comprising: a program code; and a computer program code that sends the increased bid price to the online auction. Automatically computer-readable medium to increase.