JP4516699B2 - Auction service providing method using network and auction system using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an auction service providing method for providing an online auction service using a network such as the Internet, and in particular, when a transaction between an exhibitor and a successful bidder is unsuccessful, the right of a successful bid is transferred to the next bidder. The present invention relates to an auction service providing method that can be performed and an auction system using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the rapid spread of the Internet in recent years, an online auction service has attracted attention as a service that supports online personal transactions, personal-business transactions, and business transactions. In such an auction service, a user can access an auction site where the service is provided from a user terminal such as a personal computer connected to the Internet, and can easily offer items to be sold (items) and bids on items to be purchased. Can be done. At the auction site, management of exhibition information and bid information from the user, provision of information to the user, successful bid processing, etc. are performed, and when a successful bid is made, the result is notified to the successful bidder and the seller by e-mail or the like. .
[0003]
Normally, in such an auction site, the main service is to carry out the process until the successful bid is made, and the transaction procedures such as payment of the price after the successful bid and delivery of the goods are performed by the parties (exhibitor / Often left to the highest bidder). In addition, if the seller or successful bidder refuses the transaction for any reason after the bidding successfully, and the transaction is not successful, usually the fact is reported to the organizer of the auction site and the contract fee is refunded. Is performed.
[0004]
On the other hand, in such an auction service, from the viewpoint of protecting user privacy, anonymous bidding is possible, and both parties (exhibitor and successful bidder) until the successful bidder is determined and the transaction between the parties is started. Some sites have a rule that does not provide contact information such as email addresses. Such an auction service is referred to herein as an anonymous auction.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As mentioned above, when a transaction is rejected after a successful bid and the transaction is not successful, there are many cases where the seller wants to sell the exhibit to the next bidder even if the selling price drops slightly. Also, the runner-up bidder may wish to purchase the exhibit if the successful bidder waives the right and obtains the right.
[0006]
However, in the case of the anonymous auction, as described above, the seller and the successful bidder are informed of the contact information of both, but the seller and the runner-up bidder do not know the contact information of each other, In such a situation, the exhibitor and the runner-up bidder cannot directly negotiate and trade.
[0007]
Such a situation is undesirable for exhibitors and runners-up bidders, and it is also desired for auction site organizers to provide sales opportunities for runners-up bidders and increase the deal closing rate.
[0008]
Therefore, the object of the present invention is when the bidding is performed anonymously and in the anonymous auction service in which the contact information of the successful bidder is notified to the seller for the first time after a successful bid, the transaction between the seller and the successful bidder is not established. In addition, it is to provide an auction service providing method and auction system using the auction service that can transfer the right of a successful bid to a runner-up bidder while maintaining the purpose of anonymity.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, in an anonymous auction service, when a transaction between an exhibitor and a successful bidder is not established, the seller wishes to sell to the next bidder. In such a case, after obtaining the consent of the runner-up bidder, the right to bid is transferred to the runner-up bidder and the seller is notified of this and the contact information of the runner-up bidder. is there. Therefore, according to the present invention, in the anonymous auction service, when the transaction between the exhibitor and the successful bidder is not established, it is possible to give the next bidder a transaction opportunity while maintaining the purpose of anonymity. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a service that more accurately satisfies the demands of exhibitors and bidders and to increase the number of contracts concluded.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention is an auction service providing method in an auction system that is connected to a user terminal via a network and provides an auction service to the user via the user terminal. Before the successful bid, without notifying the seller of the contact information of the bidder, after the successful bid, the seller of the successful bid exhibit is notified of the contact information of the successful bidder, and based on the contact information. In the auction service providing method in which the seller and the successful bidder perform a transaction on the exhibit, when the transaction between the seller and the successful bidder after the successful bid is not established, the auction system In response to a sales request to the runner-up bidder made via the user terminal, the runner-up bidder is given a win via the user terminal. A first step of notifying that the right of winning bid can be transferred to the next bidder, and the auction system responding to a request for transferring the right of winning bid made from the next bidder via the user terminal A second step of notifying the seller that the right of the successful bid has been transferred to the runner-up bidder and the contact information of the runner-up bidder via the user terminal; It is characterized by having.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect thereof is characterized in that the contact information in the second step is an e-mail address.
[0012]
Furthermore, in the above invention, another aspect is that the notification in the first step is made by e-mail, and the transfer request from the runner-up bidder in the second step is embedded in the e-mail. The application is performed using an application interface screen provided from the auction system when the next bidder selects a link.
[0013]
In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention is an auction system that is connected to a user terminal via a network and provides an auction service to the user via the user terminal. Without notifying the seller of the contact information of the bidder, after the successful bid, the seller of the successful bid item is notified of the contact information of the successful bidder, and based on the contact information, the seller In the auction system in which the successful bidder performs a transaction for the exhibit, the next bidder performed by the seller via the user terminal when the successful bidder and the successful bidder do not have a transaction. In response to the sales request to the second bidder, the second bidder is notified via the user terminal that the right of the successful bid can be transferred to the second bidder. In response to the request for transfer of the right of the successful bid made via the user terminal, the seller is notified that the right of the successful bid has been transferred to the next bidder via the user terminal. The contact information of the point bidder is notified.
[0014]
Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of an auction system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, an auction system 1 is an auction system to which the present invention is applied, and provides an online auction service to a plurality of users 4 via the Internet 2 and user terminals 3 connected thereto.
[0017]
As shown in the figure, the auction system 1 includes a DB server 10, a Web server 20, and a mail server 30, and the DB server 10 stores and manages an exhibition information DB 11, a bid information DB 12, a user information DB 13, and the like. Has been. In the exhibition information DB 11, various items such as titles, product categories, detailed descriptions of products, sales methods, bid closing times, successful bid start prices, desired transaction conditions, etc. are stored for each exhibited item. Each time there is an exhibition from the user 4 (exhibitor 4a), these pieces of information are registered.
[0018]
The bid information DB 12 stores information such as bid price, bid time, user ID of the bidder, and ID (item ID) of the bid item for bidding from the user 4. In addition, every time there is a bid from the user 4, it is placed in this DB.
Further, the user information DB 13 stores information related to the user 4 (exhibitor 4a, bidder, and successful bidder 4b) who uses the auction system 1. The information contained includes, for example, user IDs that are key items, nicknames and names used for bidding, and contact information such as addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. ing. Normally, these pieces of information are registered in the admission procedure required when the auction system 1 is used for the first time.
[0019]
Next, the web server 20 is provided with various web pages 21 that form an interface screen for the user 4. The web page 21 includes various pages according to functions and scenes such as a top page serving as a service entrance in the auction system 1, an exhibition page, and a bidding page. It includes a page for requesting that a transaction after a successful bid is rejected, a runner-up application page and a rights transfer application page, which will be described later.
[0020]
The mail server 30 is a server for sending and receiving e-mails, and sends e-mails to the user 4 when necessary. Specifically, an e-mail is transmitted when notifying the exhibitor 4a and the successful bidder 4b of a successful bid, or when transferring the right of a successful bid to the next bidder 4c described later. The runner-up bidder 4c means a bidder who has presented the next highest bid amount of the successful bidder 4b for a certain item.
[0021]
When the user 4 uses the auction system 1, the user usually accesses the top page from the user terminal 3 such as a personal computer, moves to the desired page, and receives a desired service. For example, when an item is to be exhibited, an exhibition page is accessed, and necessary items are entered on the displayed exhibition screen to perform the exhibition procedure. In response, the auction system 1 registers the input information in the exhibition information DB 11 of the DB server 10. As a result, the item that has undergone the listing procedure becomes a target for bidding and receives a bid from the other user 4 via the bidding page.
[0022]
When the user 4 bids, he / she accesses a bidding page and inputs a desired purchase amount for a desired item and performs a bidding procedure. At this time, on the bidding screen displayed to the user 4, the information on the target item is extracted from the exhibition information DB 11 of the DB server 10 and displayed. When the bid closing time of the item for which a bid is made is reached, the auction system 1 executes a successful bid process, and notifies the successful bidder 4b determined as a result and the seller 4a of the item that the bid has been made by e-mail. Further, at the time of the contact by e-mail, both the seller 4a and the successful bidder 4b are notified of each other's nickname and e-mail address.
[0023]
Thereafter, the seller 4a and the successful bidder 4b contact each other using the notified e-mail address of the other party, and start a transaction (payment of money, taking over of goods, etc.) for the item for which a successful bid is made. In addition, the auction system 1 executes the contract fee processing on the assumption that the transaction for the item has been established when the successful bid processing is completed and the successful bidder 4b is determined. The contract fee is a fee that is paid from the exhibitor 4a to the organizer of the auction system 1 when the exhibition item is made a successful bid, and in the processing of the contract fee, specifically, from the exhibitor 4a to the organizer in advance. A process of subtracting the contract fee of the successful bid item is performed from the amount of deposit stored in.
[0024]
In the service in the auction system 1, personal information such as the contact information registered by the user 4 during the enrollment procedure and stored in the user information DB 13 is not disclosed to other users 4 and bids are made. This can be done using a nickname. Therefore, in this auction system 1, the above-described anonymous auction is adopted, and as described above, both the e-mail addresses are notified only to the party after the successful bid (exhibitor 4a and successful bidder 4b). ing.
[0025]
The auction system 1 according to the present embodiment having the configuration and functions as described above is the second-order bidding while maintaining the purpose of the anonymous auction system even when the above-described transaction after a successful bid is not established. The right of the successful bid is transferred to the person 4c so that the transaction for the item can be continued. Hereinafter, the procedure and processing contents of the service provided from the auction system 1 in this case will be described.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure and processing contents after a transaction after a successful bid is not established. The seller 4a accesses the Web page 21 for refusing the transaction prepared in the auction system 1 from the user terminal 3 through the Internet 2 when the transaction with the successful bidder 4b is unsuccessful for some reason. Then, an application for rejecting the transaction is made for the item for which the transaction is not established (step S1 in FIG. 2).
[0027]
In response to this, the auction system 1 records that the transaction has been rejected in the information of the item, and performs a process of returning the contract fee that has already been withdrawn during the successful bid processing of the item (FIG. 2). Step S2). When the processing for the transaction rejection is completed, the auction system 1 accesses the bid information DB 12, confirms that the next-point bidder 4c of the item exists, informs that the processing for the transaction rejection has ended, and An e-mail asking whether or not the item is desired to be sold to the next bidder 4c is transmitted to the user terminal 3 of the seller 4a (step S3 in FIG. 2). In addition, when the next runner-up bidder 4c does not exist with respect to the item, only the fact that the above process is completed is notified. Further, when sending an e-mail, the e-mail address of the exhibitor 4a is acquired from the user information DB 13.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail transmitted to the seller 4a. As shown in the figure, this e-mail includes a message to the effect described above and a runner-up application link selected when the seller 4a wishes to sell to the runner-up bidder 4c (part a in FIG. 3). Is displayed. The URL of the runner-up application page, which will be described later, is embedded in the link. The seller 4a receives the e-mail and selects the runner-up application link when he / she wants to sell to the runner-up bidder 4c (step S4 in FIG. 2).
[0029]
In response to this, the auction system 1 obtains the information of the item from the exhibition information DB 11 and the bid information DB 12 and displays a Web page 21 for applying for sales to the runner-up bidder 4c, that is, the runner-up application page. It is generated and returned to the user terminal 3 of the seller 4a (step S5 in FIG. 2). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the runner-up application page. As shown in the figure, on the runner-up application page, information on the target item to be sold, precautions when selling to the runner-up bidder 4c, and an application button (part b in Fig. 4) are displayed. Is done. In this example, the displayed item information is the item ID, the title, and the next bid amount, but this seller 4a is useful in determining the sale to the second bidder 4c. Other information may be displayed.
[0030]
When the seller 4a wishes to sell to the runner-up bidder 4c, he selects the application button (part b in FIG. 4) on the runner-up application page (step S6 in FIG. 2). . In response to this, the auction system 1 acquires the e-mail address of the runner-up bidder 4c from the user information DB 13, and makes the bidder's right of winning the target item (hereinafter, the bidder right here). 2) is transmitted (step S7 in FIG. 2).
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the e-mail transmitted to the next bidder 4c. As shown in the figure, in this e-mail, a right transfer request link (part c in FIG. 5) to be selected when the next bidder 4c wishes to move the winning bid is displayed together with the message to the effect described above. Has been. The URL of the right transfer application page described later is embedded in the link. When the runner-up bidder 4c receives the e-mail and wishes to transfer the successful bid right, the right bidder desired link is selected (step S8 in FIG. 2).
[0032]
In response, the auction system 1 generates a web page 21 for the next bidder 4c to apply for transfer of the winning bid, that is, a right transfer application page, and transmits it to the user terminal 3 of the next bidder 4c. (Step S9 in FIG. 2). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a right transfer application page. As shown in the figure, on the right transfer application page, information on the subject exhibition item, precautions when transferring the right, and an application button (part d in FIG. 6) are displayed.
[0033]
If the runner-up bidder 4c is still interested in the target item and wants to buy it, he selects the application button (part d in FIG. 6) on the right transfer application page (FIG. 6). Step S10 of 2). In response, the auction system 1 moves the winning bid for the item to the next bidder 4c, and sends an e-mail notifying that the right has been transferred to the seller 4a and the second bidder 4c. It transmits to both (step S11 of FIG. 2). The e-mail includes the nickname and e-mail address of each other, similar to the e-mail sent to the seller 4a and the successful bidder 4b after the normal bidding process. Specifically, the e-mail to seller 4a includes the nickname and e-mail address of runner-up bidder 4c, and the e-mail of runner-up bidder 4c contains the nickname and e-mail address of seller 4a. Is placed. Further, the auction system 1 executes the processing of the contract fee according to the next bid amount presented by the second bidder 4c along with the transmission of the e-mail (step S12 in FIG. 2).
[0034]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an email sent to the seller 4a, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an email sent to the runner-up bidder 4c. As described above, the e-mail illustrated in the figure includes the fact that the rights have been transferred, information about the item in question, and the nickname and e-mail address of the trading partner.
[0035]
The seller 4a and the runner-up bidder 4c each receive the e-mail (steps S13 and S14 in FIG. 2), recognize that the successful bidder right of the item has been transferred, and then notify the e-mail. Use the other party's email address to keep in touch and start trading after a successful bid.
[0036]
As described above, in the auction system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the transaction with the successful bidder 4b is not established, after confirming the wishes of both the exhibitor 4a and the runner-up bidder 4c, Transfer the winning bid and notify both contact information. Therefore, the contact information of the bidder is not informed to other users 4 before becoming a successful bidder, and the purpose of the anonymous auction is maintained even when the right is transferred to the next bidder 4c. ing.
[0037]
Therefore, by using this auction system 1, even if the transaction with the successful bidder 4b is not established, the second-place bidder 4c is given an opportunity to purchase while maintaining the purpose of the anonymous auction, and the convenience of the user 4 is improved. Increase the close rate of transactions.
[0038]
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which personal information such as contact information is not notified to other users 4 until the successful bid for the exhibitor 4a. However, in the case where the exhibitor 4a is a corporation, etc. Further, information such as the contact information of the exhibitor 4a may be put together on the page displaying the information on the exhibit. In such a case, the bidder can obtain the contact information of the exhibitor 4a at the time of bidding. The notification (e-mail) need not include the contact information of the exhibitor 4a. However, as a matter of course, in consideration of the convenience of the bidder, the contact information of the exhibitor 4a may be included in the notification to the bidder. Even in such a case, the contact information on the bidder side is not notified to the exhibitor 4a side after the bidding successfully or after the transfer of the bidding right.
[0039]
The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a transaction between an exhibitor and a successful bidder is not established in an anonymous auction service, the transaction opportunity is transferred to the next bidder while maintaining the purpose of anonymity. be able to. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a service that more accurately satisfies the demands of exhibitors and bidders and to increase the number of contracts concluded.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of an auction system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure and processing contents after a transaction after a successful bid is not established.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail transmitted to an exhibitor 4a when a transaction rejection process is completed.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a runner-up application page.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail notifying that a successful bid right transmitted to the next bidder 4c can be transferred.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a right transfer application page.
FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of an electronic mail notifying that a successful bid right transmitted to an exhibitor 4a has been transferred.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail notifying that the successful bid right transmitted to the next bidder 4c has been transferred.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 auction system 2 internet 3 user terminal 4 user 4a exhibitor 4b successful bidder 4c runner-up bidder 10 DB server 11 exhibition information DB
12 bid information DB
13 User information DB
20 Web server 21 Web page 30 Mail server

Claims (4)

An auction service providing method in an auction system connected to a user terminal via a network and providing an auction service to a user via the user terminal,
Before making a successful bid, without notifying the seller of the contact information of the bidder, after the successful bid, the seller of the successful bid item is notified of the contact information of the successful bidder, and based on the contact information In the method of providing an auction service in which the seller and the successful bidder conduct a transaction for the exhibit,
The auction system includes at least a DB server storing bid information including identification information of the bidder and user information including the contact information of the user, and a mail server.
If the successful bidder and successful bidder transaction is not successful,
In response to the sales request from the seller to the next bidder made through the user terminal, the next bidder who has confirmed that the auction system has accessed the bid information and exists. First, the contact information of the runner-up bidder is acquired from the user information, and the mail server notifies that the right of the successful bid can be transferred to the runner-up bidder via the user terminal. And the steps
In response to the successful bid right transfer request from the runner-up bidder via the user terminal after the first step , the auction system sends the successful bid right to the runner-up bidder. The seller is notified by the mail server that the right of the successful bid has been transferred to the runner-up bidder and the contact information of the runner-up bidder via the user terminal. A method for providing an auction service, comprising: a second step. In claim 1,
The contact information in the second step is
An auction service providing method characterized by being an e-mail address. In claim 1 or claim 2,
The notification in the first step is made by email,
The transfer request from the runner-up bidder in the second step uses an application interface screen provided by the auction system when the runner-up bidder selects a link embedded in the e-mail. An auction service providing method characterized by being performed. An auction system connected to a user terminal via a network and providing an auction service to the user via the user terminal,
Before making a successful bid, without notifying the seller of the contact information of the bidder, after the successful bid, the seller of the successful bid item is notified of the contact information of the successful bidder, and based on the contact information In an auction system using a method in which the seller and the successful bidder conduct a transaction on the exhibit,
At least a DB server storing bid information including the bidder identification information and user information including the user contact information, and a mail server,
If the successful bidder and successful bidder transaction is not successful,
In response to the sales request to runner-up bidder performed via the user terminal from the seller, with respect to the runner-up bidders was confirmed that there was access to the bid information, the runner-up bid The contact information of the person is obtained from the user information, and the mail server notifies that the right of the successful bid can be transferred to the runner-up bidder via the user terminal,
After the first step, in response to a transfer request for the right of the successful bid made from the runner-up bidder via the user terminal, the right of the successful bid is transferred to the runner-up bidder, and the exhibition The e-mail server notifies the user that the right of the successful bid has been transferred to the runner-up bidder and the contact information of the runner-up bidder via the user terminal. Auction system.

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