KR20010015450A - Auction supporting system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Disclosed is an auction support system/method by which auction can be executed on a network by using a computer on a real time basis, a general user can easily join in auction and the mechanism of auction supporting a purchaser side is constructed. CONSTITUTION: In auction where an auction organizer supplies an article that is to be auctioned and the price on a network using a computer and business is realized with a purchaser operating a terminal, the auction organizer sets the price of the article which is to be auctioned, and the article to be auctioned and the price are informed to the purchaser through the network(S103, and S111). The setting of the price of the article to be auctioned is stepwise dropped(S108) while the bidding of the article to be auctioned through the network by the purchaser is detected(S112 and S104). The purchaser bidding at the stage of the more expensive price is set to be a successful bidder and the business of the article to be auctioned is realized with the purchaser(S104, and S105).

Description

Auction supporting system and method therefor}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an auction support system in which an auction organizer displays a price of an item desired to be auctioned and establishes a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal on a network using a computer. The present invention relates to an auction support system and a method for allowing a buyer to participate in an auction site through a network by operating a terminal for all auctions, such as used car auctions that are not used.

In general, in an auction, the auction participant increases the purchase price of the auction item, and the person who presents the highest value wins the bid, and the successful bidder obtains the right to purchase the auction item.

For example, in the distribution process of used car sales, a used car wholesaler places a used car auction on a used car obtained by a new car and used car dealership by receiving a part of the price of a new car as a used car, and the used car dealer wins the bid and the general user from the used car dealership. It is common to sell to. In this used car auction, the auction participant raises the desired purchase price step by step with respect to the exhibited used car, and the successful bidder wins the right to purchase the used car.

However, in the conventional auction, there are disadvantages for the following auction participants and disadvantages for exhibitors of the auction.

For example, when the above-mentioned used car auction is carried out, there are a lot of intermediate dealers in the distribution process, so there is a disadvantage that an intermediate margin occurs and the selling price finally displayed to the general user increases.

In addition, since used car auctions are mainly conducted for used car dealers, it is impossible for general users to directly participate in used car auctions.

In addition, due to the nature of the auction (stepping up the value), the side of protecting the interests of the seller (auction organizer or exhibitor side) was stronger than the purchase prospector (used car buyer). In other words, if there is a product (used car) that you want to memorize anyway on the purchaser's side, there is a tendency to call a higher price in relation to a competitor, and as a result, it is often higher than the market price. . This is because the upper limit is not set in such an auction.

On the contrary, when competition does not take place, the purchase price expected by the exhibitor of the auction is not reached, so the probability of consultation is not high, and there is a product which wants to be erased from the inventory, and the auction should be worse.

The above disadvantages are not limited to auctions of used cars, but also various conventional products, such as vacancy in inns and hotels, tours, tickets, and boxing tickets, home appliances (personal computers), and sporting goods (seasonal products). The same problem also occurs in tangible goods such as golf articles), overseas goods (imported furniture, paintings, European cars), brand goods (watches, jewelry, bags, etc.) and intangible goods such as real estate.

In recent years, auctions using networks have also been considered. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 10-78992 discloses that when a user registers a participation in an auction from a terminal, the auction is automatically executed on the electronic market server, and the result is a purchaser. The auction method has been proposed in which the user does not need to participate in real time in front of the terminal by being notified. However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 10-78992, the inside of an electronic market server is an auction site, and a user can not be satisfied with the fact that he / she gains a sense of presence in the auction site and is bargaining with a competitor.

In addition, U.S. Patent No. 5,794,207, also known as "reverse auction," has also been proposed, which suggests an improved method for conducting a conventional auction over a network in which the seller wishes to compete on the price of the buyer. Neither does it give a hint.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, by auctioning in real time on a network using a computer, the auction support system that can easily participate in the auction, the general individual users, and also established a favorable auction framework on the side of the purchaser and It aims at providing the method.

The auction support system of the present invention for achieving the above object is an auction support system that provides, on a network using a computer, an auction proponent to provide a product and a price thereof, and establishes a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal. The auction organizer sets the price of the item to be auctioned, the price display means for displaying the desired item and the price of the auction to the purchaser through the network, and the item to be auctioned through the network by the purchaser. Bid detecting means for detecting bidding to the bidder, price setting means for gradually setting the price of the item to be auctioned in the price display means, and a bidder at a higher price level Auction processing means for establishing a consultation between the purchaser and the desired item for the auction. And that is characterized.

Here, the price set and displayed by the price display means is a lowered price, and the reduction of the price of the price setting means includes a stepwise increase of the lowered price, and the auction processing means is performed at a lower lowered price. The bidders who purchase the bid are the successful bidders. In addition, the cut price includes a price cut rate. In addition, the discounted price is applied to the consultation of the auction product in a predetermined range. Further, the price reduction by the price setting means is performed each time a desired time elapses. In addition, the stepwise reduction of the price by the price setting means is performed almost every time the desired date elapses. And a holding period setting means for setting a holding period of the auction by the auction processing means. The price setting means further sets the lowest price of the auction product, and the auction processing means ends the auction at the lowest price. In addition, when there are a plurality of identical auction items, the bid from the purchaser includes the number of purchases, and the auction processing means ends the auction at the time when the auction items are dropped. The price display means sets and displays a set auction price on a set of a plurality of kinds of auction items, and the auction processing means auctions according to the set auction price. In addition, the purchaser further has a bid reservation means for booking a bid price lower than the current price, the auction processing means, the bidder is determined from the bid through the network by the buyer and the pre-booked bid of the current price do. In addition, the auction processing means sets the lowest successful bid price as the successful bid price of the plurality of purchase desires when a plurality of purchasers bid at different prices.

In addition, it further has a bidder acceptance processing means for receiving information from the purchaser via the network, storing it in a customer database, and at the same time, allowing the purchaser to participate in the auction in the auction support system. In addition, the bidder acceptance processing means discriminates whether the purchaser connected to the net by the operation of the terminal is an individual user or a vendor and stores it in a customer database. The bidder acceptance processing means further includes product registration means for registering a desired product by the purchaser and holding notification means for notifying the purchaser of the auction if the auction item is the desired product. Further, the product registration means further registers a desired price, and the holding notification means notifies the purchaser of the auction when the price of the auction item becomes the desired price. The bidder reception processing means includes: member registration means for registering a member of the auction support system, service providing means for providing a service to the member via a network, and service control for changing the quality of the service according to the level of the member. Have more means. The member registration means includes history accumulation means for accumulating auction participation history of members, and selection notification means for selecting and notifying a kind of auction holding notice in accordance with the auction participation history. The member registration means includes an initial registration means for registering from an initial registration screen including only basic information about a purchase applicant, and additional registration means for additionally registering additional information about the purchase applicant in accordance with a member's auction participation history. Further, the bidder acceptance processing means further has a prepaid registration means for registering prepaid expenses from the purchaser, and is settled by using the prepaid expenses when the consultation is established by a successful bid.

Further, the auction product database is further provided connected to the auction processing means, and the auction product for which the auction price is set in the auction processing means is selected from the information stored in the auction product database. In addition, it further has a sales-receipt acceptance processing means for receiving information from a plurality of store servers of each store via a network and approving registration of auction items in the auction product database. In addition, the auction support system further comprises a successful bidder accumulation means for accumulating a successful bid result, and a successful bidder providing means for providing the selected successful bidder to a purchaser and / or a retailer.

In addition, the auction support method of the present invention is an auction support method for providing a product that an auction organizer wants to auction and its price, and establishing a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal on a computer network. By setting the price of the item to be auctioned, displaying the desired item and the price of the auction to the purchaser through the network, and detecting the bidding of the auctioning item through the network by the purchaser, It is characterized by lowering the setting of the price of the item desired for the auction step by step, making the bidder the bidder at the higher price level, and establishing a consultation between the purchaser and the desired item for the auction. .

In addition, in a network using a computer, as an auction support method, the auction organizer provides a product to be auctioned and its price, and establishes a consultation with a purchaser who operates the terminal. Or setting a price reduction rate, and displaying a bidding target for the auction through the network and displaying the price and price reduction rate for the desired purchase auction to the purchaser through the network. While increasing the setting of the reduction price or the price reduction rate of the article for which the auction is desired, the bidder is the bidder at the lower reduction price or the price reduction rate step, and the buyer and the auction It is characterized by establishing consultation of thing to hope for.

Here, the purchaser reserves the bid price lower than the current price, and determines the successful bidder from the bidding through the network by the purchaser and the bidding of the pre-booked current price.

In addition, the storage medium of the present invention, on a network using a computer, the auction organizer provides a control program for controlling the auction support method that provides the article and the price that the auctioneer wants to auction, and establishes a consultation with the purchase desire to operate the terminal A storage medium that can be stored in a computer-readable manner, the control program includes setting a price of an item desired by the auction organizer and displaying the desired item and the price of the auction to a purchaser through a network; Detecting bids for the auction item through a network by a purchaser, setting the price of the item for the auction step by step while detecting the display and the bid of the price; Those who bid at the higher price level are the successful bidders And establishing a consultation of the article.

In addition, on a computer-based network, a computer-readable storage program is provided for the auction organizer to provide a product to be auctioned and a price thereof, and a control program for controlling an auction support method for establishing a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal. As a medium, the control program is configured to set a reduction price or a price reduction rate of an item which an auction organizer wishes to auction, and to display a desired item of the auction and its price or price reduction rate to a purchaser through a network. Detecting a bid of the item desired to be auctioned through a network by a purchaser, setting the cut price or the price reduction rate of the item desired to be auctioned while displaying the price and detecting the bid. Bidding step by step, and at lower cut prices or cut rates Comprising the steps of a person with the winning bidder, and the establishment of consultation of the things you wish the buyer and the auction features.

Here, the purchaser further comprises the step of reserving a bid price lower than the current price, and determining a successful bidder from the bid through the network by the purchaser and the pre-booked bid of the current price.

The auction support system and auction products of the method include a variety of products and various items that are subject to auctions such as automobiles (new and used cars), motorcycles, bicycles, jewelry, precious metals, watches, sports equipment, musical instruments, real estate, various tickets, memberships, etc. Services are included.

In addition, according to the auction support system and the method of the present invention, on the network using a computer, the auction supporter displays the price of the item which the auctioneer wants to auction and establishes a consultation with the purchaser who operates the terminal. By setting it as a system, a general individual user can easily participate in an auction.

In addition, since the price is set step by step and the auction processing unit makes the bidder first detected as the successful bidder, the price does not increase step by step, and thus a favorable auction framework can be constructed on the purchaser's side.

In addition, the purchaser who connects to the network by the operation of the terminal distinguishes whether the purchaser is an individual user or a vendor and stores the result in a customer database. Each procedure can be adopted for subsequent processing.

By providing the auction product database connected to the auction processing unit, it is possible to exhibit a plurality of auction items to be auctioned from the plurality of auction products stored in the auction product database.

In addition, since the auction product database is connected to the store servers of a plurality of stores located at remote locations, the inventory information generated at each store can be reflected in the auction processing unit in the auction support system.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire auction support system on a network of one embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an auction site of the auction support system.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen flow displayed on a terminal by the auction support system.

4A to 4C are diagrams each showing one of the main images displayed on the terminal until a successful bid from the auction screen.

5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure of an auction site and a user terminal in the auction support system.

6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of an auction site of the auction support system.

7 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of an auction of the auction support system.

Fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire auction support system on a network of another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an auction site of another auction support system.

10A to 10C illustrate an example of a screen flow displayed on a terminal by another auction support system.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a storage configuration of RAM when there are a plurality of auction items.

12 is a diagram illustrating a modification example of FIG. 5 when there are a plurality of auction items.

It is a figure which shows typically the shape of an auction when there are a plurality of auction items.

14 is a diagram showing an example of the storage configuration of a database when there is a bid reservation.

15 is a diagram illustrating an example of modification of FIG. 5 when there is a bid reservation.

Fig. 16 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of an auction when there is a bid reservation.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a storage configuration of RAM in the case of a set auction.

It is a figure which shows typically the shape of an auction in the case of a set auction.

Fig. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a storage structure of RAM in the case of auction of reduced prices.

20 is a diagram illustrating an example of modification of FIG. 5 in the case of an auction of a reduced price.

Fig. 21 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of an auction in the case of an auction of a reduced price.

22 is a diagram illustrating a modification of FIG. 5 in the case of unification at the lowest successful bid price.

Fig. 23 is a diagram showing a screen example of new member registration in the auction support system.

Fig. 24 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a customer database in the auction support system.

25 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a bid history database in the auction support system.

Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing an outline of the processing procedure in the auction site and the user terminal in the auction support system.

27 is a diagram showing a screen example of an auction entry application in the auction support system.

An example of embodiment of this invention is described, referring drawings.

<Configuration Example 1 of Auction Support System of the Present Embodiment>

Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the auction support system of this embodiment on a network, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the auction support system. In this auction support system, used cars are used as auction objects. However, as described below, the object of the auction support system of this embodiment (also referred to as auction or auction) is not limited to used cars, but is used for automobiles (new cars), motorcycles, bicycles, jewelry, precious metals, watches. Any item can obtain the effect of the present invention as long as it is a target of auction, such as sports equipment, musical instruments, real estate, various tickets, memberships, and the like.

As an example of an embodiment of the present invention, an auction support system, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a WEB server (hereinafter, referred to as a core) that stores a program for executing various kinds of control while auctioning through a predetermined procedure. Auction site, also known as auction organizer) (1) and a terminal (computer) 2 directly operated by the purchaser wishes to establish on the Internet (3). The terminal 2 operated by the purchaser (user) is connected to the Internet 3 via each provider 4 contracted by each user.

Further, the WEB server 1 is connected to a store server 5 of each of a plurality of stores (used car dealerships) located at remote locations via a telephone line or the like. Each store server 5 is connected to each terminal 6 in a store. In addition, the connection between the WEB server 1 and each store server 5 may use a dedicated line (ground line or satellite line).

The terminal 6 connected to the terminal 2 on the purchaser's side and the store server 5 includes a main body having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory (ROM / RAM), a display such as a CRT, a keyboard and a mouse. Computers with floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and modems are used.

Therefore, the WEB server 1, the terminal 2 on the purchaser's side, and each store server 5 are connected by a line, so that the price of the article on which the auction organizer wishes to auction on the WEB server 1 is set. If it displays, the purchaser who operates each terminal 2 can share this information, and auction can be performed on the network using a computer.

Next, a more detailed configuration of the auction organizer (auction site: WEB server) of the auction support system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

The acceptance processing unit 11 performs an acceptance process for an auction participant (purchaser wishing) connected from the terminal 2 via the Internet 3. A customer database 12 is connected to the reception processing unit 11, and stores the personal information of the purchaser's personal information in the customer database 12, and at the same time, the auction support system for this purchaser under the condition of the start of personal information. It has a function of acknowledging participation in the auction in the house, issuing an ID and password (member registration), and returning them to the terminal 2 of the purchaser.

In addition, in the reception processing unit 11, a purchase user stored in the customer database 12 is distinguished from an individual user or a business owner, and the information is stored in the customer database 12. This is because after the consultation is established, the name change process and the method of obtaining and receiving the vehicle differ depending on whether the individual is a user or a company, and the information is obtained in advance.

The customer database 12 is connected to a vehicle database 13, and when the registered purchaser has registered a vehicle, this information is stored in the vehicle database 13. The registration of a vehicle means that the purchaser registers information on a desired vehicle model. If a used car corresponding to the vehicle database 14 described below exists (exhibited at auction), the purchaser who has registered the vehicle The mail is automatically sent to the terminal 2 on the WEB server 1.

The auction processing unit 15 displays the price of the item that the auction organizer wishes to auction and establishes a consultation with the purchaser who operates the terminal 2. It is connected to a vehicle database 14 in which vehicle information of a used car is stored, a price setting unit 16 for setting a price of a used car to be auctioned, and a contract processing unit 17 for contract processing after establishment of consultation.

The vehicle database 14 stores vehicle information of used cars which are exhibited at an auction registered from a store server and which aspire to be auctioned, and a plurality of auction items to be auctioned by the auction processing unit 15 are selected from these vehicles. In addition, the auction participant can access and view data of each vehicle selected for the auction as needed. Further, vehicle vehicle information once stored in the store server 5 from the terminal 6 of each store in FIG. 1 is stored in the vehicle information of the store server 5 by an operation from the terminal 6 of each store. The flag is raised and can be transferred to the vehicle database 14.

The price setting unit 16 has a function of stepping down the setting of the price displayed in the auction processing unit 15. To step down is to lower the displayed price at a desired time, for example, from the starting price (original price) determined by the auction organizer. In the price setting unit 16, the seller's conditions such as auction period, starting price, price reduction, period and amount, and minimum amount are set in association with the vehicle information transferred from the store server to the vehicle database 14. .

In addition, the auction organizer pre-determines the minimum auction price of the auction item in advance, so that the displayed amount is not presented as an amount lower than the minimum auction price (limit price), so that consultation at a price lower than the minimum auction price is not established. have. If consultation is not established even at the lowest auction price, the auction is stopped, and the vehicle, which is the auction product, is sold as another sale channel (sale means), for example, as a sale or a bargain product. In the case where the consultation at the auction is prioritized, the minimum auction price is set to "0", and the successful bidder must appear.

The reduction width of the displayed price can be set freely by the vehicle model and the start price exhibited at the auction. In addition, the desired time for which the price decreases in stages can be set freely, such as every 5 minutes or every 10 minutes. The desired time for the price to drop in stages may be lowered in stages not only every hour but also every day. In this case, the auction period is held over several days, for example, for one week. In addition, the desired time for reducing the price may be weekly or monthly depending on the auction product.

In the auction processing unit 15, a bid button (not shown) is displayed on the screen of the terminal 2 on the purchaser's side, and the purchaser's side clicks on the bid button to purchase through the reception processing unit 11. It has a function of detecting bids by the applicant.

Basically, a bidder who has made the bid detected first by the auction processing unit 15 (the bid is confirmed by the WEB server 1) is a successful bidder, and consultation is established between the auction organizer and the purchaser. Treated as one.

If there is a successful bidder, in the contract processing unit 17, the successful bidder selects a contract method (contract after viewing the contract or the actual vehicle on the Internet) or a payment method (cash payment or loan setting), and if necessary Then, personal information is transmitted and received with the lending company 18 connected to the contract processing unit 17, and the loan is examined for execution.

In the example, the following data is specifically stored in the customer database 12. General personal information such as address, name, age, gender, contact information, place of work, hobbies and preferences of the person who registered. Information about whether you are an individual or a used car dealer.

In the example, the following data is specifically stored in the example database 13. Vehicle information such as the manufacturer, model, year, color, and grade of the car that the person who registered as a member wishes to purchase.

In the example, the following data is specifically stored in the vehicle database 14. Manufacturers, models, models, vehicle inspections, mileage, accidents, collars, safety grades (airbags / ABS / seat belt pretensioners), and comfort equipment (air conditioning / power steering / power) Vehicle information such as window / sun roof / leather seat) and dress up equipment (aluminum wheel / air part / audio / TV / navigation system).

6, the structural example of the hardware of the auction site (WEB server) of this embodiment is shown. In addition, it is preferable that a user terminal is implemented by various computers which can access the Internet, and since it is a general purpose computer, it does not show in particular here.

In Fig. 6, 61 is an arithmetic / control CPU for controlling the auction site, 62 is a fixed program used by the CPU 61 or a ROM storing fixed parameters, and 63 is a program executed by the CPU 61 or data used. Is a temporary storage (memory) of RAM, and the program area 63a includes a reception processing module, an auction processing module, a price setting module, a contract processing module, and a database processing module. In the data area 63b, auctions X1 and X2 ... are stored, and each auction is based on a brand name (number), auction holding period, start price, minimum price, downtime (cycle), down width, and the like. It is prescribed. In addition, each auction is indexably connected to each database of the database area 64a by a pointer.

64 is a large-capacity external storage device consisting of a hard disk, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, and the like. The database area 64a includes the above-described customer database, vehicle database, vehicle database, and the like. 64b) stores a program that is loaded into the RAM 63 and executed. 65 is a wired or wireless communication processing device and communicates between an auction site, a purchaser (user) terminal, and a store server.

66 is an input interface, and the mouse 66a which is a pointing device, the keyboard 66b of instruction | indication and input, etc. are connected. 67 is an output interface, and the display part 67a of CRT, LCD, etc., the printer 67b which outputs a hard copy, etc. are connected.

6 shows an outline of the basic configuration, and changes and additions of programs and data are made in accordance with changes and expansions of functions of the auction site, and only changes and additions will be described below.

<Auction operation example 1 of the auction support system of this embodiment>

Next, a detailed operation of the auction support system of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to an example of the screen flow displayed on the terminal of the auction support system of FIG. 3 and an example of each screen of FIG. 4.

First, an auction participant (purchaser wishes) operates the terminal 2 (FIG. 1), accesses the auction organizer's homepage from the Internet 3, and selects an auction display on the menu screen.

If the display of the auction is selected, the auction top screen 20 is displayed after the CM of the scheduled auction flows for several seconds on the screen. In this auction top screen 20, a selection window for member registration, old vehicle registration, simulation menu, D auction (Daily), W auction (Weekly) is displayed, and the member registration screen 21 is selected by selecting each selection window. The vehicle registration screen 22, the simulation menu screen 23, the D auction screen 24, and the W auction screen 25 can be opened. In addition, although the D auction and the W auction are provided in FIG. 3, this is an example, and a time interval or a daily interval may be set without distinction.

The member registration screen 21 is a screen for registering an auction participant (purchaser who wishes to purchase) as a member, and by clicking the selection window of member registration, a protocol entry screen 26 composed of a plurality of blank blocks for inputting respective information is displayed. Is displayed.

After entering each piece of information on the protocol entry screen 26 and clicking the transmission window, all registration contents are displayed on the registration audit screen 27, and a confirmation email 28 is displayed on the terminal 2 of the auction participant. Is sent to.

The vehicle registration screen 22 is a screen for inputting vehicle information that an auction participant (purchaser who wants to purchase) wants to purchase, and is composed of a plurality of empty blocks for inputting each information by clicking the selection window of the vehicle registration. The registration screen 29 is displayed.

This registration screen 29 is set so as not to open unless a member is registered by inputting necessary items on the agreement screen 26 of member registration.

After inputting each information on the registration screen 29 and clicking the transmission window, all registration details are displayed on the registration audit screen 27, and a confirmation email 28 is sent to the terminal 2 of the auction participant. Is sent.

The simulation menu screen 23 sets an arbitrary successful bid price for a vehicle actually exhibited at D auction (Daily) or W auction (Weekly), and selects an option (for example, polymer processing, wheel replacement, etc.). ) Is a mode for displaying a total amount of payment by specifying a delivery area.

On the simulation menu screen 23, images of the vehicles exhibited in the D / D auction are displayed, and various selection screens 30 for setting options and the like are displayed by clicking on any one image. After inputting the optional information, the end window is clicked, and the result screen 31 showing the total amount of payment is displayed.

In addition, the various selection screens 30 are set not to open unless member registration is performed on the agreement screen 26, similarly to opening the registration screen 29 from the old registration screen 22.

The D auction (24) screen 24 and the W auction (Weekly) screen 25 are modes for participating in an auction, and the screen includes images (X), vehicles, year, and year of each of the plurality of vehicles exhibited at the auction. A brief description Y of the class and the like and a detail button Z are respectively displayed (FIG. 4A), and by clicking on one of the detail buttons Z, the vehicle detail screen 32 corresponding to the clicked vehicle can be opened. .

On the vehicle detail screen 32 (detailed in FIG. 4B), the vehicle evaluation sheet 32b is displayed along with the vehicle photograph 32a in the upper half, and the bid form 32c and the bidding situation monitor 32d in the lower half. Is displayed.

At the bottom of the vehicle picture 32a of the vehicle detail screen 32 of FIG. 4B, a plurality of selection windows 32e are revised to shift to the vehicle detail internal and external images 33 displaying the enlarged exterior or interior of the vehicle. It is set to be possible. In addition, by employing Ipix, the interior image in the vehicle interior and exterior images 33 can be rotated 360 degrees to freely display the interior. As a result, it is possible to check the use state such as contamination of the intestinal minute.

On the bidding form 32c of the vehicle detail screen 32 of FIG. 4B, a blank block for inputting an ID number and a password assigned to membership registration is displayed, and when these are entered, a bid window is displayed.

In the present example, one of the bidding status monitor 32d is displayed with "auction available", "a bidding decision", and "successful bidding" together with the current auction price. "Bidding possible" is a state in which there is no bidder yet, "Bidding confirmation" is a state where a bidder exists but the contract is not confirmed, and "Bidding" shows the state in which a contract is confirmed. In addition, the display of the bidding status monitor 32d is not limited to this example.

In the case of bidding at the currently displayed price, the bid window shown in the vehicle detail screen 32 of FIG. 4B may be clicked in the above order. By this click, the screen proceeds to the participation confirmation screen 34, and when it is confirmed that the user agrees with the auction contents, the bid is successful, and the procedure goes to the successful bid audit selection screen 35 in Fig. 4C. In this screen, a payment is made in cash or a loan, and when a cash payment is selected, the screen is agreed to the agreement screen 36, and when a loan payment is selected, a loan examination agreement screen 37 is executed. If it is confirmed that the agreement is agreed on the agreement agreement screen 36, the agreement is terminated, and after transitioning to the agreement audit screen 38, the confirmation email 28 of the contents is sent to the terminal of the purchaser (auction participant). 2) are sent to.

In addition, when the loan payment is selected, after the loan examination agreement screen 37 is connected to the loan company 39 with the display, the preliminary examination at the loan company is started. When it is confirmed that the loan setting is possible, the process proceeds to the contract audit screen 38, and a confirmation email 28 of the contents is sent to the terminal 2 of the purchaser (auction participant).

Next, the details of the auction order in the auction support system will be described with reference to a flowchart showing a processing example of the auction site in FIG. 5. In addition, in order to help the understanding of the present invention, a flowchart of the user terminal is shown in FIG. 5 correspondingly.

The purchaser wishing to participate in the auction requests registration as a member through the network at the terminal, and the auction site registers the purchaser in the customer database 12, and performs an acceptance process for assigning an ID number and a password (step S101). ).

After the purchaser selects the auction screen (D auction screen 24) or the W auction (Weekly screen) 25 on the terminal, the ID number and password are given in the vehicle detail screen 32 of FIG. 4B. By inputting and transmitting, the auction site prepares for a bidable situation (auction processing) (step S102).

On the other hand, on the auction holder side, the starting price of the auction product, the limit price lower than the minimum auction price, and the price reduction range are predetermined.

By transmission from the auction site, the current auction price (starting price at the start of auction) is displayed on the vehicle detail screen 32 (shown in Fig. 4B) of the terminal 2 of the auction participant (step S103), If there is a bid from the purchaser at this price via the network (there exists at step S1 O4), contract processing (step S105) is performed and the auction is finished.

When there are a plurality of bids through the network, the purchaser who has made the bid detected first by the WEB server 1 which is the auction processing unit 15 becomes a successful bidder.

If there is no bid at the displayed price from the network (the absence of step S104), it is determined whether the price is the limit price lower than the minimum auction price (step S106), and if it is not the limit price, the process returns to step S103 and from step S103. If step S107 is repeated and a predetermined time elapses (YES in step S107), a price reduction process is performed (step S108), and a price lower than the displayed price by a predetermined reduction width is set as the new price. This price is transmitted via the network and displayed again on the terminal of the purchaser (step S103).

If the above procedure is repeated and the displayed price is lower than the limit price (YES in step S106), the auction ends at that time. In this case, the auction is stopped as it is.

The processing of the corresponding user terminal in FIG. 5 is as follows. First, the acceptance process (S101) of the auction site is performed in accordance with the transmission data by the member registration (S110) of the user terminal. Further, the user terminal that has received the price by price transmission (S103) of the auction site displays the contents of the auction (S111). Next, if there is an instruction for bidding from the user terminal (S112), the instruction is sent to the auction site and it is determined that there is a bid (there is S104). In the contract processing at the auction site (S105), the successful bid is notified to the user terminal (S113), and the user terminal makes a contract with the loan company 18 or the store terminal 6 through the auction site. In addition, in FIG. 5, the order of the communication between a user terminal and an auction site is abbreviate | omitted.

According to the auction support system described above, on the network using the terminal (computer) 2, the auction organizer displays the price of the item desired to be auctioned on the terminal of the purchaser through the network, and operates the terminal 2 for purchase. By setting up an auction support system that establishes consultations with the applicant (auction participant), the general individual user can easily participate in the auction without going to the auction site.

In addition, since the setting of the price in the auction processing unit 15 is lowered step by step, and the bidder first detected by the auction processing unit 11 is a successful bidder, the price does not increase competitively, Build a framework.

In addition, the reception processing unit 11 distinguishes whether a purchase user connected to the network by the operation of the terminal 2 is stored in the customer database 12 by discriminating whether the purchaser is an individual user or a business owner. In this case, each procedure can be adopted for the subsequent processing (necessity of changing the name of the vehicle) such as receipt of goods and contract.

By providing the vehicle database 14 connected to the auction processing unit 15, the auction processing unit 15 (D auction (Daily) allows a plurality of auction items to be auctioned from a plurality of vehicles stored in the vehicle database 14. ) Screen 24 or W auction (25) screen.

Since the vehicle database 14 is connected to the store servers 5 of the plurality of stores located at remote locations, the vehicle database 14 reflects the inventory information generated at each store to the entry of the auction processing unit 15 in the auction support system. You can.

7 is an example of a schematic diagram showing this auction in relation to the passage of time and price.

The preview 71 is a period for predicting the auction holding in advance, and the auction item name, the starting price, the auction holding period, the price reduction width and the timing are sent from the auction site to the user terminal for display. At the start date and time of the auction, the auction is started 74 at the start price 72, and it is detected from the terminal of the purchaser until there is a bid until the minimum selling price, and when the bid 75 is detected, the bid is successful. The bid price is kept constant for a predetermined period, and if there is no valid bid during that time, the price is updated to be lowered by the predetermined width 76. If there is no valid bid even if the minimum selling price 73 is reached, the auction is stopped (77). As described above, in the auction of the present embodiment, the user can participate in the auction in real time in a short or long term.

<Configuration Example 2 of Auction Support System of the Present Embodiment>

Hereinafter, an example of an improved auction support system using the auction support system of Configuration Example 1 for a broader purpose is shown. In addition, in the system configuration of FIG. 8, the WEB server (auction site) 1, the store server 5, and the supplier 4 are directly connected to the network, and some of the terminals 2 or 6 are the same as i · mode. 1 except that the portable terminal 2 'or 6' is connected to the Internet, and the basic configuration of the auction site of FIG. 9 is that the old database 13 is the old product database 13 'and the vehicle database. (14) is expanded to the auction product database 14 ', and functions are expanded and fulfilled in each of the reception processing unit 11 and the auction processing unit 15, and there is no major change. Therefore, detailed description is omitted here.

In addition, since the hardware configuration example of the auction site (WEB server) of this embodiment is basically the same as that of Fig. 6, as described above, the parts necessary for each change / expansion function are shown below. In addition, in the following description, although each change and extension function is demonstrated independently, if these change and extension functions are implemented in combination, of course, a richer auction system can be achieved.

<Auction operation example 2 of the auction support system of this embodiment>

10A to 10C show an outline of a flow example of a display screen in a user terminal in the auction support system of the present embodiment. In Figs. 10A to 10C, the thick border shows the main display screen. For example, 100 is a top screen of the auction site, and by selecting a menu displayed here, the category top menu 101 for dividing the exhibited products into the corresponding categories, the member registration menu 102 for new member registration, A user who has already become a member is displayed with the authentication of ID and PW, and the member service menu 103, the FAQ which displays a sample of an auction or a product (l04), and the site MAP (105) which shows the structure of the whole auction site ), A list of exhibitors (or a list of exhibitors) 106 displaying the exhibitors (or exhibitors) exhibited on this auction site, and a bargain 107 indicating a bargain that is currently running or is to be executed in the future. On the screen, the screen proceeds to a successful bid example 108 that displays a successful bid example on the auction site.

When the desired product of the user is searched on the category top screen 101, a search result screen 109 including a bid screen is displayed, and bidding is possible from this screen. In addition, when more detailed information of a product is needed, when the detail of the search result screen 109 is clicked, the detail page 1110 is displayed and bidding is possible also from this detail display screen. If the bid is instructed, proceeds to the bid screen 111, enters a predetermined input, ID, PW, amount, etc., and if the bid is authenticated.

In addition, various confirmation processes and the like are performed in the actual processing, and since the screens provided to these users are not all major parts of the present invention, the main screens according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. do. In addition, when a used car is selected as the auction product in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the control may be controlled to move to the auction top screen 20 of FIG. 3 described above.

The auction function changed in the present embodiment and the user service function will be described in sequence.

(Multiple bids)

First, in the above embodiment, the auction of a relatively expensive single item in which the auction ends when the first bid is successful is described, but an example of an auction in which a plurality of quantities are auctioned is relatively inexpensive.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the data area 63b of the RAM 63 of FIG. 6 when there are several auction items. In FIG. 11, the quantity of auction items is stored in the auction Y1. The auction continues even if there is a winning bid until this quantity reaches zero or falls below the lowest price.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a part different from FIG. 5 which is an example of a processing procedure in an auction site when there are several auction items.

In FIG. 5, if there is the first bid in step S105, the bid is auctioned, the contract is processed, and the auction ends. This auction is the processing of an auction familiar with a single item such as a car. In this example, even if the contract is terminated in step S105, if there are still auction items (N in S120), the auction is continued further, and when the auction items are missing (Y in S120), the auction ends. In addition, in FIG. 12, although there is no auction item, there are some auction items and the like that require a minimum number of items, and the condition of step S120 represents a case where the quantity is equal to or less than a unit for selling the auction item.

FIG. 13 is an example of the schematic diagram which shows this auction as time passes and a price.

The preview 71 is a period for predicting the auction holding in advance, and the auction item name, the starting price, the holding period of the auction, the price reduction period and the time are sent to the user terminal from the auction site for display. When the auction start date and time, the quantity setting 130 from the start price 72 is detected until the auction is started 74 at "10", and whether there is a bid from the terminal of the purchaser until the minimum selling price, When the bid 75a is detected, the bid quantity "7" is compared with the remaining amount (= start quantity) "10", and when the bid quantity is not large, the bid is successful. The auction 75 continues as the quantity 75 of the bid 75a is subtracted from the starting quantity 10 and there is still a remaining amount.

Next, when the bid 75b is detected, the bid quantity "3" is compared with the remaining quantity "3", and if the bid quantity is not large, the bid is successful. The quantity "3" of the bidding 75a is subtracted from the remaining amount "3", and since there is no more remaining amount, the auction ends. Therefore, the bidding 75c is not accepted. The bid price is kept constant for a predetermined period, and if there is no valid bid during that time, the price is updated to be lowered by the predetermined width 76, and if there is no valid bid even if the minimum selling price 73 is reached, the auction is stopped. (77). As described above, in the auction of the present embodiment, a plurality of auction items are efficiently bidded, and the user can also participate in the auction arbitrarily in real time.

(Pre-bid)

Next, in addition to the real-time auction participation, the pre-bidding to reserve the bid price before the auction starts (or during the start) will be described.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the database area 64a of the external storage device 64 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the pre-bid database 140 was added to the database area 64a. As shown in the right side of Fig. 14, the successful bid flag indicating whether the users 141a, 141b who pre-bid in each auction (X141, Y142) has been bid price, bid amount, or successful bid It is registered as In addition, as shown in FIG. 24 below, the pre-bidding is also registered in the customer database 12, and these databases are associated with each other.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a part different from FIG. 5 which is an example of a processing procedure in an auction site when there is a prior bidding. In Fig. 5, when there is no bidding (no S104), the process does not proceed to the contract processing (S105). In step 150, the presence or absence of pre-bidding is determined at the current price. The process is performed.

FIG. 16 is an example of the schematic diagram which shows this auction as time passes and a price.

The preview 71 is a period for predicting the auction holding in advance, and the auction item name, the starting price, the auction holding period, the price reduction period and the time are sent from the auction site to the user terminal for display. When the auction start date and time are reached, the auction is started 74 from the start price 72, and it is detected from the terminal of the purchaser until there is a bid until the minimum selling price is reached, and when the bid 75 is detected, the bid is successful. If there is no bid 75, the bid price is kept constant for a predetermined period, and if no bid is valid during that time, the bid price is updated to be lowered by the predetermined width 76, and the bid is valid even if the minimum selling price 73 is reached. If no, the auction is stopped as it is (77). If the pre-bidding 160b has been detected beforehand during the auction in progress, the successful bidding is detected when the pre-bidding 160b is detected. In this case, the pre-bidding 160a cannot be successful. Also in FIG. 16, if the quantity of water setting 130 is set like FIG. 13, even if the pre-bidding 160b succeeds in bidding, bidding continues and the pre-bidding 160a also bids. According to this example, even a user who cannot follow an auction in real time can realize participation in an auction and can enter into a competition with a competitor.

(Set bid)

Next, a set bid will be described in which an auction is carried out using a plurality of related or unrelated but cleared auctions as a set.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the data area 63b of the RAM 63 in the case of set bidding. In FIG. 17, in addition to the quantity shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of brand names (numbers) 171 and 172 to be set are added. In this example, the auction order is the same as that of Fig. 12 and Fig. 15 when the set product is viewed as a single item, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 18 is an example of the schematic diagram which shows this auction as time passes and a price.

In FIG. 18, as an example, 100 sets of skis and boots are prepared (180), and a set auction of which a starting price is 80,000 yen and a price reduction of 15,000 yen every week is from March 1 to March 31. In the case of holding. This set auction is related to the season, and if the bid period is successful at the high point, the set auction is perfect for the ski season. Thus, the merchandise in which time conditions, such as a season, are related has the merit which can use the setting of a holding period for sales promotion. In FIG. 18, since the bids 75d, 75e, 75f are successful bids and 100 sets are sold out, the bids 75g are not executed. In this way, in the auction of the present embodiment, a plurality of auction items can be efficiently bidmed, in particular for the purpose of clearing the stock, and the user can also participate in the auction arbitrarily in real time.

(Price auction)

Next, unlike the auction that directly lowers the price so far, the price reduction bid that actually raises the price reduction price will be described. This method is no different from the auction of directly lowering the price of one product. However, the successful bidder sets a common price reduction or price reduction rate for a plurality of products. If you want to be free to choose what you want on the price list with this desired product, you can sell a wide range of products efficiently in one auction.

19 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the data area 63b of the RAM 63 in the case of a price reduction bidding. In the auctions Nl and N2, the product group 191 which is the price reduction target, the price reduction amount (generally 0 at first) 192, and the maximum price reduction limit amount 193 are stored.

20 is a diagram showing a part different from FIG. 5 which is an example of a processing procedure in an auction site in the case of a price reduction bid.

By the transmission from the auction site, the auction participant's terminal 2 displays the current price reduction amount (generally 0 at the start of auction) (step S201), and the price reduction amount is transferred from the purchaser through the network. If there is a bid (there exists in step S104), the contract processing (step S105) is performed, and when the whole quantity is successful (Y in S120), the auction ends.

When there is no bid from the network (no step S 104), it is determined whether the price reduction is a price reduction higher than the maximum price reduction (step S202), and it is not the limit price reduction. The process returns to step S201, and repeats steps S201, S104, S202, and S107. When a predetermined time elapses (Y in step S107), the price reduction process is performed (step S203), and the displayed price reduction is performed. The amount higher by a predetermined increase than the amount is set as a new price reduction amount, and this price reduction amount is transmitted through the network and displayed again on the terminal of the purchaser (step S201).

If the above procedure is repeated and the displayed price reduction amount is higher than the limit price reduction amount (Y in step S106), the auction ends at that point. In this case, the auction is stopped.

In addition, the successful bidder can apply the discounted price reduction to a product group determined in advance by the auction site, so that the desired product can be obtained at low cost. As a method of winning a broader product group at one auction, this method is effective, and it is particularly preferable to carry out at a price reduction rate. It is also conceivable to change the product group in correspondence with the price reduction rate, for example, to change it according to expensive goods and cheap goods, or necessities of life and preferences.

21 is an example of the schematic diagram which shows this auction in association with time and price.

In FIG. 21, as an example, the case where the price reduction auction is held with 10 price reductions and the starting price reduction amount which reduces the price by 500 units from zero yen is held. In Fig. 21, the bids 75h, 75i, 75j are successful bids and 10 servings are sold out, so the bidding is finished. As described above, in the auction of the present embodiment, a wide range of auction products are sold particularly efficiently, and the user can select a product after a successful bid auction, thereby achieving a flexible auction.

(Sale at the lowest successful bid price)

The auction price so far has been the price at the time of auction. However, it is easy to cause a trouble that the contract price of the same product differs among the users who participated in the auction. In particular, expensive commodities such as automobiles and jewelry shown in the first example are problematic. Thus, a method of selling a product to all users who have won at the lowest price of a successful bid at the end of the auction method and at the auction ends will be described. Since this example is not a study of the auction method itself, it may be applied to any auction described so far. After each auction, carry out this procedure.

Fig. 22 is a diagram showing a part different from Fig. 5 which is an example of the processing procedure at an auction site when a contract is signed at the lowest successful bid price.

In Fig. 5, if there is a bid in step S104, the bid is successful in step S105 to perform a contract process. However, in this example, the provisional contract is only executed in step S220. In this example, when the auction product drops (Y in S120), the auction is terminated, but in step S221, a contract is made with all the users who have won the lowest price during the auction. In addition, although the provisional contract S220 was established in FIG. 22, the method of performing this contract S105 as shown in FIG. 5 and returning the difference with the minimum successful bid price after the auction is completed can be considered. The method of FIG. 22 is preferred. Alternatively, in order to simplify the procedure, a method of adding a difference to the remaining balance of the prepaid may be described below.

<Example of other services to auction support system and user>

In the above, embodiment which concerns on this invention was described centering on the framework of an auction. In the following, a study on the interface between the auction site and the user or the store, that is, various services suitable for the user will be described.

First, prior to the description of the following services, the bidding history database 250 added to the configuration example of the customer database 12 of FIG. 24 and the database area 64a of the external storage device 64 of FIG. The structural example of this is demonstrated.

(Configuration example of customer database)

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example when the customer database 12 has all the functions described herein.

Corresponding to each member number 240, personal information 241, pre-bid information 242, product reservation information 243, prepaid balance information 244, and bid history information 245 are stored. In addition, although it appears that it is stored continuously in FIG. 24, each may be memorize | stored in the other area linked by the pointer.

In personal information 241, user ID, password, nickname, name, E.Mai1 address, date of birth, gender, address (including postal code), home phone number, weekly contact phone number, mobile number, PHS number, credit number Etc. are included. The pre-bid information 242 includes a product number, a bid price, and a bid quantity. The product reservation information 243 includes a product name (number), a desired price, a desired quantity, characteristic information of the product, preference information on the product, and the like. The bid history information 245 includes a product number, a bid period, a successful bid flag indicating whether or not a successful bid is made.

In addition, as shown in Configuration Example 1, the customer database 12 includes personal information in addition to general personal information such as address, name, age, gender, contact information, place of work, hobby, and preference of the person who has registered as a member. It contains information on whether it is a seller, and different contract processing is performed depending on whether it is an individual or a seller.

In addition, in the old product database 13 ', various designated information about the product which a person who registered as a member wishes to purchase 22 are stored, and the auction product database 14' is stored. The detailed information including the manufacturing history, the used ramen usage history, etc. about the product which can be exhibited as an auction product is stored.

FIG. 25 shows a configuration example of a bid history database 250 that stores bid history of the entire auction system instead of the customer unit as shown in FIG.

For each bid number 251, the bid information 252 is stored. The bidding information 252 includes a product number, a bidding period, a starting price, a minimum limit price, a successful bid price, successful bidder information, and the like. In addition, a product number is replaced by a set number, and there may be a plurality of successful bid prices or successful bidders. A corresponding product catalog 253 is linked to the product number, and an image such as a photograph of the product is also stored in the product catalog 253. On the other hand, the customer database (which may be different from FIG. 24) 254 is linked to the successful bidder information, and the customer database (254, for example, the picture with the successful bid product, etc.) is stored in the customer database 254. .

(Member registration)

Fig. 23 is a diagram showing a display screen for registering a new member from the user terminal of this embodiment.

In FIG. 23, input is requested for the user ID 231, password 232, E. Mai1 address 23, gender 234, date of birth 235, and postal code 236. In FIG. Comparing this with the personal information 241 of the customer database 12 of Fig. 24, only the part of the oblique line is input. This means that the user registers only the minimum information necessary for the new member in order to avoid the troublesome input in the initial registration, and the other information of the personal information 241 of the customer database 12 is the auction site viewed by the user. While accessing, you gradually get that information and satisfy it. In this way, many users have initial access and at the same time, an efficient system can be constructed with less resources for users who have newly registered but do not have access later.

(Product reservation)

If the product reservation information 243 of FIG. 24 registers that the user wants to buy a desired product at a desired price, the auction site searches for product reservation information when a new auction is planned, and the product and the price correspond to each other. When the reservation is made, notification of the auction is held for the reserved user. In addition, a commodity and a price may be exactly same, and may be included in a certain range, or may include related goods, and may raise a propaganda effect.

(Bid history accumulation)

The bidding history information 245 of FIG. 24 accumulates the result of each user making a bid, and the auction site analyzes the bidding history information 245 of each user in a timely manner, finds the user's taste, and the user. The auction according to the sign of preferentially is notified to the user. In this way, the bidder is increased to prevent the auction from being stopped and to prompt the participation of the store server. In addition, the analysis for finding the user's preference can be found in the tendency even from the number of bids, and the research such as preferentially inquiring a place which is not performed in the opposite way in the case where the use amount is large and small, travel, and the like can be studied. The analytical method will not be described in detail because it departs from the spirit of the present invention.

(Bid information service)

In the bid history database 250 of FIG. 25, the bidding results of this auction site are accumulated, and if the user's consent is given, the photograph of the product catalog 253, the photograph of the customer database 245, etc. are combined, The site can be promoted, and a user can provide a service that can understand what products the site handles.

(Prepaid system)

The prepaid balance information 244 of FIG. 24 stores, for example, a prepaid amount of money prepaid by the user, such as a gift certificate or a pre-vade card, and when the successful bid is successful, the processing of step S 105 of FIG. It is not necessary and ends simply by deduction from prepaid balance. In this process, a premium service such as a gift certificate may be provided.

(Example of processing procedure of the service)

In Fig. 26, a flowchart showing a process for executing the service is shown. In addition, Fig. 26 is described to include all of the services, even if the service includes a part thereof, the effect is remarkable. In FIG. 26, as shown in FIG. 5, all communication procedures between the user terminal and the auction site are omitted.

In FIG. 26, simple member registration as in FIG. 23 is instructed in the user terminal (S261). The auction site receives this and proceeds from S271 to S272 in the case of membership registration, and registers a part of the personal information 241 of the customer database 12. If the user terminal instructs product reservation (S262), the auction site registers in the product reservation information 243 of the customer database 12 (S273).

When the auction site is determined to hold the auction, the content and price of the product are set (S274). If the product and the price correspond to a reservation, the auction is held (S275). The user terminal waits for notification (S263), and if there is a notification, bids and participates in an auction (S264). The auction site receives the user's bid and executes the various auction processes described above (S276), and notifies the user terminal of the successful bid (S277). If there is a notification of successful bid, the user terminal performs contract processing (S266). In this example, the contract processing is finished by subtracting the successful bid payment amount from the prepaid balance of the customer database 12 at the auction site (S278). The auction site accumulates the winning result in the bid history of the bid history database 250 and the customer database 12 (S279).

For example, when the product reservation S260 of FIG. 26 has not been executed, the auction search in step S274 may be selected according to the user's preference described above.

<Service example to auction support system store server>

In the above description, the relationship between the user and the auction site has been mainly described, but the service of the auction site to the store server that exhibits the products at the auction will be described.

In the auction site, exhibiting abundant goods is an important problem in the management of the site because a wide range of users and a large number of bidders participate. For this reason, a service is required for the store server as well as the service to the user as described above.

The service to the store server of the auction site is realized by abundant auction forms. The store server can freely select the auction form and conditions in its product. According to the auction described in the present embodiment described above, at least, auction is selected by price or by price reduction, setting of period, setting of starting price, setting of minimum limit, setting of renewal period of price, price The update width can be set.

Fig. 27 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a format in which a terminal connected to a store server requests an auction site for entry to an auction.

In Fig. 27, the above-described selection / setting is made possible as a condition for the auction as well as whether it is a store ID, a password E · Mai1 address, a store name, a store address, a brand name (number) / quantity, or a set product. These information are registered in the auction product database 14 ', for example, in a configuration similar to the customer database 12.

In addition, if the bid history of the auction site, analysis of preference information, etc. are disclosed to the store server, the store server has an advantage that the auction period and price can be set at an advantage.

According to the auction support system and the method of the present invention, on the network using a computer, the auction organizer to display the price of the article that the auctioneer wants to auction in real time, and establishes a consultation with the purchase desire to operate the terminal Thus, the general individual user can easily participate in the auction.

In addition, by setting the price step by step and making the bidder who bid first make a successful bidder, the price does not rise competitively and a favorable auction framework can be established on the purchaser's side.

Claims (29)

As an auction support system in which auction organizer provides goods and prices for auction and establishes a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal on a computer network. A price display means for setting the price of the item that the auction organizer wants to auction and displaying the desired item and the price of the auction to the purchaser through the network; Bid detection means for detecting a bid on the auction item desired by the purchaser through the network; Price setting means for gradually setting a price of the item for which the auction is desired in the price display means; And auction processing means for making a bidder the bidder at a higher price level and establishing a consultation between the purchaser and the item for which the auction is desired. The price set by the price display means is a lowered price, wherein the stepwise reduction of the price of the price setting means includes a stepwise increase in the lowered price, and the auction processing means further lowers the price. An auction support system, characterized in that the bidder is a bidder at the price stage. 3. The auction support system of claim 2, wherein the lowered price includes a lowered rate. The auction support system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the discounted price is applied to consultation of auction items within a predetermined range. The auction support system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step-down of the price by the price setting means is performed whenever a desired time elapses. The auction support system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stepwise reduction of the price by the price setting means is performed almost every time the desired date passes. The auction support system according to claim 1, further comprising a holding period setting means for setting a holding period of the auction by said auction processing means. The auction support system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the price setting means further sets the lowest price of the auction product, and the auction processing means ends the auction at the lowest price. The auction support system according to claim 1, wherein when there are a plurality of identical auction items, bidding from a purchaser includes a purchase number, and the auction processing means ends the auction when the auction items are dropped. 10. The method according to claim 1 or 2 or 9, wherein the price display means sets and displays a set auction price on a set of plural kinds of auction items, and the auction processing means executes an auction according to the set auction price. Auction support system, characterized in that. 10. The method according to claim 1 or 9, wherein the purchaser further has bid reservation means for reserving a bid price lower than the current price, wherein the auction processing means includes bidding through the network by the purchaser, The auction support system which determines a successful bidder from the bid of a price. 12. The auction support system according to claim 9 or 11, wherein the auction processing means sets the lowest successful bid price as the successful bid price of the plurality of purchase desires when a plurality of purchasers bid at different prices. . The method according to claim 1, further comprising bidder reception processing means for receiving information from a purchaser via a network, storing the information in a customer database, and acknowledging the purchaser's participation in an auction in an auction support system. Auction support system. The auction support system according to claim 13, wherein the bidder acceptance processing means discriminates whether a purchaser connected to a network by an operation of a terminal is an individual user or a business owner and stores it in a customer database. The bidder acceptance processing means according to claim 13, further comprising product registration means for registering a product desired by the purchaser and holding notification means for notifying the purchaser of the auction when the auction item is the desired product. Auction support system, characterized in that. The product registration means according to claim 15, further registering a desired price, And the holding notification means notifies the purchaser of the holding of the auction when the price of the auction item becomes the desired price. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the bidder acceptance processing means comprises: member registration means for registering a member of the auction support system, service providing means for providing a service to the member via a network, and according to the level of the member. And a service control means for changing the quality. 18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the member registration means includes history accumulation means for accumulating auction participation history of members and selection notification means for selecting and notifying a kind of auction holding notice according to the auction participation history. Auction Support System. 18. The member registration means according to claim 17, wherein the member registration means additionally registers initial registration means for registering from an initial registration screen that includes only basic information about the purchase applicant, and additional information about the purchase applicant in accordance with the member's auction participation history. An auction support system, characterized in that it has an additional registration means. 15. The auction according to claim 13, wherein the bidder acceptance processing unit further has a prepaid registration means for registering prepaid expenses from purchasers, and is settled by using the prepaid expenses upon consultation by a successful bidder. Support system. The auction product database further connected to the auction processing means according to claim 1 or 13, wherein the auction product for which the auction price is set in the auction processing means is selected from information stored in the auction product database. Auction support system, characterized in that. 22. The auction support system according to claim 21, further comprising: sales-receipt acceptance processing means for receiving information from a plurality of store servers of a plurality of stores through a network and approving registration of auction items in the auction product database. The auction support system according to claim 1, further comprising a successful bidder accumulation means for accumulating the successful bidder results in the auction support system, and a successful bidder providing means for providing the selected successful bidder to the purchaser and / or the retailer. . As an auction support method in which auction organizer provides a desired item and price thereof and establishes a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal on a computer network. The auction organizer sets the price of the item to be auctioned, displays the desired item and the price of the auction to the purchaser through the network, and makes a bid for the auctioning item through the network by the purchaser. While detecting, I cut down the setting of the price of the article wanting the auction step by step, An auction support method, characterized in that a person who bids at a higher price level is a successful bidder, and a consultation is made between a purchaser and an item of auction. As an auction support method in which auction organizer provides a desired item and price thereof and establishes a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal on a computer network. The auction organizer sets a reduction price or a price reduction rate of an item which is desired to be auctioned, and displays the desired item and the reduction price or a price reduction rate to the purchaser through the network, While detecting the bid in the article in hope of the auction, Step by step increase the setting of the cut price or the price reduction rate of the article you wish to auction, An auction support method characterized in that a bidder is bidder at a lower reduction price or price reduction rate stage, and consultation between the purchaser and the item which is desired for the auction is established. 26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the purchaser reserves a bid price lower than the current price, and determines a successful bidder from bidding through the network by the purchaser and bidding of the pre-booked current price. How to Apply for Auction. On a computer-based network, as a computer-readable storage medium, the auction organizer provides a computer-readable control program that provides a product to be auctioned and its price, and controls an auction support method for establishing a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal. , The control program, Setting the price of the item that the auction organizer wants to auction and displaying the desired item and the price of the auction to the purchaser through the network; Detecting a bid for the auction item through a network by a purchaser, Stepping down the setting of the price of the item desired for the auction, while detecting the display of the price and the bidding; And bidding the bidder at the higher price level and establishing a consultation between the purchaser and the auction item. On a computer-based network, as a computer-readable storage medium, the auction organizer provides a computer program that stores a control program that provides a product to be auctioned and its price, and controls an auction support method for establishing a consultation with a purchaser who operates a terminal. , The control program, Setting an auction price or a price reduction rate of an item to be auctioned by the auction organizer, and displaying the desired item and the price or price reduction rate to the purchaser through the network; Detecting a bid for the auction item through a network by a purchaser, Stepwise raising a setting of a lowering price or a lowering rate of the article for which the auction is desired, while displaying the price and detecting the bidding; And setting a bidder as a successful bidder at a lower reduction price or lowering rate, and establishing a consultation between the purchaser and the item for which the auction is desired. 29. The method of claim 27 or 28, further comprising: the purchaser booking a bid price lower than the current price, and determining a successful bidder from bidding through the network by the purchaser and bidding of the pre-booked current price. Storage medium comprising a.