System for Interactive Computer-Assisted On-Line Auctions

Abstract

A system and method for an interactive, computer-assisted on-line auction wherein at least one array of images of objects for auction are scrolled on a display device so that a viewer can view the objects, obtain detailed information regarding objects of interest an submit bids on those objects the viewer desires to purchase. The objects in the array can be sorted into rows and columns by criteria such as manufacturer, type of good, or time until which bids are accepted. The system can include an array for objects that can currently be bid upon and another array for objects that can be bid upon at a future time. Certain objects of interest to a viewer can be selectively rotated for three-dimensional viewing by clicking on an appropriate button. A viewer can select a plurality of objects of interest, wherein monitoring screens are then composed and displayed on the display device for each selected object, each monitoring screen providing the viewer with an enlarged graphical representation of an object, detailed textual information regarding an object, and information regarding the auction for an object such as current bid price, time remaining to submit a bid and a bid submission box. The system also provides a system of selectively programmable alerts which can use visual or audible cues to alert the viewer to some occurrence, such as a predetermined amount of time remaining to submit a bid on an object.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for displaying digital information on a display device associated with a computer processor and at least one memory, comprising: displaying on the display device a plurality of digital information elements, wherein the digital information elements represent virtualized ones of physical items; enabling a user to select at least one of the digital information elements; displaying information about the item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein said information includes a description of, and link to conduct commerce activity related to, the physical item represented by the selected digital information element; and enabling the user to change a display perspective on the display device of one or more of the digital information elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the items represented by the one or more digital information elements are displayed three-dimensionally to a user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in the display perspective involves rotating the one or more digital elements about at least one of the three-dimensions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the change in the display perspective reveals at least one view of the physical item represented by a digital information element that was not visible before initiation of the change in the display perspective.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the display perspective occurs without user input to initiate the change.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying information about the item represented by the digital information element is in response to a user selection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical item represented by the digital information element is at least one of a painting, photograph, coin, sculpture, furniture item, piece of jewelry, timepiece, and electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.

9. A system comprising: a computer readable storage medium capable of non-transitorily storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more computer processors, wherein the one or more processors are communicatively coupled to a display device configured to be controlled by the one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to: display on the display device a plurality of digital information elements, wherein the digital information elements represent physical items viewed in virtual reality; enable a user to select at least one of the digital information elements; display information about the physical item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein the information includes a description of, and a link to conduct commerce activity related to, the physical item represented by the selected digital information element; and enable changing of a displayed perspective of the virtual realization of the physical item represented by the selected digital information element.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs are configured to express in three dimensions the digital displaying on the display device of the image of the physical item represented by its associated digital information element.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more programs are configured to enable a change in the displayed perspective of a selected digital information element representing the physical item, such that the displaying of at least one of the selected physical items undergoes a three-dimensional rotation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the change in displayed perspective reveals at least one view of the user-selected item of interest represented by a digital information element that was not displayed before receiving a user action to change the displayed perspective.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein a user is an administrator of the digital information elements associated with items represented by said digital information elements stored on the said storage medium.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein a user is a consumer of the item of interest.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs are configured to enable an administrator user to program at least one selected item to undergo a change in the displayed perspective on the display device automatically when a webpage containing information associated with the selected item is accessed.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more programs are configured to enable automatic changing of displayed perspective of the displaying of an item of interest selected by a consumer user, without requiring an action from the consumer user to initiate the change.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to the selection, the one or more programs are configured to simultaneously display a plurality of information from at least two sources about the at least one item of interest represented by the user-selected digital information element.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the item represented by the selected digital information element is at least one of a painting, a photograph, a coin, a sculpture, a furniture item, a piece of jewelry, a timepiece or an electronic device.

20. A computer implemented method for conducting commerce and displaying on a display device information regarding objects that can be purchased, wherein the display device is controlled by a computer with a processor and memory and one or more programs, the method comprising: displaying on a display device a plurality of digital information elements, wherein the digital information elements represent items that can be purchased, and are capable of being displayed in three-dimensional perspective in virtual reality; enabling a user to select at least one of the digital information elements; displaying information relating to the item represented by the selected digital information element, wherein the information includes a description of the item represented by the selected digital information element, and a link to conduct a commerce activity relating to the item; enabling the user to change the viewing perspective of the digital information elements on the display device; monitoring the commerce activity status of the item represented by a digital information element; and notifying the user when commerce activity occurs with respect to the item represented by a selected digital information element.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user notification occurs on a webpage.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the user notification is transmitted in the form of an electronic mail.

23. The method of claim 20, the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user notification is in response to a bid being placed that exceeds a bid placed by the user.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing perspective involves the three-dimensional rotation of at least one item represented by the selected digital information element.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing perspective reveals at least one view of the user-selected item of interest that was not displayed before the user initiating the action to change the viewing perspective.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is an administrator.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is a consumer of the item.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the change in viewing perspective occurs without user input to initiate the change in the viewing perspective.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying of information related to a selected item represented by its associated digital information element is in response to a user selection.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying of information relating to an item represented by the selected digital information element includes displaying the status of commerce activity associated with the item.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the commerce activity relates to a bid associated with an auction.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the item represented by the selected digital information element is at least one of a painting, a photograph, a coin, a sculpture, a furniture item, a piece of jewelry, a timepiece or an electronic device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIGS. 1A-1O are conventional EBAY auction web site views.

[0018] FIGS. 2A-2I are conventional YAHOO! auction web site views.

[0019] FIGS. 3A-3J are conventional AMAZIN.COM auction web site views.

[0020] FIGS. 4A-4D: An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implemented with the current invention.

[0021] FIG. 4A shows the “featured”, and “search,” or “category” browsing results are shown in a graphical array, with multiple-select capabilities. The “upcoming” auctions are announced in a cycling or stationary (scrolled to view) margin-strip at the right side. The “present” auctions are presented in rows.

[0022] Each row of the array can advance to left, back to right, continually move (GO button) to show more items, or stop, at command by clicking on the commend buttons at the left margin of the row. The “upcoming” column on the right has similar functions. The movement for the column is up-down movement.

[0023] In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3 categories and the “featured.” The same method and apparatus can present items of the same category, or the subcategories within a category, for example, separating sports cars of different manufacturer.

[0024] FIG. 4B shows the screen shot of the Auction home-page screen at some time later. Due to exercising the moving functions, some items have changed positions on the array, some items have left the screen, and some items not shown in 4A appear on the screen.

[0025] FIG. 4C shows the selected items from FIGS. 4A and 4B appear on a monitoring screen.

[0026] The screen is automatically tracked/updated by synchronizing with the server data at user programmable intervals. Object that should be seen from all sides has an “On” button in a portion of its still image. Clicking the “ON” button turns on the Virtual Reality with automated rotation as well as mouse driven rotation features. The “ON” button can be replaced by “VR” or any other form that representing turning on “Virtual Reality.” Detailed information for each monitored object can be called individually by clicking on the “Detail” button, or selectively and collectively by clicking the “select” boxes, and submitting requests to the server after completing the selection process. The object positioning in the array can be sorted with various criteria at user request or default setting. The “alert” can also be programmed, for example, to surround “End Time” box with small blinking stars, or any other attention causing signal, to signal the end of “open” auction within 30 minutes (or an hour), and blinking red stars for “My bid” button when “my bid” is out bid.

[0027] FIG. 4D shows selection of objects monitored in screen FIG. 4C for viewing detailed information and access bidding apparatus collectively, would bring this screen after submitting the selection. In this example, The Egli Ucelli landscape painting, the Jaguar S-series, and the Algarve rug are selected.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows an example of the “Live” Auction Format of the Present Invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus for conducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions on-line, for pure Internet auctions, and for real-time linking to physical auctions. The “current” auction objects are presented in moving graphical arrays 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D that can be sorted by rows 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D or columns, and moved bi-directionally to show more items than the computer screen size can accommodate, or stopped to select individual items to obtain further information, or to be monitored and tracked. The “up coming” objects that are soon to be “open” for bidding are shown on a separate strip 24 on the screen. The strip 24 and the sorted rows 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D or columns can be commanded to “cycle” onto the screen continually to display objects beyond the screen. The moving strip can also be activated to step in both directions, and stopped for detailed view or selection for monitoring, tracking, or to obtain further information. The displaying and selection method and apparatus can also be used for displaying catalogs and other e-commerce channels and services.

[0030] Selected objects from different categories, or even different sites can be monitored and tracked on the same screen.

[0031] Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to display three-dimensional objects. Split screen 60 (FIG. 5) allows video broadcasting, narrow casting or streaming of “live auction” events, or fashion catwalk events 60A alongside detailed images of auctioned objects 60B, their descriptions, and the bidding entry form, as well as the running strip cataloguing the upcoming lots/items for auction or catwalk.

[0032] The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can also be use in other types of on-line object and catalogue displays and other E-commerce channels, mechanisms, and services in addition to the auction format.

[0033] The present invention presents objects presently open for auction in each category on a graphical array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D, with the “up coming auctions” running on a margin strip 24. A time stamp 26 signifies the time the information is loaded to the computer at its latest synchronization/up-date. The array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D can be sorted by user specified or default criteria in columns or rows. Command buttons 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D or 28E providing options allowing viewers to start, or stop the cycling, use the scroll button to scroll up or down, or left or right, to see more items. The bidder/viewer selects interested objects from the array 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D of either the same category, or from different categories, or even from different sites, and/or the interested “upcoming” objects from the margin strip 24. The “auction wizard” of the current invention fetches the detailed information and enlarged graphics of the selected items from the site databases, and composes a personalized auction monitor screen (FIG. 4C) for the bidder/viewer. The screen is automatically updated with new status, at user programmable intervals. If the bidder/viewer's computer is disconnected from the server, the synchronization occurs automatically upon reconnection.

[0034] Differentiated level of selections can be made, and the array presentation can be sorted by category, or with other criteria of differentiation. “Alert” is programmed to user selectable criteria, such as closing time, outbid, etc. Default setting can be provided, for example, to alert closing time in one hour or less, or outbid by others.

[0035] Dropping items from monitoring screen (FIG. 4C) can also be programmed to criteria, such as highest bid going beyond a certain price, or successful final bid of another similar item, etc. Monitoring is automatically dropped when closing is over, and status sent to “closed auction report” folder.

[0036] Automated 3D Virtual Reality presentation is used to display three-dimensional objects, such as sculptures, cars, lamps, or furniture, revolving on the screen automatically. “ON” Buttons 40 are provided to the VR presentation for viewer to elect using the mouse to rotate the object, or to resume the automated rotation. The “ON” button 40 is provided on still images of three-dimensional objects for activating Virtual Reality presentation upon clicking.

[0037] “Split Screen” 60 accommodates broadcasting, narrow casting, and streaming video 60A for viewing the live auction events, alongside the web images, VR or 3D presentations of the object 60B, detailed textual descriptions, and the online “bidding” mechanism 60C, for linking “live auction” sessions to the on-line auction network.

[0038] An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implemented with the current invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D. FIG. 4A shows “search,” or “category” browsing results, and the “featured” items in a graphical array, with multiple-select capabilities. The “upcoming” auctions are announced in a cycling or stationary (scrolled to view) margin-strip 24 at the right side. The “present” auctions are presented in rows 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D, and sorted in rows according to category criteria.

[0039] A set of command buttons 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D are placed at the left margin of each row 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D, respectively, to enable each row 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D of the array to advance to the left, or back to the right by pressing the mouse button on the arrows 30 or 31, or to continually move for showing more items beyond the screen by clicking on the “GO” button 32, or stop at command by clicking on the “STOP” button 33. The “Other” button 34 allows the viewer to select to view items from other categorization. The “upcoming” column on the right (strip 24) has similar functions. The movement for the column is up-down movement via arrows 30′ and 31′ instead of the left-right for the rows of “present auctions.”

[0040] In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3 categories and the “featured,” items for the rows. Other criteria can be used, such as displaying subcategory items from the same category, for example, sports cars of different manufacturer, or displaying same category items sorting by ending time, etc.

[0041] Each item on the array is selectable. The viewer can select as many items from the array as desired for monitoring, for detailed information, or for bidding. When the selection process is completed, the viewer “submits” the selection by clicking the mouse button on the “Submit” button 37 located at the bottom of the screen.

[0042] FIG. 4B shows the FIG. 4A screen at some later time. Due to exercising the moving functions, some items have changed positions on the array, some items have left the screen, and some items not shown in FIG. 4A appear on the screen.

[0043] FIG. 4C displays the viewer-selected items from FIGS. 4A and 4B on a monitoring screen. The screen is automatically tracked/updated by synchronizing with the server data at user programmed or default intervals. Three-dimensional object that should be seen from all sides has an “On” button 40 in a portion of its still image. Clicking the “ON” button 40 turns on the Virtual Reality with automated rotation as well as mouse driven rotation features. The “ON” button 40 can be replaced by “VR” or any other form that representing turning on “Virtual Reality.” Detailed information for each monitored object can be called individually by clicking on the “Detailed” button 45A, or selectively and collectively by clicking the “select” boxes 45B, and submitting requests to the server after completing the selection process. The object positioning in the array can be sorted with various criteria at user request or default setting. The “alert” can also be programmed, for example, to surround “End Time” box 43B with small blinking stars, or any other attention causing signal, to signal the end of “open” auction within 30 minutes (or an hour), and blinking red stars for “My bid” button 45C when “my bid” is out bid.

[0044] Selecting objects monitored in screen FIG. 4C for viewing further detailed information and access-bidding apparatus collectively would bring the screen 50 shown in FIG. 4D after submitting the selection. In this example, The Egli Ucelli landscape painting, the Jaguar S-series, and the Algarve rug are selected. The Jaguar has Virtual Reality presentation, activated by clicking on the “ON” button 40. The column 24B in the middle are textual descriptions for the items, and the Auction bids column 24C to the right is where the auction status is presented, updated, and where bids (in “Bid Amount” box 56) can be entered. The membership ID number 52 only has to be entered once. The scroll bars 54 indicates there is more information in the box than what is shown. When the cursor is moved into the frame, where only partial information is shown, the full frame would pop-up.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an example of the “Live” Auction Format of the Present Invention. The 2 boxes at left are real-time, live streaming, broadcasting, or narrowcasting of live scenes at the physical auctions. The upper portion of the second column 60B from the left displays either still image of a 2-D object, or still image of a 3-D object, with Virtual Reality option upon clicking on the still image. The upper portion of the 3.sup.rd column 60C includes bidding screen 62A and description screen 62B. The lower portion 62C displays the next item to be auctioned, and the right column 60D displays the upcoming objects after the next auction in their time order. Bringing the cursor onto an image, the brief description is shown in a floating box. Clicking on the image brings detailed descriptions.

[0046] The present invention is implemented using software which can be written in many programming languages, or implemented with many web-page generation tools. The present invention can be used on a global or local computer network, on a personal computer, on viewable storage media such as a CD ROM, on a wireless telephone, on a wireless personal assistant such as a Palm Pilot®, or on any type of wired or wireless device that enables digitally stored information to be viewed on a display device. Also, information displayed and viewed using the present invention can be printed, stored to other storage medium, and electronically mailed to third parties.

[0047] Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled to the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.