System and Method For Attracting Motivated Bidders To On-Line Auction Site

摘要

A system for diverting motivated bidders from a publisher's webpage to an on-line auction site comprises an auction website server hosting an on-line auction and having an xml file with which a potential bidder's web browser can communicate via a banner ad displayed at a publisher's website to request a list of authorized domains having access rights to communicate with the on-line auction server. Means are provided for permitting the potential bidder's web browser to open a channel of communication to the auction website's webpage in http or https format to obtain a listing from the on-line auction website of at least one auction at the on-line auction website that is ending soon and which meets search criteria specific to the publisher's webpage as previously selected by one or both of the on-line website and the publisher. The listing is in http or https format and is displayed as real-time content within the banner ad.;Means are further provided for establishing a request loop between the viewer's web browser and the on-line auction website that periodically updates the content in the banner ad to reflect, in essentially real time, updated data pertaining to the auction(s) listed within the banner ad. The updated data includes the then-winning bid and the time remaining until auction close.;Means are further provided for permitting the potential bidder to click through to the on-line auction website via the banner ad to participate in the listed auction.