System and method for providing proxy-based online Dutch auction services

摘要

In a method for providing proxy-based online Dutch auction services, an auction server or manager receives bid messages from a set of auction participants during the course of an auction. Each bid message may include a participant ID, a quantity requested value, a current proxy value indicating a maximum amount that the participant corresponding to the participant ID is willing to pay, and a partial quantity acceptance flag. The auction manager ranks or prioritizes bids in accordance with participants' current proxy values; determines current auction winners and losers and allocates offered items accordingly; determines a new current bid amount; and automatically adjusts participant bid values in accordance with participants the new current bid amount as well as the participants' current proxy values and status as winners or losers. In determining a new current minimum bid amount, the auction manager may selectively adjust an existing bid amount by an increment value depending upon whether a bid has been recorded, and/or whether a recorded bid corresponds to a complete or partial item quantity.