MC2199A1 - AUCTION PROCESSING METHOD AND SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for processing auctions as well as a system implementing this method.

The invention relates more particularly to a method and system for use in auctions in which an auctioneer (called a commissary in France) receives bids from bidders and broadcasts them to spectators present in an auction room. The auction is thus conducted publicly, with any spectator able to place bids. In principle, the auctioneer awards the lot to the highest bidder at the close of the sale.

The present invention relates to a method and system for processing auctions which allows bidders not present in the auction room to place bids remotely.

A system of this nature has been tested in some auction houses: bidders could, with the agreement of the auction organizer, place bids by telephone and they learned about the progress of the sale through its televised broadcast on a cable television network.

This system is obviously prohibitively complex and expensive for almost all auctions. Only certain very prestigious sales can afford to use it. Furthermore, this system struggles to meet the legal requirements imposed on these sales. In particular, spectators present in the auction room do not have simultaneous access to the same information as those bidding by telephone. Moreover, the auctioneer's receipt of bids becomes confusing as soon as multiple bids are placed.

via telephone at close intervals. With this system, the number of bidders is limited by the number of telephone lines available in the auction room.

The aim of the invention is to propose a method and an auction processing system which, by their original design, solve, in an inexpensive way, the problems related to the participation in the sale of bidders who are absent from the auction room.

We specifically want the new system to offer the following features:

A/ remote access, for potential bidders, to the sale catalogue through a permanent and public communication system;

B/ presentation by the bidder, upon entering the remote bidding system, of his identity so that the registration of his bids is done in his name;

C/ awareness (in real time during the sale) by the bidder of the bidding situation concerning the lot that interests him;

D/ Issuance of bids from remote bidders to the sales organizer as part of authorization and control procedures covering, in particular, frivolous bids;

E/ real-time verification by the bidder of the registration of their offer and its inclusion in the bidding sequence;

F/ intervention at any time during the sale by the auction organizer by virtue of his role as facilitator and conductor of the sale as well as his legal role as a ministerial officer which he has in some countries such as France and which gives him certain prerogatives (to bid, to suspend the sale of a lot, to close the sale of a lot by awarding it...);

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<3/ Issuance, by the sales organizer, of . . various automatic messages ("auction closing imminent", "lot sold" ...) or exceptional ones;

H/ recording of all 5 interventions that occurred during the sale, corresponding to the times at which they occurred,-

1/ visualization, by the spectators present in the auction room, of the progress of the sale, auction after auction, so that they can possibly bid with full knowledge of the facts (this point constitutes one of the main legal constraints linked to these public sales);

J/ the ability for spectators present in the auction room to place bids on the lots in 15 sales sessions;

K/ awareness of the sale result by the bidders who participated or attended remotely or in the room.

The present invention thus relates to a method of 20 auction processing intended to be used in auctions in which an auction organizer receives bids issued by bidders and broadcasts them to spectators present in at least one auction room.

25 According to the invention, this method is characterized

in that certain bids are issued remotely via a telematics network by bidders holding a terminal connected to said telematics network, in that the auctioneer holds a terminal connected to this telematics network, and in that it includes, when such a bid is issued via the telematics network, the following steps:

a) the entry, by the bidder, of instructions 35 corresponding to this bid;

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b} checking the validity of these instructions;

c) the broadcasting of this auction to the stations connected to the telematic network and held by 5 of the bidders and simultaneously to at least one display screen located in the auction room.

This process provides a simple and economical solution to the problems posed by bidding over potentially very long distances, while fulfilling the 10 legal requirements and offering ease of use.

Maximum utilization. This allows all participants in the sale to simultaneously access the same information, whether they are present in the room or attending the sale via the telematics network. Access to the telematics network and the transmission of various information and bids on this network can be managed by a server center connected to the network and equipped with appropriate software; this process does not limit the number of people involved remotely in the sale.

Furthermore, the invention also provides an auction processing system intended for use in auctions in which an auction organizer receives bids issued by 25 bidders and broadcasts them to spectators present in at least one auction room.

This auction processing system is characterized in that it includes recording means accessible to the auctioneer for recording bids placed by bidders present in the auction room; display means comprising at least one display screen located in the auction room to present information relating to the sale; and input means, accessible to bidders located outside the auction room, for transmitting bids via telematics link.

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display on said display screen and viewing means, accessible to these bidders located outside the auction room, adapted to receive information relating to the sale.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description below, read in conjunction with the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 schematically represents an auction processing system according to the present invention? and

- Figure 2 schematically shows a possible arrangement, within the auction room, of the means implemented in the invention,

- Figure 3 illustrates the display of information addressed to spectators present in the auction room and to external bidders.

Figure 1 shows an auction processing system which, according to the invention, allows remote bidding via a telematic network T symbolically illustrated.

In an auction room 1, 101, a sales organizer (sometimes called an auctioneer) conducts a sale in which a lot is offered to spectators present in the room 1, 101. These spectators can place bids to try to acquire this lot.

The auctioneer is responsible for registering the bids, awarding the lot to the highest bidder, and intervening when deemed necessary to ensure the smooth running of the sale. They are also required to keep the audience informed of the auction's progress.

For this purpose, the sales organizer has a terminal 2, 102, connected to the telephone network T. This terminal 2, 102 includes an alphanumeric keyboard 3, 103 and a display screen 4, 104 connected to a box 5,

105 includes an interface between terminal 2, 102 and the T network. The unit 5, 105 is connected to one or more display screens 6, 106 on which the information transmitted via the channel from terminal 2, 102 is displayed. In addition to the interface with the T* telematics network, unit 5 includes means for modulating and demodulating the signals exchanged via the T network (modem) and logic components for interpreting these signals according to the communication standards and protocols used on the T telematics network. The choice of the various components of this unit 5, 105 must therefore be made according to the specifications of the T network used. The screens 6, 106 are distributed in different locations within the auction room 1, 101. They are preferably designed to be large enough to allow the displayed messages to be read by spectators located 10 to 20 meters away. ;The telematic network T is also connected to stations 12 a-d held by persons located outside the auction room 1, 101. These stations 12 a-d may for example be located at the homes 11 a-d of these persons. They include an alphanumeric keyboard 13a-d, a display screen 14a-d, and a housing 15a-d containing the interface with the T network, the modulation and demodulation device for signals exchanged via the T network (modem), and logic components designed to interpret these signals according to the communication standards and protocols specific to the T network. Since the stations 12a-d are generally located in private homes, it is preferable that these stations 12a-d consist of standard terminals of a typical T telematics network, such as those called MINITEL. The system shown in Figure 1 also includes a server S connected to the T telematics network. This server S is a management unit for the auction processing system, which manages access to and transmission of information on the T network. It comprises a computer (symbolically represented as X) equipped with software designed for this management. Figure 2 illustrates the arrangement of the five components used in the auction processing system of the invention, within an auction room 1. The control unit 5 is shown connected to the network T, to the keypad 3 held by the auctioneer, to their display screen 4 (not shown here), and to a multiplexer 7 that transmits messages from the auctioneer to five display screens (of the television type) 6a~e. The keypad 3 is portable within the auction room 1 so that the auctioneer can move around the room 15 while continuing the auction. In case of failure of the devices 3, 5, and 7, a backup device 3', 5', 7* is provided, comprising a control unit 5', a keypad 3', and a multiplexer 7'.

Using the system described above, the 20 auctions proceed as follows. The auction organizer first enters information about the lots for sale via their keyboard 3 and their telematics network line T, creating a sales catalog stored 25 by the server S. Anyone with access to a workstation 12a-d connected to the T network can then, after entering an access code, consult this sales catalog and potentially select lots of interest. In this case, they can then contact the auction organizer 30 (via the T network or independently) to express their interest and indicate the maximum amount they are willing to pay for the lot. The organizer then assigns them an individual and confidential code to allow them to bid 35 via the T network. The organizer also stores this code in the server S's memory via their terminal 2, 102.

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In the first phase of the sale, prior to the public auction in auction room 1, 101, bids are recorded at the server S level. These bids, equivalent to preliminary bids, come from external persons bidding via their 12a-d station connected to the telematics network T or from the sales organizer via his terminal 2, 102 if the bidder addresses him rather than entering his instructions himself on a 12a-d station.

The computer X of the server S manages these bids by ensuring that external bidders have previously entered their individual and confidential code on their keyboard 13a-d and by checking that the amounts of these bids remain well below the maximum amounts agreed with the sales organizer.

This sequence of bids is interrupted by computer X at a time before the sale in the room by a predetermined period (for example 1 hour) or by the sales organizer before this period (he then enters appropriate instructions on his terminal 2, 102 which are transmitted to the server 5).

The actual sale (in the auction room) then begins with an initial bid level corresponding to the maximum offer made during the bidding phase. During the auction sequence, two types of bidders can be distinguished:

- Any spectator present in auction room 1 may, under the supervision of the auctioneer, place a bid on the lot that interests them. If the auctioneer accepts this bid, they record it on their keyboard 3. The corresponding information is then displayed on the screens 6a-e located throughout room 1 so that spectators are aware at all times of the progress and level of the bidding. This information is also broadcast, via the T network, to the

Stations 12a-d, whose users have previously connected to server S via the telematics network T. The messages received on screens 14a-d of stations 12a-d are identical and simultaneous to those received on screens 6, 6a-e, and 106. Thus, anyone can attend the sale either by going to auction room 1, 101, or by connecting to server S (after entering the access code for server S). This requirement for information accessibility generally stems from a legal obligation.

- Bidders located outside auction room 1, 101 can place bids by entering them on the keypad 13a-d of their workstation 12a~d connected to the telematics network T. This operation is only possible if the bidder has previously entered their confidential code and if this code has been recognized by computer X. The instructions corresponding to this bid are entered on the keypad 3 according to a predetermined input format that allows their identification by the software means of server S. Computer X of server S can also verify that these instructions do not represent a frivolous bid with regard to criteria defined by the auction organizer according to the agreement reached between the bidder and the organizer. If the bid passes the above tests, it is transmitted for display on the large screens 6, 6a~e, 106 distributed in the auction room lf 101 as well as on all the screens 14a-d of the outside spectators, the outside bidder is of course informed of the fate of his bid and the continuation of the sale thanks to the feedback to his station 12a-d via the telematics network T,

Furthermore, the auction organizer can also place bids on the lot. They then enter these bids on their keyboard 3, 103 and the system processes them in the same way as the bids previously described that were placed by bidders outside the auction room 1,

101. This possibility of issuing bids by

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The auction organizer is useful for taking into account the proposals of bidders who, absent from the sale, mandate the auction organizer to place bids on their behalf and also for entering the bids of the 5 spectators present in the room. As soon as they are entered by the auction organizer, they are displayed on screens 6, 6a-e, 106 and 14a-d so that the legal requirements are respected.

The auctioneer naturally has other prerogatives provided for in the method of the invention. For example, they can decide to suspend the bidding, award the lot when the sale is over, and issue various messages to organize the auction sequence. The corresponding information is entered using 15 pre-programmed keys on their keyboard 3, 103. This information is then broadcast to screens 6, 6a-e, 106, and 14a-d. The auctioneer's keyboard 3, 103 is portable within room 1, 101 to allow them to move around the room and thus facilitate their role as host.

Throughout the sale (bidding phase and auction room), all interventions by bidders, bidders, or the auction organizer are recorded and stored by computer X, along with the date and time each intervention occurred. This system allows for the resolution of certain disputes that may arise after these interventions.

30 At the end of the sale, after the lot has been awarded, information relating to the conduct and results of the auction is transmitted over the telematics network T and then stored by computer X to create a catalogue of results that anyone can 35 consult from a workstation 12a-d connected to the network (of

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(similar to consulting the initial sales catalogue).

Figure 3 illustrates one way of displaying relevant information on the television screens 6a-e, 106 and on the viewing screens 14a-d of the workstations 12a~d held by external bidders and connected to the telematics network T. The highest bid accepted by the auctioneer is displayed in 50. This bid must appear in a font of sufficient clarity and size to be legible in the auction room from distances of approximately 10 to 20 meters. The numerical references 51 to 54 designate messages corresponding respectively to the title of the lot being auctioned, the identification of the auctioneer, the date of the sale, and a numerical code for that lot. References 55b-58b denote the amounts of the four highest bids in the auction sequence at the time of display, corresponding to the bidders who placed those bids, identified by a short pseudonym 55a-58a. A message broadcast by the auction organizer is displayed in position 59. In the example in Figure 3, this message 59 indicates that the lot in question was sold for the sum indicated in position 50 to the bidder whose pseudonym is displayed in position 55a. Of course, the display example illustrated in Figure 3 is not exhaustive.

Figure 1 shows two auction rooms, 1 and 101. The aim was to demonstrate that sales organized using the invention's method can take place simultaneously in multiplex mode between several rooms. The server S can selectively process information originating from or destined for independent auction rooms. This simply requires equipping computer X with standard access management software using codes. Naturally, the number of rooms...

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sales that can be served simultaneously by the server are not limited to two.

The flexibility of the system proposed by the invention also allows for sales involving multiple rooms. A sales organizer is present in room 1, 101, and the information they transmit is sent to screens 6, 6a-e, 106 located in that room, to screens 14a-d for spectators outside, and also to screens 6, 6a-e, 106 located in another auction room 1, 101, which contains another terminal 3, 103 connected to the telematics network T. This ability to organize sales involving multiple rooms 1, 101 makes it possible to hold large sales for a wide audience.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the detailed example above. Thus, the computer means for data management have been represented as centralized at the server S level, by a computer X. The sales organizers' terminals 3, 103 can naturally include computer means equipped with software(s) performing some of the functions described above and executed at the server S level. This decentralization simplifies information transfers.

Furthermore, the system applies, in a similar way and without going outside the scope of the present invention, in the case of digital telematics networks currently under development, such as the so-called ISDN network or the digital integrated services network.

Claims (15)

13 SUMMARY 1. Auction processing method intended for use in auctions in which an auction organizer receives bids issued by bidders and broadcasts them to spectators present in one or more auction rooms (1, 101), characterized in that some bids are issued remotely via a telematics network (T) by bidders holding a terminal (12a-d) connected to said telematics network (T), in that the auction organizer holds a terminal (2, 102) connected to this telematics network (T), and in that it comprises, when such a bid is issued via the telematics network (T), the following steps: a) the entry, by the bidder, of instructions corresponding to this bid; b) checking the validity of these instructions; (c) the dissemination of this bid to the stations (12a-d) connected to the telematics network (T) and held by bidders and also to at least one display screen (6, 6a-e, 106) located in the auction room {1, 101). 2- A process in accordance with paragraph 1, characterized in that certain bids are also issued directly by bidders present in the auction room (1, 101), controlled by the auction organizer, and then disseminated in accordance with step c of paragraph 1. 3. A method conforming to paragraph 1, characterized in that step b of instruction validity control includes a substep of checking, by a logic unit (X), the conformity of these instructions to predetermined validity criteria stored in a memory of this logic unit (X). 14 4. A method in accordance with paragraph 3, characterized in that one of the said predetermined criteria for the validity of the instructions entered by a bidder consists in the fact that this bidder has previously composed an individual and confidential access code to the sales via his station (12a~d) connected to the telematics network (T). 5. A method in accordance with paragraph 1, characterized in that certain spectators attend the sale via a station (12a-d) connected to the telematics network (T) on which they receive the messages broadcast in step c. 6. A method conforming to any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, characterized in that the sales organizer also sends messages to intervene in the sale, directed towards the stations (12a-d) connected to the telematics network (T) and held by bidders and/or spectators and also towards said at least one display screen (G, 6a-e, 106) located in the auction room (1, 101). 7. A method conforming to one of paragraphs 1 to 6, characterized in that all interventions that occurred during the sale are stored in memory in correspondence with the times at which they occurred. 8. A method conforming to one of paragraphs 1 to 7, characterized in that bidders and/or spectators absent from the auction room can become aware, via their stations (I2a~d) connected to the telematics network (T), of information concerning the sales and disseminated on the telematics network (T) before or after the taking place of these sales. 9. A method conforming to any one of paragraphs 1 to 8, characterized in that several auction rooms (1, 101) are made available to spectators, each of these auction rooms (1, 101) comprising at least one screen of I 15 visualization (6, 106) for receiving messages broadcast in step c. 10. Auction processing system intended for use in auctions in which an auctioneer receives bids submitted by bidders and broadcasts them to spectators present in at least one auction room (1, 101), characterized in that it comprises recording means (3, 103) accessible to the auctioneer for recording bids submitted by bidders present in the auction room (1, 101), display means (6, 6a-e, 106) located in the auction room (1, 101) for presenting information relating to the sale, input means (13a-d) accessible to bidders located outside the auction room (1, 101) for transmitting bids via telematics link for display on said display screen (5, 5a-e, 105), and viewing means (14a-d) accessible to these bidders located outside the auction room (1, 101), adapted to receive information relating to the sale. 11. Auction processing system conforming to paragraph 10, characterized in that it further comprises a logical unit (X) for testing the conformity of the bids transmitted via said input means (I2a-d) to predetermined validity criteria before their display on said display screen (6, 6a-e, 106) and on said display means (14a-d). 12» Auction processing system conforming to paragraph 10 or 11, characterized in that the recording means (3, 103) are part of a terminal (2, 102) connected to the telematics network (T) used. 13. Auction processing system conforming to one of paragraphs 10 to 12, characterized in that the input means (13a-d) and the display means 16 (14a-d) are part of stations (12a-d) connected to the telematics network (T) in use. paragraph 12 or 13, characterized in that the terminal (2, 102) and the stations (12a-d) are connected, via the telematics network (T), to a management unit (S) of the system which manages access and the transmission of information on said network (T). one of paragraphs 10 to 14, characterized in that the recording means (3) are transportable inside the auction room (1). 14. Auction processing system compliant with 15. Auction processing system compliant with ORIGI^Alr in P®0*;containing Reference»;P r*p<-!<TMfSte-3 <^'3 Mr. Mourad Assabgui