US6408283B1 — Method and system for maintaining the integrity o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 56 words

A method of limiting bids in an electronic auction, comprising: offering a lot to a plurality of bidders; receiving a bid from a bidder for said lot; determining whether said bid is better than a previous bid by said bidder by at least a predefined positive percentage; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 56 words

A method of limiting bids in an electronic auction, comprising: offering a lot to a plurality of bidders; receiving a bid from a bidder for said lot; determining whether said bid is better than a previous bid by said bidder by at least a predefined positive percentage; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said accepting step comprises presenting a warning to the bidder if said bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and accepting said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said accepting step comprises accepting said bid only if said bid fails to beat the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 53 words

A method of limiting bids in an electronic auction, comprising: offering a lot to a plurality of bidders; receiving a bid from a bidder for said lot; determining whether said bid is better than or meets a threshold defined by a historical lot price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 53 words

A method of limiting bids in an electronic auction, comprising: offering a lot to a plurality of bidders; receiving a bid from a bidder for said lot; determining whether said bid is better than or meets a threshold defined by a historical lot price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 54 words

A method of limiting bids in an electronic auction, comprising: offering a lot to a plurality of bidders; receiving a bid from a bidder for said lot; determining whether said bid is better than a market leading bid by at least a predefined positive percentage; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 54 words

A method of limiting bids in an electronic auction, comprising: offering a lot to a plurality of bidders; receiving a bid from a bidder for said lot; determining whether said bid is better than a market leading bid by at least a predefined positive percentage; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 5 , wherein said accepting step comprises presenting a warning to the bidder if said bid is better than the market leading bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and accepting said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 5 , wherein said accepting step comprises accepting said bid only if said bid fails to beat the market leading bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 136 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising the steps of: (a) offering a lot, defined at least in part by an originator, to a plurality of potential bidders, said lot having at least one product; (b) defining a closing time for said lot, wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential bidder; (a) receiving bids from potential bidders for said lot; (b) determining whether an erroneous bid has been submitted by a bidder; (c) if an erroneous bid has been submitted, deleting in real-time an erroneous bid and any consequential bids of said erroneous bid from the auction; and (d) communicating with potential bidders that said erroneous bid and said consequential bids have been deleted from the auction.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 136 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising the steps of: (a) offering a lot, defined at least in part by an originator, to a plurality of potential bidders, said lot having at least one product; (b) defining a closing time for said lot, wherein said closing time for said lot defines a time before which bids for the lot are to be submitted by a potential bidder; (a) receiving bids from potential bidders for said lot; (b) determining whether an erroneous bid has been submitted by a bidder; (c) if an erroneous bid has been submitted, deleting in real-time an erroneous bid and any consequential bids of said erroneous bid from the auction; and (d) communicating with potential bidders that said erroneous bid and said consequential bids have been deleted from the auction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein step (b) comprises the step of receiving a communication from a bidder that a submitted bid is in error.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein step (c) comprises the step of deleting bids from the auction based upon input from an auction coordinator.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein step (d) comprises the step of causing a message dialog box to be displayed to the potential bidders.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 77 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a bid for a lot from a bidder; determining whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid received from said bidder; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 77 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a bid for a lot from a bidder; determining whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid received from said bidder; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said accepting step comprises presenting a warning to the bidder if said bid fails the fail-safe criteria, and accepting said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 13 , wherein said accepting step comprises presenting a warning to the bidder if said bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and accepting said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said accepting step comprises accepting said bid only if said bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 77 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a bid for a lot from a bidder; determining whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a threshold defined by a historical price for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than the threshold by at least one of a predefined percentage and a predefined price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 77 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a bid for a lot from a bidder; determining whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a threshold defined by a historical price for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than the threshold by at least one of a predefined percentage and a predefined price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 76 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a bid for a lot from a bidder; determining whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 76 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a bid for a lot from a bidder; determining whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accepting said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein said accepting step comprises presenting a warning to the bidder if said bid fails the fail-safe criteria, and accepting said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 18 , wherein said accepting step comprises presenting a warning to the bidder if said bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and accepting said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein said accepting step comprises accepting said bid only if said bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 95 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a first bid for a lot from a bidder; accepting said first bid as one of a plurality of bids for said lot; determining that said first bid is an erroneous bid; removing said first bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination; receiving a second bid for said lot based on said first bid; accepting said second bid as one of said plurality of bids; and removing said second bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 95 words

A method to limit bids in an electronic auction, comprising: receiving a first bid for a lot from a bidder; accepting said first bid as one of a plurality of bids for said lot; determining that said first bid is an erroneous bid; removing said first bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination; receiving a second bid for said lot based on said first bid; accepting said second bid as one of said plurality of bids; and removing said second bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 21 , wherein said bids are received from a plurality of bidders, and further comprising: sending a message to each of said bidders that said first and second bids are erroneous; and receiving an acknowledgment to said message from each of said bidders.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 92 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid for a lot from a bidder; determine whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid received from said bidder; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accept said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 92 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid for a lot from a bidder; determine whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid received from said bidder; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accept said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 47 words

The machine readable medium of claim 23 , wherein said instructions cause said processor to present a warning to the bidder if said bid fails the fail-safe criteria, and accept said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 56 words

The machine readable medium of claim 24 , wherein said instructions cause said processor to present a warning to the bidder if said bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and accept said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 26 words

The machine readable medium of claim 23 , wherein said instructions cause said processor to accept said bid only if said bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 92 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid for a lot from a bidder; determine whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a threshold defined by a historical price for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than the threshold by at least one of a predefined percentage and a predefined price; and accept said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 92 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid for a lot from a bidder; determine whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a threshold defined by a historical price for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than the threshold by at least one of a predefined percentage and a predefined price; and accept said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 91 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid for a lot from a bidder; determine whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accept said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 91 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid for a lot from a bidder; determine whether said bid passes a fail-safe criteria, wherein said fail-safe criteria comprises: comparing said bid to a previous bid for said lot; and determining whether said bid is better than said previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and accept said bid in accordance with said determination.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 47 words

The machine readable medium of claim 28 , wherein said instructions cause said processor to present a warning to the bidder if said bid fails the fail-safe criteria, and accept said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 56 words

The machine readable medium of claim 29 , wherein said instructions cause said processor to present a warning to the bidder if said bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and accept said bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 26 words

The machine readable medium of claim 28 , wherein said instructions cause said processor to accept said bid only if said bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 110 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a first bid for a lot from a bidder; accept said first bid as one of a plurality of bids for said lot; determine that said first bid is an erroneous bid; remove said first bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination; receive a second bid for said lot based on said first bid; accept said second bid as one of said plurality of bids; and remove said second bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 110 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an electronic auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a first bid for a lot from a bidder; accept said first bid as one of a plurality of bids for said lot; determine that said first bid is an erroneous bid; remove said first bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination; receive a second bid for said lot based on said first bid; accept said second bid as one of said plurality of bids; and remove said second bid from said plurality of bids in accordance with said determination.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 49 words

The machine readable medium of claim 32 , wherein said bids are received from a plurality of bidders, and further comprising: sending a message to each of said bidders that said first and second bids are erroneous; and receiving an acknowledgment to said message from each of said bidders.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of limiting bids in an online auction, comprising: receiving a bid from a bidder and entering it into the auction; determining whether the bid is erroneous; and if the bid is erroneous, deleting the erroneous bid and any consequential bids of said erroneous bid from the auction; whereby bidders in the online auction are connected over a communications network and submit bids into the online auction via an electronic link.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of limiting bids in an online auction, comprising: receiving a bid from a bidder and entering it into the auction; determining whether the bid is erroneous; and if the bid is erroneous, deleting the erroneous bid and any consequential bids of said erroneous bid from the auction; whereby bidders in the online auction are connected over a communications network and submit bids into the online auction via an electronic link.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 34 , additionally comprising: communicating with bidders that said erroneous bid and said consequential bids have been deleted form the auction.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 34 , wherein said determining comprises receiving a communication from the bidder that the received bid is in error.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 87 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an online auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid from a bidder and enter it into the auction; determine whether the bid is erroneous; and if the bid is erroneous, delete the erroneous bid and any consequential bids of said erroneous bid from the auction; whereby bidders in the online auction are connected over a communications network and submit bids into the online auction via an electronic link.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 87 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for limiting bids in an online auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a bid from a bidder and enter it into the auction; determine whether the bid is erroneous; and if the bid is erroneous, delete the erroneous bid and any consequential bids of said erroneous bid from the auction; whereby bidders in the online auction are connected over a communications network and submit bids into the online auction via an electronic link.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 32 words

The machine-readable medium of claim 37 , additionally comprising instructions that cause the processor to: communicate with bidders that said erroneous bid and said consequential bids have been deleted from the auction.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 37 words

The machine-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein said instructions cause the processor to determine whether the bid is erroneous in response to receipt of a communication from the bidder that the received bid is in error.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for a bidder to remove a bid that was submitted in response to an erroneous bid in an online auction, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying current bids in the online auction to the bidder, wherein at least one bid has been submitted to the auction in error; (b) submitting a bid from the bidder that is in response to said erroneous bid; (c) receiving a notification that the bid submitted in step (b) was in response to an erroneous bid; and (d) displaying current bids in the online auction to the bidder, wherein said erroneous bid and the bid submitted in step (b) are both removed; whereby the bidder is one of a plurality of bidders connected by a communications network to the online auction and submits bids into the auction via an electronic link during the conducting of the auction.

Claim 55

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for a bidder to remove a bid that was submitted in response to an erroneous bid in an online auction, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying current bids in the online auction to the bidder, wherein at least one bid has been submitted to the auction in error; (b) submitting a bid from the bidder that is in response to said erroneous bid; (c) receiving a notification that the bid submitted in step (b) was in response to an erroneous bid; and (d) displaying current bids in the online auction to the bidder, wherein said erroneous bid and the bid submitted in step (b) are both removed; whereby the bidder is one of a plurality of bidders connected by a communications network to the online auction and submits bids into the auction via an electronic link during the conducting of the auction.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 158 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for removing a bid that was submitted in response to an erroneous bid in an online auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: (a) display current bids in the online auction to a bidder, wherein at least one bid has been submitted to the auction in error; (b) submit a bid from the bidder that is in response to said erroneous bid; (c) receive a notification that the bid submitted in (b) was in response to an erroneous bid; and (d) display, in response to the error notification, current bids in the online auction to the bidder, wherein said erroneous bid and the bid submitted in response to said erroneous bid are both removed; whereby the bidder is one of a plurality of bidders connected by a communications network to the online auction and submits bids during the conducting of the auction via an electronic link.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 158 words

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for removing a bid that was submitted in response to an erroneous bid in an online auction wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: (a) display current bids in the online auction to a bidder, wherein at least one bid has been submitted to the auction in error; (b) submit a bid from the bidder that is in response to said erroneous bid; (c) receive a notification that the bid submitted in (b) was in response to an erroneous bid; and (d) display, in response to the error notification, current bids in the online auction to the bidder, wherein said erroneous bid and the bid submitted in response to said erroneous bid are both removed; whereby the bidder is one of a plurality of bidders connected by a communications network to the online auction and submits bids during the conducting of the auction via an electronic link.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 99 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a previous and a current bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least a predefined positive percentage; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 99 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a previous and a current bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least a predefined positive percentage; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 57 words

The bidding device of claim 42 , wherein the bidding device presents a warning to the bidder if the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and the auction accepts the current bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the current bid.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 32 words

The bidding device of claim 42 , wherein the auction accepts the current bid only if the current bid fails to beat the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 81 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the current bid meets a threshold defined by a historical lot price; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the current bid meets the threshold.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 81 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the current bid meets a threshold defined by a historical lot price; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the current bid meets the threshold.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 95 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the bid is better than a market leading bid by at least a predefined positive percentage; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the bid is better than the market leading bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 95 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the bid is better than a market leading bid by at least a predefined positive percentage; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the bid is better than the market leading bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 55 words

The bidding device of claim 46 , wherein the bidding device presents a warning to the bidder if the bid is better than the market leading bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and the auction accepts the bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 31 words

The bidding device of claim 46 , wherein the auction accepts the bid only if the bid fails to beat the market leading bid by at least the predefined positive percentage.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 107 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a previous and a current bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the current bid passes a fail-safe criteria by determining whether the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predetermined positive price; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the current bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 107 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a previous and a current bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the current bid passes a fail-safe criteria by determining whether the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predetermined positive price; and wherein the auction accepts the current bid in accordance with whether the current bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 48 words

The bidding device of claim 49 , wherein the bidding device presents a warning to the bidder if the current bid fails the fail-safe criteria, and the auction accepts the current bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the current bid.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 54 words

The bidding device of claim 50 , wherein the bidding device presents a warning to the bidder if the current bid is better than the previous bid by at least the predefined positive percentage, and the auction accepts the current bid only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the current bid.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 23 words

The bidding device of claim 49 , wherein the auction accepts the current bid only if the current bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 107 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the bid passes a fail-safe criteria by determining whether the bid is better than a threshold defined by a historical price for the lot by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predetermined positive price; and wherein the auction accepts the bid in accordance with whether the current bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 107 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the bid passes a fail-safe criteria by determining whether the bid is better than a threshold defined by a historical price for the lot by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predetermined positive price; and wherein the auction accepts the bid in accordance with whether the current bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 46 words

The bidding device of claim 53 , wherein the bidding device presents a warning to the bidder if the bid fails the fail-safe criteria, and the auction accepts the current bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 21 words

The bidding device of claim 53 , wherein the auction accepts the bid only if the bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 109 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the bid is better than a previous bid for the lot by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and wherein the auction accepts the bid in accordance with whether the bid is better than the previous bid by at least one of the predefined positive percentage and the predefined positive price.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 109 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection; wherein the auction determines whether the bid is better than a previous bid for the lot by at least one of a predefined positive percentage and a predefined positive price; and wherein the auction accepts the bid in accordance with whether the bid is better than the previous bid by at least one of the predefined positive percentage and the predefined positive price.

Claim 79

Dependent Claim 45 words

The bidding device of claim 56 , wherein the bidding device presents a warning to the bidder if the bid fails the fail-safe criteria, and the auction accepts the bid in the auction only if, in response to the warning, the bidder confirms the bid.

Claim 80

Dependent Claim 21 words

The bidding device of claim 56 , wherein the auction accepts the bid only if the bid passes the fail-safe criteria.

Claim 81

Dependent Claim 100 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction, wherein a bid for the lot has been submitted to the auction in error; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection in response to the erroneous bid; and wherein the auction deletes, in response to receipt of a communication from a bidder that submitted the erroneous bid, both the erroneous bid and the bid submitted in response to the erroneous bid.

Claim 82

Dependent Claim 100 words

A bidding device operated by a bidder during an electronic auction, said bidding device comprising: software that displays information about a lot to a bidder during the electronic auction, wherein a bid for the lot has been submitted to the auction in error; wherein the software submits a bid by the bidder to the electronic auction via an online connection in response to the erroneous bid; and wherein the auction deletes, in response to receipt of a communication from a bidder that submitted the erroneous bid, both the erroneous bid and the bid submitted in response to the erroneous bid.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-06-17	2005-12-17	2006-06-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-06-17	2009-12-17	2010-06-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-06-17	2013-12-17	2014-06-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for maintaining the integrity of electronic auctions using a configurable bid monitoring agent

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