Advertisement space auction method, apparatus and storage medium

Abstract

An advertisement space auction apparatus enabling for a more strategic and open auction transaction to be realized is provided. The advertisement space auction apparatus using a network, comprising a memory storing advertisement space information and being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to the network, a bid data communication unit receiving a bid data submitted via the network from at least one of the plurality of entities, the bid data corresponding to the advertisement space information stored in the memory; and a winning bidder determination unit determining a winning bidder of an advertisement space designated by the advertisement space information, on the basis of the bid data received by the bid data communication unit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An advertisement space auction method using a network, comprising: 
 storing advertisement space information in a memory, said memory being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to said network;    receiving a bid data submitted from at least one of said plurality of entities via said network, said bid data being corresponding to said advertisement space information stored in said memory; and    on the basis of said bid data received, determining a winning bidder for an advertisement space corresponding to said advertisement space information.    
     
     
         2 . The advertisement space auction method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said advertisement space information contains information indicating a period of time allowed for submitting said bid data; and    said winning bidder is determined on the basis of a plurality of said bid data submitted during said period of time allowed therefor.    
     
     
         3 . The advertisement space auction method according to  claim 1 , wherein said advertisement space information contains data on recipient addressees scheduled to receive its advertisement.  
     
     
         4 . The advertisement space auction method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said advertisement space is determined corresponding to a distribution cluster of recipient addressees that receive an advertisement inserted in said advertisement space, said distribution cluster containing a plurality of entities having a common characteristic; and    said advertisement space information contains data on said common characteristic.    
     
     
         5 . The advertisement space auction method according to  claim 1 , wherein said advertisement space information contains evaluation information on said advertisement space designated in said advertisement space information.  
     
     
         6 . The advertisement space auction method according to  claim 1 , wherein said network is an open network accessible by a plurality of general public users.  
     
     
         7 . An advertisement space auction apparatus using a network, comprising: 
 a memory storing advertisement space information and being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to said network;    a bid data communication unit receiving a bid data submitted via said network from at least one of said plurality of entities, said bid data corresponding to said advertisement space information stored in said memory; and    a winning bidder determination unit determining a winning bidder of an advertisement space designated by said advertisement space information, on the basis of said bid data received by said bid data communication unit.    
     
     
         8 . A storage medium storing a computer program for realizing an advertisement space auction method using a network, said advertisement space auction method comprising: 
 storing advertisement space information in a memory, said memory being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to said network;    receiving a bid data submitted from at least one of said plurality of entities via said network, said bid data being corresponding to said advertisement space information stored in said memory; and    on the basis of said bid data received, determining a winning bidder for an advertisement space corresponding to said advertisement space information.    
     
     
         9 . The storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 said advertisement space information contains information indicating a period of time allowed for submitting said bid data; and    said winning bidder is determined on the basis of a plurality of said bid data submitted during said period of time allowed therefor.    
     
     
         10 . The storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein said advertisement space information contains data on recipient addressees scheduled to receive its advertisement.  
     
     
         11 . The storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 said advertisement space is determined corresponding to a distribution cluster of recipient addressees that receive an advertisement inserted in said advertisement space, said distribution cluster containing a plurality of entities having a common characteristic; and    said advertisement space information contains data on said common characteristic.    
     
     
         12 . The storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein said advertisement space information contains evaluation information on an advertisement space designated in said advertisement space information.  
     
     
         13 . The storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein said network is an open network accessible by a plurality of general public users.  
     
     
         14 . A computer program for realizing an advertisement space auction method using a network, said advertisement space auction method comprising: 
 storing advertisement space information in a memory, said memory being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to said network;    receiving a bid data submitted from at least one of said plurality of entities via said network, said bid data being corresponding to said advertisement space information stored in said memory; and    on the basis of said bid data received, determining a winning bidder for an advertisement space corresponding to said advertisement space information.    
     
     
         15 . An apparatus using a network, comprising: 
 means for storing advertisement space information and being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to said network;    means for receiving a bid data submitted via said network from at least one of said plurality of entities, said bid data corresponding to said advertisement space information stored in said storing means; and    means for determining a winning bidder of an advertisement space designated by said advertisement space information, on the basis of said bid data received by said receiving means.