System for implementing automated open marked auctioning of leads

Abstract

In an automated leads-and-bids exchange system, bid profiles are defined to describe desires of lead buyers. Received leads are matched to active ones of the bid profiles whose specifications the leads substantially match. An auctioning subsystem finds the highest one or group of bids for each given lead. A quality rating database rates the quality of leads provided by different sellers. A price discounting engine discounts the amount paid to sellers who are rated as inferior sources of leads.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, at the computer, bid profiles from corresponding lead buyers, wherein each bid profile includes specifications for desired leads and a bid;   storing the received bid profiles in a storage memory associated with the computer;   receiving, at the computer, a lead from a lead seller, wherein the lead includes lead data;   comparing, using the computer, the bid profiles to the lead data to select matching ones of the bid profiles according to their bid profile specifications;   determining, using the computer, a winning bid profile and a corresponding high bid from the selected matching bid profiles; and   delivering the lead to the lead buyer corresponding to the winning bid profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 enabling lead buyers to selectively activate and deactivate parts of or their entire bid profile specifications, wherein the computer compares only activated bid profile specifications to the lead data to select matching ones of the bid profiles.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 enabling lead buyers to selectively limit a total number of leads won over the course of a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 enabling bidders to specify in their bid profile specifications one or more of: a product, product type or range of products for which leads are sought.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: adjusting the high bid based upon feedback regarding the lead seller. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer comprises a plurality of computers. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a memory for storing bid profiles from corresponding lead buyers, wherein each bid profile includes specifications for desired leads and a bid; and   a processor configured to compare a received lead including lead data from a lead seller to the bid profiles to select matching ones of the bid profiles according to their bid profile specifications, the processor being further configured to determine a winning bid profile and a corresponding high bid from the selected matching bid profiles and to deliver the lead to the lead buyer corresponding to the winning bid profile.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable lead buyers to selectively activate and deactivate parts of or their entire bid profile specifications, wherein the processor compares only activated bid profile specifications to the lead data to select matching ones of the bid profiles. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable lead buyers to selectively limit a total number of leads won over the course of a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable bidders to specify in their bid profile specifications one or more of: a product, product type or range of products for which leads are sought. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the high bid based upon feedback regarding the lead seller.