Auto salvage bid auction

Abstract

An online automobile auction, which allows the consumer to participate by using their home or portable computers and accessing the system via an Internet connection. Before the designated time for an auction, the consumer may access the database of available automobiles. Along with displaying visual depictions of the vehicles, the computer system affords the consumer the ability to access statistics on the current inventory of vehicles. Prior to the auction, using an automated auction feature, a plurality of bidders input their minimum starting bid, the maximum bid and the incrementing value. Bidders are also allowed to bid on vehicles during the auction process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interactive vehicle auction and sale system comprising:
 a plurality of computers;   a computer network enabling communication between said plurality of computers;   a plurality of user interface terminals in connection with said computer network, said terminals utilized to display an amount of auction and sales information and to input a series of auction bids;   a plurality of databases and corresponding database servers for storage of an amount of vehicle statistics;   an input computer in communication with said network to receive and to route said amount of auction and sales information to a plurality of database servers;   a web server in communication with said plurality of user interface terminals and said plurality of database servers, through said network, said web server utilized to control said vehicle auction and sale system, coordinate said series of auction bids and maintain communications between said plurality of user interface terminals and a plurality of servers;   an applications server in communication with said network and said user interface terminals; said applications server containing a system software program for operating said interactive vehicle auction and sale system;   a vehicle image and video server in communication with said network and said user interface terminals, containing a plurality of electronic vehicle images and a plurality of vehicle video media to be accessed by said user terminals;   a template server in communication with said network and said user interface terminals, containing a plurality of templates to be accessed by said user interface terminals in conjunction with said system software program, an amount of data from said template server utilized as a plurality of interactive computer screens;   a plurality of mail servers in communication with said network, said plurality of mail servers utilized to receive an amount of auction and sales information from said users; said mail servers also utilized to respond to said users;   a plurality of protection mechanisms contained within said network to protect said database servers from unwanted access;   a bank system connection in communication with said network to enable verification of a credit line of a vehicle purchaser;   a complete lot of said vehicles for auction or purchase may be bid upon simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 1  wherein, said complete lot of said vehicles for auction or purchase may be bid upon by a single system user simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 2  wherein, said complete lot of said vehicles for auction or purchase may include up to three of said vehicles for auction or purchase. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 3  wherein, said vehicles for auction or purchase may be auctioned with a minimum time increment between said interactive vehicle auctions of six minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 4  wherein, said system user may participate in said interactive vehicle auction without actually being present at said user interface terminals while said auction is in process. 
     
     
         6 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 5  wherein, said system user may enter a bid value on said vehicles for auction or purchase before said vehicle auction has commenced. 
     
     
         7 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 6  wherein, said system user may enter a maximum bid value on said vehicles for auction or purchase before said vehicle auction has commenced. 
     
     
         8 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 7  wherein, said system user may enter a minimum bid value on said vehicles for auction or purchase before said vehicle auction has commenced. 
     
     
         9 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 8  wherein, said system user may enter an incremental value for a subsequent bid existing between said minimum bid and said maximum bid, on said vehicles for auction or purchase before said vehicle auction has commenced. 
     
     
         10 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 9  wherein, said system user may communicate with a plurality of other system users through said user interface terminals. 
     
     
         11 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 10  wherein, said system user may access a listing of vehicles to be auctioned on a specific day. 
     
     
         12 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 11  wherein, said system user may access said electronic images of said listing of vehicles to be auctioned on a specific day. 
     
     
         13 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 12  wherein, a distance between said vehicle for auction and a residence of said user can be accessed through said user interface terminals. 
     
     
         14 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 13  wherein, said user may observe an auction without actively participating in said auction. 
     
     
         15 . The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of  claim 1  wherein, a vehicle spare part can be located by using said plurality of databases and corresponding database servers for storage of an amount of vehicle statistics.