Real-Time, Interactive, Competitive Method Of On-Line Auction Utilizing An Auctioneer

Abstract

The present inventive device provides a new method of real-time, interactive, competitive, live on-line auction using an animated auctioneer. The animated auctioneer initiates the auction, actively solicits bids from the auction participants, acknowledges bids input from auction participants, and moves to close the auction when there is a cessation in bidding. In the course of the auction, the auctioneer audibly and physically promotes the item up for bid, and entices the participants to bid. Participants input bids real-time, competitively and successively in response to the animated auctioneer's solicitations.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method interactive, on-line auction utilizing a computer network; said computer network comprising a host server, an auction information server, an auction server, a virtual auctioneer, and a plurality of remote computers and communication lines connecting said remote computers to said computer network; said method of auction comprising of the following steps:
 said plurality of remote computers access a website on the world-wide-web;   said plurality of remote computers register to qualify to participate in said method of auction;   said host server establishes real-time connectivity with said qualified plurality of remote computers;   said host server renders a multimedia representation of said auctioneer;   said multimedia representation of said auctioneer is part of the user interface of said plurality of remote computers;   said host server transmits to said plurality of remote computers, real-time, live-stream multimedia signals; said multimedia signals further comprise said auctioneer information; receiving electronic data input from at least one of said plurality of remote computers in response to said multimedia signals from said host server;   said auction server receives and processes in a ranked order said electronic data originating from said plurality of remote computers;   said host server broadcasts to said plurality of remote computers said electronic data originating from any one of said plurality of remote computers;   said auction server determines which of said plurality of remote computers sent the most recent submission of said electronic data input; and   said host server broadcasts real-time to said plurality of remote computers the status of the cessation of said electronic data entry input and the results thereof.