Method for operating a trading platform, trading platform, computer program product, and computer system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a trading platform for selling goods using a computer system, the computer system including a communication interface configured for the exchange of information between users and the computer system via at least one communication network, a memory unit for storing information associated with a good to be sold, and a price variation unit, connected to the memory unit and the communication interface, for varying a price associated with the good as a function of time, based on a parameterized price function. The invention further relates to a trading platform, a computer program product, and a computer system.

1 . Method for operating a trading platform for selling goods using a computer system, the computer system including a communication interface configured for an exchange of information between users and the computer system via at least one communication network, a memory unit for storing information associated with a good to be sold, and a price variation unit, connected to the memory unit and the communication interface, for varying a price associated with the good as a function of time, based on a parameterized price function, the method comprising:
 carrying out, via the trading platform, a sales process for selling the good, a current price of the good determined by the price variation unit according to the price function being provided to a user via the at least one communication network,   transmitting by the user to the computer system via the at least one communication network a purchasing decision for purchasing the good at the current price,   wherein:
 during the sales process, beginning from a start of an offer in which the good is offered at a starting price, the current price provided to the user drops according to the price function during a maximum offering period, in which no purchasing decision is made, until an end of the offer, in which the good is offered at a minimum price that is below the starting price, the price function starting at the starting price and passing through at least one minimum between the start of the offer and the end of the offer; and 
 the sales process for the good being terminated when there is a purchasing decision by the user at the current price during the sales process. 
   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the price function passes through exactly one minimum. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the price function passes through a local minimum. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the price variation unit determines the price in the at least one minimum based on at least one prior sales process for an identical good. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the price variation unit, in order to determine the price in the at least one minimum, takes into account a purchase price for an identical good of at least one prior sales process. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein for determining the price in the at least one minimum, the price variation unit determines a ratio from a difference between the purchase price and the minimum price relative to a difference between the starting price and the minimum price of the at least one prior sales process, and determines the price in the local minimum as the minimum price plus the ratio times the difference between the starting price and the minimum price of the upcoming sales process. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the price variation unit takes a plurality of prior sales processes into account. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein prior sales processes are weighted differently in the determination. 
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the price function passes through at least one subsequent maximum after passing through the at least one minimum and before the end of the offer. 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the price function passes through exactly one subsequent maximum after passing through the at least one minimum and before the end of the offer. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein the price in the subsequent maximum is equal to the starting price. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein a ratio of a time period from the start of the offer to the at least one minimum on the one hand to a time period from the at least one minimum to the at least one subsequent maximum on the other hand is independent of the maximum offering period of the sales process. 
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein a time period from the start of the offer to the at least one minimum is the same or substantially the same as a time period from the at least one minimum to the at least one subsequent maximum. 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein a ratio of a time period from the at least one minimum to the at least one subsequent maximum on the one hand to a time period from the at least one subsequent maximum to the end of the offer on the other hand is independent of the maximum offering period of the sales process. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein a time period from the at least one minimum to the at least one subsequent maximum is the same or substantially the same as a time period from the at least one subsequent maximum to the end of the offer. 
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein a ratio of a time period from the start of the offer to the at least one minimum on the one hand to a time period from the at least one subsequent maximum to the end of the offer on the other hand is independent of the maximum offering period for the sales process. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein a time period from the start of the offer to the at least one minimum is the same or substantially the same as a time period from the at least one subsequent maximum to the end of the offer. 
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the price function passes through at least one preceding maximum after the start of the offer and before the at least one minimum. 
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 18 , wherein the price function passes through exactly one preceding maximum. 
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the price in the preceding maximum is higher than the starting price. 
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the starting price is specified to the price variation unit, before the start of the sales process, by a seller offering a good. 
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the minimum price is specified to the price variation unit, before the start of the sales process, by a seller offering a good. 
     
     
         23 . Method according to  claim 22 , wherein an actual minimum price is determined by the price variation unit based on the minimum price specified to the unit by the seller before the start of the sales process, the actual minimum price being higher than the specified minimum price. 
     
     
         24 . Method according to  claim 23 , wherein the actual minimum price is determined by the price variation unit by making use of a random principle. 
     
     
         25 . Method according to  claim 23 , wherein the price variation unit ensures that the actual minimum price does not exceed a predefinable minimum threshold price. 
     
     
         26 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the price variation unit determines the maximum offering period as a function of at least one prior sales process for the same or an identical good. 
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein if no purchasing decision appears within the maximum offering period, a further sales process is carried out. 
     
     
         28 . Method according to  claim 27 , wherein the price variation unit extends the maximum offering period of the further sales process. 
     
     
         29 . Method according to  claim 28 , wherein the price variation unit doubles or substantially doubles the maximum offering period for the further sales process relative to the maximum offering period of the completed sales process. 
     
     
         30 . Method according to  claim 28 , wherein the price variation unit determines the maximum offering period for the further sales process by making use of a random principle. 
     
     
         31 . Method according to  claim 28 , wherein in the event it is determined that a change in price per unit time for an upcoming sales process is less than a lower threshold value, the upcoming sales process is cancelled, and a message to this effect is sent to a seller of the good. 
     
     
         32 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein when a purchasing decision is present during the sales process, the maximum offering period of a further sales process for an identical good is decreased. 
     
     
         33 . Method according to  claim 32 , wherein a period of time that has actually elapsed from the start of the offer to the purchasing decision in a completed sales process is taken into account by the price variation unit in determining the maximum offering period for the further sales process. 
     
     
         34 . Method according to  claim 33 , wherein the maximum offering period of the further sales process is determined from a ratio of an elapsed period of time of the completed sales process relative to the maximum offering period of the completed sales process, multiplied by a standardized maximum offering period which is stored for an identical good at the time of the determination, the standardized maximum offering period being the shortest elapsed period of time for a purchasing decision in a prior sales process for an identical good. 
     
     
         35 . Method according to  claim 34 , wherein the price variation unit determines whether the maximum offering period for the further sales process is less than a predefinable minimum offering period, the stored standardized maximum offering period being selected as the maximum offering period for the further sales process. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . Computer system comprising:
 a communication interface configured for an exchange of information between users and the computer system via at least one communication network,   a memory unit for storing information associated with a good to be sold using the computer system, and   a price variation unit, connected to the memory unit and the communication interface, for varying a price associated with the good as a function of time, based on a parameterized price function,   the computer system being designed and programmed to carry out a method for operating a trading platform for selling goods, in which method the trading platform carries out a sales process for selling the good, a current price of the good determined by the price variation unit according to the price function being provided to a user via the at least one communication network, wherein:   the user transmits to the computer system via the at least one communication network a purchasing decision for purchasing the good at the current price,   during the sales process, beginning from a start of an offer in which the good is offered at a starting price, the current price provided to the user drops according to the price function during a maximum offering period, in which no purchasing decision is made, until an end of the offer, in which the good is offered at a minimum price that is below the starting price, the price function starting at the starting price and passing through at least one minimum between the start of the offer and the end of the offer; and   the sales process for the good being terminated when there is a purchasing decision by the user at the current price during the sales process.   
     
     
         38 . Trading platform for selling goods using a computer system,
 the computer system comprising a communication interface configured for an exchange of information between users and the computer system via at least one communication network, a memory unit for storing information associated with a good to be sold, and a price variation unit connected to the memory unit and the communication interface, for varying a price associated with the good as a function of time, based on a parameterized price function,   the trading platform carrying out a sales process for selling the good, a current price of the good determined by the price variation unit according to the price function being provided to a user via the at least one communication network;   wherein:   the user transmits to the computer system via the at least one communication network a purchasing decision for purchasing the good at the current price,   during the sales process, beginning from a start of an offer in which the good is offered at a starting price, the current price provided to the user drops according to the price function during a maximum offering period, in which no purchasing decision is made, until an end of the offer, in which the good is offered at a minimum price that is below the starting price, the price function starting at the starting price and passing through at least one minimum between the start of the offer and the end of the offer; and   the sales process for the good being terminated when there is a purchasing decision by the user at the current price during the sales process.