Auctioning system and methods interacting with multiple devices

Abstract

An auctioning system and methods interacting with multiple devices are set forth that includes a main server, remote terminals, and remote individual communication devices that communicate with one another and are adapted to display information to a user about a product or service for sale, and information pertaining to predefined auction parameters for the user to attempt to purchase said product or service.

1 . A method of performing an auction through a main server, a remote terminal including a display device, and a plurality of remote individual communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving by the main server data, the data including a product or a service for an auction, an expiration of the auction, and an expiry date for collection of the product or the service by a winner of the auction;   transmitting the data from the main server to the remote terminal;   displaying the data on the display device of the remote terminal;   using a remote individual communication device to submit a bid for acquiring the product or the service, wherein each remote individual communication device of the plurality is associated with a user;   determining by the main server, at the expiration of the auction, a particular remote individual communication device with the highest bid to determine the winner;   delivering by the main server to the one or more remote individual communication devices a first notification that the auction has ended;   conveying by each remote individual communication device to each user the first notification;   sending by the main server the particular remote individual communication device a second notification that the user is the winner; and   communicating by the particular remote individual communication device to the user the second notification.   
     
     
         2 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote individual communication device is a card including an identification code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 2 , wherein the using step further comprises the step of:
 receiving by the main server from the card the identification code and the bid for acquiring the product or the service.   
     
     
         4 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 2 , wherein the using step further comprises the step of:
 receiving by the remote terminal from the card the identification code and the bid for acquiring the product or the service.   
     
     
         5 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 2 , wherein the determining step further comprises the step of identifying the identification code of the winner. 
     
     
         6 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 5  further comprising the steps of:
 verifying the identification code of the winner; and 
 using the card to make a payment to obtain the product or the service. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 2 , wherein the card is configured to be used for a predetermined number of bids. 
     
     
         8 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote individual communication device is a pushbutton installed on a shopping cart. 
     
     
         9 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 8 , wherein the using step further comprises the step of:
 activating the pushbutton to send pulsed signals associated with the bid for acquiring the product or the service.   
     
     
         10 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 9 , wherein the activating step further comprises the step of:
 receiving by the main server the pulsed signals associated with the bid for acquiring the product or the service.   
     
     
         11 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 9 , wherein the activating step further comprises the step of:
 receiving by the remote terminal the pulsed signals associated with the bid for acquiring the product or the service.   
     
     
         12 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1 , wherein the using step further comprises the steps of:
 setting a predetermined value for the bid to obtain a predetermined bid;   selecting a maximum value for the bid; and   automatically repeating the predetermined bid until the maximum value is reached.   
     
     
         13 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of calculating by a timer an average time spent by the user making purchases. 
     
     
         12 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of notifying each user of a status of the auction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1 , wherein the second notification includes an audible alert on the particular remote individual communication device signaling the user is a winner. 
     
     
         16 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1 , wherein the second notification includes a visual alert on the particular remote individual communication device signaling the user is a winner. 
     
     
         17 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1 , wherein the bid is a monetary amount. 
     
     
         18 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1 , wherein the bid is a predetermined monetary amount. 
     
     
         19 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined monetary amount is the same for all users. 
     
     
         20 . The method of performing an auction according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of accessing a recognition confirmation module to collect by the winner the product or the service.