Synchronization of processor time with official auction time

Abstract

A method is disclosed herein for displaying time lapse for an on-line auction for an item in a computer. According to the method, the processor time in the computer is obtained and compared to the official auction time for the items being auctioned in the on-line auction which is obtained from the on-line auction service. The users computer compares the obtained processor time to the obtained official auction time and correlates the end of time from the on-line auction service to a processor end of time which corresponds to the user's time. The computer then displays the time left correlated to the processor's time preferably in a visual countdown graphical icon.

1 . A method of displaying on a computer of a bidder, an official time left for an on-line auction conducted by an on-line auction service, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by a processor in the computer of the bidder, a processor time of the computer of the bidder;   obtaining, by the processor in the computer of the bidder, an official auction time for the on-line auction from the on-line auction service;   obtaining, by the processor in the computer of the bidder, a time left for the on-line auction from the on-line auction service;   comparing, by the processor in the computer of the bidder, the obtained processor time to the obtained official auction time;   in response to said comparing, changing a displayed time of the computer of the bidder based on the processor time of the computer of the bidder to be in sync with the official auction time of the on-line auction service; and   displaying, using a local display of the computer of the bidder, the changed in-sync time of the computer of the bidder.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reverting the displayed time of the computer of the bidder back to the processor time of the computer of the bidder after displaying the changed in-sync time of the computer of the bidder. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising visually counting down the time left in the on-line auction in at least one graphical icon in the local display of the computer of the bidder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a plurality of graphical icons, each of said plurality of graphical icons corresponding to a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 60 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 30 minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 10 minutes. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising a processor and a display coupled to the processor; the processor configured to:
 obtain a processor time of the computer of the bidder;   obtain an official auction time for the on-line auction from the on-line auction service;   obtain a time left for the on-line auction from the on-line auction service;   compare the obtained processor time to the obtained official auction time;   in response to said comparing, change a displayed time of the computer of the bidder based on the processor time of the computer of the bidder to be in sync with wide the official auction time of the on-line auction service; and   the display configured to display the changed in-sync time of the computer of the bidder.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to revert the displayed time of the computer of the bidder back to the processor time of the computer of the bidder after the display has displayed the changed in-sync time of the computer of the bidder. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the display is further configured to visually count down the time left in the on-line auction in at least one graphical icon in the local display of the computer of the bidder. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide a plurality of graphical icons, each of said plurality of graphical icons corresponding to a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 60 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 30 minutes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 10 minutes. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining a processor time of the computer of the bidder;   obtaining an official auction time for the on-line auction from the on-line auction service;   obtaining a time left for the on-line auction from the on-line auction service;   comparing the obtained processor time to the obtained official auction time   in response to said comparing, changing a displayed time of the computer of the bidder based on the processor time of the computer of the bidder to be in sync with the official auction time of the on-line auction service; and   displaying, using a local display of the computer of the bidder, the changed in-sync time of the computer of the bidder.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising reverting the displayed time of the computer of the bidder back to the processor time of the computer of the bidder after displaying the changed in-sync time of the computer of the bidder. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising visually counting down the time left in the on-line auction in at least one graphical icon in the local display of the computer of the bidder. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a plurality of graphical icons, each of said plurality of graphical icons corresponding to a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 60 minutes. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a predetermined time period of 30 minutes.