System for limiting and controlling access to limited resources over a network

A system for controlling access of a plurality of remote terminal devices associated with a plurality of users requesting remote Internet access to on-line product-selling services during the same period of time, said system comprising:

• a plurality of remote terminal devices associated with a plurality of users requesting remote access to on-line product-selling services, each remote terminal device including a remote terminal device program;
• a first apparatus for receiving requests for remote access to said on-line product-selling services from said plurality of remote terminal devices via said remote terminal device programs;
• and
• a second apparatus configured to provide said on-line product-selling services;
• said first apparatus configured to:
• operate consecutively in a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase of operation, and to allow access to said second apparatus only during said third phase;
• change its operational phase in accordance with one of a preprogrammed control algorithm and input from a control console in communication with said first apparatus;
• receive queries as to its current operational phase from each said remote terminal device program and to return responses thereto, each said remote terminal device program being configured to send said queries and to process said responses in accordance with the current operational phase of said first apparatus;
• respond to said queries received during said first phase by providing information on said on-line product-selling services and the status of the current operational phase;
• pseudorandomly assign one of a plurality of groups, and return a group number corresponding thereto, to each of said remote terminal device programs that has not yet received a group assignment in response to each of said queries received therefrom that also includes a request to receive said group assignment, and that is received only during said second phase and said third phase,
• return group-specific responses to each of said queries that include said group number;
• only during said third phase, select one of said assigned groups as a selected group for redirecting said remote terminal devices in said selected group to said second apparatus based at least in part on a performance and capacity of resources of said second apparatus;
• and
• redirect one of said remote terminal devices in said selected group to said second apparatus only in response to receiving one of said queries that includes said selected group therefrom during said third phase, said on-line product-selling services on said second apparatus being accessible to said remote terminal devices only during said third phase and upon redirecting by the first apparatus thereto;
• wherein said first apparatus is further configured to track a total number of said plurality of remote terminal devices requesting to register to receive said group assignment;
• to adjust said on-line product-selling services and products offered based at least on said total number;
• and to forward updated information regarding said on-line product-selling services and said products offered to said remote terminal devices that have been assigned to one of said plurality of groups prior to redirecting said remote terminal devices to said second apparatus, wherein said updated information includes updated product availability and new product offerings.