# US 2001/0027433 A1 · Auction system, method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2001/0027433 A1 - Document ID: US20010027433A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 09/814,797 - Filed: 2001-03-23 - Published: 2001-10-04 - Earliest claimed: 2000-03-30 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasuhisa Fujiwara; Nobuaki Matsueda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20010027433A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/08: Auctions - G06Q 40/04: Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract In client-server systems interconnected through a network, a server computer accepts bids from respective client computers while reducing the price of an article stepwise. If a plurality of bids have been made at a certain price, one of the bidders is determined as a winner at the price. The server computer sends information on the confirmation of a knock-down to the winner. The auction is closed upon completion of the knock-down process. The auction is easily and reliably held by using the network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for holding an auction of an article using a client-server system connected through a communication network, comprising the steps of: causing at least one client computer to display a price of the article; reducing stepwise the price of the article displayed by the client computer if no bid has been received from the client computer, with the displayed price of the article defined as a first bidding price; and causing a server computer to determine a winner at a second bidding price if any bid has been received from the client computer, when the price of the article that has been reduced and displayed by the client computer is defined as the second bidding price. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the price of the article decreases stepwise between a predetermined initial price and a predetermined lowest price. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the price of the article decreases stepwise at intervals of a predetermined period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the price of the article decreases stepwise by a predetermined markdown. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: a first bidder is determined as the winner if a plurality of bids have been made. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the winner is determined by lottery if a plurality of bids have been made. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the client computer of the winner displays information on the confirmation of a knock-down. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the client computer displays information on the interruption of bidding if the winner has been determined. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the server computer cancels the determination of the winner unless a response to information on the confirmation of a knock-down has been sent from the client computer of the winner within a predetermined period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: another winner is determined from bidders other than the first-determined winner after cancellation of the determination of the first-determined winner by the server computer if a plurality of bids have been made. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: after cancellation of the determination of the first-determined winner by the server computer, the price of the article, which again decreases stepwise from the price at the time of the bid, is displayed by the client computer so as to accept bids. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the auction of the article is interrupted if a response to information on the confirmation of a knock-down has been sent from the client computer of the winner within a predetermined period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the bid includes a preset desired bidding price. ### Claim 14 A system for holding an auction of an article using a client-server system connected through a communication network, comprising: at least one client computer that displays a price of the article and sends a bid; and a server computer that reduces stepwise the price of the article displayed by the client computer if no bid has been received from the client computer, accepting a bid from the client computer with the reduced price of the article defined as a bidding price, and determining a winner at the bidding price. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for holding an auction of an article through a communication network, comprising: a memory that stores an initial price and a lowest price of the article; and a controller that: sends auction information, including a price of the article, to the communication network; and receives bids through the communication network, with the price of the article that has been sent defined as a bidding price, wherein the controller: sends the price of the article that is reduced from the initial price to the lowest price every time it is reduced stepwise, as long as the controller has not received the bids; and determines a winner with the price of the article that has been reduced defined as the bidding price. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: the controller reduces stepwise the price of the article from the initial price to the lowest price by a predetermined markdown and at a predetermined markdown timing.