Integrated auction system

A computer system for providing online participation in a live auction, the system comprising:

• a computer server accessible via a computer communications network, wherein the server comprises a memory and a processor;
• a multimedia device capable of inputting scenes from the live auction into the server;
• and
• executable software residing in the server memory wherein the software is operative with the processor to:
• cause a scene input by the multimedia device to be transmitted over the communications network;
• receive a bid via the communications network;
• and
• transmit a notification relating a winning bid via the communications network.

A computer system for managing online participation in multiple live auctions, the system comprising:

• an auction host computer server accessible via a computer communications network, wherein the auction host server comprises a memory and a processor;
• an auction house computer server for communicating with the auction host computer server via the communications network;
• a multimedia device capable of inputting a scene from a live auction into the auction house computer server;
• and
• executable software residing in the auction host computer server memory, wherein the software is operative with the processor to:
• cause a scene input by the multimedia device to be transmitted over the communications network;
• receive a bid for an auctioned property via the communications network;
• and
• transmit the bid to the auction house server.

Computer executable program code residing on a computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

• transmit a description of a piece of property to be auctioned and a real time video image of a scene depicting a live auction of the property over a computer communications network;
• receive a bid for the property via the computer communications network;
• and
• transmit a notification of a winning bid via the computer communications network.

A computer data signal embodied in a digital data stream, wherein the computer data signal is generated by a method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting over a computer communications network a description of a piece of property to be auctioned and a real time video image of a scene depicting a live auction of the property;
• receiving a bid for the property via the computer communications network;
• and
• transmitting a notification of a winning bid via the computer communications network.

The computer data signal of claim 23 wherein the data signal is generated by a method additionally comprising the steps of:

• tracking multiple auctions with corresponding images and bids;
• calculating a highest bid received for a particular property;
• and
• transmitting the highest bid to a corresponding auction house server.