Method, system and computer program product for facilitating an auction behavior and automatic bidding in an auction

A system for automatically placing a bid for an item for a bidder in an auction, comprising:

• means for evaluating a rule associated with the bidder and having a condition specifying when to place a bid;
• and
• means, operative if the condition of the rule is satisfied and if a highest bid in the auction is not from the bidder and if a bid may be accepted for the bidder, for submitting the bid according to a specified bidding behavior.

A system for automatically placing a bid for an item for a bidder in an auction, comprising:

• a rule application engine having an output indicative of when to place a bid according to a rule associated with the bidder and having a condition specifying when to place a bid;
• and
• a bid generator, having a first input for receiving a specified bidding behavior and having an output for providing, when a time to place the bid arrives, an indication of a bid according to the specified bidding behavior if a highest bid in the auction is not from the bidder and if a bid may be accepted for the bidder.

A digital information product, comprising:

• a computer-readable medium;
• and
• information stored on the computer-readable medium and defining data associating at least one desired auction behavior to at least one rule for controlling when a bid may be placed automatically for a bidder in an auction.

A digital information product defining a proxy bidder, comprising:

• a computer-readable medium;
• information stored on the computer-readable medium and defining data associating a maximum bid and a bidder with an indication of a rule for controlling when a bid may be placed automatically for a bidder in an auction.