Method and system for calculating bids in an auction

A system for efficiently calculating a new winning bid in a combinatorial auction, the system comprising:

• a first processor for accepting bids and conducting the combinatorial auction;
• at least one bid query processor, in a location remote from said first processor, for calculating winning scenarios;
• said first processor and said bid query processor being in electronic communication with one another;
• wherein information regarding the progress of the auction is stored on said first processor;
• and
• said bid query processor is capable of accessing said information stored on said first processor to calculate said winning scenarios.

A method of conducting an auction comprising:

• positioning an auctioneer at a first processor;
• equipping at least one bidding assistant with a bid query processor in electronic communication with the first processor;
• positioning the bidding assistant in a position remote from said first processor, wherein said bidding assistant utilizes the bid query processor to aid at least one potential bidder in determining a bid query that would place the bidder in a winning position;
• and
• wherein the bidding assistant, after assisting the potential bidder in determining a bid query that would place the bidder in a winning position, determines whether the potential bidder would like to place a bid and assists the potential bidder in placing the bid.