Electronic on-line motor vehicle auction and information system

A system for electronic exchange of vehicle auction information between remote users and an auction service provider comprising:

• a. a host computer network, the host computer network including a database server that electronically stores and organizes auction data and that retrieves and transmits selected portions of the auction data in response to user commands;
• b. computer workstations placed at locations associated with each user, the computer workstations including a video monitor, means to send user commands to the host computer network, and means to receive and display on the video monitor auction data retrieved and transmitted from the host computer network;
• c. a communications network electronically linking the computer workstations to the host computer network;
• d. a set of user application modules which cause the computer workstations and host computer network to generate on the video monitors a series of command options selectable by the user to generate the user commands, whereby the selected portions of the auction data stored on the host computer network are located, organized, and transmitted over the communications network to a workstation in response to one or more particular user commands and are displayed on the video monitors;
• e. the auction data including information about the geographic location and date of auctions and about an inventory of vehicles available for sale at each of the auctions, and the set of user application modules includes a sale calendar module which allows the user to search the auction data and to display on the video monitors at the workstations a list of one or more auctions by date, by location, and by vehicle sale type;
• and
• f. an electronic auction module associated with the workstations and host computer network whereby users may electronically place bids for vehicles being sold at an auction.