WO2016178252A1

WO2016178252A1 - A network-based commerce system and auction price-setting mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2016178252A1
Application number: PCT/IN2016/050131
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gyan KESARWANI
Original assignee: Kesarwani Gyan
Priority date: 2015-05-06
Filing date: 2016-05-06
Publication date: 2016-11-10

Abstract

An auction method includes an auction price-setting process and a fixed price process for purchasing a seller's offering to a buyer. The seller may adjust a seller fixed-price offer during the auction price-setting process.

Description

A NETWORK-BASED COMMERCE SYSTEM AND

AUCTION PRICE-SETTING MECHANISM

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of commerce automation and, more specifically, to the facilitation of price negotiations between a buyer and a seller by a network- based commerce system.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Many network-based commerce systems have emerged in the past several years. Through network-based commerce systems, potential sellers can enter information about their product or service for potential buyers to bid on. The information submitted by potential sellers is then organized, stored and presented as a listing by the network -based commerce system. Potential buyers can search through the organized seller information to find products or services on which they wish to purchase. A purchase price may be established with respect to a particular listing utilizing one of a number of price-setting mechanisms. For example, a particular commerce system may support one or more of a fixed price-setting mechanism (e.g., the seller publishes a price at which the item is to be sold, this price being fixed) and an auction price- setting mechanism.

[0003] Considering an auction price-setting mechanism, once a bidder locates an item (or listing) to bid on, the bidder can compete with other bidders for the item by submitting bids during a specified auction time period. At the end of the specified auction time period, the highest bid bidder is notified and the transaction between the seller and the highest bid bidder is facilitated. [0004] While the current network-based commerce systems work well, a number of significant technical challenges to the automation of the commerce process remain. For example, many items in a network -based commerce system providing an auction price-setting mechanism have at most one bid during the specified auction time. An interested bidder must sometimes wait days for an auction to end even though his or her bid is the only bid received. Also, there are many potential buyers who do not like auction formats.

However, unlike traditional brick and mortar commerce locations that generally have sales representatives to answer questions about a good or service, network -based commerce systems (e.g., websites) may not have the capability to ask questions about the good/service, or the provision of such help functions may be expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

[0005] In the accompanying figures, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network -based transaction facility, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database maintained and accessed by a database engine server of the network -based transaction facility.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a network-based transaction environment, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention including a client-side and a server-side. [0009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the seller application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 5 and presented a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method by which the buyer interfaces with the network-based commerce system 10, when a seller fixed-price offer is an alternative option to bidding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Adjustment of a fixed price offer and/or a reserve price in a network-based commerce system is disclosed. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0012] Terminology

[0013] The term "user," "buyer," "seller," and "bidder" shall be taken to refer to any entity, human or automated, that contributes to, or participates in, a transaction, communication or process.

[0014] The term "transaction" shall be taken to include any communication or exchange between two or more entities with a view to establishing a business agreement, an exchange of value or a commercial relationship. Accordingly, the word "transaction" shall be deemed to cover, but not be limited to, a purchase-and-sale transaction established as a result, for example, of the placement of an advertisement or as a result of the conclusion of an auction process, the auction process being conducted across a communications network or otherwise.

[0015] The term "data file" shall be taken to mean a collection of transaction listings. Accordingly, the phrase "data file" shall be deemed to cover, but not be limited to, a collection of transaction listings, for example, which is being propagated to a network -based transaction facility.

[0016] Commerce System

[0017] FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary network -based commerce system 10. While an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described within the context of a network-based commerce system 10, the invention will find application in many different types of computer-based, and network-based, facilities, platforms or marketplaces (commerce, transaction or otherwise).

[0018] The network-based commerce system 10, in an exemplary embodiment, includes one or more of a number of types of front-end servers that each includes at least one Dynamic Link Library (DLL) to provide certain functionality. Page servers 12 deliver web pages (e.g., markup language documents), picture servers 14 dynamically deliver images to be displayed within web pages, listing servers 16 facilitate category-based browsing of listings, search servers 20 that handle search requests to the network-based commerce system 10 and facilitate keyword-based browsing of listings, and application servers 18 provide an intelligent interface to the back-end of the network-based commerce system 10. E-mail servers 22 provide, inter alia, automated e-mail communications to users of the network-based commerce system 10. Application servers 18 provide a set of functions (e.g., defined by an Application Program Interface (API)) for querying the network-based commerce system 10. These queries include getting information on items, getting user information, listing items, etc. Application functions are invoked via an HTTP transport protocol request from an application.

[0019] The page servers 12, picture servers 14, listing servers 16, application servers 18, search servers 20, e-mail servers 22 and database engine server 26 may individually, or in combination, act as a communication engine to facilitate communications between, for example, the client machine 38 and the network-based commerce system 10. In addition, the page servers 12, picture servers 14, listing servers 16, application servers 18, search servers 20, e-mail servers 22 and database engine server 26 may individually, or in combination, act as a transaction engine to facilitate transactions between, for example, the client machine 38 and the network -based commerce system 10. Furthermore, the page servers 12, picture servers 14, listing servers 16, application servers 18, search servers 20, e-mail servers 22, and database engine server 26 may individually, or in combination, act as a display engine to facilitate the display of items (e.g., as listings) on a client machine 32.

[0020] The back-end servers include a database engine server 26, a search index server 24 and a credit card database server 28, each of which maintains and facilitates access to a respective database.

[0021] The network-based commerce system 10 may be accessed by a client program, such as for example a browser 36 (e.g., a Internet Explorer browser distributed by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash.) that executes on a client machine 38 and accesses the network-based commerce system 10 via a network such as, for example, the Internet 34. Other examples of networks that a client may utilize to access the network -based commerce system 10 include a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network), or the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) network.

[0022] Further, while the environment described above with reference to FIG. 1 employs a client-server architecture, it will be appreciated that a peer-to-peer (or distributed) architecture may also be employed to support the network-based commerce system.

[0023] Database Structure

[0024] FIG. 2 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database 30, maintained by and accessed via the database engine server 26, which at least partially implements and supports the network-based commerce system 10.

[0025] The database 30 may, in one embodiment, be implemented as a relational database, and includes a number of tables having entries, or records, that are linked by indices and keys. In an alternative embodiment, the database 30 may be implemented as a collection of objects in an object-oriented database. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a database, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can be used with other database structures.

[0026] Central to the database 30 is a user table 54, which contains a record for each user of the network-based commerce system 10. A user may operate as a seller, buyer, or both, when utilizing the network-based commerce system 10. The database 30 also includes items tables 60 that may be linked to the user table 54. The items tables 60 may include a seller items table 52 and a bidder items table 58. A user record in the user table 54 may be linked to multiple items that are being, or have been, listed or offered for sale via the network -based commerce system 10. A link indicates whether the user is a seller or a bidder (or buyer) with respect to items for which records exist within the items tables 60.

[0027] The database 30 also includes one or more category tables 47. Each record within the category table 47 describes a respective category. In one embodiment, a specific category table 47 describes multiple, hierarchical category data structures, and includes multiple category records, each of which describes the context of a particular category within the one of the multiple hierarchical category structures. For example, the category table 47 may describe a number of real, or actual, categories to which item records, within the items tables 60, may be linked.

[0028] The database 30 also includes one or more attributes tables 49. Each record within an attributes table 49 describes a respective attribute. In one embodiment, a specific attributes table 49 describes multiple, hierarchical attribute data structures, and includes multiple attribute records, each of which describes the context of a particular attribute within the one of the multiple hierarchical attribute structures. For example, the attributes table 49 may describe a number of real, or actual, attributes to which item records, within the items tables 60, may be linked. Also, the attributes table 49 may describe a number of real, or actual, attributes to which categories, within the category table 47, may be linked.

[0029] The database 30 also includes a note table 46 populated with note records that may be linked to one or more item records within the items tables 60 and/or to one or more user records within the user table 54. Each note record within the note table 46 may include, inter alia, a comment, description, history or other information pertaining to an item being offered via the network-based commerce system 10, or to a user of the network -based commerce system 10. Also, the database 30 includes a targeted site table 67 populated with targeted site records that may be linked to one or more item records within the items tables 60 and/or to one or more user records within the user table 54.

[0030] A number of other tables are also shown to be linked to the user table 54, namely a user past aliases table 48, a feedback table 50, a bids table 56, an accounts table 64, an account balances table 62 and a batch items table 40.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for an exemplary embodiment of a method to acquire listing information from a seller. The seller issues a listing request (block 100) to the commerce system 10, and the commerce system 10 generates instructions (block 110) offering the seller the option to sell his item using an auction price-setting process and/or a fixed price-setting process. After the instructions have been transmitted (block 120), and a page server 12 (see FIG. 1) facilitates the display of the instructions, the seller decides whether to offer a bidder the chance to buy the item utilizing the fixed price-setting process (block 130). In one embodiment, if the bidder options to buy the listed item utilizing the fixed price-setting process, the auction for the listing is automatically closed.

[0032] The seller transmits a purchase process indicator by either an affirmative (block 140) or a negative (block 150). The server (commerce system 10) can receive and store in note table 46 of database 30 (FIG. 2) this information for later use (block 160). The seller also transmits other offering information, such as a description, picture, a reserve price, and contact information to be collected and stored in the listings tables 60 of the database 30 (see FIG. 2) (block 170).

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart showing one embodiment of a buyer's interaction with the network-based commerce system 10, which in the exemplary embodiment provides a web site to facilitate user interaction. The buyer locates the web site by inputting the commerce system identifier (e.g., a URL) (block 405) into the client program 36 running on client machine 38 (see FIG. 1) which transmits the commerce system identifier (block 610) through the Internet 34 (See FIG. 1). The network-based commerce system 10 receives the transmission and a listing server 16 (see FIG. 1) generates (block 420) a list of available categories of items stored in items table 60 (see FIG. 2) for buyer selection. The commerce system 10 (block 430) transmits the category list and transmits an interface, generated by page server 12 (see FIG. 1), to allow the buyer to enter search for navigation criteria, which may the selectable from the category list, or may be independent of the category list (e.g., a text search). The buyer selects a category preference from the category list or generates search criteria (block 440). The buyer then transmits (block 450) the category preference and/or search criteria, again, via the Internet 34 (see FIG. 1). Upon receipt of the category preference and/or search criteria, the commerce system 10 uses a search server 20 (see FIG. 1) to generate an item index page of relevant offerings including visual indicators displayed in respect to items in which the seller is allowing a buyer to buy the item at a seller fixed-price offer, utilizing a fixed price-setting process (block 460). The item index page is transmitted to the buyer (block 480). After receiving the item index page (block 470), the buyer generates a request for an item to purchase or bid on. Picture servers 14 (see FIG. 1) can also be used to show the buyer pictures (if available) of the item. The buyer's request is then transmitted (block 490).

[0034] When a seller fixed-price offer is an alternative option to bidding. After the commerce system 10 receives the bidder's request (block 200) from the client machine 38, decision block 210 decides if there is still time remaining in an auction price-setting process for the relevant item (item requested by the bidder). Specifically, the auction price-setting process may be time limited. In this embodiment, if a predetermined period of time has passed, the buyer will not be allowed to buy at the seller fixed-price offer. Instead the auction price-setting process will end and the highest bidder (if there is one) will be determined (block 380). However, in alternative embodiments, the buyer is allowed to buy at the seller fixed-price offer after a predetermined period of time has passed, as will be described below in conjunction with FIG. 6. If there is time remaining, a determination is made in decision block 220 whether a prior bid has been received. In this embodiment, if a prior bid has been received, then the seller fixed-price offer is no longer available to the buyer and the buyer's only option is to bid and a second user interface will be generated (block 390). If no prior bid has been received, and the item has a seller fixed-price offer available, a first user interface will be generated (block 230). The commerce system 10 will make the typical auction price-setting process available through the first user interface (block 240) and will make the fixed price-setting process available to the client through the first user interface (block 250). The seller fixed-price offer is retrieved for the first user interface (block 260). The first user interface is generated as a markup language document suitable for viewing by the buyer (block 270). The generated markup language document is then transmitted for viewing by the buyer on the client machine 38 using pages servers 12 on the network -based commerce system 10 (block 280).

[0035] Referring again to decision block 220, if it is determined that an initial bid value has been received, a second user interface will be generated (block 390). The auction price-setting process is then invoked, and made available through the second user interface (block 400). The second user interface is generated as a markup language document suitable for viewing by the buyer (block 270). The generated markup language document is then transmitted to the buyer (block 280).

[0036] After the markup language document has been transmitted to the buyer, a determination is made at decision block 420, based on the transmitted markup language document, whether the fixed price-setting process is available to the buyer. If the fixed price- setting process is available to the buyer, the buyer then makes a determination at decision block 290 whether to buy the item utilizing the fixed price-setting process (e.g., at the seller fixed-price bronze offer) or utilizing the auction price-setting process (e.g., whether to bid on the item). If the buyer chooses to purchase the item using the fixed price-setting process, an indication to this end is transmitted to the commerce system 10.

[0037] If the fixed price-setting process is not available to the buyer (as determined in decision block 420) or fixed price-setting process is available, but the buyer chooses not to use the list option, the buyer provides a bid (block 310). The bid is then transmitted to the commerce system 10 (block 320).

[0038] Upon receiving a transmission at the network -based commerce system 10, from the buyer, a determination is made at decision block 330 whether the buyer has chosen the fixed price-setting process. If the buyer has chosen the fixed price-setting process, the auction price- setting process is stopped (block 340) and a transaction is established between the buyer and the seller (block 410). Optionally, the commerce system 10 can check the buyer's credit before stopping the auction. [0039] If the buyer has not opted to use the fixed price-setting process, as determined by the commerce system 10 at decision block 330 (either because it wasn't available or he or she preferred to place a bid instead), the bid is received (block 350). Optionally, if the bid is greater than the seller fixed-price offer (and the fixed price-setting process is still available), the commerce system 10 may invite the buyer to use the fixed price-setting process. In one embodiment, upon receipt of the bid, the fixed price-setting process option is removed (block 360) and a determination is made at decision block 370 to see if there is any time remaining in the auction price-setting process. If there is time remaining, bids can be received and processed until expiration of the auction price-setting process. However, if there is no more time remaining in the auction price-setting process, the highest valid bid is determined from the received bids (block 380), and a transaction is established between the highest bidder and the seller (block 410).

[0040] Currently one type of database is employed for the storage of different types of categories having specific attributes. One application of such a database is used in conjunction with an internet based auction facility of different consumer products and services. A method and apparatus store multiple items across different categories in a database. A database includes an attribute value table that has item entries for items of different categories. Each item entry has attribute values for attributes of the items. The database also includes an attribute map table that has attribute map entries. The attribute map entries have attribute map values. Additionally, an attribute value is associated with an attribute map entry, such that the attribute values are translated based on the attribute map values of the associated attribute map entry. In one embodiment, the translating of an attribute value includes determining an attribute type associated with the attribute value.

[0041] One application of such a database is used in conjunction with an Internet-based auction facility of different consumer products and services. For the storage of e-commerce goods or consumer product and/or service information into a database, each product (e.g., automobiles and shoes) will have its own category. Typically, in such databases, each category is stored in a separate data structure (e.g., a table), wherein such data structures will include the specific attributes for that category. For example, for a shoes category, the attributes could include (1) color, (2) size, and (3) type of material. Accordingly, a data structure is created that includes these attributes. Similarly, for an automobile category, the attributes could include (1) make, (2) model, (3) year and (4) color. Therefore, a separate data structure is created for these attributes.

EXEMPLARY SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

[0042] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a machine in the example form of a computer system 500 within which instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

[0043] The example computer system 500 includes a processor 502(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), a main memory 504, and a static memory 506, which communicate with each other via a bus 508. The computer system 500 may further include a video display unit 510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 500 also includes an alphanumeric input device 512(e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI) navigation device 514(e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 516, a signal generation device 518(e.g., a speaker), and a network interface device 520. The computer system 500 may also include an environmental input device 526 that may provide a number of inputs describing the environment in which the computer system 500 or another device exists, including, but not limited to, any of a Global Positioning Sensing (GPS) receiver, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a still photo or video camera, an audio sensor (e.g., a microphone), a velocity sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a compass.

Machine-Readable Medium

[0044] The disk drive unit 516 includes a machine-readable medium 522 on which is stored one or more sets of data structures and instructions 54(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 524 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 504and/or within the processor 502 during execution thereof by the computer system 500, the main memory 504and the processor 502 also constituting machine -readable media.

While the machine-readable medium 522 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term "machine-readable medium" may include a single medium or multiple media(e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more instructions 524 or data structures. The term "non-transitory machine-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any tangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present subject matter, or that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with such instructions. The term "non-transitory machine-readable medium" shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. Specific examples of non- transitory machine -readable media include, but are not limited to, non-volatile memory, including by way of example, semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices), magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

Transmission Medium

The instructions 524 may further be transmitted or received over a computer networkl650using a transmission medium. The instructions 524 may be transmitted using the network interface device 520 and any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, mobile telephone networks, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., WiFi and WiMAX networks). The term "transmission medium" shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine, and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of such software.

[0045] As described herein, computer software products can be written in any of various suitable programming languages, such as C, C++, C#, Pascal, Fortran, Perl, Matlab (from MathWorks), SAS, SPSS, JavaScript, AJAX, and Java. The computer software product can be an independent application with data input and data display modules. Alternatively, the computer software products can be classes that can be instantiated as distributed objects. The computer software products can also be component software, for example Java Beans (from Sun Microsystems) or Enterprise Java Beans (EJB from Sun Microsystems). Much functionality described herein can be implemented in computer software, computer hardware, or a combination.

[0046] Furthermore, a computer that is running the previously mentioned computer software can be connected to a network and can interface to other computers using the network. The network can be an intranet, internet, or the Internet, among others. The network can be a wired network (for example, using copper), telephone network, packet network, an optical network (for example, using optical fiber), or a wireless network, or a combination of such networks. For example, data and other information can be passed between the computer and components (or steps) of a system using a wireless network based on a protocol, for example Wi-Fi (IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.1 le, 802.1 lg, 802.1 li, and 1802.11η). In one example, signals from the computer can be transferred, at least in part, wirelessly to components or other computers.

[0047] It is to be understood that although various components are illustrated herein as separate entities, each illustrated component represents a collection of functionalities which can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of these. Where a component is implemented as software, it can be implemented as a standalone program, but can also be implemented in other ways, for example as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate programs, as a kernel loadable module, as one or more device drivers or as one or more statically or dynamically linked libraries.

[0048] As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats.

[0049] Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects of the invention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of the three. Of course, wherever a component of the present invention is implemented as software, the component can be implemented as a script, as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate scripts and/or programs, as a statically or dynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future to those of skill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, the present invention is in no way limited to implementation in any specific programming language, or for any specific operating system or environment.

[0050] Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art that where the present invention is implemented in whole or in part in software, the software components thereof can be stored on computer readable media as computer program products. Any form of computer readable medium can be used in this context, such as magnetic or optical storage media. Additionally, software portions of the present invention can be instantiated (for example as object code or executable images) within the memory of any programmable computing device. [0051] As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats.

[0052] Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: What is claimed is:

1. A network-based commerce system including: a processor coupled to a memory through a bus; and an auction price-setting process executed from the memory by the processor during an auction to cause the processor to lower a reserve price associated with a listing of an item to a seller-adjusted reserve price, and to lower a proxy bid of a buyer to a predetermined amount below the seller-adjusted reserve price when the proxy bid is higher than the seller-adjusted reserve price.

2. The network-based commerce system of claim 1, wherein the auction price-setting process further causes the processor to automatically notify a seller of the item when a high proxy bid is within a predetermined percentage range of the seller-adjusted reserve price.

3. The network-based commerce system of claim 1, wherein the auction price-setting process further causes the processor to automatically notify a seller of the item when a high proxy bid is within a predetermined value range of the reserve price.

4. A non-transitory machine -readable medium having instructions to cause a machine to perform a method to facilitate operation of a network-based commerce system, the method including: with a network-based auction price-setting process, lowering a predefined reserve price associated with a listing of an item to a seller-adjusted reserve price during a network- based auction for the item price setting process; and lowering a proxy bid of a buyer to a predetermined amount below the seller-adjusted reserve price when the proxy bid is higher than the seller-adjusted reserve price.

5. The machine-readable medium of claim 4, including automatically notifying a seller of the item when a high proxy bid is within a predetermined percentage range of the seller- adjusted reserve price.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 4, including automatically notifying a seller of the item when a high proxy bid is within a predetermined value range of the reserve price.

7. A method to facilitate operation of a network -based commerce system, the method including: with a network-based auction price-setting process executed from a memory by a processor, lowering a predefined reserve price associated with a listing of an item to a seller-adjusted reserve price during a network- based auction for the item price setting process; and lowering a proxy bid of a buyer to a predetermined amount below the seller-adjusted reserve price when the proxy bid is higher than the seller- adjusted reserve price.

8. The method of claim 7, including automatically notifying a seller of the item when a high proxy bid is within a predetermined percentage range of the seller -adjusted reserve price.

9. The method of claim 7, including automatically notifying a seller of the item when a high proxy bid is within a predetermined value range of the reserve price.

10. The method of claim 7 to enable for time based auction bidding wherein a value of the resource is estimated to be different for different time of the day and the night for a plurality of resources such as machinery, property, vehicle or human resource.

11. The system of claim 1 to enable for time based auction bidding wherein a value of the resource is estimated to be different for different time of the day and the night for a plurality of resources such as machinery, property, vehicle or human resource.