Granted Patent B1

US 7,340,428 · App. 09/722,607 · Granted Mar 4, 2008

Abstract

Claims (60)

1. A method for conducting an auction for a sponsor, comprising:

receiving score computation information, at an auction system computer, for computing respective composite scores for respective bids submitted to the auction, the score computation information for computing a composite score comprising:

a selection of a plurality of categories as evaluation criteria for the bid;

a setting of parameters for each of the selected categories; and

a weight specified for each of the selected categories;

receiving a bid from one or more participants, the bid including bid information corresponding to the selected categories;

calculating a weighted value for each one of the selected categories based on the parameters and weight for each of the selected categories and the bid information;

determining the composite score for each received bid based on the weighted values for each of the selected categories; and

identifying the bid having the highest composite score,

wherein at least one of the selected categories is set to a value provided by the sponsor, and

wherein the at least one of the selected categories set to a value provided by the sponsor relates to an evaluation of the participant by the sponsor,

wherein the step of receiving a bid from one or more participants comprises:

receiving values corresponding to the selected categories before the bid is submitted;

calculating a weighted value for each one of the selected categories based on the parameters and weight for each of the selected categories and the received values;

determining the composite score based on the weighted values for each of the selected categories; and

displaying the composite score to the participant from which the values were received before the bid is submitted.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a designation of the participants who may submit bids to the auction.

3. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

sending a notification to each of the participants based on the received designation.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of categories include a price, a distance, a quality, a volume and a lead time.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

notifying the participant having the bid identified as having the highest composite score.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the information for setting the composite score further comprises a selection of at least three of the plurality of categories as evaluation criteria for the bid.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the information in the bid includes values corresponding to the selected categories.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the calculating of a weighted value for each one of the selected categories comprises:

scaling the values included in the information in the bid with the parameters set for each of the selected categories; and

adjusting the scaled values with the weight specified for each of the selected categories.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the determining of the composite score further includes summing the adjusted values.

10. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having program code recorded thereon that is operable on a computer system for conducting an auction for a sponsor, the program code on the computer readable medium, when executed on a computer system, configured to:

receive score computation information for computing respective composite scores for respective bids submitted to the auction, the score computation information for computing a composite score comprising:

a selection of at least a plurality of categories as evaluation criteria for the bid;

a setting of parameters for each of the selected categories; and

a weight specified for each of the selected categories;

receive a bid from one or more participants, the bid including bid information corresponding to the selected categories;

calculate a weighted value for each one of the selected categories based on the parameters and weight for each of the selected categories and the bid information in the bid;

determine the composite score for each received bid based on the weighted values for each of the selected categories; and

identify the bid having the highest composite score,

wherein at least one of the selected categories is set to a value provided by the sponsor, and

wherein the at least one of the selected categories set to a value provided by the sponsor relates to an evaluation of the participant by the sponsor,

wherein receive a bid from one or more participants comprises:

receive values corresponding to the selected categories before the bid is submitted;

calculate a weighted value for each one of the selected categories based on the parameters and weight for each of the selected categories and the received values;

determine the composite score based on the weighted values for each of the selected categories; and

display the composite score to the participant from which the values were received before the bid is submitted.

11. A computer program product according to claim 10 , further configured to:

receive a designation of the participants who may submit bids to the auction.

12. A computer program product according to claim 11 , further configured to:

send a notification to each of the participants based on the received designation.

13. A computer program product according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of categories include a price, a distance, a quality, a volume and a lead time.

14. A computer program product according to claim 10 , further configured to:

notify the participant having the bid identified as having the highest composite score.

15. A computer program product according to claim 10 , wherein the information for setting the composite score further comprises a selection of at least three of the plurality of categories as evaluation criteria for the bid.

16. A computer program product according to claim 10 , wherein the information in the bid includes values corresponding to the selected categories.

17. A computer program product according to claim 16 , further configured to:

scale the values included in the information in the bid with the parameters set for each of the selected categories; and

adjust the scaled values with the weight specified for each of the selected categories.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17 , further configured to:

sum the adjusted values.

Assignments (10)