SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENCOURAGING COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION IN AN AUCTION
In both an on-line and a conventional auction, an auctioneer may encourage competitive bidding behavior through the provision of rewards to those bidders whose bids meet predetermined criteria. For example, a bidder may be rewarded if her bid exceeds a prior bid by a threshold value. An auctioneer may further discourage non-competitive bidding behavior by penalizing those bidders whose bids fall below predetermined standards.
1 . A method for providing a reward to a bidder participating in an auction, the method comprising:
identifying a product subject to bidding during an auction session;
receiving a bid for the product from a bidder during the auction session;
determining, based on a reward rule, whether the bidder is qualified to receive a reward, and if the bidder is qualified:
transmitting, to the bidder, an indication that the bidder is qualified to receive the reward.
2 - 66 . (canceled)