Alan Fisher

A method and system for updating information to a merchandise catalog page includes automatically regenerating a merchandise catalog page to include updated bid information if new bids have been placed relating to an item. According to another aspect of the invention, a merchandise catalog page for an item is automatically updated to reflect that an auction has closed, upon detecting that the auction for the item is closed.

In an electronic auction, bids may be received from each of a plurality of bidders for a plurality of commodities for online distribution, wherein each bid includes a price and information used to identify an appropriate commodity to which to apply the bid. Then a process is performed for each bid. This process includes: validating bid information from the bid, the validating occurring after a customer record has been created for a bidder corresponding to the bid, then based on a successful… Show more

In an electronic auction, bids may be received from each of a plurality of bidders for a plurality of commodities for online distribution, wherein each bid includes a price and information used to identify an appropriate commodity to which to apply the bid. Then a process is performed for each bid. This process includes: validating bid information from the bid, the validating occurring after a customer record has been created for a bidder corresponding to the bid, then based on a successful validation of the bid, entering the bid for the item in a bid database, then awarding one or more commodities from the plurality of commodities to each of a plurality of successful bidders of the plurality of bidders at different item prices based on the prices in the bid information for each of the plurality of successful bidders. Show less

A method and system for providing status of a data item after receiving status information pertaining to the data item. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information pertaining to the data item. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received status information is then composed and transmitted over a network.

An electronic auction system may include a bid validator connected between a network and a customer database. The example bid validator may receive bid information from a customer over the network. The example bid validator may use the bid information to detect whether the customer database includes a customer record for the customer. If no customer record is found in the customer database, the example bid validator may initiate creation of a new customer record and place it in the customer… Show more

An electronic auction system may include a bid validator connected between a network and a customer database. The example bid validator may receive bid information from a customer over the network. The example bid validator may use the bid information to detect whether the customer database includes a customer record for the customer. If no customer record is found in the customer database, the example bid validator may initiate creation of a new customer record and place it in the customer database. Show less

An electronic auction system may include a bid validator connected between a network, a bid database and a merchandise catalog page. The example bid validator may receive over the network, bid information via an electronic mail message and further bid information via a web-based bid form. The example bid validator may validate the bid information and the further bid information before placing a bid and a further bid respectively into the bid database. The example bid validator may then update… Show more

An electronic auction system may include a bid validator connected between a network, a bid database and a merchandise catalog page. The example bid validator may receive over the network, bid information via an electronic mail message and further bid information via a web-based bid form. The example bid validator may validate the bid information and the further bid information before placing a bid and a further bid respectively into the bid database. The example bid validator may then update the web-based merchandise catalog page based on the bid and the further bid. Show less

A method and system for providing account status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to a customer account. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information stored within a status record pertaining to the account. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received status information is then… Show more

A method and system for providing account status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to a customer account. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information stored within a status record pertaining to the account. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received status information is then composed and sent to the customer. Show less

A method and system for providing order status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to an order placed by a customer with a merchant. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information pertaining to the order stored within a status record. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received… Show more

A method and system for providing order status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to an order placed by a customer with a merchant. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information pertaining to the order stored within a status record. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received status information is then composed and sent to the customer. Show less

A method and system for to facilitate an electronic auction includes receiving a bid from each of a plurality of bidders for a plurality of merchandise items via a web-based bid form. Each bid including a bid price and a quantity bid. One or more of the merchandise items of the plurality of merchandise items are awarded to each of a plurality of successful bidders of the plurality of bidders at different prices based on the quantity bid by each of the plurality of successful bidders.

A method and system for providing simultaneous online auctions includes automatically auctioning a first item and a second item during a common time period via an electronic auction system. Bids for both of the first item and the second item are automatically received at the electronic auction system during the common time period.

A method and system for providing order status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to an order placed by a customer with a merchant. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information pertaining to the order stored within a status record. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received… Show more

A method and system for providing order status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to an order placed by a customer with a merchant. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information pertaining to the order stored within a status record. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received status information is then composed and sent to the customer. Show less

A method and system for automatically requesting transit status information from a common carrier system over a network. The transit status information indicates a transit status of an item purchased by a customer by placing an order. A message is automatically composed and transmitted to the customer upon determining the transit status of the item purchased by the customer has changed.

A system is disclosed for automatically updating the status of customers'​ orders and shipments via electronic mail without using a human attendant to create and send the electronic mail messages. Preferably implemented in software, the updating system allows a large set of customers to be periodically updated over a computer or communications network via electronic mail. The system includes a database for maintaining order and shipping status and other relevant information.

A method and system for providing order status information using a network address, by receiving a network address from a customer when the customer places an order with the merchant. An information system is interrogated via a network to determine a status of the order. A message indicating the status of the order is automatically composed and transmitted to the network address for the customer.

A method and system for providing order status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to an order placed by a customer with a merchant. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information pertaining to the order stored within a status record. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received… Show more

A method and system for providing order status information using an update status flag to receive status information pertaining to an order placed by a customer with a merchant. It is determined whether the received status information is new relative to further status information pertaining to the order stored within a status record. The status record is updated to include the received status information if the received status information is new. The updated message indicating the received status information is then composed and sent to the customer. Show less

A system and method for conducting a multi-person, interactive auction, in a variety of formats, without using a human auctioneer to conduct the auction. The system is preferably implemented in software. The system allows a group of bidders to interactively place bids over a computer or communications network. Those bids are recorded by the system and the bidders are updated with the current auction status information. When appropriate, the system closes the auction from further bidding and… Show more

A system and method for conducting a multi-person, interactive auction, in a variety of formats, without using a human auctioneer to conduct the auction. The system is preferably implemented in software. The system allows a group of bidders to interactively place bids over a computer or communications network. Those bids are recorded by the system and the bidders are updated with the current auction status information. When appropriate, the system closes the auction from further bidding and notifies the winning bidders and losers as to the auction outcome. Show less

A method is disclosed for automatically updating the status of customers'​ orders and shipments via electronic mail without using a human attendant to create and send the electronic mail messages. Preferably implemented in software, the updating method allows a large set of customers to be periodically updated over a computer or communications network via electronic mail. The method utilizes a database for maintaining order and shipping status and other relevant information.

Visible data displayed by a computer program on a computer screen can be stretched easily by a variable amount. This system allows a scale or ruler device on the screen to be stretched vertically or horizontally, as appropriate, by use of a pointing device such as a mouse or light pen. As the scale or ruler is stretched, its display is continually updated by the computer program to show its new position as a result of the stretched. This gives the program's user a precise visual indication of… Show more

Visible data displayed by a computer program on a computer screen can be stretched easily by a variable amount. This system allows a scale or ruler device on the screen to be stretched vertically or horizontally, as appropriate, by use of a pointing device such as a mouse or light pen. As the scale or ruler is stretched, its display is continually updated by the computer program to show its new position as a result of the stretched. This gives the program's user a precise visual indication of how much additional stretching is required to complete the desired amount of stretching. Upon terminating the stretching operation, the computer program's data is recalculated and appropriate data displayed relative to the scale or ruler's final position. Show less