AUCTION DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND AUCTION METHOD

Abstract

An auction device, a program, and an auction method are provided that are capable of increasing the successful bid price while preventing participants from losing interest. [Solution] The auction apparatus 1 includes a storage 7c and a control unit 7. When the control unit 7 permits login to the auction site from a venue owner terminal V or a participant terminal P, the control unit 7 distributes information about the live video of the auction and the items being auctioned, transmitted from the venue owner terminal V, to the participant terminal P. A bid price for an item being auctioned is input from the participant terminal P, and distribution of the input bid price to other participant terminals P is prohibited or restricted at least until bidding closes.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an auction device, a program, and an auction method. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an auction device that distributes images of an auction venue to a personal computer, a mobile terminal, or the like, allowing a person to participate in the auction in real time and remotely. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7148851 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the auction device of Patent Document 1, when an auction participant places a bid on an item put up for auction from a PC or mobile terminal, the bid price is set to be the current price of the item plus, for example, a preset bid amount. If bidders can freely set the amount they can add to the current price, when multiple bids are made with a slight time difference, if the bidder who placed the bid first added an extremely high amount, then later bidders will end up bidding at an unintended high bid price. Therefore, the amount that can be added when placing a bid is set to prevent bids from being made at an unintended price.

[0005] However, if there is a limit to the amount that can be added to the current price, the bid price will not suddenly increase, making it difficult for the winning bid for the auctioned item to be high, and this could also lead to a decrease in interest among participants.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an auction device, a program, and an auction method that can increase the successful bid price while preventing participants from losing interest.

[0007] The auction device of the present invention comprises: a recording unit for recording participant identification information for identifying participants who can participate in the auction and venue owner identification information for identifying a venue owner who holds the auction; a first reception unit that, when receiving a first login request transmitted from a participant terminal of a participant, checks whether or not the participant identification information of the participant requesting the first login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the first login from the participant terminal if the participant identification information is recorded in the recording unit; a second reception unit that, upon receiving a second login request transmitted from the host terminal of the host, checks whether the host identification information of the host requesting the second login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the second login from the host terminal if the host identification information is recorded in the recording unit; an item receiving unit capable of receiving, when the second login is permitted by the second login, item information relating to items to be auctioned from the venue main terminal permitted by the second login; a bid receiving unit capable of receiving bids for the item from one or more participant terminals permitted to log in when the bid receiving unit receives a start request transmitted from a venue owner terminal, the start request being a request for starting an auction of the item for which the bid receiving unit has received bid information; a distribution control unit that controls distribution of bid information related to the bid accepted by the bid acceptance unit to one or more participant terminals that are permitted to log in first; a confirmation unit that confirms a successful bidder for an item based on bids from one or more participant terminals; Equipped with The bid reception department a price receiving unit that receives input of a bid price for an item from one or more participant terminals; The recording section is The bid price for the auction item received by the price receiving unit is recorded in association with the participant terminal that input the bid price; The determination part is a confirmation processing unit that, when receiving a confirmation request from the venue owner terminal, which is a request for processing to confirm a successful bidder, confirms as a successful bidder a participant corresponding to a participant terminal associated with the highest bid price among the bid prices of the item recorded in the recording unit; The distribution control unit determines whether or not the bid price included in the bidding information received by the price receiving unit is distributed to other participant terminals at least until the confirmation processing unit receives a confirmation request. in Regulation death, As a regulation, some digits of the bid price input by a participant terminal are distributed to other participant terminals, and distribution of the remaining digits to other participant terminals is restricted at least until the confirmation processing unit accepts a confirmation request.

[0008] The auction device of the present invention accepts input of bid prices for an item from one or more participant terminals, records the accepted bid prices in association with the participant terminal that input the bid price, and determines the participant corresponding to the participant terminal associated with the highest bid price among the recorded bid prices for the item as the successful bidder. Then, the distribution of one's own bid price input at the participant terminal to other participant terminals is prohibited or restricted. Specifically, at least one's own bid price is prohibited or restricted from being distributed to other participant terminals until a confirmation request (a request for processing to confirm the successful bidder from the venue owner terminal) is received by the confirmation processing unit. Therefore, for example, when the distribution of other people's bid prices is prohibited, a bidder needs to make a bid without knowing other people's bid prices, and there is a possibility that the bid price will jump up depending on the participant's willingness to purchase the item, which can increase the successful bid price and prevent a decline in the interest of the participants. Also, when the distribution of other people's bid prices is restricted, the participants' willingness to purchase the item increases due to the restrictions, which can increase the successful bid price and prevent a decline in the interest of the participants.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, The bid reception department a first bid receiving unit which is a price receiving unit; a second bid receiving unit for receiving, from one or more participant terminals, a bid request for an item for sale, the bid price of which is an amount equal to a current price of the item plus a markup; Equipped with The determination part is A first determination unit that is a determination processing unit; a second confirmation unit that, when receiving a confirmation request from the venue owner terminal, confirms the participant corresponding to the participant terminal that last received a bid request as a successful bidder; It can be provided with:

[0010] According to this, in addition to the method of accepting bids by the first bid reception unit and determining the successful bidder, it is also possible to accept bids whose bid price is the current price plus a markup and determine the successful bidder, thereby making it possible to hold an auction in which the successful bidder can be determined using multiple bidding methods.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, a setting receiving unit that receives a setting request transmitted from a venue owner terminal as a request for setting a bidding method for an auction having a first bidding method and a second bidding method; Equipped with When the setting reception unit receives a setting request for the first bidding method, the first bid reception unit and the first determination unit determine a successful bidder, When the setting reception unit receives a setting request for the second bidding method, the second bid reception unit and the second determination unit can determine the successful bidder.

[0012] This allows the bidding method of the auction to be changed according to the venue owner's selection, making it possible to select the auction method each time, for example, based on the intentions of the venue owner and the sellers of items to be auctioned, thereby expanding the range of auction holding methods.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, When the confirmation processing unit receives the confirmation request, the distribution control unit distributes a display notifying the participant terminal of the deadline for bidding, and the confirmation processing unit can confirm the successful bidder after the display notifying the deadline is distributed.

[0014] This makes it possible to notify participants of the deadline for bidding. It also makes it possible to encourage participants who are undecided about their bid or bid price to make a bid, thereby improving the successful bid price and preventing participants from losing interest.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the recorder records the time when the first login was permitted in association with the participant terminal for which the first login was permitted by the first reception unit; If a participant terminal that has been permitted to log in for the first time based on the time does not log in for a specified period of time, the participant terminal can be provided with a display unit that displays instructions for selecting a method for picking up an item when it is won in an auction.

[0016] This makes it possible to prompt participants to select a method for picking up the items they have won.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, a comment receiving unit capable of receiving input of comments regarding the items for sale from one or more participant terminals permitted to perform a first login when the item selling receiving unit receives a start request; a comment distribution control unit that distributes the comments received by the comment receiving unit to be displayed on a venue owner terminal; It can be provided with:

[0018] According to this, the comments are displayed on the venue owner's terminal, so that it is possible to prevent the venue owner's terminal from overlooking the comments.

[0019] In addition, in the program of the present invention, Computer a recording unit for recording participant identification information for identifying participants who can participate in the auction and venue owner identification information for identifying a venue owner who holds the auction; a first reception unit that, when receiving a first login request transmitted from a participant terminal of a participant, checks whether or not the participant identification information of the participant requesting the first login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the first login from the participant terminal if the participant identification information is recorded in the recording unit; a second reception unit that, upon receiving a second login request transmitted from the host terminal of the host, checks whether the host identification information of the host requesting the second login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the second login from the host terminal if the host identification information is recorded in the recording unit; an item receiving unit capable of receiving, when the second login is permitted by the second login, item information relating to items to be auctioned from the venue main terminal permitted by the second login; a bid receiving unit capable of receiving bids for the item from one or more participant terminals permitted to log in when the bid receiving unit receives a start request transmitted from a venue owner terminal, the start request being a request for starting an auction of the item for which the bid receiving unit has received bid information; a distribution control unit that controls distribution of bid information related to the bid accepted by the bid acceptance unit to one or more participant terminals that are permitted to log in first; a confirmation unit that confirms a successful bidder for an item based on bids from one or more participant terminals; Equipped with The bid reception department a price receiving unit that receives input of a bid price for an item from one or more participant terminals; The recording section is The bid price for the auction item received by the price receiving unit is recorded in association with the participant terminal that input the bid price; The determination part is a confirmation processing unit that, when receiving a confirmation request from the venue owner terminal, which is a request for processing to confirm a successful bidder, confirms as a successful bidder a participant corresponding to a participant terminal associated with the highest bid price among the bid prices of the item recorded in the recording unit; The distribution control unit determines whether or not the bid price included in the bid information received by the price receiving unit is distributed to other participant terminals at least until the confirmation processing unit receives a confirmation request. By system death, As a restriction, some digits of the bid price input by the participant terminal are distributed to other participant terminals, and distribution of the rest of the bid price to other participant terminals is restricted at least until the confirmation processing unit accepts a confirmation request. Function as a

[0020] The program of the present invention, like the above-mentioned auction device, can increase the successful bid price and prevent participants from losing interest.

[0021] In the auction method of the present invention, 1. A computer-implemented auction method, comprising: a recording step of recording participant identification information for identifying participants who can participate in the auction and venue owner identification information for identifying a venue owner who hosts the auction; a first reception step of, when receiving a first login request transmitted from a participant terminal of a participant, checking whether or not the participant identification information of the participant requesting the first login has been recorded in the recording step, and permitting the first login from the participant terminal if the participant identification information has been recorded in the recording step; a second acceptance step of, when receiving a second login request transmitted from the host terminal of the host, checking whether the host identification information of the host requesting the second login has been recorded in the recording step, and permitting the second login from the host terminal if the information has been recorded in the recording step; an item receiving step for receiving, when the second login is permitted in the second receiving step, information on an item to be auctioned from the venue main terminal for which the second login is permitted; a bid acceptance step for accepting bids for the item from one or more participant terminals permitted to log in when a start request is received from a venue owner terminal, the start request being a request for starting an auction for the item whose listing information has been accepted in the listing acceptance step; a distribution control step of controlling distribution of bid information related to the bid accepted in the bid acceptance step to one or more participant terminals permitted to log in first; determining a successful bidder for the item based on bids from one or more participant terminals; Equipped with The bid acceptance process is as follows: a price receiving step of receiving input of a bid price for an item from one or more participant terminals; The recording process is The bid price for the item accepted in the price acceptance step is recorded in association with the participant terminal that input the bid price; The confirmation process is a confirmation process step of, when a confirmation request which is a request for a process of confirming a successful bidder is received from a venue owner terminal, confirming as the successful bidder a participant corresponding to a participant terminal associated with the highest bid price among the bid prices of the item recorded in the recording step; The distribution control step is a step of controlling the distribution of the bid price input by the participant terminal to other participant terminals, at least until a confirmation request is received in the confirmation processing step, with respect to the bid price included in the bid information received in the price reception step. By system death , As a restriction, some digits of the bid price inputted by a participant terminal are distributed to other participant terminals, and distribution of the remaining digits to other participant terminals is restricted at least until the confirmation processing step accepts a confirmation request.

[0022] As with the above-mentioned auction device, the auction method of the present invention can increase the successful bid price and prevent participants from losing interest.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, The bid acceptance process is as follows: a first bid acceptance process which is a price acceptance section; a second bid receiving step for receiving, from one or more participant terminals, a bid request for the item for sale, the bid price of which is an amount equal to the current price of the item plus a markup; Equipped with The confirmation process is a first determination step which is a determination processing step; a second confirmation step of, when receiving a confirmation request from the venue owner terminal, confirming as a successful bidder the participant corresponding to the participant terminal which last received a bid request; It can be provided with:

[0024] According to this, in addition to the method of accepting bids through the first bid receiving process and determining the successful bidder, it is also possible to accept bids whose bid price is the current price plus a markup and determine the successful bidder, thereby making it possible to hold an auction in which the successful bidder can be determined using multiple bidding methods.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, a setting receiving step of receiving a setting request transmitted from a venue owner terminal as a request for setting a bidding method for an auction having a first bidding method and a second bidding method; Equipped with When the setting reception step receives a setting request for the first bidding method, a successful bidder is determined by a first bid reception step and a first determination step; When the setting reception step receives a setting request for the second bidding method, a successful bidder can be determined by the second bid reception step and the second determination step.

[0026] This allows the bidding method of the auction to be changed according to the choice of the venue owner, making it possible to select the auction method based on the wishes of the venue owner and the sellers of items to be sold, thereby expanding the range of auction holding methods.

[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, When the confirmation process step accepts the confirmation request, the distribution control step distributes a display notifying the participant terminal of the deadline for bidding, and the confirmation process step can confirm the successful bidder after the display notifying the deadline is distributed.

[0028] This makes it possible to notify participants of the deadline for bidding. It also makes it possible to encourage participants who are undecided about their bid or bid price to make a bid, thereby improving the successful bid price and preventing participants from losing interest.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, The recording step records the time when the first login is permitted in association with the participant terminal for which the first login is permitted by the first reception step; The auction system may include a display step of displaying on the participant terminal, if a participant terminal that has been permitted to log in for the first time based on the time has not logged in for a specified period of time, a guide for selecting a method for picking up an item when it is won in an auction.

[0030] This makes it possible to prompt participants to select a method for picking up the items they have won.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, a comment receiving step for receiving, when the commodity listing receiving step receives a start request, input of a comment on the commodity listing from one or more participant terminals permitted to perform a first login; a comment distribution control step of distributing the comments received by the comment receiving step to a venue owner terminal for display; It can be provided with:

[0032] According to this, the comments are displayed on the venue owner's terminal, so that it is possible to prevent the venue owner's terminal from overlooking the comments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an auction system using an auction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of registering a person who wishes to participate in an auction as a member. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a portion of an example registration page for a person who wishes to participate in an auction to register as a member. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart showing a process in which an auction participant logs in to an auction site and receives live video of the auction. [Figure 5A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a login page that allows auction participants to log in to an auction site. [Figure 5B] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a login page that allows a venue owner who is hosting an auction to log in to an auction site. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an auction screen displayed on a display unit of a participant terminal participating in an auction with a bidding method in which participants can submit bids by adding an additional amount to the current price any number of times. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow for registering a venue owner who will hold an auction. [Figure 8]11 is a flowchart showing the process in which a venue owner who is hosting an auction logs into an auction site using a venue owner terminal and distributes live video of the auction to participant terminals. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a management screen displayed on a display of a venue owner terminal for holding an auction using a bidding method in which bidders can submit bids by adding an additional amount to the current price any number of times. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a management screen displayed on a display of a venue owner terminal for holding an auction using a bidding method in which bids can be submitted only once. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an auction screen displayed on a display unit of a participant terminal participating in an auction using a bidding method in which a bid price can be submitted only once. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a countdown displayed on the auction screen of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] 12 is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up for confirming a bid price displayed on the auction screen of FIG. 11. [Figure 14] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow for providing a bidding auction service in which an auction device can submit bids by adding an additional amount to a current price any number of times on the Internet; [Figure 15] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow for providing an auction service using a bidding method in which an auction device can submit a bid price only once on the Internet; [Figure 16] 16 is a flowchart showing an example of S71 in FIG. 15. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a guide page displayed on the display unit of a participant terminal that has not logged in for a predetermined period of time. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a portion of a management screen for editing the guide page of FIG. 17. [Figure 19] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a list of information entered through the guide page of FIG. 17. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen that allows a successful bidder to upload an invoice for shipping costs for the successful bid. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG 1 shows an example of an auction system S using an auction device 1 according to the present invention. The auction system S is an auction system for antiques. The auction system S comprises a venue owner terminal V located at the venue where the auction is held, participant terminals P held by participants who participate in the auction, and the auction device 1 which functions as a server for conducting auctions over the Internet. For the sake of convenience, four venue owner terminals V and four participant terminals P are shown in FIG 1, but the auction system S comprises a large number of venue owner terminals V and a large number of participant terminals P.

[0035] The venue owner terminal V is a terminal such as a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, or computer owned by the venue owner of the auction venue (the venue owner who holds the auction). The venue owner terminal V is provided at each of a plurality of auction venues located at different locations. The participant terminal P is a terminal such as a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, or computer owned by a participant who participates in the auction via the Internet. A participant uses the participant terminal P to participate in the auction via the Internet from the auction venue, or participates in the auction via the Internet from a location away from the auction venue. The auction device 1 communicates with the venue owner terminal V and the participant terminal P mutually via the Internet, and functions as a computer server that receives live video of the auction held at the auction venue from the venue owner terminal V and distributes it to the participant terminal P. The auction device 1 also functions as a computer server that provides an Internet auction function (Internet auction site) where participants can bid on and win items auctioned at the auction venue from their participant terminal P.

[0036] Next, the venue owner terminal V, the participant terminal P, and the auction device 1 will be described. First, the parts common to the venue owner terminal V, the participant terminal P, and the auction device 1 will be described together. The venue owner terminal V, the participant terminal P, and the auction device 1 each include a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit 2 of the venue owner terminal V and the communication unit 4 of the auction device 1 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the Internet, and the communication unit 2 of the venue owner terminal V and the communication unit 4 of the auction device 1 communicate with each other. In addition, the communication unit 3 of the participant terminal P and the communication unit 4 of the auction device 1 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the Internet, and the communication unit 3 of the participant terminal P and the communication unit 4 of the auction device 1 communicate with each other. Each control unit 5 to 7 includes a CPU 5a, 6a, 7a, a RAM 5b, 6b, 7b, and a storage 5c, 6c, 7c, which are connected by a bus.

[0037] The CPU 5a is responsible for all information processing such as data communication in the control unit 5, and the RAM 5b is a volatile storage unit that functions as a working area for the CPU 5a. The storage 5c is a storage unit that stores data and software (programs) for performing necessary processing in the control unit 5. The same applies to the CPU 6a, RAM 6b, and storage 6c of the control unit 6, and the CPU 7a, RAM 7b, and storage 7c of the control unit 7. The venue owner terminal V, participant terminal P, and auction device 1 will be described in detail below.

[0038] The venue owner terminal V transmits, for example, live video of the auction items being auctioned in order at the auction venue to the auction device 1. The venue owner terminal V also notifies the participant terminals P of the auction participants of the start and end of the auction, and is a terminal for managing the auction. As shown in FIG. 1, the venue owner terminal V includes a communication unit 2, a control unit 5, a camera 8, a microphone 9, and a display 10. The control unit 5 is a main unit that transmits live video of the auction items being auctioned at the auction venue to the auction device 1, manages the auction, and notifies the participant terminals P and the like about the auction. The camera 8 captures live video of each auction being held in sequence at the auction venue. The microphone 9 picks up the voices of the auctioneers and the auction venue at each auction. The display 10 displays screens and the like that are displayed by starting programs stored in the storage 5c, and is operated by a keyboard and a mouse (not shown). The display 10 displays, for example, a management screen for managing the auction that is distributed from the auction device 1 that provides the auction site. The storage 5c of the control unit 5 stores a communication program 5c1, a video program 5c2, etc. The communication program 5c1 is a program used to communicate with the auction device 1, etc. via the Internet and provide an auction service to the participant terminal P. The video program 5c2 is a program to transmit live video of an auction held at the auction venue to the auction device 1.

[0039] The participant terminal P is a terminal for participating in an auction held at an auction venue via the Internet. As shown in FIG. 1, the participant terminal P includes a communication unit 3, a control unit 6, and a display unit 11. The control unit 6 is a main unit that displays on the display unit 11 videos and the like distributed from the auction device 1. The display unit 11 also displays live videos of the auction distributed from the auction device 1, information on items being auctioned, and operation buttons that enable bidding on items being auctioned. The storage 6c of the control unit 6 stores a communication program 6c1, a display program 6c2, an operation program 6c3, and the like. The communication program 6c1 is a program used for communicating with the auction device 1 and the like via the Internet. The display program 6c2 is a program for displaying videos and the like distributed from the auction device 1. The operation program 6c3 is a program for transmitting an operation signal to the auction device 1 when an operation button displayed on the display unit 11 is operated.

[0040] The auction device 1 distributes live video of the auction transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the participant terminal P, and functions as a server (auction site) for participants to participate in the auction on the Internet using the participant terminal P, and for the venue owner to manage the auction on the Internet that he / she holds using the venue owner terminal V. As shown in FIG. 1, the auction device 1 includes a communication unit 4 and a control unit 7. The control unit 7 is an entity that distributes live video of the auction held at the auction venue and provides the venue owner terminal V and the participant terminal P with an auction site that enables the auction on the Internet. A communication program 7c1, a distribution program 7c2, an auction program 7c3, and the like are stored in the storage 7c of the control unit 7. The communication program 7c1 is a program used to communicate with the venue owner terminal V and the participant terminal P, etc., via the Internet. The distribution program 7c2 is a program that distributes live video of the auction transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the participant terminal P. The auction program 7c3 is a program that enables participants to participate in the auction on the Internet using the participant terminal P, and the venue owner to participate in the auction on the Internet using the venue owner terminal V. Storage 7c also stores data such as participant identification information that identifies participants participating in the auction, and venue owner identification information that identifies the venue owner hosting the auction. The participant identification information is recorded in storage 7c in association with information about the participant for each participant, and multiple pieces of participant identification information are stored in storage 7c. The venue owner identification information is also recorded in storage 7c in association with information about the venue owner for each venue owner, and multiple pieces of venue owner identification information are stored in storage 7c.

[0041] Next, the processes performed using the various programs and the like mentioned above will be described.

[0042] The process in FIG. 2 is a process for registering participants who can participate in the auction. A person who wishes to participate in the auction accesses a website designated in advance on the participant terminal P. Then, for example, a web page shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 11 of the participant terminal P. A person who wishes to participate in the auction applies for membership registration to participate in the auction from the displayed web page. For example, the person enters the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, desired password, email address (not shown), etc. in the input form on the web page, attaches an image of a secondhand goods dealer license, and clicks a send button (not shown) (S1 in FIG. 2). Then, the member registration application information such as the name of the member registration applicant is transmitted to the auction device 1. When the auction device 1 receives the member registration application information, each information of the member registration applicant such as the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, and the image of the attached secondhand goods dealer license is recorded in the storage 7c of the auction device 1. Next, the administrator of the auction device 1 checks whether the member registration applicant has a secondhand goods dealer license based on the attached image of the secondhand goods dealer license. If the member registration applicant has a secondhand goods dealer license, the administrator of the auction device 1 registers the member registration applicant as a participant who can participate in the auction. When registering, a member number and a password for logging in to the auction site provided by the auction device 1 are generated, and the generated member number and password are linked to the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, email address, and the like of the member registration applicant (auction participant) and recorded in the storage 7c (S2 in FIG. 2). Then, the administrator of the auction device 1 sends the member number and password to the registered auction participant (S3 in FIG. 2). For example, the member number and password required to log in to the auction site are sent to the email address of the registered auction participant. The participant can log in to the auction site from the participant terminal P by receiving the member number and password. This series of processes is repeated every time member information registration is sent to the auction device 1 from the web page shown in FIG. 3.

[0043] The process in FIG. 4 is a process in which a participant who participates in an auction as a buyer logs in to the auction site using a participant terminal P and receives live video of the auction. The participant accesses the login page (FIG. 5A) of the auction site using the participant terminal P, enters his / her membership number and password, and clicks a button for logging in to the desired auction venue (the "Participate in Area A Auction" button B1 or the "Participate in Area B Auction" button B1). Then, the login information of the membership number and password is transmitted from the participant terminal P to the auction device 1 (S11 in FIG. 4). When the auction device 1 receives the login information, it checks whether the participant is qualified to log in by, for example, referring to data recorded in the storage 7c based on the received login information. If the result of the reference shows that the participant is recorded in the storage 7c as a participant of the auction who is registered as a member, it is determined that the participant is qualified to log in (S12: Yes in FIG. 4) and the login from the participant terminal P is permitted (S13 in FIG. 4). If the participant is not qualified to log in (S12: No in FIG. 4), the login is rejected and a message is displayed on the display unit 11 of the participant terminal P indicating that the entered membership number or password is incorrect, and the page is returned to the login page in FIG. 5A. When login of the participant terminal P is permitted in S13 of Fig. 4, an auction page such as that shown in Fig. 6 or 11 is displayed on the display unit 11 of the participant terminal P. When the live video reception button B2 at the top center of the auction page is clicked, a request to receive live video of the auction is transmitted to the auction device 1. Then, the live video of the auction venue, etc. transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1 is distributed to the participant terminal P.

[0044] The process in FIG. 7 is a process for registering a venue owner who will hold an auction at an auction venue. For example, a venue owner who wishes to hold an auction at a venue owned by him / herself as the auction venue sends venue owner registration application information, including his / her name, representative name, trade name / company name, telephone number, desired password, venue name, email address, commission (hereinafter, "selling commission") that determines the commission amount (the amount obtained by multiplying the successful bid price by the commission amount to be paid by the seller) to be paid by the seller when the auctioned item is sold, and a copy of the secondhand goods market owner license, to the administrator of the auction device 1 (S21 in FIG. 7). When the administrator of the auction device 1 receives the venue owner registration application information, the administrator records the venue owner registration applicant's information, such as the name, representative name, trade name / company name, telephone number, and selling commission, and an image of the attached secondhand goods market owner license in the storage 7c. Next, the administrator checks whether the venue owner registration applicant has a secondhand goods market owner license based on the copy of the secondhand goods market owner license. If the venue owner registration applicant has a secondhand goods market owner's license, the applicant is registered as a venue owner who can hold an auction. During registration, a membership number and password for logging in as a venue owner to the auction site provided by the auction device 1 are generated, and the generated membership number and password are linked to the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, venue name, email address, sales commission, and the like of the venue owner registration applicant (venue owner of the auction) and recorded in the storage 7c (S22). Then, the administrator of the auction device 1 sends the membership number and password to the venue owner of the registered auction (S23). For example, the membership number and password required to log in to the auction site are sent to the email address of the venue owner of the registered auction. By receiving the membership number and password, the venue owner can log in to the auction site from the venue owner terminal V. This series of processes is repeatedly executed every time venue owner registration application information is sent to the administrator of the auction device 1.

[0045] In the process of FIG. 8, the venue owner who hosts the auction logs in to the auction site using the venue owner terminal V, and distributes live video of the auction held at the auction venue to the participant terminals P. The venue owner who hosts the auction accesses the login page (FIG. 5B) of the auction site using the venue owner terminal V, enters his / her membership number and password, and logs in to the auction site. Then, the venue owner terminal V transmits the login information of the membership number and password to the auction device 1 (S31 in FIG. 8). When the auction device 1 receives the login information, it checks whether the venue owner has the login qualification by, for example, referring to the data recorded in the storage 7c based on the received login information. If the result of the reference shows that the venue owner is recorded in the storage 7c as the venue owner of the registered auction, it is determined that the venue owner has the login qualification (S32: Yes in FIG. 8) and the login from the venue owner terminal V is permitted (S33 in FIG. 8). If the venue owner does not have the login qualification (S32: No in FIG. 8), the login is rejected and a message is displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V indicating that the entered membership number and password are incorrect, and the page is returned to the login page (S34 in FIG. 8). When login is permitted in S33 of FIG. 8, a management screen page (see FIG. 9 and FIG. 10) for managing the auction is displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V. The displayed management screen page differs depending on the bidding method of the auction. The management screen is operated using the mouse, keyboard, etc. of the venue owner terminal V, and the venue owner who manages the auction manages the auction by operating the management screen in accordance with the progress of the auction at the auction venue. For example, FIG. 9 shows a management screen when an auction is held using a bidding method in which it is possible to bid by submitting an amount that is increased any number of times over the current price (hereinafter referred to as the "added bid method"). Also, FIG. 10 shows a management screen when an auction is held using a bidding method in which auction participants can submit a bid price only once (the bid amount cannot be increased after bidding) (hereinafter referred to as the "one-shot bid method").

[0046] Here, the management screen page of FIG. 9 will be described in detail. The management screen of FIG. 9 is a management screen for conducting an auction using the top-up bidding method. On the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V, an operation display section OC for controlling the distribution of the auction, etc., a plurality of input forms related to the items to be auctioned, etc., and operation buttons for controlling the start of the auction, etc. are displayed. The operation display section OC comprises an auction distribution display section OC1, a distribution start button OC2, a bid change button CH, and a logout button OC3. The words "Auction distribution" are displayed on the auction distribution display section OC1 to indicate that the screen of FIG. 9 is a screen for distributing the auction. As input forms, from the top, a date form F1 for inputting the date of the auction and a venue name form F2 for inputting the name of the venue where the auction will be held are displayed. Below that are displayed an auction number form F3 for inputting the auction number, a seller number form F4 for inputting the seller number of the item to be auctioned, an item name form F5 for inputting the name of the item to be auctioned, a quantity form F6 for inputting the quantity of the item to be auctioned, a starting price form F7 for inputting the starting bid price for the item to be auctioned, and a buyer number form F8 for inputting the successful bidder in the auction. Operation buttons include, from the top, a start button OP1, a sell out light button OP2, a tentative confirmation button OP3, a contract / confirmation button OP4, a resume button OP5, and a flow OP6.

[0047] The start button OP1 is a button for starting an auction. When the start button OP1 is clicked on the venue owner terminal V, a start signal is transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1, and a start signal is transmitted from the auction device 1 to each participant terminal P. Then, each participant terminal P becomes able to place a bid on the item being auctioned. The sell-out light button OP2 is a button for notifying participants that the item being auctioned will be sold out in the ongoing auction. When the bid price of the item being auctioned is equal to or higher than the minimum selling price (for example, a price set in advance by the seller of the item being auctioned), the sell-out light button OP2 is clicked on the venue owner terminal V. Then, a sell-out signal is transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1, and a sell-out signal is transmitted from the auction device 1 to each participant terminal P. Then, each participant terminal P is notified that the item being auctioned will be sold out in the ongoing auction. The provisional confirmation button OP3 is a button for provisionally confirming the successful bidder of the item being auctioned. When the provisional confirmation button OP3 is clicked, a provisional confirmation signal, which is a provisional confirmation request, is transmitted to the auction device 1. Then, the provisional confirmation signal is transmitted from the auction device 1 to each participant terminal P, and bidding is prohibited from each participant terminal P. The contract / confirmation button OP4 is a button for confirming the successful bidder of the item being auctioned. When the contract / confirmation button OP4 is clicked, a contract / confirmation signal is transmitted to the auction device 1, and the contract / confirmation signal is transmitted from the auction device 1 to each participant terminal P. Then, each participant terminal P is notified that the successful bidder has been confirmed. The resume button OP5 is a button for returning the state in which the successful bidder has been provisionally confirmed and bidding from each participant terminal P is prohibited to a state in which bidding can be made again. When the resume button OP5 is clicked, a resume signal, which is a resume request, is transmitted to the auction device 1. Then, the auction device 1 transmits a resume signal to each participant terminal P, and bidding operations from each participant terminal P are enabled again. The flow button OP6 is a button for confirming the flow of bidding of the item being auctioned. When the cancel button OP6 is clicked, a cancel signal is transmitted to the auction apparatus 1. Then, the cancel signal is transmitted from the auction apparatus 1 to each participant terminal P, notifying each participant terminal P of the cancelled bid.

[0048] When the distribution start button OC2 on the management screen page of FIG. 9 is clicked, a distribution request signal is transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1, and a setting screen (not shown) for the camera 8 and microphone 9 of the venue owner terminal V opens, allowing the user to select the camera 8 and microphone 9 for distributing live video of the auction venue. When the camera 8 and microphone 9 are selected on the setting screen (not shown), the video and audio of the auction venue input from the camera 8 and microphone 9 of the venue owner terminal V are transmitted to the auction device 1 through the venue owner terminal V. When the auction device 1 receives the video and audio transmitted from the venue owner terminal V, it distributes the video and audio of the auction venue to each participant terminal P that is logged in and has requested to receive the live video. In addition to the video of the auction venue, the auction device 1 distributes a display screen having an operation unit including operation buttons for bidding from the participant terminal P and a display unit including the current price of the auction item. In FIG. 6, the video unit 11a of the participant terminal P displays the video of the auction venue (not shown in FIG. 6) as well as the operation buttons for bidding and the current price of the auction item.

[0049] Returning to the management screen of FIG. 9, when the change bid button CH located at the top is clicked, a setting request signal (change request signal) for the bidding method is transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1. When the auction device 1 receives the setting request signal transmitted from the venue owner terminal V, it transmits the management screen shown in FIG. 10 to the venue owner terminal V and updates the management screen of FIG. 9 to the management screen of FIG. 10. The management screen of FIG. 10 is a management screen for conducting an auction using the one-shot bid method. The management screen of FIG. 10 will be described below, but the same reference numerals will be used to denote the same components as those of the management screen of FIG. 9 and the description will be omitted. The display 10 of the venue owner terminal V displays an operation display section OC, a plurality of input forms related to the items to be auctioned, and operation buttons for operating the start of the auction. The operation display section OC includes an auction distribution display section OC1, a distribution start button OC2, a change bid button CH, and a logout button OC3. As input forms, a date form F1 and a venue name form F2 are displayed from the top. Below that, there are displayed an auction number form F3, a seller number form F4, an item name form F5, a quantity form F6, a check box CB1 to be checked if the auctioned item is subject to the reduced tax rate (checking the check box generates a report reflecting the reduced tax rate), a clearance price form F9 to input the minimum selling price of the item to be auctioned (for example, a price preset by the seller of the item to be auctioned), a successful bidder display form F11 to display the successful bidder in the immediately preceding auction, and a comment display form CB2 to display comments entered from the participant terminal P for a fixed period of time (for example, 10 seconds). Operation buttons include, from the left, a start button OP1, a bid closing button OP7, and a cancel button OP8. The bid closing button OP7 is a button that notifies the user of the closing of the bid and ends the auction of the item being auctioned. When the bid closing button OP7 is clicked, a confirmation request signal, which is a request for a process to confirm the successful bidder, is transmitted to the auction device 1, and a bid closing signal is transmitted from the auction device 1 to each participant terminal P.Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, a countdown CD (for example, a 5-second countdown display) is displayed on each participant terminal P to notify the closing of bidding, and when the countdown ends, a notification is given such as confirmation of the successful bidder, confirmation of the bid failure (if the bid price is lower than the minimum selling price), or confirmation of a re-auction (if the highest bid price is equal to or higher than the minimum selling price and there are multiple bids at the highest bid price) depending on the bidding situation. Returning to FIG. 10, the cancel button OP8 on the management screen is a button for canceling the auction started by the start button OP1. For example, this button is operated when it is necessary to restart the auction for some reason. When the cancel button OP8 is clicked, a cancel signal is transmitted to the auction device 1. Then, the auction device 1 transmits a cancel signal to each participant terminal P. Then, for example, a display is displayed on each participant terminal P to the effect that the ongoing auction has been canceled, and bidding from each participant terminal P is prohibited. Furthermore, when the auction apparatus 1 receives a cancel signal from the venue owner terminal V, it updates the management screen shown in Fig. 10 displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V, and may, for example, clear the contents of each input form, or may return to the state immediately before the start button OP1 was clicked. This makes it possible to restart the auction on the venue owner terminal V.

[0050] Next, a detailed description will be given of the web page displayed on the participant terminal P receiving the live video of the auction venue. Fig. 6 shows the web page displayed on the participant terminal P when an auction using the added bidding method is held. The participant terminal P displays a video section 11a that displays live video of the auction, a first display section 11b that displays the status of the auction such as the current price promotion of the items being auctioned and also displays buttons for performing operations related to the auction, and a second display section 11c that displays buttons for performing operations such as receiving the live video of the auction.

[0051] The video section 11a displays a live video of the auction being held at the auction venue (displayed if a request for live video distribution has been made), and the bottom end of the video section 11a is provided with a comment input field C1 and a post button C2. When a participant enters text into the comment input field C1 from a participant terminal P and clicks the post button C2, a comment signal is transmitted to the auction device 1. Upon receiving the comment signal, the auction device 1 distributes to each participant terminal P a video in which comments C3 flowing from right to left are superimposed on the live video of the auction so that the comment entered into the comment input field C1 can be viewed. Through the video section 11a of each participant terminal P, participants can check the comments C3 entered by themselves and other participants in the comment input field C1.

[0052] The first display section 11b is equipped with, from the top, a participant ID display section D1, a comment ON button B3, a comment OFF button B4, a bid button B5, a watch button B6, an auction number display section D2, an item name display section D3, a current price PR display section D4, a sold out display section D5, a rights display section D6, and a bid button B7.

[0053] The ID display section D1 displays identification information for identifying a participant participating in the auction from the participant terminal P. The comment ON button B3 and the comment OFF button B4 are buttons for opening and closing the comment input field C1 and controlling the display and non-display of the comment C3 displayed in the video section 11a. When the comment ON button B3 is clicked, the comment ON button B3 is lit, and the comment input field C1 and the post button C2 of the video section 11a are displayed on the screen of the video section 11a, and the comment C3 input from the participant's own or another participant terminal P is displayed on the screen of the video section 11a. On the other hand, when the comment OFF button B4 is clicked, the comment ON button B3 is turned off and the comment OFF button B4 is lit, and the comment input field C1 and the post button C2 of the video section 11a are closed and no longer displayed in the video section 11a, and the comments input from other participant terminals P are no longer displayed in the video section 11a.

[0054] The bid button B5 and the observe button B6 are buttons that permit or prohibit bidding operations in the auction. The bid button B5 is a button that permits clicking of the bid button B7. When the bid button B5 is clicked, the bid button B5 lights up and the bid button B7 can be clicked. The observe button B6 is a button that prohibits clicking of the bid button B7. When the observe button B6 is clicked, the observe button B6 lights up, the bid button B7 goes out, and the bid button B7 cannot be clicked.

[0055] Display unit D2 displays the number (bid number) of the auction being broadcast live. Display unit D3 displays the name of the item being auctioned. Display unit D4 displays the current price PR of the item being auctioned. Selling limit display unit D5 displays to notify that the item being auctioned will be sold out in the ongoing auction. When the current price PR on display unit D4 becomes equal to or exceeds the minimum selling price (for example, a price set in advance by the seller of the item being auctioned), selling limit display unit D5 lights up to notify that the item being auctioned will be sold out in the ongoing auction. Rights display unit D6 displays to notify whether or not you have the right to win the item being auctioned. Bid button B7 is a button for placing a bid on the item being auctioned.

[0056] The second display section 11c is provided with, from the left, an ID display section D7, a live video reception button B2, an automatic login cancel button B8, and a logout button B9. The ID display section D7 displays identification information for identifying a participant participating in the auction from a participant terminal P. The live video reception button B2 is a button for receiving live video and the like distributed from the auction venue where the auction is live-streamed. When the live video reception button B2 is clicked, live video and the like are distributed from the venue owner terminal V which is live-streaming the auction venue to the video section 11a of the first display section 11b. The automatic login cancel button B8 is a button for canceling the automatic login setting when logging in to the auction site.

[0057] Next, the buttons and displays shown in Fig. 6 will be specifically described through the process in which a participant who has accessed the web page in Fig. 6 participates in the live-streamed auction and wins a bid on an auctioned item. When a live video of the auction, etc. is streamed from the auction device 1 to the participant terminal P, the participant participates in the auction while watching the items, etc. displayed on the video section 11a. When the watch button B6 is lit on the participant terminal P, the bid button B7 cannot be clicked, so to make a bid, the participant clicks the bid button B5, etc., and then clicks the bid button B7 on the participant terminal P while the bid button B5 is lit.

[0058] When the bid button B7 is clicked, a bid signal is transmitted from the participant terminal P to the auction device 1. When the auction device 1 receives the bid signal, it updates the current price PR of the item being auctioned and distributes the updated current price PR to each participant terminal P. For example, if the current price PR at the time of receiving the bid signal is less than 5000 yen, the current price PR plus 500 yen is distributed as the updated current price PR. If the current price PR is 5000 yen or more, the current price PR plus 1000 yen is distributed as the updated current price PR. Then, the display unit D4 of the first display unit 11b of each participant terminal P displays the updated current price PR according to the bid from each participant terminal P. If the updated current price PR becomes equal to or exceeds the minimum selling price of the item being auctioned, the sold out display unit D5 lights up, and it is notified that the item being auctioned will be sold out in the ongoing auction. Also, in the participant terminal P that transmitted the bid button B7, the right display unit D6 lights up, and it is notified that there is a right to win the bid at the present time. When the bid button B7 is clicked on another participant terminal P and a bid signal is transmitted to the auction device 1, the auction device 1 transmits a signal to turn off the right display unit D6 to the participant terminal P that transmitted the previous bid signal, and the right display unit D6 turns off. Also, the right display unit D6 turns on on the first display unit 11b of the participant terminal P that made the latest bid. In this way, each participant terminal P makes a bid, and when a successful bidder is finally determined, a confirmation signal is transmitted to the participant terminal P through the auction device 1, and the successful bidder's identification number "XX successful bid" is displayed over the live video on the video unit 11a, notifying the determination of the successful bidder. On the other hand, when the current price PR does not reach the saleable amount and the bid is confirmed as not being successful, the word "success" is displayed over the live video, notifying the determination of the successful bid.

[0059] In the above, the web page (FIG. 6) displayed on the participant terminal P when an auction using the added bid method is held is described. Next, referring to FIG. 11, the web page displayed on the participant terminal P when an auction using the one-shot bid method is held is described. In the web page of FIG. 11, the same components as those in the web page of FIG. 6 are denoted with the same reference numerals and will not be described. The participant terminal P displays a video section 11a, a first display section 11b' which displays information about the item being auctioned and also displays buttons for performing operations related to the auction, and a second display section 11c. From the top, the first display section 11b' includes a signal display section SG which flashes at the start of the auction to notify the start of the auction, a comment ON button B3, a comment OFF button B4, a display section D2 for the auction number (on the right side of the display section D2, if the seller of the auction number is a taxable business operator, "taxable business operator" is displayed, and if the seller is a non-taxable business operator, "non-taxable business operator" is displayed), a display section D3 for the name of the item, a bid price form F10 in which the bid price can be input, and a bid button B7'. The bid price form F10 is a bid price input form for bidding on an item put up for auction. A participant operates the participant terminal P to freely input a desired bid price in the bid price form F10 (in FIG. 11 and other figures, the last two digits are preset to 00 and cannot be changed, but the last two digits may be made changeable). An upper or lower limit may be set for the bid price that can be input. The bid button B7' is a button for bidding on the item being auctioned at the bid price input in the bid price form F10. When the bid button B7' is clicked, a first bid signal is transmitted to the auction device 1, and a pop-up is displayed for final confirmation of whether or not to place a bid at the bid price input in the bid price form F10, as shown in FIG. 13. This pop-up display has a button for confirming the bid and a button for canceling the bid. When the confirm button is clicked, a second bid signal for placing a bid at the bid price input in the bid price form F10 is transmitted to the auction device 1. The auction apparatus 1 performs a bidding process, which will be described later, in response to the transmitted first and second bid signals.When the cancel button is clicked on the pop-up of FIG. 13, the screen returns to the screen in FIG. 11 on which the bid price form F10 was entered, and the bid price entered in the bid price form F10 can be modified.

[0060] Next, each button shown in FIG. 11 will be specifically described through a flow in which a participant who has accessed the web page in FIG. 11 participates in a live-streamed auction and wins a bid for an item put up for auction. When a live video of the auction is streamed from the auction device 1 to the participant terminal P, the participant participates in the auction while watching the items displayed on the video section 11a. FIG. 11 also has a comment input field C1 as in FIG. 6, but when the auction device 1 receives a comment signal from the participant terminal P, it streams the comment input form CB2 of the management screen of the venue owner terminal V shown in FIG. 10 to the venue owner terminal V so that the comment input form CB2 will display the comment input from the participant terminal P for a certain period of time (for example, 10 seconds). This allows the venue owner to check the comments displayed on the venue owner terminal V for a certain period of time, and prevents the venue owner from missing a comment. Also, for example, when multiple comments are sent within a few seconds, the comment input form CB2 may be configured to display a certain number of comments (for example, three comments) so that multiple comments can be checked at the same time.

[0061] When bidding in the auction becomes possible, the participant inputs a desired bid price in the bid price form F10 of FIG. 11 on the participant terminal P and clicks the Bid button B7'. When the Bid button B7' is clicked, a first bid signal is transmitted from the participant terminal P to the auction device 1. When the auction device 1 receives the first bid signal, it distributes a pop-up display shown in FIG. 13 to the participant terminal P (the participant terminal P that transmitted the first bid signal) to confirm whether it is OK to confirm the bid at the price input in the bid price form F10. When the Confirm button on the pop-up display is clicked on the participant terminal P, a second bid signal is transmitted from the participant terminal P to the auction device 1. When the auction device 1 receives the second bid signal, it records the bid price input by the participant terminal P in the storage 7c in association with the participant terminal P that transmitted the second bid signal or the participant identification information corresponding to the participant terminal P. For example, if the bid price entered in the bid price form F10 as shown in FIG. 13 is 3000 yen, the bid price of 3000 yen is recorded in the storage 7c in association with the participant terminal P that transmitted the bid price and the participant identification information of the participant terminal P. In addition, in the auction device 1, a bid confirmation signal is transmitted from the auction device 1 to the participant terminal P that transmitted the second bid signal, and further bidding from the participant terminal P that transmitted the second bid signal is prohibited. In this manner, bidding is made from each participant terminal P. Then, when the bidding is closed, the auction device 1 executes a process to confirm the successful bidder. If the successful bidder can be confirmed, a confirmation signal of the successful bidder is transmitted from the auction device 1 to the participant terminal P, and the identification number of the successful bidder is displayed, for example, as "XXth Bid Winner" so as to be superimposed on the live video on the video section 11a, to notify that the successful bidder has been confirmed. On the other hand, if the highest bid does not reach the saleable price (the price entered in the sell-through price form F9 in Figure 10) and the bid is confirmed as not successful, the word "Not successful" is displayed over the live video to notify the user that the bid has been confirmed as not successful. Also, if the highest bid is equal to or exceeds the saleable price, but there are multiple bids at the same highest bid, a re-auction is confirmed and the word "Re-auction" is displayed over the live video to notify the user that a re-auction has been confirmed.

[0062] Next, the buttons on the management screens of Figs. 9 and 10 displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V will be explained through the flow of managing an auction using the venue owner terminal V that broadcasts the auction live. First, the management screen of Fig. 9 will be explained. The management screen of Fig. 9 is a management screen for implementing an auction using the top-up bidding method. When starting this auction at the auction venue, the date is selected from the pull-down menu of the date form F1 in Fig. 9, the venue name is selected from the pull-down menu of the venue name form F2, and the seller who will be conducting the auction is selected from the pull-down menu of the seller number form F4. The seller is selected from those who are registered in advance as participants in Fig. 2. Then, the name of the item to be put up for auction is entered in the item name form F5, the quantity of the item to be put up for auction is entered in the quantity form F6, and the starting price of the item to be put up for auction is entered in the starting price form F7, and the start button OP1 is clicked. Then, together with a start signal (auction start request), the information (item information) entered in each form is transmitted to the auction device 1, and information such as the current price PR is displayed on each participant terminal P that has received a delivery request from the auction device 1 (see FIG. 6). For example, when the auction device 1 receives the auction number and item name transmitted from the venue owner terminal V, the auction device 1 displays the auction number and item name transmitted from the venue owner terminal V on the auction number display section D2 and item name display section D3 in FIG. 6 of each participant terminal P that has logged in and requested to receive live video. Then, bidding from each participant terminal P becomes possible. When the venue owner confirms that the current price PR of the item being auctioned has reached the minimum selling price due to the bid from the participant terminal P, the venue owner clicks the sell-out light button OP2. Then, a sell-out light signal is transmitted to the auction device 1, and the sell-out display section D5 (FIG. 6) is turned on in each participant terminal P. Also, when the current price PR of the item being auctioned stops rising, the venue owner clicks the provisional confirmation button OP3 in FIG. 9. Then, a provisional confirmation signal is transmitted to the auction apparatus 1, and bidding operations are prohibited from each participant terminal P. If the current price PR rises immediately before clicking the provisional confirmation button OP3, the venue owner clicks the resume button OP5.Then, a restart signal is sent to the auction device 1, bidding becomes possible from each participant terminal P, and bidding resumes from each participant terminal P. Finally, the venue owner clicks the Settlement / Confirmation button OP4 or Cancellation button OP6, and a confirmation signal (end request) is sent from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1, and the end of the auction (confirmation of the successful bidder or confirmation of cancellation of the bid) is notified to each participant terminal P, and the auction ends.

[0063] The process in FIG. 14 is a process in which the auction device 1 provides an auction service using the top-up bidding method on the Internet. When the auction device 1 receives a request signal for distribution of live video of the auction venue from the venue owner terminal V logged in to the auction site (S41: Yes), in S42 the auction device 1 transmits the live video transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the participant terminal P (the participant terminal P that has logged in to the auction site and has requested distribution). Next, when the auction device 1 receives an auction start signal (auction start request) transmitted from the venue owner terminal V (S43: Yes), the auction device 1 transmits auction information (information entered in the auction number form F3, the item name form F5, and the starting price form F7 in FIG. 9) to the participant terminal P and permits bids from each participant terminal P participating in the auction (S44). Note that if the auction start signal (auction start request) is not received in S43 (S43: No), the process returns to S43. When bidding from each participant terminal P is permitted in S44, in S45 the auction device 1 checks whether a bid signal that is a bid request has been transmitted from the participant terminal P. When the auction device 1 receives a bid signal (S45: Yes), it updates the current price PR by adding a certain amount to the current price PR of the item being auctioned (S46). Then, it notifies the updated current price PR to the participant terminals P participating in the auction (updates the current price PR displayed on each participant terminal P). If no bid signal is transmitted from the participant terminal P in S45, the process proceeds to S48. In S48, it checks whether a provisional confirmation signal (a signal notifying the provisional confirmation of the successful bidder) is received from the venue owner terminal V. If the provisional confirmation signal is not received (S48: No), the process returns to S45, and if the provisional confirmation signal is received, the process proceeds to S49. In S49, the auction device 1 prohibits bidding from each participant terminal P participating in the auction, and proceeds to S50. In S50, it checks whether a resume signal (a signal to resume prohibited bidding) is received from the venue owner terminal V. If a resume signal is received (S50: Yes), the process returns to S45.If a resume signal has not been received (S50: No), the process proceeds to S51, where it is confirmed whether a confirmation signal (a signal confirming the successful bidder or the cancelled bid) has been received from the venue owner terminal V. If a confirmation signal has not been received (S51: No), the process returns to S50, and if a confirmation signal has been received (S51: Yes), the process proceeds to S52. In S52, the auction device 1 notifies each participant terminal P participating in the auction that the auction has been confirmed (displays a message on each participant terminal P notifying them that the successful bidder or the cancelled bid has been confirmed). Then, in S53, form data is created that the successful bidder and seller can view, print, download, etc. from the auction site, and the process ends.

[0064] Next, the management screen of FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 10 shows a management screen for carrying out an auction using the one-shot bidding method. When starting this auction at the auction venue, the user selects the date from the pull-down menu of the date form F1 in FIG. 10, selects the venue name from the pull-down menu of the venue name form F2, and selects the seller who will be conducting the auction from the pull-down menu of the seller number form F4. The seller is selected from those who are pre-registered as participants in FIG. 2. Then, the user enters the name of the item to be put up for auction in the item name form F5 (and checks the check box CB1 if the item to be put up for auction is subject to the reduced tax rate), the quantity of the item to be put up for auction in the quantity form F6, and the minimum selling price of the item to be put up for auction (for example, a price previously set by the seller of the item) in the clearance price form F9, and clicks the start button OP1. Then, the information entered in each form (item information) is transmitted to the auction device 1 together with a start signal (a request to start the auction), and information such as the auction number and item name is displayed on each participant terminal P that has been requested to receive the information from the auction device 1 (see FIG. 11). Then, bidding from each participant terminal P becomes possible. When a comment is input from the participant terminal P, the comment input from the participant terminal P is displayed for a certain period of time in the comment input form CB2 in FIG. 10, and the venue owner proceeds with the auction while checking the comment. For example, after securing time for each participant terminal P to bid, the venue owner notifies each participant terminal P that the bid deadline is approaching by using a voice or the like live-streamed from the auction venue, and clicks the bid closing button OP7 in FIG. 10. Then, a confirmation request signal is transmitted to the auction device 1, and the auction device 1 executes a bid closing process. First, in the video unit 11a of each participant terminal P, for example, a countdown CD notifying the bid deadline as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. Then, when the countdown CD ends, bidding operations from each participant terminal P are prohibited. Furthermore, when the auction device 1 prohibits bidding operations from each participant terminal P, it executes a process to end the auction, notifying each participant terminal P of the end of the auction (determination of the successful bidder, determination of the cancelled bid, or determination of a re-auction), and the auction ends.For example, when determining a successful bidder, the auction apparatus 1 determines as the successful bidder the participant corresponding to the participant terminal P (or participant identification information) associated with the highest bid price among the bid prices of the item being auctioned that are recorded in the storage 7c. Then, information on the determined successful bidder is distributed to each participant terminal P and also to the venue owner terminal V, and the successful bidder is displayed in the previous successful bidder form F11 in Fig. 10. The previous successful bidder form F11 is displayed until the next auction ends, making it easy to manage the information on the successful bidder.

[0065] The process in FIG. 15 is a process in which the auction device 1 provides an auction service of a one-shot bidding method on the Internet. When the auction device 1 receives a signal requesting distribution of a live video of the auction site from the venue owner terminal V logged in to the auction site (S61: Yes), the auction device 1 transmits the live video transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the participant terminal P (the participant terminal P that has logged in to the auction site and has requested distribution) in S62. Next, when the auction device 1 receives an auction start signal (auction start request) transmitted from the venue owner terminal V (S63: Yes), the auction device 1 transmits auction information (information entered in the auction number form F3 and the item name form F5 in FIG. 10) to the participant terminal P and permits bids from each participant terminal P participating in the auction (S64). The auction device 1 also records the sell-out price entered in the sell-out price form F9 in FIG. 10 in the storage 7c. Note that if the auction start signal (auction start request) is not received in S63 (S63: No), the process returns to S63. When bidding from each participant terminal P is permitted in S64, in S65, it is confirmed whether a cancellation signal to cancel the started auction has been sent from the venue owner terminal V. If a cancellation signal has been received (S65: Yes), the process returns to S62, and if a cancellation signal has not been received, the process proceeds to S66. In S66, it is confirmed whether a bidding signal including bidding information such as a bid price and a participant terminal P (or participant identification information linked to the participant terminal P) that transmits the bid price has been transmitted from the participant terminal P. When the auction device 1 receives a bidding signal (S66: Yes), it performs bidding processing depending on whether the received bidding signal is a first bidding signal or a second bidding signal. When the auction device 1 receives the first bidding signal, it distributes a pop-up display to the participant terminal P (the participant terminal P that transmitted the first bidding signal) to confirm whether the bid should be confirmed with the input bid price. When the auction device 1 receives the second bidding signal, it records the bid price of the item being auctioned in the storage 7c in association with the participant terminal P (or participant identification information linked to the participant terminal P) that transmitted the bid price.Then, the recorded bid price is prohibited from being distributed to other participant terminals P than the participant terminal P that transmitted the bid price, and a bid confirmation signal is transmitted from the auction device 1 to the participant terminal P that transmitted the second bid signal, prohibiting subsequent bids from that participant terminal P (S67), and proceeding to S68. The auction device 1 prohibits the distribution of information on the bid price transmitted by the participant terminal P to other participant terminals P, but may distribute or prohibit the distribution of information other than the bid price (e.g., information such as the number of bids and the name of the bidder). In S68, it is confirmed whether a confirmation request signal (a signal transmitted when the bid close button OP7 in FIG. 10 is clicked) that is a request for processing to confirm the successful bidder is received from the venue owner terminal V. If the confirmation request signal has not been received (S68: No), the process returns to S65, and if the confirmation request signal has been received, the process proceeds to S69. In S69, the auction device 1 notifies each participant terminal P participating in the auction of the bid close. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, a countdown CD is displayed for several seconds on each participant terminal P. When the countdown CD display ends, the auction apparatus 1 prohibits bidding from each participant terminal (S70) and proceeds to the auction end process of S71. In S71, it is determined whether the highest bid price is equal to or higher than the sell-off price based on the highest bid price and the clearance price (the price entered in the clearance price form F9 in FIG. 10) of the item being auctioned recorded in the storage 7c as shown in FIG. 16. If the highest bid price is less than the clearance price (S81: No), it proceeds to S82, where it displays a notice to each participant terminal P that the bid has been cancelled. If the highest bid price is equal to or higher than the clearance price (S81: Yes), it proceeds to S83. In S83, it is determined whether there are multiple bids with the highest bid price recorded in the storage 7c. If multiple participant terminals P have made bids with the same highest bid price (S83: Yes), it proceeds to S84, where it executes the process of restarting the auction (S84). Specifically, the auction device 1 displays to each participant terminal P participating in the auction that the highest bid prices have become the same (that there were multiple highest bid prices) and that a re-auction will be held (that the auction will be held again), and then returns to S63 in FIG. 14.As a result, all participants re-auction the item being auctioned. Returning to S83 in FIG. 16, if there is only one bid at the highest bid price (S83: No), proceed to S85. In S85, the participant corresponding to the participant terminal P (or participant identification information) linked to the highest bid price recorded in the storage 7c of the auction device 1 is confirmed as the successful bidder, and a display is displayed to notify each participant terminal P participating in the auction that the successful bidder has been confirmed. After completing the process in S85, proceed to S72 in FIG. 14, where form data is created that the successful bidder and seller can view, print, download, etc. from the auction site, and the process ends.

[0066] Next, a method of using the auction site provided by the auction device 1 will be described. An auction participant accesses a pre-specified web page (FIG. 3) and registers as a member. Specifically, the participant enters the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, etc. in the input form, attaches an image of a secondhand goods dealer license (not shown in FIG. 3), and clicks the send button. Then, the member registration application information such as the name of the member registration applicant is transmitted to the auction device 1. When the auction device 1 receives the member registration application information, it records each information of the member registration applicant such as the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, and the attached image of the secondhand goods dealer license in the storage 7c. The administrator of the auction device 1 is also notified that the member registration application has been submitted. The administrator checks each information entered in the input form and the secondhand goods dealer license, and confirms whether the member registration applicant has a secondhand goods dealer license. If the applicant for membership registration has a secondhand goods dealer license, the applicant is registered as a participant who can participate in the auction, and a membership number and password for logging in to the auction site are generated. The generated membership number and password are linked to the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, etc. of the applicant for membership registration (auction participant) and recorded in the storage 7c. Then, login information (membership number and password) is sent to the registered auction participant by email or the like. Participants who receive the login information can log in to the auction system. The administrator of the auction device 1 also records information about the venue owner who holds the auction in the storage 7c in the same way as the participants. Specifically, the administrator records information about the venue owner, such as the name, representative name, trade name, company name, telephone number, venue name, email address, and sales commission, as well as an image of a copy of the secondhand goods market owner license in the storage 7c.

[0067] Then, when the date and time for the auction arrives, the participant accesses the login page (FIG. 5A) of the auction site on the participant terminal P. The participant then enters his / her membership number and password, and clicks the "Participate in the auction" button B1 to log in. If the login is successful, the auction page shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 11 is displayed on the display unit 11 of the participant terminal P, depending on the bidding method set by the auction venue owner.

[0068] In addition, the venue owner who will be holding the auction also accesses the login page of the auction site on the venue owner terminal V before holding the auction. Then, he / she enters his / her membership number and password to log in. When logging in, for example, the venue owner can set (select) the bidding method for the auction to be held by using the bidding method setting buttons B10 and B11 as shown in FIG. 5B. For example, when the venue owner selects the bidding method setting button B10 and successfully logs in, the management screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V. Similarly, when the venue owner selects the bidding method setting button B11 and successfully logs in, the management screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V. First, the description will be given based on the management screen shown in FIG. 9. On the management screen, the venue owner confirms that the market name entered in the venue name form F2 is his / her venue, and also confirms that the camera 8 and microphone 9 of the venue owner terminal V can capture video and audio of the auction venue, and if there are no problems, clicks the distribution start button OC2. This makes it possible to distribute live video and audio of the auction venue to the participant terminals P. When actually starting an auction at the auction site, the participant enters the date form F1, item name form F5, quantity form F6, starting price form F7, etc. on the management screen page, selects the seller number of the seller of the item to be auctioned from the pull-down menu, and clicks the start button OP1. This causes information such as the item name and auction number to be auctioned to be distributed to the participant terminal P. Then, bidding operations become possible from each participant terminal P participating in the auction. Based on the signal of the auctioneer (a signal to start the auction) that is distributed live, participants can bid on the items being auctioned by pressing the bid button B7 (FIG. 6) displayed on the participant terminal P. When the auction starts, the participant terminal P displays live video of the actual auction being held at the auction site on the video section 11a, as well as the current price PR of the items being auctioned. Participants can click the bid button B7 as necessary while watching the live video and current price PR to bid on the items they want.For example, if the current price is less than 5000 yen, when the bid button B7 is clicked, the current price PR plus 500 yen is displayed as the new current price PR on the display D4 of each participant terminal P. Also, if the current price is 5000 yen or more, when the bid button B7 is clicked, the current price plus 1000 yen becomes the new current price PR. Bids are made in this way, and when the current price PR reaches the sellable amount (a price preset by the seller of the item being auctioned), the sell-out light button OP2 is clicked on the management screen page (FIG. 9) of the venue owner terminal V. Then, the sell-out display D5 (FIG. 6) displayed on each participant terminal P is lit up via the auction device 1 from the venue owner terminal V. This allows the participant to confirm that the item being auctioned will be sold out in the ongoing auction. 6 is clicked on the participant terminal P, the right display section D6 lights up, providing that the sold out display section D5 is lit, and the participant is notified that he or she has the right to bid on the item being auctioned. If the bid button B7 is then clicked from another participant terminal P, the lit right display section D6 goes out. Also, when the current price PR stops bidding up, the venue owner clicks the provisional confirmation button OP3 on the management screen page (FIG. 9) on the venue owner terminal V. This will prohibit bidding operations from each participant terminal P via the auction device 1 from the venue owner terminal V, and the participant who made the last bid will be provisionally confirmed as the successful bidder.

[0069] If the current price PR rises just before clicking the provisional confirmation button OP3, the user clicks the resume button OP5 on the venue owner terminal V, and the bidding operation from each participant terminal P is permitted via the auction device 1 from the venue owner terminal V, and the auction is resumed. Then, when the current price PR stops rising, the user clicks the provisional confirmation button OP3 again, and if the price did not rise just before clicking, the user clicks the contract / confirm button OP4. Then, "XXth bid successful" is displayed on the live video displayed on the participant terminal P via the auction device 1 from the venue owner terminal V, notifying the participant that the successful bidder has been confirmed, and the current auction ends. Note that in the auction, if the current price PR does not reach the saleable amount at the point when the current price PR stops rising completely, the user clicks the flow button OP6 on the management screen page (FIG. 9) of the venue owner terminal V. Then, "flow" is displayed on the live video displayed on the video unit 11a of the participant terminal P from the venue owner terminal V via the auction device 1, notifying the participant that the bid has been cancelled, and the current auction ends. Once one auction is over, the same procedure is followed for the next auction.

[0070] Furthermore, by clicking the change bid button CH shown in FIG. 9 on the venue owner terminal V, for example, between auctions, the auction can be changed to a one-shot bid auction, and the management screen is updated from FIG. 9 to FIG. 10. When the change bid button CH is clicked, a bidding method setting request signal (change request signal) is transmitted to the auction device 1. Then, the auction device 1 updates the screen to be distributed to the participant terminal P, for example, from the top-up bidding method screen shown in FIG. 6 to the one-shot bidding method screen shown in FIG. 11. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the venue owner logs in, if the bidding method setting button B11 is selected and the login is successful, the management screen page shown in FIG. 10 is also displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner terminal V.

[0071] The venue owner confirms that the market name entered in the venue name form F2 on the management screen of FIG. 10 is his venue, and if the auction has not yet started, checks whether the camera 8 and microphone 9 of the venue owner terminal V can capture images and sounds of the auction venue, and if there are no problems, clicks the distribution start button OC2. This enables live images and sounds of the auction venue to be distributed to the participant terminals P. If the auction has already started and the bidding method has been changed by clicking the bid change button CH, his venue is automatically entered in the venue name form F2, and images and sounds of the auction venue continue to be distributed to each participant terminal P without clicking the distribution start button OC2 (the same applies when changing to the management screen of FIG. 9 by clicking the bid change button CH on the management screen of FIG. 10). Then, when actually starting an auction at the auction venue, he enters the date form F1, item name form F5, quantity form F6, and sell-out price form F9 on the management screen of FIG. 10, selects the seller number of the seller of the item to be auctioned from the pull-down menu, and clicks the start button OP1. As a result, item information such as the name of the item to be auctioned and the auction number is distributed to the participant terminal P. Then, bidding can be performed from each participant terminal P participating in the auction. Based on the auctioneer's signal (the signal to start the auction) that is distributed live, participants can enter their desired bid price in the bidding price form F10 of FIG. 11 displayed on the participant terminal P and then bid on the item being auctioned by pressing the bid button B7'. When the auction begins, live footage of the actual auction taking place at the auction venue is displayed on the video section 11a of the participant terminal P, along with the names of the items being auctioned. Based on the live footage and the auctioneer's announcements, participants can enter their desired bid price in the bidding price form F10 as necessary and click the bid button B7'.For example, if the amount entered in the bid price form F10 is 3000 yen, a pop-up for final confirmation as to whether or not to confirm the bid of 3000 yen is displayed as shown in FIG. 13. When the Confirm button is clicked, the entered bid price is transmitted to the auction device 1 in association with the participant terminal P (or the participant identification information of the participant terminal P) that transmitted the bid price. Every time a bid price is transmitted from the participant terminal P, the auction device 1 records the transmitted bid price in association with the participant terminal P or the participant identification information of the participant terminal P. Furthermore, the auction device 1 prohibits the bid price transmitted from the participant terminal P from being distributed to other participant terminals P. However, the participant terminal P may distribute its own bid price input to that participant terminal P. Furthermore, a participant terminal P that has already submitted a bid is also prohibited from bidding again (modifying the bid amount). After the participant has ensured that there is sufficient time for the participant to input the bid price on the participant terminal P, the venue owner clicks the bid close button OP7 on the management screen (FIG. 10) on the venue owner terminal V. 12, a countdown CD is displayed via the auction device 1 from the venue owner terminal V to notify the closing of bidding, and when the countdown ends, bidding operations from each participant terminal P are prohibited. Then, in the auction device 1, depending on the bid price transmitted from each participant terminal P recorded in the storage 7c, a message such as "XXth bid successful" is displayed on top of the live video displayed on the participant terminal P to confirm the successful bidder, or a message indicating that a bid that did not reach the clearance price was not received, or a message indicating that a re-auction will be held with the highest successful bid of the same price is displayed, and the current auction ends. When one auction ends, the next auction is repeated following the same procedure.

[0072] In an auction using the top-up bidding method shown on the management screen in FIG. 9, when the Success / Confirm button OP4 is clicked on the venue owner terminal V and the auction device 1 receives a signal indicating that the Success / Confirm button OP4 has been clicked on the venue owner terminal V, documents for the seller and buyer of the successful item are created based on the successful bid price (latest current price PR), the buying commission stored in the storage 7c, and the venue owner's selling commission (the selling commission of the venue owner currently conducting the auction). In the one-shot auction shown in the management screen of Fig. 10, when the bid close button OP7 is clicked on the venue owner terminal V and the auction apparatus 1 receives a signal indicating that the bid close button OP7 has been clicked on the venue owner terminal V, if the highest bid price in the bid prices for the items stored in storage 7c is equal to or higher than the price entered in the sell-out price form F9 in Fig. 10 and there is only one highest bid price, then the highest bid price is set as the successful bid price, and based on the buying commission stored in storage 7c and the venue owner's selling commission (the selling commission of the venue owner currently conducting the auction), a seller's and a buyer's document for the successful item is created. On the other hand, if the auction ends in a failure to bid, no buyer's or seller's documents are created.

[0073] After the successful bid is confirmed, the buyer transfers the payment amount shown on the slip to, for example, the company that manages the auction site, while the company that manages the auction site pays the successful bid amount (the total amount of all successful bids) in a lump sum to the venue owner who held the auction, and the venue owner pays each seller the successful bid price minus the selling commission (the successful bid price multiplied by the selling commission). This completes the transaction at the auction.

[0074] The auction device 1 accepts input of a bid price from one or more participant terminals P through a bid price form F10 shown in FIG. 11. The auction device 1 records the accepted bid price in the storage 7c in association with the participant terminal P that input the bid price and the participant identification information corresponding to the participant terminal P. If the highest bid price among the bid prices of the auction item recorded in the storage 7c is equal to or higher than the sell-out price and is a single bid, the auction device 1 confirms the participant corresponding to the participant terminal P associated with the highest bid price as the successful bidder. The auction device 1 also prohibits information on the bid price input at the participant terminal P from being distributed to other participant terminals P. Specifically, the auction device 1 prohibits information on the bid price input at the participant terminal P from being distributed to other participant terminals P at least until the auction device 1 accepts a confirmation request signal transmitted by clicking the bid close button OP7 at the venue owner terminal V on the management screen in FIG. 10. Therefore, participants in the auction must make bids without knowing the bid prices of others, and there is a possibility that the bid price may rise depending on the participants' willingness to purchase the item, which can increase the successful bid price and prevent participants from losing interest. After the auction device 1 receives the confirmation request signal, the auction device 1 may distribute, for example, the highest bid price (successful bid amount) to each participant terminal P together with confirming the successful bidder.

[0075] Furthermore, the auction device 1 accepts a bid request for an item with a bid price equal to the current price of the item plus a markup amount by operating the bid button B7 shown in Fig. 6, and can also accept bids using a bidding method in which the bid price can be freely set, as shown in Fig. 11. In the case of the single bidding method, the person who inputs the highest bid price is determined as the successful bidder, and in the case of the markup bidding method, the participant corresponding to the participant terminal P whose bid request was last received by the auction device 1 is determined as the successful bidder. Thus, in addition to the method of auctioning using the single bidding method, a successful bidder can also be determined when using the markup bidding method, and an auction in which a successful bidder can be determined using multiple bidding methods can be held.

[0076] Also, as shown in the management screens of Figures 9 and 10 displayed on the display 10 of the venue owner's terminal V, the venue owner can change from the single bidding method to the increased bidding method or vice versa by clicking the bid change button CH according to his / her wishes. Also, as shown in Figure 5B, when the venue owner logs in, he / she can set the bidding method by clicking the bidding method setting buttons B10, B11, which set the method for holding the auction. Thus, the bidding method for the auction can be changed according to the venue owner's selection (setting). Therefore, for example, it is possible to select the auction method based on the wishes of the venue owner or the sellers who will be putting items up for auction, and the bidding method can be selected each time according to the items being sold.

[0077] Furthermore, when the auction device 1 receives a confirmation request signal from the venue owner terminal V (when the bid closing button OP7 is clicked in FIG. 10), it distributes a countdown CD notifying the bid closing to the participant terminals P as shown in FIG. 12, and after the distribution, the auction device 1 confirms the successful bidder. This notifies the participants of the bid closing and makes it possible to encourage participants who are undecided about bidding or bidding price to bid, thereby improving the successful bid price and preventing participants from losing interest. When the successful bidder is confirmed after the bid closing notification, if there are multiple bids with the highest bid price, the auction device 1 displays on each participant terminal P participating in the auction that the highest bid prices are now the same (that there were multiple highest bid prices) and that a re-auction (a re-auction) will be held. This causes all participants to re-auction the item being auctioned, which increases interest and leads to an increase in the successful bid price.

[0078] In the above, an example was described in which when an auction participant accesses the login page of the auction site with the participant terminal P and logs in, the auction page shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 11 is displayed on the display unit 11 of the participant terminal P. In the auction device 1, when an auction participant logs in, the time when the login was permitted is recorded in the storage 7c in association with the participant terminal P (or the participant identification information of the participant terminal P) that was permitted to log in. Then, if the participant terminal P that was permitted to log in based on the time recorded in the storage 7c has not logged in for a predetermined period, a guide for selecting a method for picking up an item when the item is won in the auction may be displayed on the participant terminal P as shown in FIG. 17. This makes it possible to prompt the participant to select a method for picking up the item that was won in the auction. As the predetermined period that is the basis for displaying the guide, for example, when logging in for the first time on the day the auction is held, the guide may be displayed. Note that the contents displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 17 may be set from a management screen as shown in FIG. 18. Furthermore, it may be possible to display a list of methods for picking up items won at auction, as shown in FIG. 19, and to upload a separate invoice for shipping charges for items won at auction, as shown in FIG. 20.

[0079] Here, the correspondence between this embodiment and the wording in the claims will be explained. The auction device 1 of this embodiment corresponds to the "auction device", and the storage 7c corresponds to the "recording unit". The function of the control unit 7 to permit the participant terminal P to log in to the auction site corresponds to the "first reception unit". The function of the control unit 7 to permit the venue owner terminal V to log in to the auction site corresponds to the "second reception unit". In the venue owner terminal V, the listing information regarding the item entered in the item name form F5, etc. in FIG. 10 is transmitted, and the control unit 7 receives (accepts) it corresponds to the "listing reception unit". In the venue owner terminal V, the start button OP1 in FIG. 10 is clicked, a start signal (auction start request) is transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1, and the control unit 7 accepts bids (bid signals) from each participant terminal P corresponds to the "bid reception unit". The function of the control unit 7 to control the distribution of bid information, such as the bid price, contained in the bid signal received by the control unit 7 to the participant terminal P corresponds to the "distribution control unit". The function of the control unit 7 to determine the successful bidder based on the bid signal corresponds to the "determination unit" or "determination processing unit." In the participant terminal P, the function of the control unit 7 to receive the bid information including the bid price inputted and transmitted in the bid price form F10 such as that shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to the "price receiving unit."

[0080] With regard to claim 2, the function of the control unit 7 to receive a bid signal (bid request) transmitted by operating the bid button B7 in Fig. 6 on the participant terminal P corresponds to a "second bid receiving unit." The function of the control unit 7 to determine a successful bidder based on the bid signal (bid request) transmitted by operating the bid button B7 in Fig. 6 corresponds to a "second determination unit."

[0081] Regarding claim 3, when the bidding method setting buttons B10, B11 in FIG. 5B or the bid change button CH in FIG. 9 or 10 is clicked on the venue owner terminal V, a bidding method setting request signal is transmitted to the auction device 1, and the control unit 7 receives the bidding method setting, this function corresponds to the "setting receiving unit."

[0082] Regarding claim 4, when the bid close button OP7 in FIG. 10 is clicked on the venue owner terminal V, a confirmation request signal is transmitted to the auction apparatus 1, and the countdown CD displayed by the control unit 7 on the participant terminal P as shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the "display notifying the bid close".

[0083] Regarding claim 5, the function of the control unit 7 displaying the guide shown in FIG. 17 to a participant terminal P that has not logged in for a predetermined period of time upon logging in corresponds to the "display unit."

[0084] Regarding claim 6, the function of the control unit 7 to accept comments (comment signals) from each participant terminal P corresponds to the "comment acceptance unit." Also, the function of the control unit 7 to distribute the accepted comments to the venue owner terminal V so that they are displayed for a certain period of time corresponds to the "comment distribution control unit."

[0085] Regarding claim 7, the auction device 1 corresponds to a "computer", and the communication program 7c1, distribution program 7c2, auction program 7c3, etc. that cause the auction device 1 to function as a server having an Internet auction function correspond to a "program".

[0086] Regarding claim 8, the auction device 1 corresponds to the "computer". In Fig. 2 and Fig. 7, the process of recording information on the participants and the venue owner corresponds to the "recording process". In Fig. 4, the process of permitting login from the participant terminal P corresponds to the "first reception process". In Fig. 8, the process of permitting login from the venue owner terminal V corresponds to the "second reception process". In the venue owner terminal V, the listing information on the items entered in the item name form F5, etc., in Fig. 10 is transmitted and the control unit 7 receives (receives) the information corresponds to the "listing reception process". In the venue owner terminal V, the start button OP1, etc., in Fig. 10 is clicked, a start signal is transmitted from the venue owner terminal V to the auction device 1, and the control unit 7 receives bids (bid signals) from each participant terminal P corresponds to the "bid reception process". The process in which the control unit 7 controls the distribution of bidding information, such as the bid price, contained in the bid signal received by the control unit 7 to the participant terminal P corresponds to the "distribution control process". The process in which the control unit 7 determines the successful bidder based on the bid signal corresponds to the "determination process". In the participant terminal P, a process in which the control unit 7 receives bid information including the bid price inputted into the bid price form F10 of FIG. 11 and transmitted is equivalent to a "price receiving process."

[0087] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the specific descriptions, and it is possible to implement the present invention by appropriately combining the exemplified configurations, etc., within a range that is not technically inconsistent, and it is also possible to implement the present invention by replacing certain elements and processes with well-known forms.

[0088] In the above, an example has been described in which when a participant terminal P places a bid in a one-shot bidding auction, the bid information of the bid price, which is input into the bid price form F10 in FIG. 11 and transmitted to the auction apparatus 1, is prohibited from being distributed to other participant terminals P. Instead of prohibiting the distribution of the bid price to other participant terminals P, the distribution of the bid price to other participant terminals P may be restricted. Specifically, when distributing the information of the bid price inputted at the participant terminal P to other participant terminals P, a restriction may be placed on the information that can be distributed, for example, in the bid price inputted at the participant terminal P, the last three digits may be permitted to be distributed to other participant terminals P, while the remaining digits may be prohibited from being distributed to other participant terminals P. Specifically, when a bid of 55,500 yen is made at the participant terminal P, information on the bid price, such as "????500 yen", may be distributed to other participant terminals P. According to this, because part of the information regarding the participant's bid price is distributed to the other participants, there is a possibility that the bid price may rise depending on the participant's willingness to purchase the item, which can increase the successful bid price and increase the interest of the participants. When limiting the information that can be distributed in this way, for example, it may be possible to allow the input of the bid price to be corrected only once or multiple times (several times), and after a predetermined number of corrections, the auction device 1 may prohibit the input of the bid price.

[0089] In the above, an example has been described in which when a bid is made by a participant terminal P in a one-shot bidding auction, the bid information of the bid price, which is input into the bid price form F10 in Fig. 11 and transmitted to the auction device 1, is prohibited or restricted from being distributed to other participant terminals P. The auction device 1 may distribute the bid price and number of bids transmitted to the venue owner terminal V, and display the input bid price and number of bids on the management screen (Fig. 10) of the venue owner terminal V. By checking the bid price and number of bids displayed on the management screen (Fig. 10), the venue owner and the auctioneer can liven up the auction and ensure that the auction proceeds smoothly.

[0090] The above-described example has been described in which the auction apparatus 1 can switch between the one-shot bidding method and the added bidding method. The number of bidding methods that can be switched or changed is not limited to two types, and may be three or more types.

[0091] In the above, an example has been shown in which live video of the auction venue input from the camera 8 and microphone 9 of the venue owner terminal V is distributed from the auction device 1 to each participant terminal P, and a display screen displaying the bid button B7, current price PR, etc. is also distributed to each participant terminal P. The display screen displaying the bid button B7 and current price PR, etc. may be distributed together with the live video of the auction, or the display screen may be distributed to the participant terminal P (participant terminal P logged in to the auction site) before the live video of the auction is distributed. In addition, when the start button OP1 is clicked on the management screen (FIGS. 9 and 10) of the venue owner terminal V, if the auction device 1 receives a start signal transmitted from the venue owner terminal V, the display screen may be distributed to each participant terminal P together with the auction number, item name, etc. transmitted from the venue owner terminal V.

[0092] In the above, an example was explained in which the amount added to the current price PR changes according to the current price PR when the Bid button B7 in Fig. 6 is clicked. The amount added and the reference value for switching the amount added (in the above, the amount added changes at 5,000 yen) may be set uniformly by the administrator of the auction site, or the amount added and the reference value for switching the amount added may be set for each venue owner. Also, the reference value for switching the amount is not limited to one, and two or more may be set.

[0093] In the above, an example was described in which the amount to be added to the current price PR is automatically set according to the current price PR when the bid button B7 in Fig. 6 is clicked. When the bid button B7 in Fig. 6 is clicked, a pop-up may be displayed with multiple options for the amount to be added (for example, multiple prices classified into grades such as 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 10,000 yen, etc.), allowing the user to select the amount to be added.

[0094] In the above, the auction device 1 has multiple bidding functions for the single-shot bidding method and the added-on bidding method, but the auction device 1 may be divided into multiple devices to distribute the auction functions for the single-shot bidding method and the added-on bidding method. In this case, for example, the auction site to be logged in for an auction using the single-shot bidding method and the auction site to be logged in for an auction using the added-on bidding method may be separated, and the auction functions may be provided on separate servers.

[0095] In the above, an example was explained in which the comment display form CB2 is provided only on the management screen shown in Fig. 10, but the comment display form CB2 may be provided on the management screen shown in Fig. 9. Similarly, the check box CB1 and previous successful bidder form F11 in Fig. 10 may be provided on the management screen shown in Fig. 9.

[0096] In the above, an example has been described in which the bid button B5 and the watch button B6 are provided only on the auction screen shown in FIG. 6, but the bid button B5 and the watch button B6 may also be provided on an auction screen using the one-shot bid method as shown in FIG. 11, etc.

[0097] 9 and 10, an example has been described in which the venue name is manually entered in the venue name form F2, but the venue name where the auction will be held may be registered as a schedule and automatically entered. Similarly, the auction number form F3 may be automatically incremented, or each form may be automatically filled in according to the progress of the auction, such as automatically filling in the item name form F5, quantity form F6, check box CB1, etc. according to the number in the auction number form F3.

[0098] In the above, an example in which the login screens for the host and the participants are separate has been described, but the login screen for both may be the same. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 1 Auction device 4 Communication unit 7 Control section 7c Storage 11 Display section 11a Video section (video screen) 11b 1st display section (display screen) 11c 2nd display section B7 Bid button (operation section) PR current price OP3 Tentative confirmation button OP4 Conclusion / confirmation button OP5 Resume button OP6 Flow button OP7 Bid Closing Button CH Bid Change Button S Auction system V Main terminal P Participant terminal B7´ Bid button (operation section)

Claims

1. a recording unit for recording participant identification information for identifying participants who can participate in the auction and venue owner identification information for identifying a venue owner who holds the auction; a first reception unit that, when receiving a first login request transmitted from the participant terminal of the participant, checks whether the participant identification information of the participant requesting the first login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the first login from the participant terminal if the participant identification information is recorded in the recording unit; a second reception unit that, upon receiving a second login request transmitted from the venue host terminal of the venue host, checks whether the venue host identification information of the venue host requesting the second login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the second login from the venue host terminal if the venue host identification information is recorded in the recording unit; an auction reception unit capable of receiving, when the second login is permitted by the second login, information on items to be auctioned at the auction from the venue owner terminal for which the second login is permitted; a bid receiving unit capable of receiving, when the bid receiving unit receives a start request transmitted from the venue owner terminal, which is a request to start the auction of the item for which the bid receiving unit has received the bid information, bids for the item from one or more of the participant terminals for which the first login is permitted; a distribution control unit that controls distribution of bid information regarding the bid accepted by the bid acceptance unit to the one or more participant terminals for which the first login is permitted; a confirmation unit that confirms a successful bidder for the item based on the bids from the one or more participant terminals; Equipped with The bid receiving unit, a price receiving unit that receives input of a bid price for the item from the one or more participant terminals; The recording unit is the bid price for the item accepted by the price acceptance unit is recorded in association with the participant terminal that input the bid price; The determination unit is a confirmation processing unit that, when receiving a confirmation request from the venue owner terminal, which is a request for processing to confirm the successful bidder, confirms, as the successful bidder, the participant corresponding to the participant terminal associated with the highest bid price among the bid prices of the item recorded in the recording unit; the distribution control unit restricts distribution of the bid price input by the participant terminal to other participant terminals with respect to the bid price included in the bid information received by the price receiving unit, at least until the confirmation processing unit receives the confirmation request; The auction device regulates such that some digits of the bid price input by the participant terminal are distributed to the other participant terminals, and distribution of digits other than some of the bid price to the other participant terminals is restricted at least until the confirmation processing unit accepts the confirmation request.

2. a comment receiving unit capable of receiving, when the commodity offering receiving unit receives the start request, input of a comment regarding the commodity offering from one or more of the participant terminals for which the first login is permitted; a comment distribution control unit that distributes the comments received by the comment receiving unit to the venue owner terminal so that the comments are displayed for a certain period of time; The auction apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:

3. Computer a recording unit for recording participant identification information for identifying participants who can participate in the auction and venue owner identification information for identifying a venue owner who holds the auction; a first reception unit that, when receiving a first login request transmitted from the participant terminal of the participant, checks whether the participant identification information of the participant requesting the first login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the first login from the participant terminal if the participant identification information is recorded in the recording unit; a second reception unit that, upon receiving a second login request transmitted from the venue host terminal of the venue host, checks whether the venue host identification information of the venue host requesting the second login is recorded in the recording unit, and permits the second login from the venue host terminal if the venue host identification information is recorded in the recording unit; an auction reception unit capable of receiving, when the second login is permitted by the second login, information on items to be auctioned at the auction from the venue owner terminal for which the second login is permitted; a bid receiving unit capable of receiving, when the bid receiving unit receives a start request transmitted from the venue owner terminal, which is a request to start the auction of the item for which the bid receiving unit has received the bid information, bids for the item from one or more of the participant terminals for which the first login is permitted; a distribution control unit that controls distribution of bid information regarding the bid accepted by the bid acceptance unit to the one or more participant terminals for which the first login is permitted; a confirmation unit that confirms a successful bidder for the item based on the bids from the one or more participant terminals; Equipped with The bid receiving unit, a price receiving unit that receives input of a bid price for the item from the one or more participant terminals; The recording unit is the bid price for the item accepted by the price acceptance unit is recorded in association with the participant terminal that input the bid price; The determination unit is a confirmation processing unit that, when receiving a confirmation request from the venue owner terminal, which is a request for processing to confirm the successful bidder, confirms, as the successful bidder, the participant corresponding to the participant terminal associated with the highest bid price among the bid prices of the item recorded in the recording unit; the distribution control unit restricts distribution of the bid price input by the participant terminal to other participant terminals with respect to the bid price included in the bid information received by the price receiving unit, at least until the confirmation processing unit receives the confirmation request; The regulation includes a program that functions to distribute some digits of the bid price entered by the participant's terminal to other participant terminals, and to regulate the distribution of other digits of the bid price to other participant terminals at least until the confirmation processing unit accepts the confirmation request.

4. 1. A computer-implemented auction method, comprising: a recording step of recording participant identification information for identifying participants who can participate in the auction and venue owner identification information for identifying a venue owner who holds the auction; a first reception step of, when receiving a first login request transmitted from the participant terminal of the participant, checking whether the participant identification information of the participant requesting the first login has been recorded in the recording step, and permitting the first login from the participant terminal if the participant identification information has been recorded in the recording step; a second acceptance step of, when receiving a request for a second login transmitted from the venue host terminal of the venue host, checking whether the venue host identification information of the venue host requesting the second login has been recorded in the recording step, and permitting the second login from the venue host terminal if the venue host identification information has been recorded in the recording step; an item receiving step for receiving, when the second login is permitted in the second receiving step, item information relating to items to be put up for auction from the venue owner terminal for which the second login is permitted; a bid receiving step for receiving a request to start the auction of the item for which the auction listing information was received in the item receiving step, the request being transmitted from the venue owner terminal and capable of receiving bids for the item from one or more of the participant terminals for which the first login is permitted; a distribution control step of controlling distribution of bid information regarding the bid accepted in the bid acceptance step to the one or more participant terminals for which the first login is permitted; determining a successful bidder for the item based on the bids from the one or more participant terminals; Equipped with The bid acceptance step includes: a price receiving step of receiving an input of a bid price for the item from the one or more participant terminals; The recording step includes: The bid price for the item accepted in the price acceptance step is recorded in association with the participant terminal at which the bid price was entered; The determining step includes: a confirmation processing step of, when a confirmation request which is a request for processing to confirm the successful bidder is received from the venue owner terminal, confirming as the successful bidder the participant corresponding to the participant terminal associated with the highest bid price among the bid prices of the item recorded in the recording step; the distribution control step restricts distribution of the bid price input by the participant terminal to other participant terminals with respect to the bid price included in the bid information received in the price receiving step, at least until the confirmation request is received in the confirmation processing step; The auction method includes the step of: distributing some digits of the bid price entered by the participant terminal to the other participant terminals; and restricting distribution of digits other than some of the bid price to the other participant terminals at least until the confirmation processing step accepts the confirmation request.

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