Internal Auction System for E-Commerce Control and Automation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Businesses face limitations in controlling their auction processes and maximizing business information usage when relying on third-party auction providers, leading to loss of control over auction procedures and manual involvement in posting sales through conventional systems.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an internal auction system on a seller's e-commerce site, allowing for the creation, management, and publication of multiple auctions for various products, including serial, recurring, and varied sublot auctions, with integrated business information management systems to enhance control and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If third party auction providers are used, then access to large numbers of buyers and standardized auction platform is improved, but control over auction procedures and processes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to buyersVSAvoidcontrol over auction procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the auction functionality from third-party platforms and implements it within the seller's own e-commerce site. The system pulls auction capabilities from external providers and integrates them into the seller's controlled environment, allowing full customization without external constraints while maintaining access to buyers through the seller's existing website infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional auction system that can handle various auction types (fixed price, reserve price, starting price, incremental bidding) within a single integrated platform. The system combines multiple auction functionalities in one place, eliminating the need for separate third-party services while providing comprehensive control over all auction procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If third party auction services are used, then auction platform infrastructure is improved, but loss of control over auction format and procedures occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplatform infrastructureVSAvoidcontrol over auction format

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the auction infrastructure with the seller's existing e-commerce site infrastructure. By combining the auction system with the seller's website, database, and existing technical architecture, the system eliminates the need for separate third-party platform infrastructure while maintaining full control over auction formatting and procedures through integrated customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual involvement with Web auction service is required, then flexibility in auction configuration is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauction configuration flexibilityVSAvoidmanual involvement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service functionality where the system automatically retrieves product information from the seller's database and configures auction parameters without manual intervention. The system serves itself by automatically generating auction listings, managing bid processes, and handling transaction details, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual tasks while maintaining full configuration flexibility through programmable controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring auction templates and automatically preparing auction listings before they go live. The system pre-processes product information, sets default parameters, and prepares auction structures in advance, reducing the time needed for manual configuration and enabling rapid deployment of auctions with customized settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Extent of automation

If business information systems are integrated, then automation of auction processes is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauction process automationVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-functional integrated system where the auction module shares common infrastructure with the seller's existing e-commerce platform. By making the system universal and multi-functional, it reuses existing databases, user interfaces, and processing frameworks, thereby achieving high automation levels without proportionally increasing complexity through shared components and unified architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7895115B2Method and system for implementing multiple auctions for a product on a seller's E-commerce site

Publication Date: 2011.02.22 SAP SE

AI summary

An internal auction application may allow a seller to create a multiple auction for a plurality of products and allow a buyer to see and bid on the multiple auction as appropriate. The internal auction application may receive parameters for the multiple auction from the seller and an associated plurality of auctions may be determined for the multiple auction as a function of the parameters. The internal auction application may create and publish the multiple auction and the associated plurality of auctions on a seller's e-commerce site visible to the buyer. The multiple auction may be a serial multiple auction, a recurring multiple auction or a varied sublot multiple auction.