Method and system for adjusting a close time of an auction

Abstract

A method and system for adjusting a close time of an auction includes monitoring the bidding activity during an auction for an item within a predetermined time interval and adjusting a closing time of the auction depending upon the bidding activity within the predetermined time interval.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method to conduct an electronic auction, the method including: 
 monitoring bidding activity during an auction for a particular item within a predetermined time interval; and    adjusting a closing time of the auction depending upon the bidding activity within the predetermined time interval.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring includes determining whether new bids are received for the item within the predetermined time interval.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the closing time includes shortening a bidding period.  
     
     
         4 . An electronic auction system, comprising: 
 a manager monitoring bidding activity during an auction for an item, the manager to adjust a closing time of the auction depending on the bidding activity within a predetermined time interval.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the manager is to adjust closing time of the auction by shortening a bidding period.  
     
     
         6 . A method to conduct an electronic auction, the method including: 
 at an electronic auction system, determining whether new bids for a particular item are received within a predetermined time interval, and if not, closing the electronic auction for the particular item.    
     
     
         7 . A machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause one or more machines to perform a method to conduct an electronic auction, the method including: 
 monitoring bidding activity during an auction for a particular item within a predetermined time interval; and    adjusting a closing time of the auction depending upon the bidding activity within the predetermined time interval.    
     
     
         8 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the monitoring includes determining whether new bids are received for the item within the predetermined time interval.  
     
     
         9 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the adjusting of the closing time includes shortening a bidding period.  
     
     
         10 . An electronic auction system, comprising: 
 manager means for monitoring the bidding activity during an auction for an item, the manager means for adjusting a closing time of the auction depending on the bidding activity within a predetermined time interval; and    storage means for storing the closing time of the auction.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the manager means is for adjusting the closing time of the auction by shortening a bidding period.  
     
     
         12 . A machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause one or more machines to perform a method to conduct an electronic auction, the method including: 
 at an electronic auction system, determining whether new bids for a particular item are received within a predetermined time interval, and if not, closing the electronic auction for the particular item.