Online auction propagation

Abstract

Some example embodiments include a method that includes generating an indication of a first item being auctioned in an online auction system. Responsive to locating an online auction in the online auction system for a second item having one or more attributes that exceed a matching threshold with the first item, the method includes associating the first item with the located online auction using the generated indication of the first item. Also, after the online auction for the second item ends and in response to determining a bid of a junior bidder and data about the junior bidder satisfy a set of one or more conditions for sale of the first item, the method includes notifying the junior bidder in the online auction of the first item in the online auction system, wherein the junior bidder is junior to a winning bidder in the online auction for the second item.

1 . A method comprising:
 generating an indication of a first item being auctioned in an online auction system;   responsive to locating an online auction in the online auction system for a second item having one or more attributes that exceed a matching threshold with the first item,
 associating the first item with the located online auction using the generated indication of the first item; and 
 after the online auction for the second item ends and in response to determining a bid of a junior bidder and data about the junior bidder satisfy a set of one or more conditions for sale of the first item,
 notifying the junior bidder in the online auction of the first item in the online auction system, wherein the junior bidder is junior to a winning bidder in the online auction for the second item. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining whether a set of one or more conditions for the online auction are acceptable for the first item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising prioritizing the first item against other items having the one or more attributes that exceed the matching threshold relative to the second item. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first item and the second item are selected from a set consisting essentially of a good and a service. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said locating comprises searching through online auction listings for an online auction for an item that is at least similar to the first item. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said associating comprises:
 recording the indication of the first item with the located online auction; and   supplying an indication of the located online auction to a seller of the first item.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said notifying comprises publishing information to the junior bidder that identifies one or more differences between the first item and the second item. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for performing an online auction, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising a computer usable program code configured to:
 generate an indication of a first item being auctioned in an online auction system; 
 locate the online auction in the online auction system for a second item having one or more attributes that exceed a matching threshold with the first item; 
 associate the first item with the located online auction using the generated indication of the first item; and 
 after the online auction for the second item ends and in response to determining a bid of a junior bidder and data about the junior bidder satisfy a set of one or more conditions for sale of the first item,
 notify a junior bidder in the online auction of the first item in the online auction system, wherein the junior bidder is junior to a winning bidder in the online auction for the second item. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer usable program code is configured to:
 determine whether a set of one or more conditions for the online auction are acceptable for the first item.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer usable program code is configured to prioritize the first item against other items having the one or more attributes that exceed the matching threshold relative to the second item. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the first item and the second item are selected from a set consisting essentially of a good and a service. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein as part of the locate of the online auction, the computer usable program code is configured to search through online auction listings for an online auction for an item that is at least similar to the first item. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein as part of the associate of the first item, the computer usable program code is configured to:
 record the indication of the first item with the located online auction; and   supply an indication of the located online auction to a seller of the first item.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein as part of the notify, the computer usable program code is configured to publish information to the junior bidder that identifies one or more differences between the first item and the second item. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a module executable on the processor, the module configured to,
 generate an indication of a first item being auctioned in an online auction system; 
 responsive to locating an online auction in the online auction system for a second item having one or more attributes that exceed a matching threshold with the first item,
 associate the first item with the located online auction using the generated indication of the first item; and 
 after the online auction for the second item ends and in response to a determination that a bid of a junior bidder and data about the junior bidder satisfy a set of one or more conditions for sale of the first item,
 notify the junior bidder in the online auction of the first item in the online auction system, wherein the junior bidder is junior to a winning bidder in the online auction for the second item. 
 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the module is configured to determine whether a set of one or more conditions for the online auction are acceptable for the first item. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the module is configured to prioritize the first item against other items having the one or more attributes that exceed the matching threshold relative to the second item. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first item and the second item are selected from a set consisting essentially of a good and a service. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein as part of said locating the module is configured to search through online auction listings for an online auction for an item that is at least similar to the first item. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein as part of said associating the module is configured to:
 record the indication of the first item with the located online auction; and   supply an indication of the located online auction to a seller of the first item.