The lot comprised a US patent as well as equivalents in Australia, Canada, the EPO and Japan. It was bought by John Amster of Intellectual Ventures, who outbid a number of other phone and in-person bidders.
The patent covers a broadcast system between a central computer and at least one end-user computer containing digital audio files. The invention could enable a retailer to integrate store announcements with background music, for example.
The seller and inventor is Thomas Krikorian.
At the same auction, a computer-based system for ordering tickets on the internet was sold to an anonymous absentee bidder for $1 million. The lot comprised a US patent issued in 2002 with a large number of foreign counterparts and was sold by Bellboy International.
The invention, by Norwegian Harald Øhrn, covers a computer-based system and method for ordering goods and services that connects a user terminal with service providers such as airlines, hotels or cinema box offices. By updating the central database immediately, it ensures that all users have access to the full information on availability.
There were more than 70 lots auctioned, though not all were sold on the day. Some narrowly failed to meet their reserve prices, and may be sold in post-auction negotiations.
E-commerce, computer and digital media technologies proved popular in the auction. A patent for incorporating a unique identifier into a computer peripheral (such as a mouse or keyboard) so that it can prompt a computer system to display a particular interface was sold for $750,000.
A patent for identifying and matching buyers and sellers to facilitate a binding contract sold for $650,000 while one for enabling viewers to store information about product placements in TV programmes fetched $540,000 after frenzied bidding.
A number of patents were sold in the $100,000 to $200,000 bracket. However, others were sold for prices as low as $10,000 and $15,000.
The auction, which also included a two-day conference, attracted some 500 buyers and observers. It was held at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago.
