Optimal Design of Online Auction

In this paper, we first analyze the characteristics of online auction and propose a general analysis framework about the design of online auction. We believe that the auctions rules, the random arrival process of bidders, the auctions time, the lot size and the auctions costs need to be considered on Internet auctions. Based on the properties of online auction and a general analysis framework related to the design of online auction, then we present single-unit and multi-unit optimal auction models in order to maximize the seller' expected profits whether the reserve price is public or private respectively. In single-unit auction, when the sellers with public or private reserve price gain the maximal expected profit respectively, the optimal public reserve price is higher than the optimal private reserve price. In multi-unit auction, it is shown that the seller with private reserve price can gain the bigger profits than the seller with public reserve price. Finally, numerical results for two cases are given, where we compute the maximal expected total revenue. We show that the numerical results are consistent with the theoretical analysis.