User interface for a rules engine and methods therefor

• US 20040210541A1
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Roehrs, Louis, Epstien, Jeremy, Clair, William Le, Venkatraman, Krishna, Richards, James
• Application Number:
  US10/429,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

The present invention provides an efficient and user friendly rules user interface with screen shots that can prompt and guide a relatively inexperienced user through the process of defining and inputting valid rules and rule attributes into a price optimization system. In one embodiment, the valid rules and associated rule attributes are stored in a composite map of the rules user interface. The screen shots present choices of valid rules and rule attributes in the form of pull down menus. Upon the selection of a rule type from a predetermined menu of valid rule types stored in a composite map, the user interface presents a set of at least one rule attribute from the composite map which is consistent with the selected rule type. State machines assure that only valid transitions are made for a given set of rule attributes and also automatically readjust the rule attribute choices displayed on screenshots of the user interface if a previous attribute or state becomes invalid due the selection of another attribute.

Claims

1. A method for defining rules useful in association with a rules engine of a price optimization system, comprising:

selecting a rule from a plurality of rules types;

selecting an attribute consistent with the rule type;

providing at least one valid choice for the attribute to the user; and

inputting the at least one valid choice into the rules engine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rule is a competitive rule.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the attribute is a price bound.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the price bound is an upper bound.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the price bound is a lower bound.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the price bound is an absolute bound.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the price bound is a relative bound.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the relative bound is a percentage bound.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the rule is one of a price rule, a volume rule, a gross margin rule, a size rule and a brand rule.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rule types are presented in a pull down menu.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one valid choice of for the attribute is presented in a pull down menu.