Method and system for dynamic pricing

• US 20070299790A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle OTC Subsidiary LLC (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Art Technology Group Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawaf, Tareef, Berkovitz, Joseph, Spiewak, Joshua, Mather, Graham, Mason, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A computer system and method for dynamic pricing is described. The system includes at least one dynamic calculator, which performs calculations based upon conditional rules.

Claims

1. A computer system for dynamic pricing of at least one item of an order comprising:

a pricing engine for making modifications to the price to be paid by a customer;

a price environment input to the pricing engine comprising customer information, order information, and item information; and

a price information output from the pricing engine comprising the price of the order and the price calculation history for all individual items in the order, the price calculation history including the calculations made and rules used to calculate the price of an item.

2. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising:

a price information input to the pricing engine, comprising the price of the order and the price calculation history for all individual items in the order including the calculations made and rules used to calculate the price of an item.

3. The computer system of claim 2 wherein, when the order changes, the rules input to the pricing engine are re-run to determine the new price of each item in the order.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the pricing engine further comprises:

at least one static calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item that are not conditional; and

at least one dynamic calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item based upon conditional rules.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the rules comprise a condition that must be satisfied for the at least one item to qualify for the discount and a target upon which to apply the discount.

6. A method for dynamic pricing of at least one item of an order comprising:

providing a pricing engine for making modifications to the price to be paid by a customer;

providing a price environment input to the pricing engine comprising customer information, order information, and item information; and

providing a price information output from the pricing engine comprising the price of the order and the price calculation history for all individual items in the order, the price calculation history including the calculations made and rules used to calculate the price of an item.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing a price information input to the pricing engine, comprising the price of the order and the price calculation history for all individual items in the order including the calculations made and rules used to calculate the price of an item.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, when the order changes, the rules input to the pricing engine are re-run to determine the new price of each item in the order.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of providing a pricing engine further comprises:

providing at least one static calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item that are not conditional; and

providing at least one dynamic calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item based upon conditional rules.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the rules comprise a condition that must be satisfied for the at least one item to qualify for the discount and a target upon which to apply the discount.

11. A computer system for dynamic pricing of at least one item of an order comprising:

a pricing engine for making modifications to the price to be paid by a customer;

a price environment input to the pricing engine comprising customer information, order information, and item information; and

a price output from the pricing engine.

12. The computer system of claim 11 further comprising:

a price input to the pricing engine.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the pricing engine further comprises:

at least one static calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item that are not conditional; and

at least one dynamic calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item based upon conditional rules.

14. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the rules comprise a condition that must be satisfied for the at least one item to qualify for the discount and a target upon which to apply the discount.

15. A method for dynamic pricing of at least one item of an order comprising:

providing a pricing engine for making modifications to the price to be paid by a customer;

providing a price environment input to the pricing engine comprising customer information, order information, and item information; and

providing a price output from the pricing engine.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing a price input to the pricing engine.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing a pricing engine further comprises:

providing at least one static calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item that are not conditional; and

providing at least one dynamic calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item based upon conditional rules.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the rules comprise a condition that must be satisfied for the at least one item to qualify for the discount and a target upon which to apply the discount.

19. A computer system for dynamic pricing of at least one item of an order comprising:

a pricing engine for making modifications to the price to be paid by a customer; and

a price information output from the pricing engine comprising the price of the order and the price calculation history for all individual items in the order, the price calculation history including the calculations made and rules used to calculate the price of an item.

20. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising:

a price information input to the pricing engine, comprising the price of the order and the price calculation history for all individual items in the order including the calculations made and rules used to calculate the price of an item.

21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein, when the order changes, the rules input to the pricing engine are re-run to determine the new price of each item in the order.

22. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the pricing engine further comprises:

at least one static calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item that are not conditional; and

at least one dynamic calculator for making modifications to the price to be paid by the customer for the at least one item based upon conditional rules.

23. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the rules comprise a condition that must be satisfied for the at least one item to qualify for the discount and a target upon which to apply the discount.