TARIFF GENERATION, INVOICING AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of supplying a tariff to a tariff recipient, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving one or more cost curves from one or more suppliers, each cost curve being indicative of variations in the cost of a product or service expected by a respective associated supplier over time;
b) receiving a load curve, the load curve being indicative of expected variations in consumption of the product or service over time;
c) calculating a tariff from the load curve received in step b) and the cost curve received in step a) in accordance with a predetermined algorithm; and
d) transmitting the tariff calculated in step c) to the tariff recipient.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method of supplying a tariff to a tariff recipient, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving one or more cost curves from one or more suppliers, each cost curve being indicative of variations in the cost of a product or service expected by a respective associated supplier over time; b) receiving a load curve, the load curve being indicative of expected o variations in consumption of the product or service over time; c) calculating a tariff from the load curve received in step b) and the >cost curve received in step a) in accordance with a predetermined algorithm; and d) transmitting the tariff calculated in step c) to the tariff recipient.
37 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of supplying a tariff to a tariff recipient, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving one or more cost curves from one or more suppliers, each cost curve being indicative of variations in the cost of a product or service expected by a respective associated supplier over time; b) receiving a load curve, the load curve being indicative of expected variations in consumption of the product or service over time; c) calculating a tariff from the load curve received in step b) and the cost curve received in step a) in accordance with a predetermined algorithm; and d) transmitting the tariff calculated in step c) to the tariff recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32)
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23. A computer implemented method of obtaining a tariff, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) transmitting a first load curve to a central processor, the first load curve being indicative of expected variations in consumption of a product or service expected over time; b) receiving a first tariff from the central processor, the first tariff being associated with the first load curve; c) transmitting a second load curve to the central processor, the second load curve being indicative of expected variations in consumption of the product or service over time; d) receiving a second tariff from the central processor, the second tariff being associated with the second load curve; e) selecting the first tariff or the second tariff; and f) transmitting a contract acceptance, the contract acceptance indicating which tariff has been accepted in step e).
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24. A computer implemented method of invoicing for the provision of a product or service, the method comprising:
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a) monitoring consumption of the product or service; b) invoicing in accordance with the monitored consumption and a tariff; c) calculating an expected profit value in accordance with the monitored consumption; d) calculating an actual profit value in accordance with the monitored consumption; e) making a surcharge if the expected profit value exceeds the actual profit value; and f) making a refund if the actual profit value exceeds the expected profit value. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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29. Apparatus for supplying a tariff to a tariff recipient, the apparatus comprising:
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e) means for receiving one or more cost curves from one or more suppliers, each cost curve being indicative of variations in the cost of a product or service expected by a respective associated supplier over time; f) means for receiving a load curve, the load curve being indicative of expected variations in consumption of the product or service over time; g) means for calculating a tariff from the received load curve and the received cost curve in accordance with a predetermined algorithm; and h) means for transmitting the calculated tariff to the tariff recipient.
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Specification