SYSTEMS AND METHODS ALLOCATING ITEMS AMONG AUCTION SITES TO MAXIMIZE PROFIT
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for allocating items to be sold at auction among a plurality of auction sites, the method performed on a server computer and comprising steps of:
- a. providing an inventory database storing information uniquely identifying a plurality of items and associating each of said items with a one of the plurality of available auction sites or a holding site as a current location;
b. providing a constraints database storing a first set of allocation constraints;
c. identifying for each of said items one or more of said available auction sites to which said item is available to be moved from its current location;
d. determining for each of said items an estimated profit value to be realized from each available move;
e. selecting an available move for one of said items that has a highest estimated profit value above a threshold value among available moves that are feasible under the set of allocation constraints;
f. re-estimating the estimated profit value for the remaining available moves of other ones of said items;
g. repeating steps e. and f. while the available moves for the other ones of said items have an estimated profit value above the threshold value and are feasible under the first set of allocation constraints;
h. allocating each of said items having a selected move to its associated location among the plurality of available auction sites and the holding site ; and
i. transmitting the identification information for each item having a selected move together with information identifying its associated allocated location to a client device.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for allocating vehicles to auction sites. An inventory database stores information uniquely identifying a plurality of items and associating each of the items with one of a plurality of available auction sites. Constraints relating to the movement of the items are stored in a constraints database. Items are identified which are available to be moved from a current location to one of the auction sites. A profit value is estimated for each available move. A move is identified for one item having a highest estimated profit above an identified threshold and meeting related constraints. This move is selected, and profits are reestimated for remaining items to be moved. The selection steps are repeated until no remaining available moves are feasible according to the threshold and constraints. Once all feasible moves have been selected, information associated with the items and moves is transmitted to a client device.
20 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for allocating items to be sold at auction among a plurality of auction sites, the method performed on a server computer and comprising steps of:
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a. providing an inventory database storing information uniquely identifying a plurality of items and associating each of said items with a one of the plurality of available auction sites or a holding site as a current location; b. providing a constraints database storing a first set of allocation constraints; c. identifying for each of said items one or more of said available auction sites to which said item is available to be moved from its current location; d. determining for each of said items an estimated profit value to be realized from each available move; e. selecting an available move for one of said items that has a highest estimated profit value above a threshold value among available moves that are feasible under the set of allocation constraints; f. re-estimating the estimated profit value for the remaining available moves of other ones of said items; g. repeating steps e. and f. while the available moves for the other ones of said items have an estimated profit value above the threshold value and are feasible under the first set of allocation constraints; h. allocating each of said items having a selected move to its associated location among the plurality of available auction sites and the holding site ; and i. transmitting the identification information for each item having a selected move together with information identifying its associated allocated location to a client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having computer-readable instructions embodied therein, the computer-readable instructions adapted to be executed by a server to implement a method for allocating items to be sold at auction among auction sites comprising the steps of:
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a. storing information uniquely identifying a plurality of items in an inventory database, and associating each of said items with a current of a plurality of available auction sites or a holding site as a current location; b. storing a first set of allocation constraints in a constraints database ; c. identifying for each of said items one or more of said available auction sites to which said item is available to be moved from its current location; d. determining for each of said items an estimated profit value to be realized from each available move; e. selecting an available move for one of said items that have a highest estimated profit value above a threshold value among available moves that are feasible under the set of allocation constraints; f. re-estimating the estimated profit value for the remaining available moves of other ones of said items; g. repeating steps e. and f. while the available moves for the other ones of said items have an estimated profit value above the threshold value and are feasible under the first set of allocation constraints; h. allocating each of said items having a selected move to its associated location among the plurality of available auction sites and the holding site ; and i. transmitting the identification information for each item having a selected move together with information identifying its associated allocated location over a secure link to a client device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer-implemented method for allocating one or more items to be sold at auction to one or more auction sites, the method comprising:
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storing information uniquely identifying the one or more items associated with the one or more auction sites; storing a first set of constraints; determining estimated profits obtained by moving the one or more items among the one or more auction sites, subject to the constraints; selecting ones of the moves for ones of the one or more items having a highest estimated profit value above a threshold value; allocating the one or more items among the one or more auction sites according to the selected moves; and transmitting information uniquely identifying the one or more items and the allocated auction sites to a client device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification