Method and system for determining marginal values for use in a revenue management system
First Claim
1. A method using a computer for determining marginal values for perishable resources, comprising the steps of:
- loading data for the perishable resources and composite resources from a perishable resource revenue management system into the marginal value system;
constructing internal data structures for linking each of the perishable resources to their associated composite resources and for linking each of the composite resources to their associated perishable resources;
determining the marginal values for the perishable resources using a continuous optimization function using interdependencies among the perishable resources and the composite resources in the internal data structures; and
storing the marginal values from the marginal value system into the perishable resource revenue management system.
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Abstract
A method and system for determining marginal values for perishable resources expiring at a future time, for example, an airline seat, hotel room night, rental car day or the like, for use in a perishable resource revenue management system. Data for the perishable resources and composite resources is loaded from the perishable resource revenue management system into the marginal value system. Internal data structures are constructed for linking each of the perishable resources to their associated composite resources and for linking each of the composite resources to their associated perishable resources. The marginal values for the perishable resources are determined using a continuous optimization function using interdependencies among the perishable resources and the composite resources in the internal data structures. The marginal values are stored from the marginal value system into the perishable resource revenue management system.
289 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method using a computer for determining marginal values for perishable resources, comprising the steps of:
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loading data for the perishable resources and composite resources from a perishable resource revenue management system into the marginal value system; constructing internal data structures for linking each of the perishable resources to their associated composite resources and for linking each of the composite resources to their associated perishable resources; determining the marginal values for the perishable resources using a continuous optimization function using interdependencies among the perishable resources and the composite resources in the internal data structures; and storing the marginal values from the marginal value system into the perishable resource revenue management system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computerized marginal value system for determining marginal values for perishable resources, comprising:
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means for loading data for the perishable resources and composite resources from a computerized perishable resource revenue management system into the computerized marginal value system; means for constructing internal data structures for linking each of the perishable resources to their associated composite resources and for linking each of the composite resources to their associated perishable resources; means for determining the marginal values for the perishable resources using a continuous optimization function using the perishable resources and the composite resources in the internal data structures; and means for storing the marginal values from the marginal value system into the perishable resource revenue management system.
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25. A method of producing a marginal value representing currency determined using a computerized marginal value system for use in a computerized perishable resource revenue management system for granting and denying a sale of one or more perishable resources expiring at a future time depending on marginal values for each of such perishable resources received from the computerized perishable resource revenue management system, comprising the steps of:
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loading data for the perishable resources, composite resources and a resource value from a computerized perishable resource revenue management system into the computerized marginal value system; constructing internal data structures for the perishable resources, composite resources and resource value; determining marginal values for the perishable resources using a continuous optimization function; and storing the marginal values from the computerized marginal value system into the computerized perishable resource revenue management system.
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26. A method using a computer for determining marginal values for perishable resources, comprising the steps of using the computer for:
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loading data for the perishable resources and composite resources from a perishable resource revenue management system into the marginal value system; constructing internal data structures for linking each of the perishable resources to their associated composite resources and for linking each of the composite resources to their associated perishable resources; evaluating a locally optimal marginal value for one of the perishable resources using a continuous optimization function dependent on the marginal values for the other perishable resources; and iteratively reevaluating the locally optimal marginal value until a globally optimal marginal value is attained for the one of the perishable resources. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A marginal value system for determining marginal values for perishable resources, comprising:
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computerized means for evaluating a locally optimal marginal value for one of the perishable resources using a continuous optimization function dependent on the marginal values for the other perishable resources; and computerized means for iteratively reevaluating the locally optimal marginal value until a globally optimal marginal value is attained for the one of the perishable resources.
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31. A method using a computer for determining marginal values for seats on flight leg departures departing on a future departure date, comprising the steps of:
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loading data for flight leg departures and flight path departures from an airline revenue management system into a marginal value system; constructing internal data structures for linking each of the flight leg departures to their associated flight path departures and for linking each of the flight path departures to their associated flight leg departures; determining the marginal values for seats on the flight leg departures using a continuous optimization function using interdependencies among the flight leg departures and the flight path departures in the internal data structures; and storing the marginal values from the marginal value system into the airline revenue management system. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A computerized marginal value system for determining marginal values for seats on flight leg departures departing on a future departure date comprising:
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means for loading data for flight leg departures and flight path departures from a computerized airline revenue management system into the computerized marginal value system; means for constructing internal data structures for linking each of the flight leg departures to their associated flight path departures and for linking each of the flight path departures to their associated flight leg departures; means for determining the marginal values for seats on the flight leg departures using a continuous optimization function using the flight leg departures and the flight path departures in the internal data structures; and means for storing the marginal values from the marginal value system into the computerized airline revenue management system.
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55. A method of producing a marginal value representing currency determined using a computerized marginal value system for use in conjunction with an airline reservations system for granting and denying a sale of seats on one or more flight leg departures departing on a future departure date depending on marginal values for seats on each of such flight leg departures received from a computerized airline revenue management system, the method comprising the steps of:
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loading data for flight leg departures, flight path departures and passenger value from the computerized airline revenue management system into the computerized marginal value system; constructing internal data structures for the flight leg departures, flight path departures and passenger value; determining marginal values for seats on the flight leg departures using a continuous optimization function; and storing the marginal values from the marginal value system into the computerized airline revenue management system.
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56. A method using a computer for determining marginal values for seats on flight leg departures departing on a future departure date, comprising the steps of using the computer for:
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loading data for flight leg departures and flight path departures from an airline revenue management system into the marginal value system; constructing internal data structures for linking each of the flight leg departures to associated flight path departures and for linking each of the flight path departures to their associated flight leg departures; evaluating a locally optimal marginal value for a seat on one of the flight leg departures using a continuous optimization function dependent on the marginal values for a seat on the other flight leg departures; and iteratively reevaluating the locally optimal marginal value until a globally optimal marginal value is attained for the seat on one of the flight leg departures. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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60. A marginal value system for determining marginal values for seats on flight leg departures departing on a future departure date, comprising:
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computer means for evaluating a locally optimal marginal value for a seat on one of the flight leg departures using a continuous optimization function dependent on the marginal values for a seat on the other flight leg departures; and computer means for iteratively re-evaluating the locally optimal marginal value until a globally optimal marginal value is attained for the seat on one of the flight leg departures.
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Specification