Inventory management system

• US 6,260,047 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxagrid International Limited
• Inventors: Mueller, Fred, Fox, Billy Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US09/143,586
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26-28, 705/1, 705/5, 705/8, 705/10, 705/14-15, 700/106, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/10, 707/100, 707/5, 707/6, 707/104, 707/501, 707/513, 707/103
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method for selecting an optimum time period from an inventory of available time periods, where each time period has a predetermined duration including selected and unselected time portions and an associated cost includes determining the total amount of time in each time period and the total amount of unselected time in each time period. A calculation is made for each time period to generate an inventory utilization index ratio based upon the total amount of time in each time period divided by the total amount of unselected time remaining in each time period. A table is prepared for all time periods in the inventory ranked numerically by the inventory utilization index ratio. A cost range is determined for each of the costs associated with each of the time periods. The table of time periods in the inventory is revised by removing time periods from the inventory which are not within the desired cost range. A time period is selected from the table based upon the ranking of the time period. Information related to the selected time period is stored as containing selected time in the time period inventory.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for selecting one or more of an inventory of available time periods, each time period or portion thereof having a cost associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a total amount of time in each time period;

(b) determining a total amount of unselected time remaining in each time period;

(c) calculating an inventory utilization index ratio for each time period as the total amount of time in each time period divided by total amount of unselected time remaining in each time period;

(d) preparing a table of time periods ranked numerically by the inventory utilization index ratios;

(e) determining a cost range or limit applicable to the time periods;

(f) limiting the table to time periods which are within the specified cost range or limit;

(g) selecting one or more time periods from the table; and

(h) storing the selected time periods as containing additional selected time in the time period inventory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (h) comprises maintaining the time period inventory as a machine-readable computer file on a storage medium.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeating steps (a) to (h) each time a request for time is received.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the time periods correspond to advertising time associated with media property programming.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (g) further comprises selecting a time period with the lowest inventory utilization index ratio.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the table includes an identifier of the media property offering each ranked time period, and time and date information for each ranked time period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the table comprises a computer-generated video display.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the time periods correspond to advertising time associated with a single media property.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the time periods correspond to advertising time associated with multiple media properties forming part of a common enterprise.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (g) further comprises selecting a time period with the lowest inventory utilization index ratio and which satisfies one or more additional criteria for the time period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises ranking the time periods from lowest to highest.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein step (d) further comprises ranking time periods having equal inventory utilization index ratios in order of greatest remaining capacity.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the storing means comprises a computer file storage medium.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means (a) to (g) further comprises a software program which performs the recited functions.

13. A computer-implemented method for selecting a time period corresponding to advertising time associated with media property programming from an inventory of available time periods, where each time period has a predetermined total capacity, including selected and unselected time portions, and an associated cost, comprising the steps of:

determining a total amount of time in each time period;

determining a total amount of unselected time within the unselected time portions of each time period;

determining a cost range or limit applicable to the time periods;

calculating an inventory utilization index ratio for each time period in the inventory based upon the total amount of time in each time period divided by the total amount of unselected time portions remaining in each time period;

generating a table of time periods for time periods in the inventory, ranked numerically by the inventory utilization index ratio for each time period and including only time periods within the selected cost range or limit;

selecting one or more time periods remaining in the table of time periods such that, other criteria being equal, a time period with the lowest inventory utilization ratio is selected; and

storing the selected time periods as containing additional selected time in the time period inventory.

14. A computer-implemented system for selecting one or more of an inventory of available time periods, each time period or portion thereof having a cost associated therewith, comprising:

(a) means for determining a total amount of time in each time period;

(b) means for determining a total amount of unselected time remaining in each time period;

(c) means for calculating an inventory utilization index ratio for each time period as the total amount of time in each time period divided by total amount of unselected time remaining in each time period;

(d) means for preparing a table of time periods ranked numerically by the inventory utilization index ratios;

(e) means for determining a cost range or limit applicable to the time periods;

(f) means for limiting the table to time periods which are within the specified cost range or limit;

(g) means for selecting one or more time periods from the table; and

(h) means for storing the selected time periods as containing additional selected time in the time period inventory.