Method and apparatus for analyzing and allocating resources of time-varying value using recursive lookahead
First Claim
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1. In a data management system, a method for matching at least one of many resources with at least one of many requests for time-variable resources in the presence of a plurality of offers of resources and a plurality of requests for resources, wherein it is initially assumed that many providers of said time-variable resources exist, said method comprising:
- a) initiating a sliding period for offering and requesting upon notification to said providers and to acquirers, said acquirers being sources of said requests;
b) providing, to an arbritator, a plurality of withdrawable offers of specific time-variable resources to be acquired during time intervals;
c) providing, to said arbitrator, a plurality of withdrawable requests for said specific resources;
d) upon a triggering event, terminating said sliding period for offering and requesting;
e) causing said arbitrator to create relationships among surviving offers of resources and surviving requests for said time-variable resources;
f) causing said arbitrator to apply a time-dependent cost minimization function to each one of said relationships in order to optimize matches between said offers with specific time-variable resources;
then g) outputting a settlement indication to each affected acquirer and to each affected corresponding provider upon a determination that a best match has been achieved for closure;
but in the event of failure of closure h) repeating steps a) through f) for a subsequent sliding period.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for continuously settling multi-sided competition for allocation of multi-attribute time-variable resources whose value that change over time or which expire if not allocated prior to a predetermined time, comprises applying a time-dependent cost optimization function to current and subsequent settlement periods. The invention is applicable to diverse fields, such as allocating professionals'"'"' time, competitive selling of perishable goods, allocating production capacity, and committing media space. The invention is useful in such fields as construction, information technology services, selling of perishable foods, production of electronic circuit boards, and selling of television advertisements.
64 Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a data management system, a method for matching at least one of many resources with at least one of many requests for time-variable resources in the presence of a plurality of offers of resources and a plurality of requests for resources, wherein it is initially assumed that many providers of said time-variable resources exist, said method comprising:
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a) initiating a sliding period for offering and requesting upon notification to said providers and to acquirers, said acquirers being sources of said requests;
b) providing, to an arbritator, a plurality of withdrawable offers of specific time-variable resources to be acquired during time intervals;
c) providing, to said arbitrator, a plurality of withdrawable requests for said specific resources;
d) upon a triggering event, terminating said sliding period for offering and requesting;
e) causing said arbitrator to create relationships among surviving offers of resources and surviving requests for said time-variable resources;
f) causing said arbitrator to apply a time-dependent cost minimization function to each one of said relationships in order to optimize matches between said offers with specific time-variable resources;
theng) outputting a settlement indication to each affected acquirer and to each affected corresponding provider upon a determination that a best match has been achieved for closure;
but in the event of failure of closureh) repeating steps a) through f) for a subsequent sliding period. - 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, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for matching at least one of many time-variable resources with at least one of many requests for time-variable resources in the presence of a plurality of offers of time-variable resources and a plurality of requests for time-variable resources, wherein it is initially assumed that many providers of said time-variable resources exist, said apparatus comprising:
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a communication system interconnecting a plurality of providers of time-variable resources and acquirers of time-variable resources;
a central control system including an arbitrator subsystem for controlling timing of communications, for administering a sliding period for said requests and said offers, and for processing computations relating to assignments and to arbitration of priority values relating to a plurality of withdrawable offers of specific time-variable resources a nd to a plurality of withdrawable requests for said specific time-variable resources, wherein said arbitrating subsystem is operative to create relationships among surviving requests and surviving resources, said relationships constituting candidates for matching, to assign to each said relationship a plurality of priority values, to evaluate collectively all relationships based on assigned priority values, and to apply a tailored time-dependent cost optimization function to each one of said relationships in order to optimize matches between said requests with specific ones of said resources, wherein said tailored time-dependent cost minimization functions are different for different types of competition among providers of resources; and
an output system for outputting an indication of successful arbitration to each said source of requests for time-variable resources and to each said provider of said time variable resources which corresponds to each said source upon a determination that a best match has been achieved for closure.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeMetreo, Inc. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
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Original AssigneeMetreo Markets, Inc.
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InventorsShacham, Nachum
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Primary Examiner(s)Sough, Hyung
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Assistant Examiner(s)Bui, Thach H.
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Application NumberUS09/565,573Time in Patent Office1,335 DaysField of Search705/24-40US Class Current705/37CPC Class CodesG06Q 30/08 AuctionsG06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. sto...
