Computer-implemented product valuation tool

• US 7,552,095 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JDA Software Group Incorporated (RedPrairie Holding Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: i2 Technologies US Incorporated (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kalyan, Vibhu K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, FREDA ANN
• Application Number:
  US11/875,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/10, 705/26, 705 7- 8, 705/400
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A method of valuing products based on demand probabilities. Products are designed by identifying product components, and combining the components in various combinations to provide standard and non-standard products. Components are valued using an algorithm that considers demand probability as well as known prices of standard products. The component values are added to determine product values and may be used to make pricing and order fulfillment decisions.

Claims

1. Software for valuing manufactured products embodied in a computer-readable medium and, when executed using one or more computer systems is configured to:

assign a price to each of a plurality of products, each product comprising one or more product components;

assign a demand probability value to each product;

calculate a component value for each component by;

(a) assuming a beginning value for each component;

(b) for a first component, calculating prorated values, such that for each product using that component, a prorated value is calculated on that component by calculating the difference between the product price and a value of the product'"'"'s other components;

(c) calculating a component value as a function of the prorated values and the probability values;

(d) repeating (b) and (c) for all other components;

(e) determining whether the component values converge; and

(f) if any component value does not converge, using the calculated component value as the beginning component value and repeating (b) through (e) for that component; and

calculating a value for each product, by summing the component values of all components of that product.

2. The software of claim 1, wherein each product has an associated lead time.

3. The software of claim 1, wherein each product has an associated delivery time.

4. The software of claim 1, further configured to use the product values to determine whether to accept orders for products.

5. The software of claim 2, further configured to use the lead time and the component values to determine product values.

6. The software of claim 5, further configured to use the product values to determine whether to accept orders for products.

13. The software of claim 3, wherein the computer system is further configured to use the delivery time and the component values to determine product values.

14. The software of claim 13, wherein the computer system is further configured to use the product values to determine whether to accept orders for products.

7. A computer-implemented system for calculating product values, comprising:

a computer system comprising a storage medium and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

assign a price to each of a plurality of products, each product comprising one or more product components;

assign a demand probability value to each product;

calculate a component value for each component by;

(a) assuming a beginning value for each component;

(b) for a first component, calculating prorated values, such that for each product using that component, a prorated value is calculated on that component by calculating the difference between the product price and a value of the product'"'"'s other components;

(c) calculating a component value as a function of the prorated values and the probability values;

(d) repeating (b) and (c) for all other components;

(e) determining whether the component values converge; and

(f) if any component value does not converge, using the calculated component value as the beginning component value and repeating (b) through (e) for that component; and

calculate a value for each product, by summing the component values of all components of that product.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each product has an associated lead time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer system is further configured to use the lead time and the component values to determine product values.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein each product has an associated delivery time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to use the delivery time and the component values to determine product values.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein computer system is further configured to use the product values to determine whether to accept orders for products.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more computer system is further configured to use the product values to determine whether to accept orders for products.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer system is further configured to use the product values to determine whether to accept orders for products.