Systems and methods for costing reciprocal relationships
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for use in analyzing costs associated with relationships among entities, comprising:
- receiving on a processor, entity data corresponding to a plurality of entities, relationship data corresponding to direct and indirect reciprocal relationships between two or more entities, and activity-based cost data corresponding to direct and indirect costs distributable among the plurality of entities;
using the entity data, relationship data, and cost data to construct, on the processor, a model of a costing system;
using the model of the costing system to determine, on the processor, a cost allocation among the plurality of entities, wherein the cost allocation excludes double counting by avoiding reallocating costs to an entity that previously allocated or reallocated the costs; and
wherein the allocation of costs is symmetrical among top level entities in the plurality of entities;
allocating on the processor, a direct cost among a plurality of entities, wherein at least one of the plurality of entities has a reciprocal relationship with another of the plurality of entities; and
repeatedly reallocating on the processor, indirect costs of the entities that have reciprocal relationships until all indirect costs are reallocated to entities that have no reciprocal relationships with other entities, and wherein indirect costs are not reallocated to any entity that previously allocated or reallocated the indirect costs.
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Abstract
Computer-implemented systems and methods for performing cost analysis. As an example, a system and method can be provided for the generation of a cost allocation that does not include double counting of cost allocation.
109 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for use in analyzing costs associated with relationships among entities, comprising:
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receiving on a processor, entity data corresponding to a plurality of entities, relationship data corresponding to direct and indirect reciprocal relationships between two or more entities, and activity-based cost data corresponding to direct and indirect costs distributable among the plurality of entities; using the entity data, relationship data, and cost data to construct, on the processor, a model of a costing system; using the model of the costing system to determine, on the processor, a cost allocation among the plurality of entities, wherein the cost allocation excludes double counting by avoiding reallocating costs to an entity that previously allocated or reallocated the costs; and
wherein the allocation of costs is symmetrical among top level entities in the plurality of entities;allocating on the processor, a direct cost among a plurality of entities, wherein at least one of the plurality of entities has a reciprocal relationship with another of the plurality of entities; and repeatedly reallocating on the processor, indirect costs of the entities that have reciprocal relationships until all indirect costs are reallocated to entities that have no reciprocal relationships with other entities, and wherein indirect costs are not reallocated to any entity that previously allocated or reallocated the indirect costs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for use in analyzing costs associated with relationships among entities, comprising:
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a processor; a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions operable to cause the processor to perform operations including; receiving entity data corresponding to a plurality of entities, relationship data corresponding to direct and indirect reciprocal relationships between two or more entities, and activity-based cost data corresponding to direct and indirect costs distributable among the plurality of entities; using the entity data, relationship data, and cost data to construct a model of a costing system; using the model of the costing system to determine a cost allocation among the plurality of entities, wherein the cost allocation excludes double counting by avoiding reallocating costs to an entity that previously allocated or reallocated the costs; and
wherein the allocation of costs is symmetrical among top level entities in the plurality of entities;allocating a direct cost among a plurality of entities, wherein at least one of the plurality of entities has a reciprocal relationship with another of the plurality of entities; and repeatedly reallocating indirect costs of the entities that have reciprocal relationships until all indirect costs are reallocated to entities that have no reciprocal relationships with other entities, and wherein indirect costs are not reallocated to any entity that previously allocated or reallocated the indirect costs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Computer software stored on one or more computer readable mediums, the computer software comprising program code for carrying out a method for use in analyzing costs associated with relationships among entities, the method comprising:
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receiving on a processor, entity data corresponding to a plurality of entities, relationship data corresponding to direct and indirect reciprocal relationships between two or more entities, and activity-based cost data corresponding to direct and indirect costs distributable among the plurality of entities; using the entity data, relationship data, and cost data to construct, on the processor, a model of a costing system; using the model of the costing system to determine, on the processor, a cost allocation among the plurality of entities, wherein the cost allocation excludes double counting by avoiding reallocating costs to an entity that previously allocated or reallocated the costs; and
wherein the allocation of costs is symmetrical among top level entities in the plurality of entities;allocating on the processor, a direct cost among a plurality of entities, wherein at least one of the plurality of entities has a reciprocal relationship with another of the plurality of entities; and repeatedly reallocating on the processor, indirect costs of the entities that have reciprocal relationships until all indirect costs are reallocated to entities that have no reciprocal relationships with other entities, and wherein indirect costs are not reallocated to any entity that previously allocated or reallocated the indirect costs.
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Specification