Transformation bidding with tooling requirements

• US 7,840,476 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ariba Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Ariba Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Becker, David, Zack, Matthew C., Edwards, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi; Hani
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shrestha; Bijendra K
• Application Number:
  US10/223,080
• Time in Patent Office: 3,021 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system and method of transformation bidding in an electronic auction system. The system acquires lot data including tooling information for a lot, receives a bid from a bidder, and transforms the lot data and the bid into a true cost of procuring the lot from the bidder. The system also presents the true cost to a sponsor.

Claims

1. A method of transformation bidding in an electronic auction system, comprising:

acquiring lot data including tooling information for a lot, wherein the tooling information comprises information associated with one or more tools needed to supply at least one component of the lot, and wherein the tooling information comprises a time period required for implementing the one or more tools;

receiving a bid from a bidder; and

transforming, using a processor, the lot data and the bid into a true cost of procuring the lot from the bidder.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the true cost to a sponsor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the presenting comprises:

providing at least one of a hard copy and a graphical user interface to the sponsor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring comprises:

receiving the lot data from at least one of a sponsor and the bidder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring comprises:

retrieving the lot data from at least one lookup table in at least one database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming comprises:

performing a linear function having at least one of a multiplicative adjustment and an additive adjustment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming comprises:

performing a non-linear function.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming comprises:

performing a reference function using at least one lookup table.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming comprises:

performing a combination of a linear function, a non-linear function, and a reference function contemporaneously.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming comprises:

performing a modular function using at least one planning model.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the performing comprises:

utilizing the planning model including a financial model.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the utilizing comprises:

using the financial model including a forecasting model.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the performing comprises:

utilizing the planning model including at least one of a statistical model, a simulation model, and an optimization model.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the utilizing comprises:

using the simulation model including a what-if-scenario analysis.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the utilizing comprises:

using the statistical model including a regression analysis.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the utilizing comprises:

using the optimization model including a linear-goal-seek analysis.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the tooling information comprises:

a total number of tools, the total number of the tools including at least one of a new tool and a tool to be transferred.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tooling information comprises a tooling cost, the tooling cost having a cost of at least one of the new tool and the tool to be transferred.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the tooling information comprises a number of the tools the bidder needs to meet the total number of the tools required to procure the lot.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring comprises:

including in the lot data a switching cost, the switching cost including at least one of;

an average price of purchasing at least two new tools required to procure the lot, an average cost of moving a tool to be transferred to a new supplier to procure the lot, an average cost of performing a supplier audit, a cost of a Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and a first article inspection cost.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming comprises:

deriving a net present value of the true cost for procuring the lot from the bidder for a period of at least one year.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring comprises:

including in the lot data an interest rate of securing funds required to procure the lot.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring comprises:

including in the lot data an amortization rate.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring comprises:

including in the lot data a length of a contract, the contract including terms and conditions of procuring the lot.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring comprises:

including in the lot data at least one of a historic price of procuring the lot and a reserve price for procuring the lot.

26. A system for transformation bidding, comprising:

a processor configured to;

acquire lot data including tooling information for a lot, wherein the tooling information comprises information associated with one or more tools needed to supply at least one component of the lot, and wherein the tooling information comprises a time period required for implementing the one or more tools;

receive a bid from a bidder; and

transform the lot data and the bid into a true cost of procuring the lot from the bidder; and

a memory configured to provide the processor with instructions.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to:

present the true cost to a sponsor.

28. A system for transformation bidding, comprising:

a database that stores tooling information, wherein the tooling information comprises information associated with one or more tools needed to supply at least one component of the lot, and wherein the tooling information comprises a time period required for implementing the one or more tools; and

a processor that acquires lot data, including the tooling information for a lot, receives a

bid from a bidder, transforms the lot data and the bid into a true cost of procuring the lot from the

bidder, and presents the true cost to a sponsor.

29. A computer program product for transformation bidding in an auction, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible medium and comprising computer instructions for:

acquiring lot data including tooling information for a lot, wherein the tooling information comprises information associated with one or more tools needed to supply at least one component of the lot, and wherein the tooling information comprises a time period required for implementing the one or more tools;

receiving a bid from a bidder;

transforming the lot data and the bid into a true cost of procuring the lot from the bidder; and

presenting the true cost to a sponsor.