Product configuration modeling and optimization

• US 8,756,092 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2013
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emcien, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emcien, Inc.
• Inventors: Marsten, Roy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): FEENEY, BRETT A
• Application Number:
  US13/907,937
• Time in Patent Office: 380 Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

A computerized system and related methods of identifying an optimum set of product configurations from a plurality of possible product configurations, wherein each product configuration has a plurality of features and each feature has a plurality of options, includes the steps of representing each of the possible product configurations as an ordered set or array of at least n-dimensions, each dimension of the array representing a predetermined one of the features, identifying a subset of valid product configurations, identifying which valid configurations are captured by other configurations through upgrades, conversions, or acceptance of different options, defining and solving an optimization model to identify the optimum set of valid product configurations based on a desired objective, such as to maximize profit, minimize cost, or maximizing coverage of customer demand, and then presenting the optimum set of valid product configurations that satisfy the desired objective.

Claims

1. A computerized system for identifying a globally optimal subset of product configurations from a plurality of possible product configurations associated with a product, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium that is usable by the processor, the non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions that when executed by the processor causes the execution of the steps of;

receiving configuration data representative of a plurality of possible product configurations;

eliminating invalid product configurations by performing fast enumeration for the plurality of possible product configurations and identifying a plurality of valid product configurations as a smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations;

receiving demand data for valid product configurations previously sold;

optimizing the smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations, using a optimization model that iteratively calculates a subset of globally optimum configurations respective of at least one economic objective, the identified plurality of valid product configurations, and the demand data for valid product configurations previously sold; and

identifying a globally optimum subset of (r) valid product configurations; and

outputting the globally optimal subset of (r) valid product configurations that identifies a limited number of (r) product configurations.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database for the storing product configuration data and demand data associated with the plurality of possible product configurations, the database being coupled to the processor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the product configuration data is received from a database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the demand data comprises historical demand data.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the demand data is received from the database.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the optimizing of the smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations is optimized in a simultaneous manner.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the optimization model comprises a Lagrangian optimization model.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein (r) is greater than or equal to 1 and wherein each of the (r) product configurations includes a plurality of available features.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each feature of the plurality of available features includes a plurality of available options.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium that is usable by a processor, the non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions that when executed by the processor causes the execution of the steps of:

receiving product configuration data representative of a plurality of possible product configurations;

eliminating invalid product configurations by performing fast enumeration for the plurality of possible product configurations and identifying a plurality of valid product configurations as a smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations;

receiving demand data for valid product configurations previously sold;

optimizing the smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations, using a optimization model that iteratively calculates a subset of globally optimum configurations respective of at least one economic objective, the identified plurality of valid product configurations, and the demand data for valid product configurations previously sold; and

identifying a globally optimum subset of (r) valid product configurations; and

outputting the globally optimal subset of (r) valid product configurations that identifies a limited number of (r) product configurations.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the product configuration data is received from a database, the database storing the product configuration data and demand data associated with the plurality of possible product configurations.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the demand data comprises historical demand data.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the demand data is received from the database.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the optimizing of the smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations is optimized in a simultaneous manner.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the optimization model comprises a Lagrangian optimization model.

16. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving with a processor product configuration data representative of a plurality of possible product configurations;

eliminating, via a processor, invalid product configurations by performing fast enumeration for the plurality of possible product configurations and identifying a plurality of valid product configurations as a smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations;

receiving demand data for valid product configurations previously sold;

optimizing, via a processor, the smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations, using a optimization model that iteratively calculates a subset of globally optimum configurations respective of at least one economic objective, the identified plurality of valid product configurations, and the demand data for valid product configurations previously sold; and

identifying a globally optimum subset of (r) valid product configurations; and

outputting the globally optimal subset of (r) valid product configurations that identifies a limited number of (r) product configurations.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16, wherein the product configuration data is received from a database.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 16, wherein the demand data comprises historical demand data.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 16, wherein the demand data is received from a database.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 16, wherein the optimizing of the smaller subset of the plurality of possible product configurations is optimized in a simultaneous manner.