System and method for managing and evaluating network commodities purchasing

• US 8,762,258 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Buymetrics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Buymetrics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hansen, Valerie
• Primary Examiner(s): NIQUETTE, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US13/869,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/08 Sorting, i.e. grouping record carriers in numerical or other ordered sequence according to the classification of at least some of the information they carry by merging two or more sets of carriers in ordered sequence G06F7/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• 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 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 : Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 : Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 : Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation

Abstract

Methods and computer storage media provide for evaluating the market value of items. A product specification data set identifies an item defined by two or more parameters, or items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter. For at least one item, transaction data sets that include previously-exposed transaction data between buyers and sellers are obtained. The transaction data represents market reference price data of a particular period of time. The market reference price data is adapted by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, transforming the transaction data sets into normalized market price data sets that are used to calculate a market value for the item, and communicate the market value to an output. In additional embodiments, price data sets are received and evaluated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for evaluating the market value of items, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, one or more product specification data sets that identify at least one item that is defined by two or more parameters, or a plurality of items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter; and

for at least one item identified in a received product specification data set;

obtaining, from one or more databases, a plurality of transaction data sets comprised of previously exposed transaction data between buyers and sellers, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data of a particular period of time, and wherein the transaction data sets are responsive to the at least one item identified in the product specification data set;

adapting the market reference price data by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the plurality of transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets;

calculating a market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set; and

communicating the calculated market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set to at least one output.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction data includes price data exposed by at least one buyer agent or at least one seller agent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction data was exposed by a third party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item identified in the product specification data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more components, and wherein the combined item is offered or sold for a single combined price, the method further comprising:

using the normalized market price data sets, calculating a market value for each component of the combined item;

multiplying the calculated market value of each component by a quantity value for each component, thereby generating a market value total for each component; and

summing the market value total for each component of the combined item to generate a combined market value total for the combined item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by a computer, a plurality of product specification data sets; and

combining the plurality of product specification data sets to create a combined product specification data set,

wherein the at least one item is identified in the combined product specification data set and the market value calculated for the at least one item is communicated to the at least one output.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set or operably associated with at least one item identified in the product specification data set pertains to a grade, a rating measure, a species, an item type, a brand, a quantity, a size, a unit of measure, a tally, a location, a method of delivery, a delivery date, a time of service, a warranty, a payment term, or a transaction type.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the delivery date or time of service includes a forward price with one or more delivery or service dates in the future.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein delivery comprises a financial delivery.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment term includes a term of credit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the product specification data set specifies a price that is defined as a formula and/or derived from one or more prices to be calculated or reported at one or more periods of time in the future.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the price defined as a formula is a metric value to be calculated using normalized market price data of a specified time period, and wherein the calculated metric value is a volume-weighted average price for the at least one item in the product specification data set, or a formula-defined increment thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising defining the one or more databases and/or the one or more periods of time when the market value is to be calculated or communicated.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item identified in the product specification data set represents a physical product, a raw material, an intangible product, a service, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item for which market reference price data is obtained has one or more specified units of measure, the method further comprising verifying that the one or more units of measure are equal to corresponding units of measure as specified for the item in the product specification data set, and if not equal, mathematically converting the market reference price data according to the corresponding units of measure.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising mathematically normalizing data defined by units of measure in the product specification data set and in the market reference price data to standardized or common units of measure.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the market reference price data is indicative of a current market price for the one or more items in the product specification data set.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the market reference price data is indicative of a market price for the at least one item in the product specification data set over a specified period of time.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the normalized market price data according to one or more parameters or one or more agent-specified criteria before calculating a market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the calculated market value represents market reference data that is generated by one or more pre-selected sources of the transaction data sets.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein transaction data is obtained from at least one external database.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein transaction data stored in at least one of the one or more databases is obtained from multiple sources.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving instructions from an agent, wherein the instructions are associated with the at least one item in the product specification data set, and wherein the instructions indicate selection of an alternate item, an alternate parameter, an alternate database, or an alternate third-party source from which to obtain at least one independently reported market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction data sets responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set includes only transaction data exposed in response to a specific inquiry or event and over the same period of time.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item in the product specification data set, or at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set or in a transaction data set, is operably associated with one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria for adapting and managing metric data, wherein such operable association is static and automatically applied or dynamic and conditionally applied.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the rules, variables, or criteria are pre-defined by at least one agent and apply when the at least one agent provides a product specification data set containing one or more items for market valuation.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one responsive transaction data set has one or more parameters that vary from the product specification data set, and wherein one or more of the pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria causes an adjustment value to be calculated and applied to the transaction data in the transaction data set with the one or more varying parameters.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining exposed transaction data for an alternate item, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data for the alternate item, and wherein the alternate item is a substitute item or an item with at least one differing parameter value from that of the at least one item in the product specification data set;

adapting the market reference price data for the alternate item by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the transaction data is transformed into normalized market price data; and

using the normalized market price data for the alternate item, calculating a market value for the alternate item for comparison to the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set is derived by a formula, a rule, or a correlation from the market value of an alternate item that is a substitute for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set is exposed to at least one other computing device.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set by obtaining updated transaction data sets from at least one source for the at least one item, wherein the updated transaction data sets represent more-current market reference price data for the at least one item;

adapting the more-current market reference price data by applying the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the more-current market reference price data, whereby the plurality of additional transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets, calculating an updated market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set is automatically updated continuously or at a pre-configured time or interval of time, or upon the occurrence of a pre-defined event including a statistical validation failure, or upon agent instruction.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein updating the market value for the at least one item occurs in near real-time.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set to evaluate a selling price, an offer, bid, or contract price.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set, at least in part, to calculate or model a price at which the at least one item is to be sold or offered for sale.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set, at least in part, to calculate, model, or evaluate the price of a bid, an offer, or a contract.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the product specification data set includes a quantity value for the at least one item, wherein the normalized market price data comprises a comparable price per unit for the at least one item, and wherein calculating a market value for the at least one item comprises multiplying the comparable price per unit by the quantity value for the at least one item.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an output that reports the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set to one or more recipients.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating a market value using the normalized market price data includes mathematically calculating a volume-weighted average price for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating a market value using the normalized market price data sets includes applying at least one algorithm that incorporates a replicable mathematical process for calculating at least one market value from a plurality of normalized values, including a mean value, a median value, or variation of a mean or median value.

40. The method of claim 1, further comprising excluding at least a portion of the transaction data or the normalized market price data for failure to meet a predetermined statistical criterion or a validation rule.

41. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting the transaction data in a transaction data set to data from transactions that resulted in a purchase.

42. The method of claim 30, further comprising comparing the updated market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set to a corresponding prior market value, base market value, or responsive third-party reported market value for the at least one item, and communicating the comparison to the at least one output.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said comparing includes generating a measure of relative value by dividing the updated market value by the corresponding prior market value, base market value, or responsive third-party reported market value, producing a ratio or index value.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising calculating a value of a change in market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set from the corresponding prior market value, base market value, or responsive third-party reported market value, and generating a comparison value by dividing the value of the change by the prior market value, base market value, or responsive third-party reported market value.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein comparing the updated market value to the prior market value, base market value, or responsive third-party reported market value includes generating one or more visual representations in the form of a table, chart, or graph.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the one or more visual representations are expandable to expose calculation detail or additional linked information.

182. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculated market value is a metric value that provides market information and is not an actionable bid or offer.

183. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set, validating the normalized market reference price data against pre-defined rules and criterion that include the date/time of transaction data exposure and/or the date/time of the corresponding transaction, and/or total volume in units per item, and/or frequency/liquidity of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by source of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by the type of transaction.

184. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set includes statistically validating the calculated market value by measuring a deviation of the calculated market value from a prior or base market value, wherein exceeding a pre-defined threshold or value of change from the prior or base market value causes a re-calculation of the market value and/or flagging of the calculated market value as falling outside a pre-defined deviation or value of change.

185. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the at least one item in the product specification data set causes the adjustment value to be applied to the transaction data set with the varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value is calculated for each varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value serves to minimize a difference between the transaction data set with the varying parameter and an average of all responsive transaction data sets over a defined period of time, or an average of a control group of transaction data sets over a defined period of time, wherein the adjustment value is determined by applying a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm.

186. The method of claim 30, wherein updating the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set includes dynamically adding at least one additional or more-current transaction data set, or excluding or not obtaining at least one transaction data set that is no longer responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set or no longer represents market reference price data of a specified period of time, wherein the period of time specification can include an updated period of time specification.

187. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalized market price data sets include at least one compound or multi-variant market price data set generated by operably associating the at least one item in the product specification data set, a parameter, or a database with one or more other items, parameters, or databases, and/or conditionally associating the at least one item, the parameter or the database with one or more other pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria.

188. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria include:

one or more formulas operationally combining elements and using variables relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases;

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted;

or

validation rules or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted.

47. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

receive one or more product specification data sets that identify at least one item that is defined by two or more parameters, or a plurality of items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter; and

for at least one item identified in a received product specification data set;

obtain from one or more databases, a plurality of transaction data sets comprised of previously exposed transaction data between buyers and sellers, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data of a particular period of time, and wherein the transaction data sets are responsive to the at least one item identified in the product specification data set;

adapt the market reference price data by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the plurality of transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets;

calculate a market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set; and

communicate the calculated market values for the at least one item in the product specification data set to at least one output.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the transaction data includes price data exposed by at least one buyer agent or at least one seller agent.

49. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the transaction data was exposed by a third party.

50. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the at least one item identified in the product specification data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more components, and wherein the combined item is offered or sold for a single combined price;

the computer-readable storage medium further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to;

calculate, using the normalized market price data, a market value for each component of the combined item;

multiply the calculated market value of each component by a quantity value for each component, thereby generating a market value total for each component; and

sum the market value total for each component of the combined item to generate a combined market value total for the combined item.

51. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set or operably associated with at least one item identified in the product specification data set pertains to a grade, a rating measure, a species, an item type, a brand, a quantity, a size, a unit of measure, a tally, a location, a method of delivery, a delivery date, a time of service, a warranty, a payment term, or a transaction type.

52. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to mathematically normalize data defined by units of measure in the product specification data set and in the market reference price data to standardized or common units of measure.

53. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to:

update the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set by obtaining updated transaction data sets from at least one source for the at least one item, wherein the updated transaction data sets represent more-current market reference price data for the at least one item;

adapt the more-current market reference price data by applying the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the more-current market reference price data, whereby the additional transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets, calculate an updated market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

54. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to automatically update continuously or at a pre-defined time or interval of time, or upon the occurrence of a pre-defined event including a statistical validation failure, or upon agent instruction, the updated market value of at least one item in the product specification data set and to expose the updated market value to at least one other computing device or to communicate the updated market value to one or more recipients.

55. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to use the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set, at least in part, to calculate or model a price at which the at least one item is to be sold or offered for sale.

56. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to use the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set, at least in part, to calculate, model, or evaluate the price of a bid, an offer, or a contract.

189. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to operably associate the at least one item in the product specification data set, or at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set or in a transaction data set, with one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria for adapting and managing metric data, wherein such operable association is static and automatically applied or dynamic and conditionally applied.

190. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to apply one or more of the pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria and cause an adjustment value to be calculated and applied to the transaction data in at least one responsive transaction data set with one or more parameters that vary from the parameters of the product specification data set.

191. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to validate the normalized market reference price data against pre-defined rules and criterion that include the date/time of transaction data exposure and/or the date/time of the corresponding transaction, and/or total volume in units per item, and/or frequency/liquidity of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by source of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by the type of transaction, before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

192. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to statistically validate the calculated market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set by measuring a deviation of the calculated market value from a prior or base market value, wherein exceeding a pre-defined threshold or value of change from the prior or base market value causes a re-calculation of the market value and/or flagging of the calculated market value as falling outside a pre-defined deviation or value of change.

193. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 190, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to apply the adjustment value to the transaction data set with the varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value is calculated for each varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value serves to minimize a difference between the transaction data set with the varying parameter and an average of all responsive transaction data sets over a defined period of time, or an average of a control group of transaction data sets over a defined period of time, wherein the adjustment value is determined by applying a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm.

194. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to apply one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria including:

one or more formulas operationally combining elements and using variables relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases;

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted;

or

validation rules or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted.

195. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to operably associate the at least one item in the product specification data set, a parameter, or a database with one or more other items, parameters, or databases, and/or conditionally associate the at least one item, the parameter or the database with one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria, producing at least one compound or multi-variant market price data set within the plurality of normalized market price data sets.

57. A computer-implemented method for evaluating the market value of items, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, one or more price data sets, wherein each price data set specifies;

at least one item that is defined by two or more parameters, or a plurality of items that vary in accordance with at least one parameter; and

price data corresponding to the at least one item in the price data set; and

for at least one item identified in a received price data set;

obtaining from one or more databases, a plurality of transaction data sets comprised of previously exposed transaction data between buyers and sellers, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data of a particular period of time, and wherein the transaction data sets are responsive to the at least one item identified in the price data set;

adapting the market reference price data by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the plurality of transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets;

calculating a market value for the at least one item in the price data set; and

communicating the calculated market value for the at least one item in the price data set to at least one output.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the transaction data includes price data exposed by at least one buyer agent or at least one seller agent.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the transaction data was exposed by a third party.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising evaluating the price data corresponding to the at least one item in the price data set by comparing the price data to the item'"'"'s calculated market value.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising calculating a value of the difference between the price data of the at least one item in the price data set and the item'"'"'s calculated market value.

62. The method of claim 57, further comprising generating a measure of relative value, wherein the price data of the at least one item in the price data set is divided by the item'"'"'s calculated market value, producing a ratio or index value.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein the received price data sets include at least one price data set that identifies a plurality of items, wherein a market value total is calculated for the at least one price data set by:

multiplying the calculated market value for each item in the price data set by a specified quantity of the item to produce a market value total for the item; and

summing each item'"'"'s market value total across the plurality of items in the price data set to produce a market value total for the price data set.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein the received price data sets include at least one price data set that identifies a plurality of items, wherein a price total is calculated for the at least one price data set by:

multiplying the price data for each item in the price data set by a specified quantity of the item to produce a price total for the item; and

summing each item'"'"'s price total across the plurality of items in the price data set to produce a price total for the price data set.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising comparing two or more received price data sets by their calculated market value total, wherein said comparing includes ranking and/or grouping the two or more price data sets by their calculated market value total.

66. The method of claim 64, further comprising generating a measure of relative value for the price data set by dividing the price total for the price data set by a calculated market value total for the price data set, thereby producing a ratio or index value.

67. The method of claim 57, further comprising receiving a plurality of price data sets that identify the at least one item, and calculating a volume-weighted average price for the item from the price data for the item in the plurality of received price data sets.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising comparing the calculated average price for the at least one item across the plurality of received price data sets to the calculated market value of the item.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising quantifying the difference between the calculated average price value for the at least one item and the calculated market value of the at least one item.

70. The method of claim 68, further comprising generating a measure of relative value, wherein the average price for the at least one item is divided by the calculated market value of the at least one item, producing a ratio or index value.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the ratio of the average price for an item divided by the calculated market value of the item is a measure of relative value of a current time period and is compared to a corresponding measure of relative value representative of a prior period of time or a base period of time.

72. The method of claim 57, further comprising filtering a plurality of price data sets according to one or more parameters or one or more agent-specified criteria, and then ranking or grouping the price data sets by their calculated market value.

73. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one item identified in the price data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more components, and wherein the corresponding price data of the price data set is a single combined price for the combined item;

the method further comprising, using the normalized market price data sets, calculating a market value for each component of the combined item;

multiplying the calculated market value of each component by a quantity value for each component, thereby generating a market value total for each component; and

summing the market value total for each component of the combined item to generate a combined market value total for the combined item.

74. The method of claim 57, wherein at least one parameter identified in the price data set or operably associated with at least one item in the price data set pertains to a grade, a rating measure, a species, an item type, a brand, a quantity, a size, a unit of measure, a tally, a location, a method of delivery, a delivery date, a time of service, a warranty, a payment term, or a transaction type.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the delivery date or time of service includes a forward price with one or more delivery or service dates in the future.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein delivery comprises a financial delivery.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein the payment term includes a term of credit.

78. The method of claim 57, wherein a price in a price data set specifies a price that is defined as a formula and/or derived from one or more prices to be calculated or reported at one or more periods of time in the future.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein a price defined as a formula is a metric value to be calculated using normalized market price data of a specified period of time, and wherein the calculated metric value is a volume-weighted average price for the at least one item in the price data set, or a formula-defined increment thereof.

80. The method of claim 78, further comprising defining the one or more databases and/or the one or more periods of time when the market value is to be calculated or communicated.

81. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one item in the price data set represents a physical product, a raw material, an intangible product, a service, or a combination thereof.

82. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one item for which market reference price data is obtained has one or more specified units of measure, the method further comprising verifying that the one or more units of measure are equal to corresponding units of measure as specified for the item in the price data set, and if not equal, mathematically converting the market reference price data according to the corresponding units of measure.

83. The method of claim 57, further comprising mathematically normalizing data defined by units of measure in the price data set and in the market reference price data to standardized or common units of measure.

84. The method of claim 57, wherein the market reference price data is indicative of a current market price for the at least one item in the price data set.

85. The method of claim 57, wherein the market reference price data is indicative of a market price for the at least one item in the price data set over a specified period of time.

86. The method of claim 57, further comprising filtering the normalized market reference price data according to one or more parameters or one or more agent-specified criteria before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the price data set.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the calculated market value represents market reference data that is generated by one or more pre-selected sources of the transaction data sets.

88. The method of claim 57, further comprising excluding at least a portion of the transaction data or the normalized market price data for failure to meet a predetermined statistical criterion or a validation rule.

89. The method of claim 57, further comprising limiting the transaction data in a transaction data set to data from transactions that resulted in a purchase.

90. The method of claim 57, wherein transaction data is obtained from at least one external database.

91. The method of claim 57, wherein transaction data stored in at least one of the one or more databases is obtained from multiple sources.

92. The method of claim 57, further comprising receiving instructions from an agent, wherein the instructions are associated with the at least one item in the price data set, and wherein the instructions indicate selection of an alternate item, an alternate parameter, another database for obtaining a transaction data set, or an alternate third-party source from which to obtain at least one independently reported market value for the at least one item in the price data set.

93. The method of claim 57, wherein the transaction data sets responsive to the at least one item in the price data set includes only transaction data exposed in response to a specific inquiry or event and over the same period of time.

94. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one item in the price data set, or at least one parameter identified in the price data set or in a transaction data set, is operably associated with one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria for adapting and managing metric data, wherein such operable association is static and automatically applied or dynamic and conditionally applied.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the rules, variables, or criteria are pre-defined by at least one agent and apply when the at least one agent provides or receives a price data set containing one or more items for market valuation.

96. The method of claim 94, wherein at least one responsive transaction data set has one or more parameters that vary from the price data set, wherein one or more of the pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria causes an adjustment value to be calculated and applied to the transaction data in the transaction data set with the one or more varying parameters.

97. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

obtaining exposed transaction data for an alternate item, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data for the alternate item, and wherein the alternate item is a substitute item or an item with at least one differing parameter value from that of the at least one item in the price data set;

adapting the market reference price data for the alternate item by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the transaction data is transformed into normalized market price data; and

using the normalized market price data for the alternate item, calculating a market value for the alternate item for comparison to the market value of the at least one item in the price data set.

98. The method of claim 57, wherein the market value of the at least one item in the price data set is derived by a formula, a rule, or a correlation from the market value of the alternate item that is a substitute for the at least one item in the price data set.

99. The method of claim 57, further comprising calculating a market value for the at least one item in the price data set, wherein the calculated market value is exposed to at least one other computing device.

100. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

updating the market value of the at least one item in the price data set by obtaining updated transaction data sets from at least one source for the at least one item, wherein the updated transaction data sets represent more-current market reference price data for the at least one item;

adapting the more-current market reference price data by applying the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the more-current market reference price data, whereby the plurality of additional transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets, calculating an updated market value for the at least one item in the price data set.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the market value of the at least one item in the price data set is automatically updated continuously or at a pre-configured time or interval of time, or upon the occurrence of a pre-defined event including a statistical validation failure, or upon agent instruction.

102. The method of claim 100, wherein updating the market value for the at least one item occurs in near real-time.

103. The method of claim 57, further comprising using the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data set, at least in part, to calculate or model a price at which the at least one item is to be sold or offered for sale.

104. The method of claim 57, further comprising using the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data set, at least in part, to calculate, model, or evaluate the price of a bid, an offer, or a contract.

105. The method of claim 57, wherein the price data set includes a quantity value for the at least one item, wherein the normalized market price data comprises a comparable price per unit for the at least one item, and wherein calculating a market value for the at least one item comprises multiplying the comparable price per unit by the quantity value for the at least one item.

106. The method of claim 57, further comprising generating an output that reports the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data set to one or more recipients.

107. The method of claim 57, wherein calculating a market value using the normalized market price data includes mathematically calculating a volume-weighted average price for the at least one item in the price data set.

108. The method of claim 57, wherein calculating a market value using the normalized price data includes applying at least one algorithm that incorporates a replicable mathematical process for calculating at least one market value from a plurality of normalized values, including a mean value, a median value, or variation of a mean or median value.

109. The method of claim 100, further comprising comparing the updated market value for the at least one item in the price data set to a corresponding prior market value, base market value, or third-party reported market value for the at least one item, and communicating the comparison to the at least one output.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein said comparing includes generating a measure of relative value by dividing the updated market value by the corresponding prior market value, base market value, or third-party reported market value for the at least one item in the price data set, producing a ratio or index value.

111. The method of claim 109, further comprising calculating a value of a change in market value of the at least one item in the price data set from the corresponding prior market value, base market value, or third-party reported market value, for the at least one item in the price data set, and generating a comparison value by dividing the value of the change by the prior market value, base market value, or third-party reported market value.

112. The method of claim 109, wherein comparing the updated market value to a prior market value, base market value, or third-party reported market value includes generating one or more visual representations in the form of a table, chart, or graph.

113. The method of claim 112, wherein the one or more visual representations are expandable to expose calculation detail or additional linked information.

114. The method of claim 100, further comprising using the updated market value of the at least one item in the price data set to:

identify one or more offers-to-sell the at least one item below its updated market value and/or one or more offers-to-buy the at least one item above its updated market value;

or

value the spread between the bid and offer price data for the at least one item across the plurality of normalized market price data sets to determine whether the value of the spread in the normalized market price data sets and the updated market value for the at least one item meet pre-defined criteria for an arbitrage transaction.

196. The method of claim 57, wherein the calculated market value is a metric value that provides market information and is not an actionable bid or offer.

197. The method of claim 57, further comprising, before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the price data set, validating the normalized market reference price data against pre-defined rules and criterion that include the date/time of transaction data exposure and/or the date/time of the corresponding transaction, and/or total volume in units per item, and/or frequency/liquidity of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by source of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by the type of transaction.

198. The method of claim 57, wherein calculating the market value for the at least one item in the price data set includes statistically validating the calculated market value by measuring a deviation of the calculated market value from a prior or base market value, wherein exceeding a pre-defined threshold or value of change from the prior or base market value causes a re-calculation of the market value and/or flagging of the calculated market value as falling outside a pre-defined deviation or value of change.

199. The method of claim 96, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the at least one item in the price data set causes the adjustment value to be applied to the transaction data set with the varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value is calculated for each varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value serves to minimize a difference between the transaction data set with the varying parameter and the average of all responsive transaction data sets over a defined period of time, or an average of a control group of transaction data sets over a defined period of time, wherein the adjustment value is determined by applying a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm.

200. The method of claim 57, wherein the normalized market price data sets include at least one compound or multi-variant market price data set generated by operably associating the at least one item in the price data set, a parameter, or a database, with one or more other items, parameters, or databases, and/or conditionally associating the at least one item, the parameter or the database with one or more other pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria.

201. The method of claim 57, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria include:

one or more formulas operationally combining elements and using variables relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases; and

/or

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted; and

/or

validation rules or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted.

202. The method of claim 100, wherein updating the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set includes dynamically adding at least one additional or more-current transaction data set, or excluding or not obtaining at least one transaction data that is no longer responsive to the at least one item in the price data set or no longer representing market reference price data of a specified period of time, wherein the period of time specification can include an updated period of time specification.

203. The method of claim 66, further comprising receiving a plurality of price data sets, wherein at least one price data set varies by one or more parameter values from the parameters of at least one other price data set, and ranking or grouping the price data sets by the generated measure of relative value of each price data set.

115. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

receive one or more price data sets, wherein each price data set specifies;

at least one item that is defined by two or more parameters, or a plurality of items that vary in accordance with at least one parameter; and

price data corresponding to the item or items in the price data sets; and

for at least one item identified in a received price data set;

obtain from one or more databases, a plurality of transaction data sets comprised of previously exposed transaction data between buyers and sellers, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data of a particular period of time, and wherein the transaction data sets are responsive to the at least one item in the price data set;

adapt the market reference price data by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the plurality of transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets;

calculate a market value for the at least one item in the price data set; and

communicate the calculated market value for the at least one item to at least one output.

116. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, wherein the transaction data includes price data exposed by at least one buyer agent or at least one seller agent.

117. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 116, wherein the transaction data was exposed by a third party.

118. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, wherein the at least one item in the price data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more components, and wherein the combined item is offered or sold for a single combined price;

the computer-readable storage medium further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to;

calculate, using the normalized market price data sets, a market value for each component of the combined item;

multiply the calculated market value of each component by a quantity value for each component, thereby generating a market value total for each component; and

sum the market value total for each component of the combined item in the price data set to generate a combined market value total for the combined item.

119. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, wherein at least one parameter identified in the price data set or operably associated with the at least one item identified in the price data set pertains to a grade, a rating measure, a species, an item type, a brand, a quantity, a size, a unit of measure, a tally, a location, a method of delivery, a delivery date, a time of service, a warranty, a payment term, or a transaction type.

120. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to mathematically normalize data defined by units of measure data in the price data set and in the market reference price data to standardized or common units of measure.

121. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to:

update the market value of the at least one item in the price data set by obtaining updated transaction data sets from at least one source for the at least one item, wherein the transaction data in the updated transaction data sets represents more-current market reference price data for the at least one item;

adapt the more-current market reference price data by applying the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the more-current market reference price data, whereby the transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets, calculate an updated market value for the at least one item in the price data set.

122. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more computing devices to use the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data set, at least in part, to calculate or model a price at which the at least one item is to be sold or offered for sale.

123. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to use the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data set, at least in part, to calculate, model, or evaluate the price of a bid, an offer, or a contract.

204. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to operably associate the at least one item identified in the price data set with one or more rules, variables, or criteria for adapting and managing metric data, wherein such operable association is static and automatically applied or dynamic and conditionally applied.

205. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to apply one or more of the pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria and cause an adjustment value to be calculated and applied to at least one responsive transaction data set with one or more parameters that vary from the parameters of the price data set.

206. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to validate the normalized market reference price data against pre-defined rules and criterion that include the date/time of transaction data exposure and/or the date/time of the corresponding transaction, and/or total volume in units per item, and/or frequency/liquidity of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by source of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by the type of transaction, before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the price data set.

207. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to statistically validate the calculated market value for at least one item in the price data set by measuring a deviation of the calculated market value from a prior or base market value, wherein exceeding a pre-defined threshold or value of change from the prior or base market value causes a re-calculation of the market value and/or flagging of the calculated market value as falling outside a pre-defined deviation or value of change.

208. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 205, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause an adjustment value to be applied to the transaction data set with the varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value is calculated for each varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value serves to minimize a difference between the transaction data set with the varying parameter and the average of all responsive transaction data sets over a defined period of time, or an average of a control group of transaction data sets over a defined period of time, wherein the adjustment value is determined by applying a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm.

209. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to apply one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria including:

one or more formulas operationally combining elements and using variables relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases; and

/or

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, and/or parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted; and

/or

validation rules or criteria relating to a plurality of items, and/or parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted.

210. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 115, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to operably associate the at least one item in the product specification data set, a parameter, or a database with one or more other items, parameters, or databases, and/or conditionally associating the at least one item, the parameter or the database with one or more other pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria, producing at least one compound or multi-variant market price data set within the plurality of normalized market price data sets.

211. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 121, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to use the updated market values of the one or more items identified in the price data set to:

identify one or more offers-to-sell the at least one item below its updated market value and/or one or more offers-to-buy the at least one item above its updated market value;

or

value the spread between the bid and offer price data for the at least one item across the plurality of normalized market price data sets to identify whether the value of the spread in the normalized market price data sets and the updated market value for the at least one item meet pre-defined criteria for an arbitrage transaction.

124. A computer-implemented method for evaluating price data, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, one or more product specification data sets that identify at least one item that is defined by two or more parameters, or a plurality of items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter;

receiving, by a computer, one or more price data sets, wherein each price data set identifies one or more items and corresponding price data that are responsive to one or more of the items in the product specification data sets; and

for at least one item identified in a received product specification data set and at least one item identified in a received price data set that is responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set;

obtaining from one or more databases, a plurality of transaction data sets comprised of previously exposed transaction data between buyers and sellers, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data of a particular period of time, and wherein the transaction data sets are responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set and the at least one item in the price data set; and

adapting the market reference price data by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the plurality of transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets;

calculating a market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or calculating a market value for the at least one item in the price data set;

comparing the calculated market value of;

the at least one item in the product specification data set with the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data set;

or

the at least one item in the product specification data set with the corresponding price data of the at least one item in the price data set;

or

the at least one item in the price data set with the corresponding price data of the at least one item in the price data set; and

communicating the comparison to at least one output.

125. The method of claim 124, wherein the transaction data includes price data exposed by at least one buyer agent or at least one seller agent.

126. The method of claim 125, wherein the transaction data was exposed by a third party.

127. The method of claim 124, further comprising evaluating the price data of the at least one item in the price data set by comparing the corresponding price data to the at least one item'"'"'s calculated market value.

128. The method of claim 124, further comprising comparing the corresponding price data for the at least one item in two or more of the received price data sets, wherein said comparing includes ranking and/or grouping the two or more price data sets by the calculated market value of the at least one item.

129. The method of claim 124, further comprising calculating a market value total for at least one product specification data set and/or at least one price data set that identifies a plurality of items by:

multiplying the calculated market value for each item in the data set by a specified quantity of the item to produce a market value total for the item; and

summing each item'"'"'s market value total across the plurality of items in the data set to produce a market value total for the data set.

130. The method of claim 124, wherein the received price data sets include at least one price data set that identifies a plurality of items, and wherein a price total is calculated for the at least one price data set by:

multiplying the corresponding price data for each item in the price data set by a specified quantity of the item to produce a price total for the item; and

summing each item'"'"'s price total across the plurality of items in the price data set to produce a price total for the price data set.

131. The method of claim 124, further comprising comparing two or more price data sets by the calculated market value of the at least one item in the two or more price data sets, wherein said comparing includes ranking and/or grouping the two or more price data sets by the calculated market value of the at least one item.

132. The method of claim 124, further comprising generating a measure of relative value by dividing the corresponding price data for at least one item in the product specification data set or in the price data set by the calculated market value for the at least one item, producing a ratio or index value.

133. The method of claim 132, further comprising comparing two or more of the price data sets, wherein at least one price data set includes an alternate or substitute item or varies by one or more parameter values from the product specification product set or another price data set, wherein said comparing includes ranking or grouping the price data sets by the measure of relative value for each price data set, expressed as the ratio or index value.

134. The method of claim 124, further comprising filtering two or more of the price data sets by one or more parameters or one or more agent-specified criteria, and ranking or grouping the filtered price data sets by the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data sets.

135. The method of claim 124, further comprising receiving a plurality of price data sets that identify at least one item, and calculating a volume-weighted average price for the at least one item across the plurality of price data sets.

136. The method of claim 135, further comprising comparing the calculated average price for the at least one item in the plurality of price data sets to the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set.

137. The method of claim 136, further comprising quantifying the difference in value between the calculated average price for the at least one item in the plurality of price data sets and the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set.

138. The method of claim 136, further comprising generating a measure of relative value, wherein the average price for the at least one item in the plurality of price data sets is divided by the calculated market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set, producing a ratio or index value.

139. The method of claim 138, wherein the generated measure of relative value is compared to a corresponding measure of relative value for the at least one item at a prior period of time or a base period of time.

140. The method of claim 124, wherein the at least one item in the product specification data set or the at least one item in the price data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more components, and wherein the combined item is offered or sold for a single combined price;

the method further comprising using the normalized market price data sets, calculating a market value for each component of the combined item in the product specification data set or the price data set;

multiplying the calculated market value of each component by a quantity value for each component, thereby generating a market value total for each component; and

summing the market value total for each component of the combined item to generate a combined market value total for the combined item in the product specification data set or the price data set.

141. The method of claim 124, wherein at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set or the price data set, or operably associated with at least one item in the product specification data set or the price data set, pertains to a grade, a rating measure, a species, an item type, a brand, a quantity, a size, a unit of measure, a tally, a location, a method of delivery, a delivery date, a time of service, a warranty, a payment term, or a transaction type.

142. The method of claim 141, wherein the delivery date or time of service includes a forward price with one or more delivery or service dates in the future.

143. The method of claim 142, wherein delivery comprises a financial delivery.

144. The method of claim 141, wherein the payment term includes a term of credit.

145. The method of claim 124, wherein the item specification in at least one received product specification data set and/or the corresponding price data in at least one received price data set identifies a price that is defined as a formula and/or derived from one or more prices to be calculated or reported at one or more periods of time in the future.

146. The method of claim 145, wherein a price defined as a formula is a metric value to be calculated using normalized market price data of a specified time period, and wherein the calculated metric value is a volume-weighted average price for at least one item in the price data set or a formula-defined increment thereof.

147. The method of claim 145, further comprising defining the one or more databases and/or one or more periods of time when the market value is to be calculated or communicated.

148. The method of claim 124, wherein the at least one item identified in the product specification data set represents a physical product, a raw material, an intangible product, a service, or a combination thereof.

149. The method of claim 124, wherein the at least one item for which market reference price data is obtained has one or more specified units of measure, the method further comprising verifying that the one or more units of measure are equal to corresponding units of measure specified for the item in the price data set, and if not equal, mathematically converting the market reference price data according to the corresponding units of measure.

150. The method of claim 124, further comprising mathematically normalizing data defined by units of measure data in the product specification data set, the price data set, and the market reference price data sets, to standardized or common units of measure.

151. The method of claim 124, wherein the plurality of transaction data sets responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set or the at least one item in the price data set includes only transaction data exposed in response to a specific inquiry or event and over the same period of time.

152. The method of claim 124, wherein the market reference price data is indicative of a current market price for the at least one item in the price data set or the product specification data set.

153. The method of claim 124, wherein the market reference price data is indicative of a market price for the at least one item in the price data set or the product specification data set over a specified period of time.

154. The method of claim 124, further comprising filtering the normalized market reference price data according to one or more parameters or one or more agent-specified criteria before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the price data set and/or in the product specification data set.

155. The method of claim 154, wherein the calculated market value represents market reference data that is generated by one or more sources of the transaction data sets.

156. The method of claim 124, wherein transaction data is obtained from at least one external database.

157. The method of claim 124, wherein transaction data is obtained from multiple sources.

158. The method of claim 124, further comprising:

obtaining exposed transaction data for an alternate item, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data for the alternate item, and wherein the alternate item is a substitute item or an item with at least one differing parameter value from that of the at least one item in the price data set or the product specification data set;

adapting the market reference price data for the alternate item by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the transaction data is transformed into normalized market price data; and

using the normalized market price data for the alternate item, calculating a market value for the alternate item for comparison to the market value of the at least one item in the price data set or the product specification data set.

159. The method of claim 158, wherein the market value of the at least one item in the price data set or the product specification data set is derived by a formula, a rule, or a correlation from the market value of the alternate item that is a substitute for the at least one item in the price data set or the product specification data set.

160. The method of claim 124, further comprising calculating a market value for each of the items in the product specification data set and/or the price data set, wherein the calculated market value of the items is exposed to at least one other computing device.

161. The method of claim 124, further comprising:

updating the market value of the at least one item in the price data set and/or the product specification data set by obtaining updated transaction data sets from at least one source for the at least one item, wherein the updated transaction data sets represent more-current market reference price data for the at least one item;

adapting the more-current market reference price data by applying the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the more-current market reference price data, whereby the additional transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets, calculating an updated market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or the price data set.

162. The method of claim 161, wherein the market value of the at least one item in the price data set and/or the product specification data set is automatically updated continuously or at a pre-configured time or interval of time, or upon the occurrence of a pre-defined event including a statistical validation failure, or upon agent instruction.

163. The method of claim 161, wherein updating the market value for the at least one item occurs in near real-time.

164. The method of claim 124, wherein the price data set and/or the product specification data set includes a quantity value for at least one item, wherein the normalized market price data comprises a comparable price per unit for the at least one item, and wherein calculating a market value for the at least one item comprises multiplying the comparable price per unit by the quantity value for the at least one item.

165. The method of claim 124, wherein calculating a market value using the normalized market reference price data includes mathematically calculating a volume-weighted average price for the at least one item in the price data set and/or the product specification data set.

166. The method of claim 124, wherein calculating a market value using the normalized market reference price data includes applying at least one algorithm that incorporates a replicable mathematical process for calculating at least one market value from a plurality of normalized values, including a mean value, a median value, or variation of a mean or median value.

167. The method of claim 124, further comprising excluding at least a portion of the transaction data or the normalized market price data for failure to meet a predetermined statistical criterion or a validation rule.

168. The method of claim 124, further comprising limiting the transaction data in a transaction data set to data from transactions that resulted in a purchase.

169. The method of claim 124, further comprising receiving from a buyer-agent a buy notice and/or purchase order with respect to at least one item in at least one price data set responsive to the item in the product specification data set, and transmitting the buy notice and/or a purchase order to the seller agent from whom the at least one price data set was received.

212. The method of claim 124, wherein the at least one item identified in the product specification data set or the price data set, or at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set, a responsive price data set, or in an obtained transaction data set, is operably associated with one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria for adapting and managing metric data, wherein such operable association is static and automatically applied or dynamic and conditionally applied.

213. The method of claim 124, wherein the rules, variables, or criteria are pre-defined by at least one agent and apply when the at least one agent provides a product specification data set for market valuation or receives a price data set containing one or more items.

214. The method of claim 124, wherein at least one responsive transaction data set has one or more parameters that vary from the product specification data set or the price data set, and wherein at least one pre-defined rule, variable, or criteria causes an adjustment value to be calculated and applied to the transaction data in the transaction data set with the varying parameter.

215. The method of claim 124, further comprising, before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or the price data set, validating the normalized market reference price data against pre-defined rules and criterion that include the date/time of transaction data exposure and/or the date/time of the corresponding transaction, and/or total volume in units per item, and/or frequency/liquidity of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by source of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by the type of transaction.

216. The method of claim 124, wherein calculating the market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set or the price data set includes statistically validating the calculated market value by measuring a deviation of the calculated market value from a prior or base market value, wherein exceeding a pre-defined threshold or value of change from the prior or base market value causes a re-calculation of the market value and/or flagging of the calculated market value as falling outside a pre-defined deviation or value of change.

217. The method of claim 214, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the at least one item in the product specification data set or the price data set causes the adjustment value to be applied to the transaction data set with the varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value is calculated for each varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value serves to minimize a difference between the transaction data set with the varying parameter and the average of all responsive transaction data sets over a defined period of time, or an average of a control group of transaction data sets over a defined period of time, wherein the adjustment value is determined by applying a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm.

218. The method of claim 124, wherein the normalized market price data sets include at least one compound or multi-variant market price data set generated by operably associating the at least one item in the product specification data set, the price data set, a parameter, or a database, with one or more other items, parameters, or databases, and/or conditionally associating the at least one item, the parameter, or the database with one or more other pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria.

219. The method of claim 124, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria include:

one or more formulas operationally combining elements and using variables relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases; and

/or

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted; and

/or

validation rules or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted.

170. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

receive one or more product specification data sets that identify at least one item that is defined by two or more parameters, or a plurality of items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter;

receive one or more price data sets, wherein each price data set identifies one or more items and corresponding price data that are responsive to one or more of the items in the product specification data sets; and

for at least one item identified in a received product specification data set and at least one item identified in a received price data set that is responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set;

obtain from one or more databases, a plurality of transaction data sets comprised of previously exposed transaction data between buyers and sellers, wherein the transaction data represents market reference price data of a particular period of time, and wherein the transaction data sets are responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set and the at least one item in the price data set;

adapt the market reference price data by applying one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the market reference price data, whereby the plurality of transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets;

calculate a market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or calculate a market value for the at least one item in the price data set;

compare the calculated market value of;

the at least one item in the product specification data set with the calculated market value of the at least one item in the price data set;

or

the at least one item in the product specification data set with the corresponding price data of the at least one item in the price data set;

or

the at least one item in the price data set with the corresponding price data of the at least one item in the price data set; and

communicate the comparison to at least one output.

171. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein the transaction data includes price data exposed by at least one buyer agent or at least one seller agent.

172. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 171, wherein the transaction data was exposed by a third party.

173. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to calculate a market value total for at least one received product specification data set and/or at least one received price data set that identifies a plurality of items by:

multiplying the calculated market value for each item in the data set by a specified quantity of the item to produce a market value total for the item; and

summing each item'"'"'s market value total across the plurality of items in the data set to produce a market value total for the data set.

174. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to compare two or more price data sets by the calculated market value of the at least one item in the two or more price data sets, wherein the comparison includes ranking and/or grouping the two or more price data sets by the calculated market value of the at least one item.

175. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to generate a measure of relative value by dividing the corresponding price data for at least one item in the product specification data set or in the price data set by the calculated market value of the at least one item, producing a ratio or index value.

176. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set or the price data set, or operably associated with at least one item in the product specification data set or the price data set, pertains to a grade, a rating measure, a species, an item type, a brand, a quantity, a size, a unit of measure, a tally, a location, a method of delivery, a delivery date, a time of service, a warranty, a payment term, or a transaction type.

177. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein at least one item in the product specification data set or the price data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of components, and wherein the combined item is offered or sold for a single combined price;

using the normalized market price data sets, calculate a market value for each component of the combined item;

multiply the calculated market value of each component by a quantity value for each component, thereby generating a market value total for each component; and

sum the market value total for each component of the combined item to generate a combined market value total for the combined item.

178. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to update the market value of the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or the price data set by obtaining updated transaction data sets from at least one source for the at least one item, wherein the updated transaction data sets represent more-current market reference price data for the at least one item;

adapting the more-current market reference price data by applying the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the item, a parameter of the item, and/or the one or more databases, to the more-current market reference price data, whereby the additional transaction data sets are transformed into normalized market price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data sets, calculating an updated market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or the price data set.

179. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, further comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause the one or more computing devices to mathematically normalize data defined by units of measure in the product specification data set, the price data set, and in the market reference price data to standardized or common units of measure.

180. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein at least one item in at least one price data set is identified for purchase based, at least in part, on the item'"'"'s calculated market value.

181. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 175, wherein subject to business rules, the price data set having the lowest calculated relative value for the at least one item is identified for a purchase, and a buy-notice or a purchase order is communicated to a seller agent from whom the price data set was received.

220. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein the at least one item identified in the product specification data set or the price data set, or at least one parameter identified in the product specification data set or in the price data set or in an obtained transaction data set, is operably associated with one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria for adapting and managing metric data, wherein such operable association is static and automatically applied or dynamic and conditionally applied.

221. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein the rules, variables, or criteria are pre-defined by at least one agent and apply when the at least one agent provides a product specification data set or receives a price data set containing one or more items for market valuation.

222. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein at least one responsive transaction data set has one or more parameters that vary from the product specification data set or the price data set, and wherein at least one pre-defined rule, variable, or criteria causes an adjustment value to be calculated and applied to the transaction data in the transaction data set with the one or more varying parameters.

223. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more computing devices, before calculating the market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set or the price data set, to validate the normalized market reference price data against pre-defined rules and criterion that include the date/time of transaction data exposure and/or the date/time of the corresponding transaction, and/or total volume in units per item, and/or frequency/liquidity of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by source of the transaction data, and/or concentration/fragmentation of the transaction data by the type of transaction.

224. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein calculating the market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or the price data set includes statistically validating the calculated market value by measuring a deviation of the calculated market value from a prior or base market value, wherein exceeding a pre-defined threshold or value of change from the prior or base market value causes a re-calculation of the market value and/or flagging of the calculated market value as falling outside a pre-defined deviation or value of change.

225. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 222, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria operably associated with the at least one item in the product specification data set or the price data set causes the adjustment value to be applied to the transaction data set with the varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value is calculated for each varying parameter, wherein the adjustment value serves to minimize a difference between the transaction data set with the varying parameter and the average of all responsive transaction data sets over a defined period of time, or an average of a control group of transaction data sets over a defined period of time, wherein the adjustment value is determined by applying a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm.

226. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein the normalized market price data sets include at least one compound or multi-variant market price data set generated by operably associating the at least one item in the product specification data set, the price data set, a parameter, or a database, with one or more other items, parameters, or databases, and/or conditionally associating the at least one item, the parameter, or the database with one or more other pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria.

227. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 170, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules, variables, or criteria include:

one or more formulas operationally combining elements and using variables relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases; and

/or

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted; and

/or

validation rules or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, hierarchical, or priority weighted.