Automated system for adapting market data and evaluating the market value of items

• US 9,412,117 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Buymetrics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Buymetrics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hansen, Valerie
• Primary Examiner(s): Niquette, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US14/808,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20150332300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A system including a remotely-located service provider server receives one or more product specification data sets. A metrics application invokes an evaluation service and obtains metric data including market reference price data for responsive items at a current time or period of time. Attributes for each responsive item are evaluated to dynamically discover relations within the attribute data that enable a metric server adapter to contextually determine which of the predefined instructions are applicable to the responsive item. One or more adjustment values are generated and applied to the market reference price data for a responsive item that differs by at least one parameter value, transforming the current market reference price data into transaction-specific market reference price data values that are used to generate one or more evaluation metrics. One or more of the received product specification data sets and evaluation metrics are communicated to a user-agent controlled computing device.

Claims

1. In a networked service provider environment usable via system-managed user interfaces, a system having a governing logic application for managing market reference data that operates independently from, yet in coordination with, a separate production application, the system comprising:

a remotely-located service provider server comprising;

a network interface;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, implement a plurality of applications including;

a metric server adapter; and

a metrics application; and

a processor in communication with the network interface and the computer-readable medium, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium;

wherein;

the metric server adapter is a governing logic application programmed to autonomously manage at least one evaluation service and a plurality of predefined instructions for managing metric data, including a user-agent'"'"'s customized instructions or industry-specific instructions, to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, and to coordinate a conditional execution of transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions are preassociated with attributes predefined for an item and/or one or more parameter values, the parameter values representing attributes or conditions that are variable for specific items or transactions, and wherein the predefined instructions are stored in a memory accessible to the service provider server;

the metrics application is a production application programmed to control invocation of the at least one evaluation service and, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to conditionally execute one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data and generate one or more evaluation metrics that pertain to a user-agent and the at least one evaluation service, and to manage one or more user interfaces that facilitate communications with the remotely-located service provider server, and

in operation, in response to receiving a triggering request from a user-agent controlled computing device, the metrics application provides at least one user interface that identifies the user-agent initiating the at least one evaluation service, and configures the service provider server to;

receive, from the user-agent controlled computing device, via a system-managed user interface, one or more product specification data sets, wherein each product specification data set identifies at least one item that is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes two or more parameter values, or identifies a plurality of items defined by a plurality of attributes that differ in accordance with at least one parameter value;

wherein receipt of at least one product specification data set triggers the metrics application to automatically invoke the at least one evaluation service, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service causes the metrics application to;

obtain metric data from at least one data source accessible to the service provider server for each product specification data set, wherein the obtained metric data represents market reference data for at least one item having attributes that are responsive to attributes of the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set, and wherein each responsive item in the market reference data is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data for the one or more responsive items at a current time or period of time;

evaluate the plurality of attributes defined for each responsive item in the metric data relative to the plurality of attributes for the respective item as identified in the product specification data set to dynamically discover relations within the attribute data, wherein discovery of one or more relationships comprising a difference in the attribute data triggers an automatic disclosure of the one or more relationships to the metric server adapter, wherein the discovered relationships enable the metric server adapter to contextually determine which of the predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service are applicable to the responsive item in the metric data, wherein the metric server adapter uses the attributes and one or more parameter values identified for the respective item in the product specification data set with the predefined instructions determined to be applicable to the responsive item in the metric data to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting the metric data for the respective item;

normalize the metric data by conditionally executing, in coordination with the metric server adapter, the transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data as defined for each responsive item in the metric data for the respective item, wherein execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes one or more adjustment values to be generated and applied to the market reference price data for at least one responsive item that differs by at least one parameter value from the respective item identified in the product specification data set, transforming the current market reference price data for the at least one responsive item and automatically producing one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the respective item as identified in the product specification data set; and

generate one or more evaluation metrics that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service for the at least one item as identified in each product specification data set, wherein each evaluation metric is based, at least in part, on the one or more transaction-specific market reference data values produced for the respective item as identified in the product specification data set; and

wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, triggers an event, via the network interface, which causes the user-agent controlled computing device to be activated and configured for a data exchange, and configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, one or more of the received product specification data sets and the one or more evaluation metrics generated for at least one item as identified in each communicated product specification data set, and to execute movement of the data to at least the user-agent controlled computing device from which the one or more product specification data sets were received.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is separate from the metric server adapter, and wherein coordinated operation of the metrics application with the metric server adapter enables the metrics application to algorithmically process the attribute data to dynamically identify at least one relationship comprising a difference within the attribute data, including a new or previously unknown relationship, and to produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values, in coordination with the metric server adapter, without relying on a pre-constructed model having a predefined relationship that remains fixed within the model and outputs predictable results.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metric data to be obtained from two or more different data sources.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to obtain metric data comprising a plurality of previously-exchanged market transaction data sets, wherein each market transaction data set represents data that was exposed by at least one buyer-agent or at least one seller-agent.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter values represent variable attributes including 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.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein delivery comprises a financial delivery.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the delivery date or time of service specifies one or more fulfillment dates in the future, and comprises a forward price transaction type.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one received product specification data set identifies a bundle of items defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that differs by at least one parameter value or wherein at least one item identified in at least one product specification data set is a combined item that represents a packaged product or transaction, a tally, or an assembly of one or more component parts, wherein each component part is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that differs by at least one parameter value.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one combined item identified in a product specification data set comprises a packaged set of transactions, wherein each of transaction in the packaged set of transactions includes at least one item that is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes two or more parameter values, or a plurality of items defined by a plurality of attributes that differ in accordance with at least one parameter value.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one product specification data set includes a plurality of items or component parts that were identified by two or more different user-agents and combined into a single product specification data set, and wherein each item or component part of the combined product specification data set is only offered in combination with all other items or component parts in the combined product specification data set.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to generate at least one evaluation metric, wherein price data associated with the at least one item identified in a received product specification data set is divided by the at least one transaction-specific market reference price data value produced for the at least one item, to generate a relative value metric comprising a ratio or index value.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising receiving a plurality of product specification data sets, wherein the relative value metric is a measure of the item'"'"'s price in relation to a transaction-specific market reference price data value produced for the at least one item as identified in each product specification data set, and wherein communication of the relative value metric generated for the at least one item as identified in each product specification data set provides the user-agent with an objective measure with which to compare the at least one item across the plurality of product specification data sets, including one or more product specification data sets wherein the at least one item differs by at least one parameter value.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a product specification data set with the lowest relative value metric generated for the at least one item in the plurality of product specification data sets is communicated in a first or top position.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes the metrics application to rank or sort a plurality of product specification data sets by at least one of the one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item as identified in each of the product specification data sets, and causes the metrics application to communicate only a ranked or sorted subset of the identified product specification data sets to the user-agent controlled computing device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user-agent controlled computing device is a mobile device, wherein the number of ranked or sorted product specification data sets communicated to the user-agent controlled computing device is limited to a predefined number or predefined portion of the ranked or sorted product specification data sets for visual display in a constrained display space of the mobile computing device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein execution of at least one predefined instruction that pertains to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes the responsive items in the metric data to be filtered for inclusion or exclusion using one or more predefined control values, criteria, and/or parameter values, before producing the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to facilitate data communication in XML format, enabling the metrics application to dynamically change, dynamically route, and/or pre-configure data for movement of the data in an integrated data exchange.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service is predefined and stored in a memory accessible to the service provider server, and wherein the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metrics application in response to receiving, from a user-agent controlled computing device, a product specification data set identifying at least one item for the at least one evaluation service.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a plurality of evaluation services are predefined and stored in the memory accessible to the service provider server, and selectively invoked by the metrics application in response to receipt of a product specification data set identifying at least one item for the at least one evaluation service.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to facilitate an integrated data exchange, wherein the remotely-located service provider server is configured to receive at least one product specification data set from an application running on a user-agent controlled computing device, via a system managed user interface, wherein receipt of the product specification data set causes the metrics application to invoke the at least one evaluation service and execute one or more transaction-specific instructions that, when executed, causes the metrics application to automatically generate one or more evaluation metrics for the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via a system-managed user interface, the one or more evaluation metrics generated for at least one item as identified in the at least one product specification data set to the application running on the user-agent controlled computing device from which the product specification data set was received, and wherein the integrated data exchange does not include a pre-mapped or pre-structured electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more evaluation metrics communicated in the integrated data exchange are used by the application running on the user-agent controlled computing device, at least in part, to value or re-value an item'"'"'s replacement cost for financial accounting or insurance purposes, to update the cost of direct inputs to production, to evaluate a selling price or an offer price, to calculate or re-calculate a selling price or an offer price, to generate a competitive market price comparison, or to forecast a return on inventory or a return on investment (ROI).

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more evaluation metrics communicated in the integrated data exchange are used by the application running on the user-agent controlled computing device, at least in part, to value an over-the-counter (OTC) or off-exchange transaction, a basis trade or a hedge transaction, a forward contract, or to represent, at least in part, a value for:

at least one item underlying an exchange-traded contract, or

one or more items or component parts of an exchange-for-physical (EFP) transaction or an exchange-for-swap transaction (EFS), or an exchange-traded contract executed using an exchange-approved alternate-execution-procedure.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more user interfaces managed by the metrics application enable the service provider server to dynamically interact with the application running on the user-agent controlled computing device, including causing the application to execute one or more actions to enhance the performance of the application and/or the evaluation service, and wherein the application with which the data is exchanged comprises at least one of a back office system required to issue a purchase order, logistics software providing a scheduler or shipment router, a load building/sizing utility, ERP or SCM software required to obtain requisition/purchase authorization or sales or inventory management, MRP software providing a production planning utility, software supporting a regulatory reporting or certification process including chain of custody or audit documentation, or design software (CAD), or CRM software providing a calendar utility.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, enables a user-agent computing device to predefine, for exclusive use by the user-agent, at least one instruction for managing metric data or to modify at least one predefined instruction for managing metric data, and further causes the metric server adapter to store the at least one predefined or modified instruction in a memory accessible to the service provider server for retrieval when the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metrics application in response to receipt of a product specification data set from the user-agent controlled computing device, wherein coordinated operation of the metrics application with the metric server adapter enables the metric server adapter to define transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service, and wherein a conditional execution of the transaction-specific instructions by the metrics application provides an evaluation service that is customized for the user-agent without custom-coding the computer-executable instructions that comprise the metrics application.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, enables a user-agent computing device to predefine one or more instructions for managing metric data and preassociate the one or more instructions with attributes of an item, parameter, metric data source, vendor, event, and/or one or more other instructions, and to store the predefined and preassociated instructions in a memory for retrieval by the metric server adapter when the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metrics application in response to receipt of a product specification data set that identifies at least one item from the user-agent controlled computing device.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined instructions for managing metric data were not predefined for or pre-mapped to a specific transaction.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more predefined instructions for managing metric data that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes the obtained metric data to be evaluated for satisfaction of one or more predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria and further causes the metrics application to only produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item identified in the product specification data set using market reference data that satisfies the predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria, or wherein the obtained metric data is to be collectively evaluated for satisfaction of one or more predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria including at least one of:

a total volume in units per item over the particular time or period of time;

a measure of the frequency/liquidity of the responsive items in the metric data for a particular time or period of time;

a measure of the concentration/fragmentation of the responsive items by a type of transaction;

or a measure of the concentration/fragmentation of the responsive items by one or more data sources, and wherein the plurality of responsive items in the metric data are either determined to collectively satisfy the one or more validation rules and/or statistical criteria and are used, or are determined to not collectively satisfy the one or more validation rules and/or statistical criteria and are excluded from use.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric server adapter is programmed to coordinate a conditional execution of transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, including:

one or more formulas operationally combining data values and using variables relating to a plurality of items, attributes, parameters, events, or metric data sources;

or

a combination of instructions, including statistical criteria and/or validation rules, relating to a plurality of items, attributes, parameters, events, metric data sources, obtained market reference data, transaction-specific market reference price data values or evaluation metrics, the conditional execution of which is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter;

or

a combined evaluation service that includes one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, wherein at least one transaction-specific instruction is further combined with at least one other transaction-specific instruction that specifies employing a process step, action, function, utility, or subroutine, or wherein at least one evaluation service is combined with at least one other evaluation service, wherein the conditional execution of the combined evaluation service is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data causes the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the at least one item identified in a received product specification data set to be based, at least in part, on a formula, a rule, or a correlation that is applied to the market reference price data of an item with attributes that differ from the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set, wherein the at least one other item is an alternate item or a substitute item that differs by at least one parameter value from the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction preassociates attributes and/or one or more parameter values of the alternate or substitute item with at least one item.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to continuously or over a predetermined period of time obtain current metric data for at least one item having attributes that are responsive to attributes of at least one item as identified in the product specification data set and includes more-current market reference price data for the at least one item or excludes previously-obtained metric data that is no longer responsive to the at least one item or no longer represents market reference price data associated with the at least one item at the current time or period of time, and further causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to produce one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item and to generate one or more more-current evaluation metrics for the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction for managing metric data causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed, causes the metrics application to trigger an automatic alert in response to at least one more-current evaluation metric generated for the at least one item exceeding or falling below a trigger value was that predefined for the at least one item by the user-agent, wherein the predefined trigger value is expressed as a numerical value, a percent of change, or a ratio or index value, and wherein the alert is communicated, via a system-managed user interface, to at least the user-agent controlled computing device from which the one or more product specification data sets were received.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein at least one predefined instruction that pertains to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes the at least one evaluation metric generated for the at least one item identified in a product specification data set to be automatically updated based, at least in part, on the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the at least one item, continuously or in response to occurrence of a predefined event, at a predefined time, or over a predefined interval of time, wherein the predefined interval of time includes a continuously sliding interval of time that represents the most current period of time.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to compare at least one of the one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item to a previously-generated evaluation metric for the at least one item, a predefined base market value, or one or more market values as reported by an exchange or a third-party price reporting service for the at least one item, and further causes the metrics application to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate a result of the comparison, via the network interface, to at least the user-agent controlled computing device from which the product specification data set was received.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to generate at least one evaluation metric comprising a measure of the value of the difference between at least one of the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for at least one item identified in the product specification data set and a reported price for an exchange-traded futures contract, wherein attributes of at least one item represented in the exchange-traded futures contract are responsive to attributes of the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to facilitate an integrated data exchange between the processor of the remotely-located service provider server and at least one other computing device in communication with the service provider server, and to execute movement of data in an integrated data exchange, via the network interface, wherein the integrated data exchange does not include a pre-mapped or pre-structured electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to prompt the user-agent controlled computing device to identify or select at least one data element or function to be added to or removed from a currently in-progress evaluation service, or to provide additional information required by the currently in-progress evaluation service.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein the service provider server is accessible, via one or more system-managed user interfaces, to the user-agent controlled computing device without specialized client application software installed on the user-agent controlled computing device, and wherein the user-agent'"'"'s predefined instructions and historic data are stored in a memory accessible to the service provider server, enabling a user-agent customized evaluation service and eliminating the need to synchronize the user agent'"'"'s data across multiple computing devices used by the user-agent.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one computing device in communication with the remotely-located service provider server is a mobile computing device.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to automatically query one or more databases or data sources accessible to the service provider server or to monitor one or more data streams to obtain metric data for one or more items responsive to attributes of the at least one item as identified in a product specification data set.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to query transaction data that was previously aggregated by a tracking system under control of the service provider server to obtain metric data for at least one item having attributes responsive to attributes of the at least one item identified in the product specification data set, wherein the data stored by the tracking system represents market reference data received or generated by the service provider server for a plurality of user-agents, including unaffiliated user-agents, at a particular time or over a period of time.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instructions that, when executed, causes the metrics application to generate at least one evaluation metric for at least one item identified in at least one product specification data set under multiple evaluation scenarios, wherein at least one evaluation scenario references an alternate item, alternate parameter, alternate time or period of time, alternate metric data source, or combination thereof, or wherein at least one evaluation scenario causes the metrics application to filter the obtained metric data using one or more control values, criteria, or parameters before producing, in coordination with the metric server adapter, the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item, wherein the one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item under the multiple evaluation scenarios are compared, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate a result of the comparison, via the network interface, to at least the user-agent controlled computing device from which the one or more product specification data sets were received.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, configure the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via a system managed user interface, at least one evaluation metric generated for at least one item as identified in at least one product specification data set to at least the user-agent controlled computing device for visual display, wherein the one or more user interfaces facilitate interactions that cause the metrics application to expose underlying data in one or more layers of detail, to simultaneously display different data in multiple windows, to display linked information, or to display the same data in a different form or from one or more different sources of metric data or as determined at a different time or period of time.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed, causes the metrics application to obtain only metric data resulting from a computer-based interaction and to use only electronically-created metric data to produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the respective item as identified in the product specification data set, wherein the electronically-created metric data does not include human-reported transaction data or transaction data that was manually transcribed into a digital format.

45. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed, causes the metrics application to obtain and use only metric data resulting from a purchase or executed contract to generate the one or more evaluation metrics for the at least one item.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein the product specification data set includes a quantity value for each item identified in the product specification data set, and wherein the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the respective item as identified in the product specification data set comprises a comparable quantity.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions for managing metric data that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instructions that, when executed by the metrics application, causes data expressed in units of measure to be consistently converted into standardized or common units of measure, or units of measure as specified for the at least one item identified in the product specification data set, and further causes the metrics application to only produce, in coordination with the metric server adapter, the one or more transaction specific market reference price data values for the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set using data possessing consistent units of measure.

48. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformation of the market reference price data occurs independent of unit-of-measure conversion of data in the metric data for responsive items that are defined by a unit-of-measure.

49. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of at least one subsequent evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions that pertain to at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metrics application to generate at least one evaluation metric that provides a predefined performance measure, wherein at least one of the one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item is a predefined data element that is automatically input into at least one predefined algorithm preassociated with the subsequent evaluation service to generate, at least in part, the predefined performance measure, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one performance measure to at least the user-agent controlled computing device from which the one or more product specification data sets were received and/or one or more outputs that were predefined in at least one user-agent customized instruction that pertains to the at least one subsequent evaluation service.

50. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one predefined instruction for managing metric data that pertains to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instructions that, when executed by the metrics application, causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to produce electronic documentation as required to audit at least one evaluation metric previously generated for at least one item as identified in a received product specification data set, wherein the metrics application documents the data and process steps used by the at least one evaluation service to generate the at least one evaluation metric by replicating the process steps of the at least one evaluation service using the metric data that was previously associated with and used in each process step, and to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the electronic documentation to the user-agent controlled computing device from which the product specification data set was received and/or at least one computing device predefined to receive the electronic documentation in at least one user-agent customized instruction that pertains to the at least one evaluation service.

51. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set comprise synthetic values that represent market information, and do not represent actionable prices for an actual bid or offer-to-sell.

52. The system of claim 1, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to generate at least one smoothed evaluation metric for the at least one item identified in the product specification data set.

53. The system of claim 1, wherein the discovered one or more relationships comprising a difference within the attribute data represent transitory data that is used by the at least one evaluation service and discarded.

54. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to manage one or more interfaces that are customized for the user-agent, wherein upon identification of the user-agent to initiate the at least one evaluation service, the metrics application prepares at least one graphical user interface that includes one or more preconfigured dropdown menus preloaded with items and parameter values that were predefined by the user-agent, including an item type, a delivery location, a delivery method, a metric or source of metric data, the user-agent'"'"'s vendors, or item sizes or transaction types.

55. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that are dynamically customized for a specific industry, wherein in response to identification of the user-agent, the metrics application prepares at least one user interface that is preconfigured per industry terminology, industry standard, and/or industry practice, wherein the industry terminology, standard, or practice is generally understood and widely used by practitioners within the industry or represents a standard established by a standards-setting body.

56. The system of claim 1, wherein an item is a physical product, a raw material, an intangible product, a service, or a combination thereof.

57. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, facilitate electronic communication services via the service provider server, wherein the electronic communication services include at least one of a chat window, streamed voice communications, e-mail, or notes or text.

58. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction instructs the service provider server to communicate the one or more evaluation metrics generated for at least one item as identified in a product specification data set to one or more predefined outputs, wherein at least one predefined output comprises a third-party computing device that is not under the control of the user-agent or the service provider server.

59. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, enable a user-agent computing device to predefine one or more instructions for managing metric data that preassociate at least one item as predefined by the user-agent with one or more other items, a specific industry, a product group, an item type, or a combination thereof, and further causes the metric server adapter to store the one or more user-agent customized instructions in a memory accessible to the service provider server for retrieval when the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metrics application in response to receipt of a product specification data set from the user-agent controlled computing device.

60. In a networked service provider environment usable via system-managed user interfaces, a system having a governing logic application for managing market reference data that operates independently from, yet in coordination with, a separate production application, the system comprising:

a remotely-located service provider server comprising;

a network interface;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, implement a plurality of applications including;

a metric server adapter; and

a metrics application; and

a processor in communication with the network interface and the computer-readable medium, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium;

wherein;

the metric server adapter is a governing logic application programmed to autonomously manage at least one evaluation service and a plurality of predefined instructions for managing metric data, including a user-agent'"'"'s customized instructions or industry-specific instructions, to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, and to coordinate a conditional execution of transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions are preassociated with attributes predefined for an item and/or one or more parameter values, the parameter values representing attributes or conditions that are variable for specific items or transactions, and wherein the predefined instructions are stored in a memory accessible to the service provider server;

the metrics application is a production application programmed to control invocation of the at least one evaluation service and, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to conditionally execute one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data and generate one or more evaluation metrics that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service, and to manage one or more user interfaces that facilitate communications with the remotely-located service provider server, and

in operation, in response to receipt of a triggering event or at a predefined time or over a predefined interval of time, the metrics application configures the service provider server to;

retrieve, from one or more data storages accessible to the service provider server, at least one evaluation metric previously generated for at least one item as identified in at least one product specification data set or price data set that was previously processed by the service provider server for the user-agent, wherein the at least one item is defined by a plurality of attributes including two or more parameter values, or includes two or more items that are defined by a plurality of attributes that differ in accordance with at least one parameter value;

wherein the retrieval of at least one evaluation metric triggers the metrics application to automatically invoke the at least one evaluation service, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service causes the metrics application to;

obtain metric data from at least one source accessible to the service provider server, wherein the obtained metric data represents market reference data for at least one item having attributes responsive to attributes as identified for the at least one item in the evaluation metric retrieved, and wherein each responsive item in the market reference data is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data associated with the one or more responsive items at a current time or period of time;

evaluate the plurality of attributes for each responsive item in the metric data relative to the plurality of attributes identified for the respective item in the retrieved evaluation metric to dynamically discover relations within the attribute data, wherein discovery of one or more relationships comprising a difference in the attribute data triggers an automatic disclosure of the one or more relationships to the metric server adapter, wherein the discovered relationships enable the metric server adapter to contextually determine which of the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service are applicable to the responsive item in the metric data, wherein the metric server adapter uses the attributes and one or more parameter values identified for the respective item in the retrieved evaluation metric with predefined instructions determined to be applicable to the responsive item in the metric data to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting the metric data for the respective item;

normalize the metric data by conditionally executing, in coordination with the metric server adapter, the transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data as defined for each responsive item in the metric data, wherein execution of the at least one transaction-specific instruction causes one or more adjustment values to be generated and applied to the market reference price data for at least one responsive item that differs by at least one parameter value from the respective item in the retrieved evaluation metric, transforming the current market reference price data for the at least one responsive item and automatically producing one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference data sets for the respective item in the retrieved evaluation metric; and

generate at least one more-current evaluation metric for the at least one item as identified in the retrieved evaluation metric, wherein the at least one more-current evaluation metric is based, at least in part, on the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference data values produced for the at least one item in the retrieved evaluation metric;

wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, triggers an event, via the network interface, which causes a user-agent controlled computing device to be activated and configured for a data exchange, and configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one more-current evaluation metric generated for the at least one item in the retrieved evaluation metric, and to execute movement of the data to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to further generate at least one comparative metric, wherein at least one more-current evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item is divided by the retrieved evaluation metric, a predefined base market value, or one or more market values reported by an exchange or a third-party price reporting service for the at least one item, to generate a ratio or index value, and to manage at least one user interface to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one comparative metric to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to generate at least one evaluation metric comprising a measure of the value of the difference between at least one more-current evaluation metric generated for the at least one item and the retrieved evaluation metric for the at least one item, wherein the value of the difference is expressed as a numerical value or a percent of change.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, configure the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the value of the difference between a more-current evaluation metric generated for the at least one item and a previously generated evaluation metric for the at least one item to at least a computing device under the control of the user-agent for visual display, and wherein the one or more user interfaces facilitate interactions that cause the metrics application to expose underlying data in one or more layers of detail, to simultaneously display different data in multiple windows, to display linked information, or to display the same data in a different form or from one or more different sources of metric data or as determined at a different period of time.

64. The system of claim 60, wherein execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to automatically update the at least one evaluation metric that was previously generated for the at least one item in response to occurrence of a predefined event, at a predefined time, or over a predefined interval of time, wherein the predefined interval of time includes a continuously sliding interval of time that represents a most current period of time.

65. The system of claim 60, wherein the metrics application is separate from the metric server adapter, and wherein coordinated operation of the metrics application with the metric server adapter enables the metrics application to algorithmically process the attribute data to dynamically identify at least one relationship comprising a difference within the attribute data, including a new or previously unknown relationship, and to produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values, in coordination with the metric server adapter, without relying on a pre-constructed model having a predefined relationship that remains fixed within the model and outputs predictable results.

66. The system of claim 60, wherein execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes the metrics application to filter the one or more responsive items in the metric data for inclusion or exclusion using one or more predefined control values, criteria, and/or parameter values, before producing, in coordination with the metric server adapter, the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values for at least one item.

67. The system of claim 60, wherein the parameter values represent variable attributes including 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.

68. The system of claim 60, wherein the metric server adapter is programmed to coordinate a conditional execution of transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, including:

one or more formulas operationally combining data values and using variables relating to a plurality of items, parameters, events, or metric data sources;

or

a combination of instructions, including validation rules and/or statistical criteria, relating to a plurality of items, attributes, parameters, events, metric data sources, obtained market reference data, transaction-specific market reference price data values or evaluation metrics, the conditional execution of which is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter;

or

a combined evaluation service that includes one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, wherein at least one evaluation service is further combined with at least one transaction-specific instruction that specifies employing a process step, action, function, utility, or subroutine, or wherein at least one evaluation service is combined with at least one other evaluation service, wherein the conditional execution of the combined evaluation service is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter.

69. The system of claim 60, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, configure the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the one or more more-current evaluation metrics generated from the at least one item to at least a user-agent controlled computing device for visual display, wherein the one or more user interfaces facilitate interactions that cause the metrics application to expose underlying data in one or more layers of detail, to simultaneously display different data in multiple windows, to display linked information, or to display the same data in a different form or from one or more different sources of metric data or as determined at a different period of time.

70. The system of claim 60, wherein at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes at least one evaluation metric to be generated that provides a predefined performance measure, wherein the at least one more-current evaluation metric generated for the at least one item is a predefined data element that is automatically input into at least one predefined algorithm preassociated with the subsequently-invoked evaluation service and used to generate, at least in part, the predefined performance measure, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one performance measure to a user-agent controlled computing device and/or one or more outputs that were predefined in one or more user-agent customized instructions that pertain to the at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service.

71. The system of claim 60, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution at least one transaction-specific instruction for managing metric data enables the metric server adapter to identify an item from a plurality of attributes that were predefined and preassociated with the item by the user-agent, or alternately, to identify a plurality of attributes to be associated with a predefined item.

72. In a networked service provider environment usable via system-managed user interfaces, a system having a governing logic application for managing market reference data that operates independently from, yet in coordination with, a separate production application, the system comprising:

a remotely-located service provider server comprising;

a network interface;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, implement a plurality of applications including;

a metric server adapter; and

a metrics application; and

a processor in communication with the network interface and the computer-readable medium, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium;

wherein;

the metric server adapter is a governing logic application programmed to autonomously manage at least one evaluation service and a plurality of predefined instructions for managing metric data, including a user-agent'"'"'s customized instructions or industry-specific instructions, to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, and to coordinate a conditional execution of transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions are preassociated with attributes predefined for an item and/or one or more parameter values, wherein the parameter values representing attributes or conditions are variable for specific items or transactions, and wherein the predefined instructions are stored in a memory accessible to the service provider server;

the metrics application is a production application programmed to control invocation of the at least one evaluation service and, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to conditionally execute one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data and generate one or more evaluation metrics that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service, and to manage one or more interfaces that facilitate communications with the remotely-located service provider server, and

in operation, in response to a triggering event or at a predefined time or over a predefined interval of time, the metrics application configures the service provider server to;

retrieve, from one or more data storages or data sources accessible to the service provider server, at least one product specification data set or price data set previously processed by the service provider server, wherein the at least one retrieved data set meets one or more criteria predefined in the at least one user-agent customized instruction and identifies at least one item defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes two or more parameter values, or identifies a plurality of items defined by a plurality of attributes that differ in accordance with at least one parameter value; and

wherein the retrieval of at least one data set triggers the metrics application to automatically invoke the at least one evaluation service, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service causes the metrics application to;

obtain metric data from at least one data source accessible to the service provider server for each retrieved data set, wherein the obtained metric data represents market reference data for at least one item having attributes that are responsive to attributes of the at least one item as identified in the retrieved data set, and wherein each responsive item in the market reference data is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data for the one or more responsive items at a current time or period of time;

evaluate the plurality of attributes defined for each responsive item in the metric data relative to the plurality of attributes for the respective at least one item as identified in the retrieved data set to dynamically discover relations within the attribute data, wherein discovery of one or more relationships comprising a difference in the attribute data triggers an automatic disclosure of the one or more relationships to the metric server adapter, wherein the discovered relationships enable the metric server adapter to contextually determine which of the predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service are applicable to the responsive item in the metric data, wherein the metric server adapter uses the attributes and one or more parameter values identified for the respective item in the retrieved data set with predefined instructions determined to be applicable to the responsive item in the metric data to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting the metric data for the respective item;

normalize the metric data by conditionally executing, in coordination with the metric server adapter, the transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data as defined for each responsive item in the metric data for the respective item, wherein execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes one or more adjustment values to be generated and applied to the market reference price data for at least one responsive item that differs by at least one parameter value from the respective at least one item identified in the retrieved data set, transforming the current market reference price data for the at least one responsive item and automatically producing one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference data values for the respective item as identified in the retrieved data set; and

generate one or more evaluation metrics that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service for the at least one item as identified in each retrieved data set, wherein each evaluation metric is based, at least in part, on the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the respective item as identified in the retrieved data set; and

wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, triggers an event, via the network interface, which causes a user-agent controlled computing device to be activated and configured for a data exchange, and configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item as identified in the at least one retrieved data set, and to execute movement of the data to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the predefined interval of time includes a continuously sliding interval of time that represents a most current period of time.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the at least one retrieved data set was previously received by the service provider server and stored in one or more data storages accessible to the service provider server.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is separate from the metric server adapter, and wherein coordinated operation of the metrics application with the metric server adapter enables the metrics application to algorithmically process the attribute data to dynamically identify at least one relationship comprising a difference within the attribute data, including a new or previously unknown relationship, and to produce one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values, in coordination with the metric server adapter, without relying on a pre-constructed model having a predefined relationship that remains fixed within the model and outputs predictable results.

76. The system of claim 72, wherein the predefined instructions for managing metric data were not predefined for a specific transaction.

77. The system of claim 72, wherein the parameter values represent variable attributes including 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.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein delivery comprises a financial delivery.

79. The system of claim 77, wherein the delivery date or time of service is in the future, and comprises a forward price transaction type.

80. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one retrieved data set identifies a bundle of items defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that differs by at least one parameter value or wherein at least one item identified in at least one retrieved data set is a combined item that represents a packaged product or transaction, a tally, or an assembly of one or more component parts, wherein each component part is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that differs by at least one parameter value.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the combined item identified in at least one retrieved data set comprises a packaged set of transactions, wherein each transaction in the packaged set of transactions identifies at least one item that is defined by two or more parameter values, or a plurality of items that differ in accordance with at least one parameter value.

82. The system of claim 80, wherein at least one retrieved data set is a combined data set that combines a plurality of items or component parts that were identified by two or more user-agents, and wherein each item or component part in the combined data set is only offered in combination with all other items or component parts in the combined data set.

83. The system of claim 72, wherein price data associated with at least one item identified in a retrieved data set is specified as a formula in which the price of at least one item is to be determined at one or more times in the future using, at least in part, one or more market prices that are to be reported by a specific data source or one or more evaluation metrics that are to be generated by the service provider server, wherein the metrics application automatically obtains the one or more reported market prices or generates the one or more evaluation metrics at the one or more times as specified, wherein the metrics application automatically derives a price for at the least one item in accordance with the specified formula, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the price determined for the at least one item as identified in the retrieved data set to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

84. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes at least one evaluation metric to be generated, wherein price data associated with the at least one item identified in a retrieved price data set is divided by at least one of the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the at least one item identified in the retrieved price data set, to generate a relative value metric comprising a ratio or index value.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to filter the responsive items in the market reference data for inclusion or exclusion using the relative value metric generated for the at least one item as identified in each retrieved price data set, wherein only retrieved data sets with a ratio or index value less than or equal to one are communicated to the user-agent controlled computing device.

86. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes the metrics application to filter the responsive items in the metric data for inclusion or exclusion using one or more predefined control values and/or parameter values, before producing the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item identified in the retrieved data set.

87. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to facilitate data communication in XML format, enabling the metrics application to dynamically change, dynamically route, and/or pre-configure data for movement of the data in an integrated data exchange.

88. The system of claim 72, wherein the metric server adapter is programmed to coordinate a conditional execution of transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, including:

one or more formulas operationally combining data values and using variables relating to a plurality of items, attributes, parameters, events, or metric data sources;

or

a combination of instructions, including validation rules and/or statistical criteria, relating to a plurality of items, attributes, parameters, vendors, events, metric data sources, obtained metric data, transaction-specific market reference price data values, or evaluation metrics, the conditional execution of which is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter;

or

a combined evaluation service that includes one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, wherein at least one transaction-specific instruction is further combined with at least one other transaction-specific instruction that specifies employing a process step, action, function, utility, or subroutine, or wherein at least one evaluation service is combined with at least one other evaluation service, wherein the conditional execution of the transaction-specific instructions of the combined evaluation service is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter.

89. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to dynamically apply the transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data defined by the metric server adapter for each of the one or more responsive items in the metric data and to only produce the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference data values for the at least one item identified in the retrieved data set when the one or more adjustment values resulting from execution of the transaction-specific instructions have been satisfactorily applied.

90. The system of claim 72, wherein the at least one evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to evaluate each responsive item in the metric data for satisfaction of one or more predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria and to only produce the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item identified in the retrieved data set using metric data that satisfies the predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria, and further causes a plurality of responsive items in the metric data to be evaluated for collective satisfaction of at least one criterion including a total volume in units per item over the particular time or period of time;

a measure of the frequency/liquidity of the responsive items over the particular time or period of time;

a measure of the concentration/fragmentation of the responsive items by the type of transaction;

or a measure of the concentration/fragmentation of the responsive items by the source of the metric data, and wherein the plurality of responsive items in the metric data are either determined to satisfy the at least one criterion and are used or are determined to not satisfy the at least one criterion and are excluded from use.

91. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one retrieved data set was exposed to the service provider server, via the network interface, by at least one seller-agent and/or third-party intermediary, without prompting by the service provider server, and wherein the at least one exposed data set was stored in at least one data storage accessible to the service provider server.

92. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction that pertains to the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed, causes the metrics application to obtain metric data for at least one alternate item, wherein the alternate item is a substitute item and/or differs by at least one parameter value from the at least one item as identified in the retrieved data set, and further causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to produce one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item identified in the retrieved data set using, at least in part, metric data for the at least one alternate item.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the use of metric data for items having attributes responsive to an alternate item or a substitute item that differs by at least one parameter value from the at least one item as identified in the retrieved data set requires the user-agent to predefine at least one user-agent customized instruction that preassociates the attributes and/or parameter values of the alternate or substitute item with the at least one item.

94. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction that pertains to the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instructions that, when executed, causes the metrics application to compare the at least one of the one or more more-current evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item in the retrieved data set to at least one previously-generated evaluation metric for the at least one item, a predefined base market value, or one or more market values reported by an exchange or a third-party price reporting service for the at least one item, and to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to communicate a result of the comparison, via the network interface, to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

95. The system of claim 72, wherein one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes an automatic alert to be triggered in response to at least one of the one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item identified in a retrieved data set exceeding or falling below a user-agent predefined trigger value for the at least one item, wherein the predefined trigger value is expressed as a numerical value, a percent of change, or a ratio or index value, and wherein the alert is communicated, via a system-managed user interface, to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

96. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to facilitate an integrated data exchange with at least one application running on a computing device in communication with the service provider server, and to execute movement of data representing at least one of the one or more evaluation metrics generated for at least one item as identified in the at least one retrieved data set to the application running on the computing device in the integrated data exchange, via the network interface, wherein the integrated data exchange does not include a pre-mapped or pre-structured electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the one or more evaluation metrics communicated in the integrated data exchange are used by the application running on the computing device in communication with the service provider server, at least in part, to update the cost of direct inputs to production, to value or re-value an item'"'"'s replacement cost for accounting or insurance purposes, to evaluate a selling price or an offer price, to calculate or re-calculate a selling price or an offer price, to generate a competitive market price comparison, or to forecast a return on inventory or a return on investment (ROI).

98. The system of claim 96, wherein the one or more evaluation metrics communicated in the integrated data exchange are used by the application running on the computing device in communication with the service provider server, at least in part, to value or re-value an over-the-counter (OTC) or off-exchange transaction, a basis trade or a hedge transaction, a forward contract, or to represent, at least in part, a value for:

at least one item underlying an exchange-traded contract, or

one or more items or component parts of an exchange-for-physical (EFP) transaction or an exchange-for-swap transaction (EFS), or an exchange-traded contract executed using an exchange-approved alternate-execution-procedure.

99. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one computing device in communication with the service provider server is a mobile computing device.

100. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction or at least one industry-specific instruction that pertains to the at least one invoked evaluation service enables the metric server adapter to identify an item from the plurality of attributes and/or parameter values that were predefined and the at least one user-agent customized instruction or the at least one industry-specific instruction and preassociated with the item, or alternately, to identify the plurality of attributes and/or parameter values to be associated with a predefined item.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions for managing metric data that pertain to the at least one invoked evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction for adapting metric data that, when executed, causes the metrics application to query one or more data sources accessible to the service provider server for metric data responsive to the at least one item identified in a retrieved data set, wherein the plurality of attributes and/or parameter values that were predefined for or preassociated with the at least one item are used to identify a responsive item in the metric data.

102. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to automatically query one or more databases or data sources accessible to the service provider server or to monitor one or more data streams to obtain metric data for one or more items responsive to the attributes of the at least one item identified in the retrieved data set.

103. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to generate at least one evaluation metric for the at least one item as identified in a retrieved data set under multiple evaluation scenarios, wherein at least one evaluation scenario references an alternate item, alternate parameter, alternate time or period of time, alternate metric data source, or combination thereof, or wherein at least one evaluation scenario causes the metrics application to filter the obtained metric data using one or more control values, criteria, or parameters before producing one or more more-current transaction-specific market price data values for the at least one item, wherein the at least one evaluation metric generated for the at least one item under each of the multiple evaluation scenarios are compared, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate a result of the comparison, via the network interface, to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

104. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, configure the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, at least one more-current evaluation metric generated for the at least one item as identified in at least one retrieved data set to at least a user-agent controlled computing device for visual display, and wherein the one or more user interfaces facilitate interactions that enable an exposure of underlying data in one or more layers of detail, a simultaneous display of different data in multiple windows, a display of linked information, or a display of the same data in a different form or from one or more different sources of metric data or as determined at a different period of time.

105. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to obtain only metric data resulting from a computer-based interaction and to use only electronically-created market reference price data to generate the one or more more-current evaluation metrics for the at least one item as identified in the at least one retrieved data set, and wherein the electronically-created metric data does not include human-reported transaction data or transaction data that was manually transcribed into a digital format.

106. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to obtain and use only metric data resulting from a purchase or executed contract to produce the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one item as identified in the at least one retrieved data set.

107. The system of claim 72, wherein the at least one retrieved data set includes a quantity value for each item as identified in the retrieved data set, and wherein the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for each item as identified in the retrieved data set comprises a comparable quantity.

108. The system of claim 72, wherein the at least one evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions for managing metric data that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one invoked evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes data expressed in units of measure to be consistently converted into standardized or common units of measure, or units of measure as specified for the at least one item identified in the retrieved data set, and to only produce the one or more more-current transaction specific market reference price data values for the at least one item using data possessing consistent units of measure.

109. The system of claim 72, wherein the transformation of the market reference price data occurs independent of unit-of-measure conversion of data in the metric data for responsive items that are defined by a unit-of-measure.

110. The system of claim 72, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to generate at least one adjustment value corresponding to at least one parameter value of the responsive item that differs from the corresponding parameter value of the item as identified in the retrieved data set using one or more predefined algorithms that were preassociated with the at least one evaluation service, including a least squares or curve-fit algorithm, wherein the at least one adjustment value serves to minimize a difference between the responsive item with the differing parameter value and (1) an average of the market reference price data of responsive items in the obtained metric data for the respective item at the current time or period of time, or (2) an average of market reference price data generated from a control group of items that are responsive to the parameter value of the respective item identified in the retrieved data set, and wherein the at least one adjustment value is applied to the market reference price data for the responsive item with the differing parameter value in the metric data.

111. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the subsequently-invoked evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction which, when executed by the metrics application, causes a predefined performance measure to be generated, wherein at least one of the one or more more-current transaction-specific market reference data values produced for the at least one item and/or the at least one of the one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item as identified in the retrieved data set is a predefined data element that is automatically input into at least one predefined algorithm preassociated with the subsequently-invoked evaluation service and used, at least in part, to generate the predefined performance measure, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the performance measure to at least a user-agent controlled computing device.

112. The system of claim 111, wherein the at least one predefined algorithm generates a business performance measure and/or a financial performance measure, that and wherein the algorithm was predefined in at least one user-agent customized instructions or at least one industry-specific instruction for managing metric data and preassociated with the at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service.

113. The system of claim 111, wherein invocation of the at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service and/or execution at least one transaction-specific instruction for managing metric data causes the metric application to generate one or more evaluation metrics that measure the performance of one or more purchasing strategies, one or more buyer-agents or seller-agents, one or more pre-negotiated contracts or programs, or a combination thereof, over one or more times or periods of time.

114. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, facilitate the exposure of at least a subset of the data received or generated by the service provider server to at least one tracking system, and wherein the exposed data is defined by a time or period of time.

115. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, facilitate control of one or more preprogrammed utilities or functions or applications running on the remotely-located service provider server or a user-agent controlled computing device in communication with the service provider server, and to execute movement of data in an integrated data exchange between the service provider server and the at least one preprogrammed utility or function or application, wherein the integrated data exchange does not include a pre-mapped or pre-structured electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission.

116. The system of claim 72, wherein the one or more more-current transaction specific market reference price data values and the one or more more-current evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item identified in the retrieved data set comprise synthetic values that represents market information and do not represent actual price data associated with an actionable bid or offer-to-sell.

117. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, enables a user-agent to predefine one or more instructions for managing metric data and preassociate the one or more instructions with attributes of an item, parameter, metric data source, vender, event, and/or one or more other instructions, and to store the predefined and preassociated instructions in a memory for retrieval by the metric server adapter when the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metrics application in response to the retrieval of at least one product specification data set or price data set previously processed by the service provider server on behalf of the user-agent.

118. The system of claim 72, wherein the discovered one or more relationships comprising a difference within the attribute data represent transitory data that is used by the at least one evaluation service and discarded.

119. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction causes the metrics application to filter the stored product specification data sets or price data sets and only retrieve data sets that satisfy one or more criteria predefined in the at least one user-customized instruction, wherein the predefined criteria limit the eligible data sets for retrieval to a particular catalog or pre-negotiated program, a particular buyer-agent or group of buyer-agents, a particular seller-agent or group of seller-agents, a particular transaction type or transaction size, a particular event, a particular location, a particular time or period of time, or at least one predefined parameter value.

120. The system of claim 72, wherein execution of at least one user-agent customized instruction causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to aggregate the more-current transaction specific market reference price data values produced for the at least one item as identified in each retrieved data set using one or more predefined or preselected methods or algorithms, and wherein the one or more more-current evaluation metrics communicated to at least the user-agent controlled computing device for the at least one item as identified in the retrieved data set are based, at least in part, on the aggregated more-current transaction specific market reference price data value produced for the at least one item.

121. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, facilitate one or more electronic communication services via the service provider server, wherein the one or more electronic communication services include at least one of a chat window, streamed voice communications, e-mail, or notes or text.

122. The system of claim 72, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, enables a user-agent to predefine one or more instructions for managing metric data and preassociate the one or more instructions with attributes of an item, parameter, metric data source, vendor, event, or one or more other instructions, and to store the predefined and preassociated instructions in a memory for retrieval by the metric server adapter when the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metrics application in response to the retrieval of at least one product specification data set or price data set previously processed by the service provider server on behalf of the user-agent.

123. In a networked service provider environment usable via system-managed user interfaces, a system having a governing logic application for managing market reference data that operates independently from, yet in coordination with, a separate production application, the system comprising:

a remotely-located service provider server comprising;

a network interface;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, implement a plurality of applications including;

a metric server adapter; and

a metrics application; and

a processor in communication with the network interface and the computer-readable medium, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium;

wherein;

the metric server adapter is a governing logic application programmed to autonomously manage at least one evaluation service and a plurality of predefined instructions for managing metric data, including a user-agent'"'"'s customized instructions or industry-specific instructions, to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, and to coordinate a conditional execution of transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions are preassociated with attributes predefined for an item and/or one or more parameter values, the parameter values representing attributes or conditions that are variable for specific items or transactions, and wherein the predefined instructions are stored in a memory accessible to the service provider server,

the metrics application is a production application programmed to control invocation of the at least one evaluation service and, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to conditionally execute one or more predefined instructions for adapting metric data and generate one or more evaluation metrics that that pertain to a user-agent and the at least one evaluation service, and to manage one or more interfaces that facilitate communications with the remotely-located service provider server, and

in operation, in response to a triggering event or at a predefined time;

or over a predefined interval of time, the metrics application automatically invokes the at least one evaluation service, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service causes the metrics application to generate at least one evaluation metric for at least one item that was predefined in one or more of the user-agent'"'"'s customized instructions and preassociated with the at least one evaluation service, wherein the at least one item is defined by attribute data that includes two or more predefined parameter values, or a plurality of items are defined by a plurality of attributes that differ in accordance with at least one predefined parameter value, and wherein identification of at least one item predefined by the user-agent further causes the metrics application to;

obtain metric data from at least one data source accessible to the service provider server for each predefined item, wherein the obtained metric data represents market reference data for at least one item having attributes that are responsive to attributes of the at least one predefined item, and wherein each responsive item in the market reference data is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data for the one or more responsive items at a current time or period of time;

evaluate the plurality of attributes defined for each responsive item in the metric data relative to the plurality of attributes for the respective item as predefined by the user-agent to dynamically discover relations within the attribute data, wherein the discovery of one or more relationships comprising a difference in the attribute data triggers an automatic disclosure of the one or more relationships to the metric server adapter, wherein the discovered relationships enable the metric server adapter to contextually determine which of the predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service are applicable to the responsive item in the metric data, wherein the metric server adapter uses the attributes and one or more parameter values identified for the respective item as predefined by the user-agent with the predefined instructions determined to be applicable to the responsive item in the metric data to dynamically define transaction-specific instructions for adapting the metric data for the respective item;

normalize the metric data by conditionally executing, in coordination with the metric server adapter, the transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data defined by the metric server adapter for each responsive item in the metric data for the respective item, wherein execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes one or more adjustment values to be generated and applied to the market reference price data for at least one responsive item in the metric data that differs by at least one parameter value from the respective item as predefined by the user-agent, transforming the current market reference price data for the at least one responsive item and automatically producing one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the respective item as predefined by the user-agent; and

generate at least one evaluation metric that pertains to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service for each item predefined by the user-agent, wherein each evaluation metric is based, at least in part, on the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the respective item as predefined by the user-agent; and

wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, triggers an event, via the network interface, which causes at least a computing device under control of the user-agent to be activated and configured for a data exchange, and configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one evaluation metric generated for the at least one item as predefined by the user-agent, and to execute movement of the data to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

124. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one interface that, in operation, enables the user-agent to predefine an item by a plurality of attributes including two or more parameter values and further enables the predefined item to be preassociated with one or more evaluation services, and to store the attributes in association with the predefined item, wherein the stored attributes are automatically associated with the item when the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metric application.

125. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one interface that, in operation, enables one or more instructions to be preassociated with attributes of an item, a parameter, a metric data source, a vendor, an event, and/or one or more other instructions, and stored by the metric server adapter in a memory accessible to the service provider server for retrieval when the at least one evaluation service is invoked by the metrics application.

126. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is separate from the metric server adapter, and wherein coordinated operation of the metrics application with the metric server adapter enables the metrics application to algorithmically process the attribute data to dynamically identify at least one relationship comprising a difference within the attribute data, including a new or previously unknown relationship, and to produce one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values, in coordination with the metric server adapter, without relying on a pre-constructed model having a predefined relationship that remain fixed within the model and outputs predictable results.

127. The system of claim 123, wherein the predefined instructions for managing metric data were not predefined for a specific transaction.

128. The system of claim 123, wherein the predefined interval of time includes a continuously sliding interval of time that represents a most current period of time.

129. The system of claim 123, wherein the parameter value or values represent attributes that are variable for an item, including variable conditions that apply to the user-agent predefined item.

130. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to obtain metric data from two or more different data sources.

131. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to obtain metric data comprising a plurality of market transaction data sets, wherein each transaction data set was previously exposed by at least one buyer-agent or at least one seller-agent.

132. The system of claim 123, wherein the parameter value or values represent variable attributes including 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.

133. The system of claim 132, wherein delivery comprises a financial delivery.

134. The system of claim 132, wherein the delivery date or time of service is in the future, and comprises a forward price transaction type.

135. The system of claim 123, wherein at least one predefined item comprises a bundle of items defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that differs by at least one parameter value, wherein the bundle of items is to be collectively evaluated as a single item, or wherein at least one predefined item is a combined item that represents a packaged product or transaction, a tally, or an assembly of one or more component parts, wherein each component part is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that differs by at least one parameter value from another component part.

136. The system of claim 135, wherein at least one combined item comprises a packaged set of transactions, wherein each transaction in the packaged set of transactions includes at least one item that is defined by a plurality of attributes having attribute data that includes two or more parameter values, or a plurality of items defined by a plurality of attributes that differ in accordance with at least one parameter value.

137. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, enables a user-agent to predefine an item and to further preassociate the item with one or more other predefined items, item attributes, parameters, data storages or data sources, or vendors, or events, and/or with one or more other predefined instructions, collectively forming a compound, grouped, or multi-variant data element.

138. The system of claim 137, wherein at least one instruction for managing metric data that was predefined by the user-agent further associates a unique label or code with the predefined compound, grouped, or multi-variant data element, wherein in response to identification of the unique label or code, the metric server adapter automatically applies the one or more predefined instructions that collectively form the compound, grouped, or multi-variant data element.

139. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to evaluate the obtained metric data for satisfaction of one or more predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria and to only generate the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the predefined item using metric data that satisfies the predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria, wherein the one or more predefined validation rules and/or statistical criteria cause the metrics application to evaluate the metric data for collective satisfaction of at least one of:

a total volume in units per item over the particular time or period of time;

a measure of the frequency/liquidity of the responsive items over the particular time or period of time;

a measure of the concentration/fragmentation of the responsive items by the type of transaction;

or a measure of the concentration/fragmentation of the responsive items by the source of the metric data, and wherein the plurality of responsive items in the metric data are either determined to collectively satisfy the at least one criterion and are used, or are determined to not collectively satisfy the criterion and are excluded from use.

140. The system of claim 123, wherein the metric server adapter is programmed to coordinate a conditional execution of the transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data by the metrics application, including:

one or more formulas operationally combining data values and using variables relating to a plurality of items, attributes, parameters, events, or metric data sources;

or

a combination of instructions, including validation rules and/or statistical criteria, relating to a plurality of items, attributes, parameters, events, metric data sources, obtained market reference data, transaction-specific market reference data values or evaluation metrics, the execution of which is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter;

or

a combined evaluation service that includes one or more transaction-specific instructions for adapting metric data, wherein at least one transaction-specific instruction is further combined with at least one other transaction-specific instruction that specifies employing a process step, action, function, utility, or subroutine, or wherein at least one evaluation service is combined with at least one other evaluation service, wherein the conditional execution of the transaction-specific instructions of the combined evaluation service is priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or subject to another method of control defined by the metric server adapter.

141. The system of claim 123, wherein a coordinated execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions by the metrics application causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the predefined item based, at least in part, on a formula, rule, or correlation that is applied to the market reference price data for at least one other item, wherein the at least one other item is an alternate item or a substitute item that differs by at least one parameter value from the predefined item.

142. The system of claim 141, wherein the use of metric data having attributes responsive to an alternate item or a substitute item that differs by at least one parameter value from the at least one item as predefined by the user-agent requires the user-agent to predefine at least one user-agent customized instruction that preassociates the attributes and/or parameter values of the alternate or substitute item with the at least one item.

143. The system of claim 123, wherein execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to compare the one or more transaction specific market reference price data values produced for at least one predefined item to a transaction specific market reference price data value produced for at least one other predefined item by the service provider server, wherein the other item is a different item or an item that differs by at least one parameter value, and further causes the metrics application to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the comparison to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

144. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions cause the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes the metrics application to obtain more-current metric data for at least one item having attributes responsive to attributes defined for the at least one item as predefined in at least one user-agent customized instruction that was preassociated with the at least one evaluation service, wherein the obtained metric data includes more-current market reference price data for the item or excludes previously-obtained metric data that is no longer responsive to the item or no longer represents market reference price data associated with the item at a particular time or period of time, and further causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to generate at least one more-current evaluation metric for the item using the more-current transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the at least one item as predefined by the user-agent.

145. The system of claim 144, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one more-current evaluation metric generated for the at least one predefined item to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

146. The system of claim 144, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to generate at least one more-current evaluation metric for the at least one item as predefined by the user-agent, at a predefined time, or over a predefined interval of time, in response to occurrence of a predefined event, or continuously, wherein a sliding interval of time represents a most current period of time.

147. The system of claim 144, wherein at least one more-current evaluation metric is generated for at least one predefined item over a series of times, periods of time, and/or delivery dates, wherein the series of times, periods of time, and/or delivery dates can include one or more times in the future.

148. The system of claim 144, wherein execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to trigger an automatic alert in response to the at least one more-current evaluation metric generated for at least one item exceeding or falling below a predefined trigger value that was predefined for the at least one item by the user-agent, wherein the predefined trigger value is expressed as a numerical value, a percent of change, or a ratio or index value, and wherein the alert is communicated, via a system-managed user interface, to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

150. The system of claim 144, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions that pertain to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service causes the metrics application to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one more current evaluation metric generated for the at least one predefined item to at least one computing device under control of a third-party that was predefined to receive the one or more more-current evaluation metrics in at least one predefined instruction that pertains to the user-agent and the at least one evaluation service.

151. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions further causes the metrics application to compare the at least one evaluation metric generated for the item as predefined by the user-agent to at least one previously-generated evaluation metric for the item as predefined by the user-agent, a predefined base market value, or one or more market values reported by an exchange or a third-party price reporting service for the one or more items, and to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate a result of the comparison, via the network interface, to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

152. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to generate at least one evaluation metric, wherein the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the user-agent predefined item is compared to a futures exchange reported price for a traded contract that represents market reference price data for an item that is responsive to the attributes of the at least one predefined item, and to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the result of the comparison to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

153. The system of claim 152, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to generate at least one evaluation metric comprising a measure of the value of the difference between at least one of the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the at least one user-agent predefined item and a futures exchange reported price for a traded contract that is responsive to the attributes of the user-agent predefined item.

154. The system of claim 152, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction further causes the metrics application to generate at least one evaluation metric, wherein at least one of the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the user-agent predefined item is a predefined data value that is automatically input into at least one predefined algorithm preassociated with the at least one evaluation service to generate, at least in part, a value for the user-agent predefined item at one or more times in the future, wherein the at least one predefined algorithm calculates one or more adjustments that are to be applied to the at least one transaction-specific market reference price data value produced for the user-agent predefined item, including at least one adjustment for a cost to hold and/or store the at least one user-agent predefined item from the current time or period of time until one or more times or periods of time in the future.

155. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one interface that, in operation, configures the remotely-located service provider server to facilitate an integrated data exchange between the processor of the service provider server and at least one application running on at least one other computing device in communication with the service provider server, via the network interface, and to execute movement of the at least one evaluation metric generated for at least one user-agent predefined item in an integrated data exchange, wherein the integrated data exchange does not include a pre-mapped or pre-structured electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission.

156. The system of claim 155, wherein the at least one evaluation metric communicated in the integrated data exchange is used by the application running on the at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent, at least in part, to value or re-value an item'"'"'s replacement cost for accounting or insurance purposes, to update the cost of direct inputs to production, to evaluate a selling price or an offer price, to calculate or re-calculate a selling price or an offer price, to generate a competitive market price comparison, or to forecast a return on inventory or a return on investment (ROI).

157. The system of claim 155, wherein the at least one evaluation metric communicated in the integrated data exchange is used by the application running on the at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent, at least in part, to value an over-the-counter (OTC) or off-exchange transaction, a basis trade or a hedge transaction, a forward contract, or to represent, at least in part, a value for:

at least one item underlying an exchange-traded contract, or

one or more items or component parts of an exchange-for-physical (EFP) transaction or an exchange-for-swap transaction (EFS), or an exchange-traded contract executed using an exchange-approved alternate-execution-procedure.

158. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to automatically query one or more databases or data sources accessible to the service provider server or to monitor one or more data streams to obtain metric data for one or more items responsive to attributes of the at least one user-agent predefined item.

159. The system of claim 158, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to query transaction data previously aggregated by a tracking system under control of the service provider server to obtain metric data for at least one item having attributes responsive to attributes of the at least one item as predefined by the user-agent, wherein the data stored by the tracking system represents market reference data received or generated by the service provider server for a plurality of user-agents, including unaffiliated user-agents, at a particular time or over a period of time.

160. The system of claim 123, wherein execution of at least one transaction-specific instruction causes the metrics application to filter, for inclusion or exclusion, the responsive items in the metric data using one or more predefined control values, criteria, or parameters, and to use only a filtered segment of the obtained market reference price data to generate the at least one evaluation metric for the at least one user-agent predefined item.

161. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to consistently convert data expressed in units of measure into standardized or common units of measure, or units of measure specified for the at least one user-agent predefined item, and to only produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one user-agent predefined item using data possessing consistent units of measure.

162. The system of claim 123, wherein the transformation of the market reference price data occurs independent of unit-of-measure conversion of data in the metric data for responsive items that are defined by a unit-of-measure.

163. The system of claim 123, wherein at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service and/or one or more predefined instructions for managing metric data that pertain to the at least one subsequently-invoked evaluation service causes the metric server adapter to define at least one transaction-specific instruction that, when executed by the metrics application, causes a predefined performance measure to be generated, wherein the at least one evaluation metric generated for at least one user-agent predefined item is a predefined data element that is automatically input into at least one predefined algorithm associated with the subsequent evaluation service and used, at least in part, to generate the predefined performance measure, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, the at least one evaluation metric to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

164. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one user interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to facilitate data communication in XML format, enabling the metrics application to dynamically change, dynamically route, and/or pre-configure data for movement of the data in an integrated data exchange.

165. The system of claim 123, wherein at least one other computing device in communication with the service provider server is a mobile computing device.

166. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to generate the at least one evaluation metric for the one or more user-agent predefined items under multiple evaluation scenarios, wherein at least one evaluation scenario references an alternate item, alternate parameter, alternate time or period of time, alternate metric data source, or combination thereof, or wherein at least one evaluation scenario causes the metrics application to filter the obtained market reference data using one or more control values, criteria, or parameters before generating the evaluation metric for the one or more items, wherein the evaluation metric generated for the one or more items under each of the multiple evaluation scenarios are compared, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage at least one interface that, in operation, configures the service provider server to communicate a result of the comparison, via the network interface, to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.

167. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, configure the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, for visual display the at least one evaluation metric generated for the at least one predefined item to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent, and wherein the one or more user interfaces facilitate interactions that enable an exposure of underlying data in one or more layers of detail, a simultaneous display of different data in multiple windows, a display of linked information, or a display of the same data in a different form or from one or more different sources of metric data or as determined at a different period of time.

168. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to obtain only metric data resulting from a computer-based interaction and to use only electronically-created market reference price data to produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one user-agent predefined item, wherein the electronically-created market reference price data does not include human-reported transaction data or transaction data that was manually transcribed into a digital format.

169. The system of claim 123, wherein invocation of the at least one evaluation service and/or execution of one or more transaction-specific instructions causes the metrics application to obtain and use only metric data resulting from a purchase or executed contract to produce the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values for the at least one user-agent predefined item.

170. The system of claim 123, wherein the at least one user-agent predefined item includes a quantity value for the predefined item, and wherein the one or more transaction-specific market reference price data values produced for the predefined item comprises a comparable quantity.

171. The system of claim 123, wherein the at least one evaluation metric generated for the at least one user-agent predefined item comprises a synthetic value that represents market information and does not represent actual price data associated with an actionable bid or offer-to-sell.

172. The system of claim 123, wherein the discovered one or more relationships comprising a difference within the attribute data represent transitory data that is used by the at least one evaluation service and then discarded.

173. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, facilitate integrated electronic communications via the service provider server, wherein the integrated electronic communications include at least one of a chat window, streamed voice communications, e-mail, or notes or text.

174. The system of claim 123, wherein the metrics application is programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, facilitate exposing at least a subset of the data received or generated by the service provider server to at least one tracking system, wherein the exposed data is defined by a time or period of time.

175. The system of claim 123, wherein the at least one item predefined by the user-agent pertains to a physical product, a raw material, an intangible product, a service, or a combination thereof.

176. The system of claim 123, wherein at least one user-agent customized instruction instructs the service provider server to communicate at least one evaluation metric generated for at least one item predefined by the user-agent to one or more predefined outputs, including third-party computing devices not under the control of either the user-agent or the service provider server, and wherein the metrics application is programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, causes the remotely-located service provider server to be configured to communicate, via the network interface, the one or more evaluation metrics generated for at least one user-agent predefined item to the one or more outputs predefined by the user-agent.

149. The system of 148, wherein exceeding or falling below a predefined trigger level further causes the metrics application to receive or retrieve a plurality of price data sets representing current offers to sell that are responsive to attributes of the at least one user-agent predefined item, wherein the metrics application configures the remotely-located service provider server to automatically (1) communicate, via a system-managed user interface, at least one request for quote for at least one user-agent predefined item to at least one seller-agent computing device on behalf of the user-agent, and to receive, from the at least one seller-agent computing device via the network interface, one or more price data sets responsive to at least one item, and/or (2) filter one or more of the user-agent'"'"'s pre-negotiated programs, contracts, catalogs, or unsolicited offers previously exposed to the service provider server, to retrieve one or more price data sets representing current offers to sell that are responsive to the at least one user-agent predefined item, wherein receipt of one or more price data sets causes the metric application, in coordination with the metric server adapter, to automatically generate one or more evaluation metrics for the at least one item as identified in each of the price data sets, and wherein the metrics application is further programmed to manage one or more user interfaces that, in operation, causes at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent to be activated and configured for a data exchange, and configures the service provider server to communicate, via the network interface, at least one of the plurality of received or retrieved price data sets and the corresponding one or more evaluation metrics generated for the at least one item as identified in each of the communicated price data sets to at least one computing device under the control of the user-agent.