Automated System for Adapting Market Data and Evaluating the Market Value of Items

• US 20140236801A1
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buymetrics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Buymetrics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hansen, Valerie
• Granted Patent: US 9,092,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/08 Sorting, i.e. grouping record carriers in numerical or other ordered sequence according to the classification of at least some of the information they carry by merging two or more sets of carriers in ordered sequence G06F7/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 : Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 : Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 : Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation

Abstract

An automated system for evaluating the market value of items includes invoking an evaluation service that causes a metric application to obtain a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to attributes of at least one item identified in a product specification data set and/or a price data set. Each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time. At least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data having parameter values that vary from the at least one item identified in the product specification data set, transforming the market reference price data and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets. A synthetic market value is determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or the price data set.

Claims

1. In a network service provider environment that includes at least one service provider and at least one user-agent, an automated system for evaluating the market value of items, the system comprising:

a service provider computing device comprising;

a network interface;

a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and

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

at least one database accessible to the processor, wherein the at least one database includes previously exposed market transaction data sets;

a metric manager executable by the processor, wherein the metric manager is configured to manage at least one evaluation service and a plurality of predefined instructions for adapting metric data; and

a metric application in communication with the metric manager, wherein the metric application is programmed to manage communications between a user-agent computing device and the service provider computing device and to coordinate invocation of the at least one evaluation service including execution of the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service,

wherein the metric application is further programmed to;

receive, from the user-agent computing device, one or more product specification data sets, wherein each product specification data set 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; and

for at least one item identified in a received product specification data set, invoke the at least one evaluation service to determine at least one synthetic market value for the item, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service causes the metric application to;

obtain, from the at least one database, a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to attributes of the at least one item identified in the product specification data set, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, wherein responsive to the predefined instructions, at least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets having parameter values that vary from the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set, transforming the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set; and

determine at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set, wherein the price data associated with the normalized market reference price data sets are input into one or more predefined algorithms associated with the at least one evaluation service to generate the at least one synthetic market value for the item,

wherein when the at least one synthetic market value satisfies predefined validity criteria, the metric application is further programmed to communicate the at least one synthetic market value to at least the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service is predefined and stored in the memory, and invoked in response to receiving a product specification data set identifying at least one item for the evaluation service.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a plurality of evaluation services are predefined and stored in the memory until selectively invoked by the metric application.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is programmed to invoke multiple evaluation services for the product specification data set under different evaluation scenarios, wherein at least one evaluation service references an alternate item and/or parameter combination or wherein at least one evaluation service is filtered by different evaluation criteria and/or evaluation parameters, and wherein the synthetic market values for the at least one item as determined by two or more different evaluation services are compared.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set is further compared and/or manipulated in one or more subsequent evaluation services.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one product specification data set received from the user-agent computing device includes price data corresponding to the at least one item, and wherein at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to compare the price data of the at least one item in the product specification data set to the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item, generating at least one comparison value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the obtained market transaction data sets include market reference price data that was previously exposed by at least one buyer agent or at least one seller agent and stored in one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the market transaction data sets include market reference price data that was previously gathered in one or more databases and exposed by a third party.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the service provider computing device is further configured to communicate one or more visual representations of the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set by the at least one evaluation service.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine and add a new evaluation service or to modify a predefined evaluation service or to specify at least one additional evaluation service to be invoked when the user-agent computing device provides at least one product specification data set for the new, modified, or additional evaluation service.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows the user-agent computing device to override the at least one evaluation service and to select a data field to be added to a currently in-progress evaluation service, or to remove a data field from a currently in-progress evaluation service, thereby modifying the evaluation service, wherein the metric manager is further configured to store the modified evaluation service for re-use.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising associating one or more of the predefined instructions with a specific item, a specific source of market transaction data, a specific parameter, and/or a specific event.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the predefined instructions further associate a specific item with one or more other items, item attributes, parameters, sources of market transaction data sets, or events, and/or with one or more other predefined instructions, thereby forming a compound, grouped, or multi-variant data object.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric manager is further configured to manage predefined instructions that include one or more dynamic or conditional rules, variables, or criteria, including:

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

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or another prespecified method of control;

a combination of evaluation services, wherein at least one evaluation service is further combined with one or more actions, functions, subroutines, and/or other evaluation services, the execution of which may be conditional, priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or another prespecified method of control;

or

one or more validation rules relating to a plurality of items, parameters, databases, normalized market price data sets, and/or calculated metric values, the application of which may be conditional, priority weighted, recursive, or subject to a prespecified method of control.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine instructions for exclusive use of the user-agent computing device or to modify one or more of the predefined instructions for adapting metric data, and to store the predefined or modified instructions until executed by the metric application in response to receipt of a product specification data set from the user-agent computing device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein one or more of the instructions as predefined or modified by the user-agent computing device include one or more predefined methods or algorithms preassociated with a specific item, a specific source of market transaction data, a specific parameter, and/or a specific event.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein one or more of the instructions as predefined or modified by the user-agent computing device specify obtaining metric data for an alternate item, alternate parameter, or market transaction data from an alternate source, for at least one item in the product specification data set.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the predefined instructions for adapting metric data apply to a plurality of users, and wherein at least one computing device is designated as an administrator for the evaluation services available to the plurality of users.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one computing device designated as the administrator is under control of a service provider, a cooperative, an institution, an organization, or a self-affiliated pool of users.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine or preselect one or more methods or algorithms to be applied to the plurality of normalized market reference price data sets to generate the at least one synthetic market value, wherein at least one predefined or preselected method or algorithm comprises at least one replicable mathematical process for determining a mean value, a median value, or variation of a mean or median.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service is configured to determine the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item identified in the product specification data set by calculating a volume-weighted average using the plurality of normalized market price data sets responsive to the at least one item.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows the user-agent computing device to identify an item, predefine the item'"'"'s attributes and one or more parameter values, and associate the item and/or one or more of the parameter values with one or more of the predefined instructions, wherein upon identification of the item, the metric manager automatically applies the predefined instructions that are associated with the attributes and/or parameter values of the identified item.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include a temporal function in which the at least one synthetic market value for the identified item is automatically generated at a predefined time, over a predefined interval of time, or upon an event.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include one or more validation rules and/or statistical criteria for validating (1) the obtained market transaction data sets and/or the normalized market reference price data sets, and/or (2) the at least one synthetic market value determined from the normalized market reference price data sets, and wherein the at least one synthetic market value is communicated to the user-agent computing device in response to being determined valid.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of normalized market reference price data sets is determined valid and used, or is determined invalid and excluded from use before determining the at least one synthetic market value.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of normalized market reference price data sets are collectively validated using the validation rules and/or statistical criteria before determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set, wherein the validation rules and/or statistical criteria consider at least one of:

total volume in units per item per period of time specified;

frequency/liquidity of the market transaction data sets;

concentration/fragmentation of the market transaction data sets by source of the transaction data;

or concentration/fragmentation of the market transaction data sets by the type of transaction.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter value or the two or more parameter values of the item or items pertain to a set of conditions associated with 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.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the product specification data set identifies at least one item for evaluation with one or more delivery or service dates in the future.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein in connection with ascertaining the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, determining if any of the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service are applicable to the obtained market transaction data set.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets includes price data for an item that is non-fungible in that the item in the obtained market transaction data set is not a perfect substitute for the item as identified in the product specification data set, wherein execution of the one or more predefined instructions causes the at least one adjustment value to be calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the at least one market transaction data set, and wherein the resulting transformation of the market reference price data in the market transaction data set occurs independent of unit-of-measure conversion of the market reference price data.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the market reference price data of a plurality of market transaction data sets are transformed independent of unit-of-measure conversion of the data.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to calculate and apply an adjustment value responsive to each varying parameter of at least one obtained market transaction data set having one or more varying parameter values, wherein the adjustment value minimizes a difference between the market transaction data set with the varying parameter and (1) an average of responsive market transaction data sets over the particular period of time, or (2) an average of a control group of market transaction data sets, and wherein the adjustment value is calculated using a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm and applied to the price data of the market transaction data set.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one predefined instruction managed by the metric manager causes the metric application to determine the at least one synthetic market value based, at least in part, on a formula, rule, or correlation that is applied to market transaction price data for at least one other item, wherein the at least one other item is a different item or varies by at least one parameter value from the item as identified in the product specification data set.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein a product specification data set identifies a plurality of items that are to be evaluated as a bundled item or wherein at least one item identified in the product specification data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more component parts, and wherein the bundled or combined item is offered or sold for a single price, the system further comprising predefined instructions that cause the metric application to determine a synthetic market value for the bundled or combined item, wherein executing the instructions causes the metric application to:

for each component of the bundled or combined item, obtain a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to the component from the at least one database, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time;

ascertain the parameter values for the component as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the component of the bundled or combined item;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, wherein responsive to the predefined instructions, at least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets, transforming the market transaction price data and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the component;

using the normalized market reference price data sets, determine at least one synthetic market value for the component;

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

sum the component market value totals, thereby generating a synthetic market value for the bundled or combined item.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein executing the instructions further causes the metric application to generate the at least one synthetic market value for the bundled or combined item under two or more evaluation services, wherein the synthetic market values determined by the two or more evaluation services are compared.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to automatically query one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device or monitor one or more data streams to obtain a market transaction data set responsive to the at least one item identified in the product specification data set and/or responsive to at least one item predefined by the user-agent computing device.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to filter the normalized market reference price data sets using one or more control values, including user-agent prespecified criteria and/or one or more parameter values, before determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to rank or sort the normalized market reference price data sets, and determine the at least one synthetic market value using only a predefined segment or percent of the ranked or sorted normalized market reference price data sets.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service or at least one predefined instruction limits the market transaction data sets available for processing to market reference transaction data sets exposed over a specified period of time, a current period of time, or in response to a specific event.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation service or at least one predefined instruction limits the market transaction data sets available for processing to market transaction data sets that resulted in a purchase or a contract.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the product specification data set includes a quantity value for the at least one item, wherein the normalized market reference price data sets comprise a comparable market value per unit for the at least one item, and wherein determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item comprises multiplying the comparable market value per unit by the quantity value for the at least one item.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to convert data denoted by one or more units of measure into standardized or common units of measure prior to determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item, wherein the one or more predefined instructions applicable to each market transaction data set are applied to data of standard or common units of measure, and wherein after determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set, the metric application is further programmed to reconvert the resulting data values back to the unit of measure as specified for the at least one item in the product specification data set, and then communicate the at least one synthetic market value to the user-agent computing device.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more predefined instructions cause the metric application to consistently convert data expressed in units of measure into one of the following:

standardized or common units of measure;

or

units of measure specified in the one or more predefined instructions;

or

units of measure specified for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor of the service provider computing device is further configured to enable integrated data exchange between the metric application and at least one other application running on a user-agent computing device and/or another computing device in communication with the service provider computing device.

45. The system of claim 1, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to automatically update the at least one synthetic market value as previously determined for the at least one item, wherein executing the instructions causes the metric application to:

obtain updated market transaction data sets having more-current market reference price data responsive to the at least one item, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions cause the updated market transaction data sets to be obtained continuously, at a predefined time or interval of time, or upon occurrence of a predefined event;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each market transaction data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service to the market transaction data sets, thereby transforming the market reference price data in the market transaction data sets and generating a plurality of more-current normalized market reference price data sets;

determine at least one updated synthetic market value for the at least one item, wherein the price data associated with the more-current normalized market reference price data sets are input into one or more predefined algorithms to generate the at least one synthetic market value for the item; and

communicate the updated synthetic market value to at least the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein determining an updated synthetic market value for the at least one item includes dynamically adding at least one additional or more-current market transaction data set, or excluding or not obtaining at least one market transaction data set that is no longer responsive to the at least one item or no longer represents market reference price data of the specified period of time, wherein specification of the period of time can include specification of an updated period of time.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the metric application is further programmed to update the at least one synthetic market value of the at least one item in real-time or near real-time.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include one or more validation rules and/or statistical criteria, and wherein the updated synthetic market value is communicated to the user-agent computing device in response to being determined valid.

49. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one subsequent evaluation service is configured to compare the updated synthetic market value for the at least one item to an earlier-determined synthetic market value, a base market value, or one or more third-party reported market values for the at least one item, and communicate the comparison to the user-agent computing device.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the comparison includes generating a ratio or index value by dividing the updated synthetic market value for the at least one item by the earlier-determined synthetic market value, base market value, or one or more third-party reported market values.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the service provider computing device is further configured to communicate the comparison to the user-agent computing device for visual display in the form of a table, chart, or graph.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the visual display is expandable to expose calculation detail, additional linked information, or the same data presented in a different format or as determined over a different period of time.

53. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include at least one validation rule that causes the metric application to statistically validate the at least one synthetic market value by measuring a deviation of the at least one synthetic market value as determined from an earlier-determined synthetic market value or a base market value for the at least one item, wherein exceeding a predefined threshold deviation from the earlier-determined or base market value for the at least one item causes a redetermination of the synthetic market value using the same and/or at least one preselected alternate evaluation service, and/or flagging of the determined synthetic market value as falling outside the predefined threshold deviation when communicating the at least one synthetic market value to at least the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

54. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to reproduce at least one previously determined synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set, wherein the metric application replicates steps of the evaluation service using the data associated with each step and produces auditable documentation for the previously determined synthetic market value.

55. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to generate at least one business performance measure and/or at least one financial measure in accord with the predefined instructions that pertain to the subsequent evaluation service, wherein the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set is a predefined data value that is automatically input into one or more predefined algorithms to generate the at least one business performance measure and/or at least one financial measure.

56. The system of claim 1, further comprising receiving instructions from the user-agent computing device that override the at least one evaluation service, wherein the instructions are associated with the at least one item in the product specification data set, and wherein the instructions indicate selection of an alternate or additional item, an alternate or additional parameter, an alternate database or an additional data source, or an alternate or additional evaluation service for the at least one item identified in the product specification data set.

57. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to impute one or more item attributes, parameters, or associations using one or more mathematical or statistical processes applied to at least one known item attribute, parameter, or instruction previously received from the user-agent computing device.

58. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item is a metric value that represents market information usable by the user-agent from whom the product specification data set was received, at least in part, to evaluate or model a bid, offer or contract, or to generate a counter-offer, negotiate or set a selling price for the at least one item.

59. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item is a metric value that represents market information usable by the user-agent from whom the product specification data set was received, at least in part, to evaluate at least one buyer'"'"'s purchases or at least one seller'"'"'s offers in comparison to the determined synthetic market value for the at least one item, or to evaluate the results of a prenegotiated program, catalog, or contract in comparison to the determined synthetic market value for the at least one item.

60. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item is a metric value that represents market information and does not represent actual price data associated with an actionable bid or offer.

61. The system of claim 1, further comprising storing data related to the product specification data set, the obtained market transaction data sets, the at least one synthetic market value determined for each item, and/or data related to the at least one evaluation service in one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the memory of the service provider computing device further includes a multi-value cross-compilation tool configured to interact with the data stored in the one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device.

63. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to expose the data in the obtained market transaction data sets and/or the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set to at least one tracking system.

64. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is further programmed to coordinate one or more preprogrammed utilities or functions including a calculator, a unit-of-measure converter, or a load building/sizing utility, wherein specific item and/or parameter data is automatically entered into a preprogrammed utility or function to produce at least one value.

65. The system of claim 1, wherein the metric application is programmed to coordinate invocation of subroutines of the at least one evaluation service and/or multiple evaluation services, in parallel, in combination, or sequentially.

160. The system of claim 1, wherein the market reference price data is limited to electronically created data resulting from a computer-based interaction.

161. The system of claim 160, wherein the market reference price data further does not include human-reported transaction data or transaction data manually transcribed into a digital format.

162. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one visual representation is expandable in which details of the obtained market transaction data sets and/or linked information related to the at least one item is exposed, or wherein the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item is presented in a different format or as determined over a different period of time.

163. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one varying parameter of at least one market transaction data set pertains to location, and the applied adjustment value for the varying location parameter is not determined by calculating a point-to-point cost of freight to transport the item from the location identified in the market transaction data set to the location identified in the product specification data set.

66. In a network service provider environment that includes at least one service provider and at least one user-agent, an automated system for evaluating the market value of items, the system comprising:

a service provider computing device comprising;

a network interface;

a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and

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

at least one database accessible to the processor, wherein the at least one database includes previously exposed market transaction data sets;

a metric manager executable by the processor, wherein the metric manager is configured to manage at least one evaluation service and a plurality of predefined instructions for adapting metric data; and

a metric application in communication with the metric manager, wherein the metric application is programmed to manage communications between a user-agent computing device and the service provider computing device and to coordinate invocation of the at least one evaluation service including execution of the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service,

wherein the metric application is further programmed to;

receive, on behalf of a user-agent, one or more price data sets, wherein each price data set includes 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, and wherein each price data set includes price data for the at least one item representing an actionable offer; and

for at least one item identified in a received price data set, invoke the at least one evaluation service to determine at least one synthetic market value for the item, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service that causes the metric application to;

obtain, from the at least one database, a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to attributes of the at least one item identified in the price data set, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the at least one item as identified in the price data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, wherein responsive to the predefined instructions, at least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets having parameter values that vary from the at least one item as identified in the price data set, transforming the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the at least one item in the price data set;

determine at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the price data set, wherein the price data associated with the normalized market reference price data sets are input into one or more predefined algorithms associated with the at least one evaluation service to generate the at least one synthetic market value for the item; and

compare the price data for the at least one item in the price data set to the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item, generating at least one comparison value,

wherein when the at least one synthetic market value satisfies predefined validity criteria, the metric application is further programmed to communicate the received price data set and the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the received price data set and/or the corresponding at least one comparison value, to at least the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein invoking the evaluation service further causes the metric application to divide the price data for the at least one item in the price data set by the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item, generating a relative value metric, represented as a ratio or index value.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the metric application is further configured to compare and/or rank a plurality of received price data sets by the relative value metric generated for the at least one item as represented in each price data set.

70. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is further configured to compare and/or rank a plurality of received price data sets by the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item as represented in each price data set.

71. The system of claim 66, further comprising receiving a plurality of price data sets wherein at least one item as represented in at least one price data set varies by one or more parameter values from the same item as represented in another price data set, and generating a relative value metric for the item as represented in each price data set, wherein the relative value metric for the at least one item as represented in each price data set provides an objective measure with which to compare the at least one item across a plurality of price data sets possessing unequal parameters.

72. The system of claim 66, wherein the obtained market-reference transaction data sets includes price data previously exposed by at least one buyer agent or one seller agent and stored in one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device.

73. The system of claim 66, wherein at least one synthetic market value as determined for the at least one item in the price data set is further compared and/or manipulated in one or more subsequent evaluation services.

74. The system of claim 66, wherein the at least one evaluation service is predefined and stored in the memory, and invoked in response to receiving a price data set identifying at least one item for the evaluation service.

75. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is configured to execute multiple evaluation services for the price data set under varying evaluation scenarios, wherein at least one evaluation service references an alternate item and/or parameter combination or wherein at least one evaluation service is filtered by different evaluation criteria and/or evaluation parameters, and wherein the synthetic market values for the at least one item as determined by two or more different evaluation services are compared.

76. The system of claim 66, wherein the service provider computing device is further configured to communicate one or more visual representations of the at least one synthetic market value and/or the relative value metric determined for the at least one item in one or more price data sets.

77. The system of claim 66, further comprising associating one or more of the predefined instructions with a specific item, a specific source of market transaction data, a specific parameter, and/or a specific event.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein the predefined instructions further associate a specific item with one or more other items, item attributes, parameters, sources of market transaction data sets, or events, and/or with one or more other predefined instructions, thereby forming a compound, grouped, or multi-variant data object.

79. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine and add a new evaluation service or to modify or customize a predefined evaluation service or to specify at least one additional evaluation service to be invoked when the user-agent computing device provides at least one price data set for the new, modified, or additional evaluation service.

80. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric manager is further configured to manage predefined instructions that include one or more dynamic or conditional rules, variables, or criteria, including:

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

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or another prespecified method of control;

a combination of evaluation services, wherein at least one evaluation service is further combined with one or more actions, functions, or subroutines, and/or with one or more other evaluation services, the execution of which may be conditional, priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or another prespecified method of control;

or

one or more validation rules relating to a plurality of items, parameters, databases, normalized market price data sets, and/or calculated metric values, the application of which may be conditional, priority weighted, recursive, or other prespecified method of control.

81. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine instructions for exclusive use of the user-agent computing device or to modify one or more of the predefined instructions for adapting metric data, and to store the predefined or modified instructions until executed by the metric application in response to receipt of a price data set on behalf of the user-agent computing device.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein one or more of the instructions as predefined or modified by the user-agent computing device include one or more predefined methods or algorithms preassociated with a specific item, a specific source of market transaction data, a specific parameter, and/or a specific event, and wherein execution of the one or more instructions causes at least one adjustment value to be applied to the price data of at least one obtained market transaction data set.

83. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine or preselect one or more methods or algorithms to be applied to the plurality of normalized market reference price data sets to generate the at least one synthetic market value, wherein at least one predefined or preselected method or algorithm comprises at least one replicable mathematical process for determining a mean value, a median value, or variation of a mean or median.

84. The system of claim 66, wherein the at least one evaluation service is configured to determine the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item identified in the at least one price data set by calculating a volume-weighted average using the plurality of normalized market reference data sets responsive to the at least one item.

85. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows the user-agent computing device to identify an item, predefine the item'"'"'s attributes and one or more parameter values, and associate the item and/or one or more parameter values with one or more of the predefined instructions, wherein upon identification of the item, the metric manager automatically applies the predefined instructions that are associated with the attributes and/or parameter values of the identified item.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include a temporal function in which the at least one synthetic market value for the identified item is automatically generated at a predefined time, over a predefined interval of time, or upon an event.

87. The system of claim 85, wherein the metric application is further programmed to automatically query one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device or monitor one or more data streams to receive one or more price data sets responsive to the predefined item, and to automatically determine a synthetic market value for the predefined item in each received price data set, wherein the programming causes the metric application to:

obtain a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to attributes of the at least one item identified in the price data set, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents current market reference price data;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each market transaction data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, transforming the current market reference price data of the market transaction data sets, and generating normalized market reference price data sets;

determine at least one synthetic market value for the predefined item from the normalized market reference price data sets; and

compare the item price data in the one or more received price data sets to the at least one synthetic market value determined for the predefined item, generating at least one comparison value.

88. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application receives the one or more price data sets from the user-agent computing device.

89. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application further comprises an interface that allows one or more seller-agents and/or third-party intermediaries to submit or expose one or more price data sets representing actionable offers and/or one or more catalogs that include actionable item price data to the service provider computing device, and wherein the received offers and/or catalogs are stored in one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device.

90. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is further programmed to solicit at least one seller-agent for one or more price data sets for an item on behalf of the user-agent, wherein the one or more price data sets are received from at least one seller-agent computing device via the network interface, and to automatically determine at least one synthetic market value for at least one item in the one or more received price data sets, wherein the programming causes the metric application to:

obtain a plurality of previously exposed market transaction data sets responsive to at least one item in the price data set;

execute the predefined instructions as applicable to the plurality of market transaction data sets, transforming the price data of the market transaction data sets and generating normalized market reference price data sets;

use the normalized market reference price data sets to determine at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the price data set; and

compare the price data for the at least one item in the price data set to the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item, generating at least one comparison value.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein the metric application is further programmed to receive an additional price data set from the seller-agent computing device via the network interface, wherein the additional price data set is received in response to a counter-offer communicated to the seller-agent computing device by the service provider computing device.

92. The system of claim 66, wherein the at least one parameter value or the two or more parameter values of the item or items pertain to a set of conditions associated with 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.

93. The system of claim 66, wherein the price data in at least one received price data set is defined as a formula and/or is derivable from one or more prices to be determined or reported at one or more periods of time in the future.

94. The system of claim 66, wherein execution of the one or more predefined instructions causes the adjustment value to be calculated and applied to the market reference price data of at least one market transaction data set, wherein the resulting transformation of the market reference price data in the market transaction data set occurs independent of unit-of-measure conversion of the data.

95. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is further programmed to calculate and apply an adjustment value responsive to each varying parameter of at least one obtained market transaction data set having one or more varying parameter values, wherein the adjustment value minimizes a difference between the market transaction data set with the varying parameter, and (1) an average of responsive market transaction data sets over the particular period of time, or (2) an average of a control group of market transaction data sets, and wherein the adjustment value is calculated using a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm and applied to the price data of the market transaction data set.

96. The system of claim 66, wherein at least one predefined instruction managed by the metric manager causes the metric application to determine the at least one synthetic market value based, at least in part, on a formula, a rule, or a correlation that is applied to market transaction price data for at least one other item, wherein the at least one other item is a different item or varies by at least one parameter value from the item as identified in the price data set.

97. The system of claim 66, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to filter the normalized market reference price data sets using one or more control values, including user-agent prespecified criteria and/or one or more parameter values, before determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the price data set.

98. The system of claim 66, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to rank or sort the one or more price data sets by the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in each price data set, and to communicate only a predefined segment or percent of the ranked or sorted price data sets to the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

99. The system of claim 66, wherein the at least one evaluation service or at least one predefined instruction limits the market transaction data sets available for processing to market reference transaction data sets exposed over a specified period of time, a current period of time, or in response to a specific event.

100. The system of claim 66, wherein the at least one evaluation service or at least one predefined instruction limits the market transaction data sets available for processing to market transaction data sets that resulted in a purchase or a contract.

101. The system of claim 66, wherein a price data set identifies a plurality of items that are to be evaluated as a bundled item or wherein at least one item identified in a price data set is a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more component parts, and wherein the bundled or combined item is offered or sold for a single price, the system further comprising predefined instructions that cause the metric application to determine a synthetic market value for the bundled or combined item, wherein executing the instructions causes the metric application to:

for each component of the bundled or combined item, obtain a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to the component from the at least one database, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time;

ascertain the parameter values for the component as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the component of the bundled or combined item;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, wherein responsive to the predefined instructions, at least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets, transforming the market transaction price data and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the component;

using the normalized market reference price data sets, determine at least one synthetic market value for the component;

multiply the determined synthetic market value for each component by a quantity value for each component, thereby generating a component market value total for each component;

sum the component market value totals, thereby generating a synthetic market value for the bundled or combined item; and

compare the price data for the bundled or combined item in the price data set to the synthetic market value determined for the bundled or combined item, generating at least one comparison value.

102. The system of claim 66, wherein at least one price data set and/or at least one obtained market transaction data set includes a combined item that represents a bundled product, a tally, a list, or an assembly of one or more component parts, and wherein the combined item is offered or sold for a single combined price, the system further comprising predefined instructions that cause the metric application to disaggregate the single combined price of the combined item into a plurality of components and price data corresponding to at least one component, wherein executing the instructions causes the metric application to:

for each component of the combined item, obtain a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to the component from the at least one database, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time;

ascertain the parameter values for the component as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the component of the combined item;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, wherein responsive to the predefined instructions, at least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets, transforming the market transaction price data and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the component;

using the normalized market reference price data sets, determine at least one synthetic market value for the component;

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

sum the component market value totals, thereby generating a synthetic market value total for the combined item;

then

generate a proportional value for at least one component of the combined item by dividing the synthetic market value determined for each component by the synthetic market value total for the combined item, producing a ratio or percent of the total market value for each component; and

calculate the price data associated with the at least one component by multiplying the single price quoted for the combined item by the proportional value generated for the at least one component.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein the metric application is further programmed to compare the price data calculated for the at least one component to the synthetic market value as determined for the component.

104. The system of claim 102, wherein invocation of at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to divide the price data calculated for the at least one component by the synthetic market value determined for the at least one component in the price data set to generate a relative value metric, and wherein when two or more price data sets having different evaluation parameters are received, comparing the component across the plurality of differing price data sets by the relative value metric generated for the component in each price data set.

105. The system of claim 66, wherein the price data set includes a quantity value for the at least one item, wherein the normalized market reference price data sets comprise a comparable market value per unit for the at least one item, and wherein determining at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item comprises multiplying the comparable market value per unit by the quantity value for the at least one item.

106. The system of claim 66, wherein one or more predefined instructions cause the metric application to consistently convert data expressed in units of measure into one of the following:

standardized or common units of measure;

or

units of measure specified in the one or more predefined instructions;

or

units of measure specified for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

107. The system of claim 66, wherein the processor of the service provider computing device is further configured to enable integrated data exchange between the metric application and at least one other application running on a user-agent computing device and/or another computing device in communication with the service provider computing device.

108. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is further programmed to automatically query one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device or monitor one or more data streams to obtain a market transaction data set responsive to the at least one item identified in at least one price data set and/or responsive to at least one item predefined by the user-agent computing device.

109. The system of claim 66, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include one or more validation rules and/or statistical criteria for validating (1) the obtained market transaction data sets and/or the normalized market reference price data sets, and/or (2) the at least one synthetic market value determined from the normalized market reference price data sets, and wherein the at least one synthetic market value is communicated to the user-agent computing device in response to being determined valid.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein each of the plurality of normalized market reference price data sets is determined valid and used, or is determined invalid and excluded from use before determining the at least one synthetic market value.

111. The system of claim 109, wherein the plurality of normalized market reference price data sets are collectively validated using the validation rules and/or statistical criteria before determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the price data set, wherein the validation rules and/or statistical criteria consider at least one of:

total volume in units per item per period of time specified;

frequency/liquidity of the market transaction data sets;

concentration/fragmentation of the market transaction data sets by source of the transaction data;

or concentration/fragmentation of the market transaction data sets by the type of transaction.

112. The system of claim 109, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include at least one validation rule that causes the metric application to statistically validate the at least one synthetic market value by measuring a deviation of the at least one synthetic market value as determined from an earlier-determined synthetic market value or a base market value for the at least one item, wherein exceeding a predefined threshold deviation from the earlier-determined or base market value for the at least one item causes a redetermination of the synthetic market value using the same and/or at least one preselected alternate evaluation service, and/or flagging of the determined synthetic market value as falling outside the predefined threshold deviation when communicating the at least one synthetic market value to at least the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

113. The system of claim 73, wherein at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to generate at least one business performance measure and/or at least one financial measure in accord with the predefined instructions that pertain to the subsequent evaluation service, wherein the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the price data set is a predefined data value that is automatically input into one or more predefined algorithms to generate the at least one business performance measure and/or at least one financial measure.

114. The system of claim 92, wherein the at least one parameter value or the two or more parameter values of the item or items further comprise a financial delivery.

115. The system of claim 66, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to automatically update the at least one synthetic market value as previously determined for the at least one item, wherein executing the instructions causes the metric application to:

obtain updated market transaction data sets having more-current market reference price data responsive to the at least one item, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions cause the updated market transaction data sets to be obtained continuously, at a predefined time or interval of time, or upon occurrence of a predefined event;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each market transaction data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service to the market transaction data sets, thereby transforming the market reference price data in the market transaction data sets and generating more-current normalized market reference price data sets;

determine at least one updated synthetic market value for the at least one item using the more-current normalized market reference price data sets; and

communicate the at least one updated synthetic market value to at least the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein determining an updated synthetic market value for the at least one item includes dynamically adding at least one additional or more-current market transaction data set, or excluding or not obtaining at least one market transaction data set that is no longer responsive to the at least one item or no longer represents market reference price data of the specified period of time, wherein specification of the period of time can include specification of an updated period of time.

117. The system of claim 115, wherein the metric application is further programmed to update the at least one synthetic market value of the at least one item in real-time or near real-time.

118. The system of claim 115, wherein the price data for the at least one item in the at least one price data set is compared to the at least one updated synthetic market value determined for the at least one item.

119. The system of claim 67, further comprising calculating an updated relative value metric for the at least one item in the at least one price data set by dividing the price data for the item in the price data set by the updated synthetic market value determined for the at least one item.

120. The system of claim 114, wherein invoking a subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to compare the updated synthetic market value for the at least one item to an earlier-determined synthetic market value for the at least one item, a base market value, or one or more third-party reported market values for the item, and communicate the comparison to the user-agent computing device.

121. The system of claim 120, wherein the service provider computing device is configured to communicate the comparison to the user-agent computing device for visual display in the form of a table, chart, or graph, and wherein the visual display is expandable to expose calculation detail, additional linked information, or the same data presented in a different format.

122. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is further programmed to impute one or more item attributes, parameters, or associations using one or more mathematical or statistical processes applied to at least one known item attribute, parameter, or instruction previously received from the user-agent computing device.

123. The system of claim 66, wherein instructions predefined by the user-agent computing device cause the metric application to:

obtain a plurality of previously exposed market transaction data sets representing market reference price data for an alternate item, wherein the alternate item is a substitute item or an item with at least one differing parameter value from that of the at least one item in the price data set;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each market transaction data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service, transforming the market reference price data in the market transaction data sets and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets; and

using the normalized market price data for the alternate item, determine at least one synthetic market value for the alternate item for comparison to the market value calculated for the at least one item in the price data set.

124. The system of claim 67, wherein, subject to user-agent predefined instructions, the service provider computing device is further enabled to automatically transmit on behalf of the user-agent a purchase notice to at least one user-agent providing the price data set with a lowest relative value metric for the at least one item in the price data set.

125. The system of claim 124, wherein, subject to instructions predefined by the user-agent computing device, the service provider computing device is further configured to automatically transmit the purchase notice via integrated data exchange to user-agent back-office or accounting system.

126. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is further programmed to expose the one or more received price data sets, and/or obtained market transaction data sets, and/or the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item and/or data related to one or more purchases by the user-agent computing device to at least one tracking system.

127. The system of claim 66, wherein the metric application is further programmed to coordinate execution of subroutines of the at least one evaluation service and/or multiple evaluation services, in parallel, in combination, or sequentially.

164. The system of claim 67, wherein one or more predefined instructions cause the metric application to trigger an alert to be communicated to one or more outputs in response to the relative value metric reaching a predefined trigger value above or below the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item.

165. The system of claim 66, wherein the market reference price data is limited to electronically created data resulting from a computer-based interaction.

166. The system of claim 165, wherein the market reference price data further does not include human-reported transaction data or transaction data manually transcribed into a digital format.

167. The system of claim 76, wherein at least one visual representation is configured to be expandable in which details of the obtained market reference transaction data and/or linked information related to the at least one item is exposed, or wherein the at least one synthetic market value and/or the relative value metric for the at least one item is presented in a different format, or as determined over a different period of time.

168. The system of claim 95 wherein at least one varying parameter of at least one market transaction data set pertains to location, and the applied adjustment value for the varying location parameter is not determined by calculating a point-to-point cost of freight to transport the item from the location identified in the market transaction data set to the location identified in the price data set.

169. The system of claim 115, wherein the metric application is configured to automatically update the price data in at least one received price data set using the updated synthetic market value determined for the at least one item, wherein the price data in the price data set was predefined as a formula and/or specified to be derived from a synthetic market value, and wherein the updated synthetic market value is to be determined continuously, at a predefined time or interval of time, or upon occurrence of a predefined event.

68. The system of 67, wherein the relative value metric summarily measures the multi-parameter relationship of the item price data in the at least one price data set to the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in a single measure, wherein a relative value metric of less than one (<

1.0) is indicative of a price less than the item'"'"'s determined synthetic market value, and a relative value metric greater than one (>

1.0) is indicative of a price higher than the item'"'"'s determined synthetic market value.

128. In a network service provider environment that includes at least one service provider and at least one user-agent, an automated system for evaluating the market value of items, the system comprising:

a service provider computing device comprising;

a network interface;

a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and

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

at least one database accessible to the processor, wherein the at least one database includes previously exposed market transaction data sets;

a metric manager executable by the processor, wherein the metric manager is configured to manage at least one evaluation service and a plurality of predefined instructions for adapting metric data; and

a metric application in communication with the metric manager, wherein the metric application is programmed to manage communications between a user-agent computing device and the service provider computing device and to coordinate invocation of the at least one evaluation service including execution of the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service,

wherein the metric application is further programmed to;

receive, from the user-agent computing device, one or more product specification data sets, wherein each product specification data set includes 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;

receive, on behalf of the user-agent, one or more actionable price data sets responsive to one or more of the items in the product specification data sets, wherein each price data set includes price data for the one or more items and is further defined by at least one parameter value; and

for at least one item identified in the at least one product specification data set and represented in at least one responsive price data set, invoke the at least one evaluation service to determine at least one synthetic market value for the item, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service causes the metric application to;

obtain, from the at least one database, a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to attributes of the at least one item identified in the product specification data set, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time, and wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set or as represented in another obtained market transaction data set;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, wherein responsive to the predefined instructions, at least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets having parameter values that vary from the at least one item as identified in the product specification data set, transforming the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the at least one item in the product specification data set; and

determine at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set, wherein the price data associated with the normalized market reference price data sets are input into one or more predefined algorithms associated with the at least one evaluation service to generate the at least one synthetic market value for the item, and

wherein the metric application is further programmed to;

for at least one item identified in the at least one product specification data set and represented in at least one responsive price data set, invoke the at least one evaluation service to determine at least one synthetic market value for the item, wherein invoking the at least one evaluation service causes the metric application to;

obtain, from the at least one database, a plurality of market transaction data sets responsive to attributes of the at least one item identified in the price data set, wherein each obtained market transaction data set is defined by at least one parameter value and represents market reference price data of a particular period of time;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each obtained market transaction data set, wherein at least one of the plurality of obtained market transaction data sets differs by one or more parameter values from the at least one item as identified in the price data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service as applicable to each of the market transaction data sets, wherein responsive to the predefined instructions, at least one adjustment value is calculated and applied to the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets having parameter values that vary from the at least one item as identified in the price data set, transforming the market reference price data of the market transaction data sets and generating a plurality of normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the at least one item in the price data set; and

determine at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the price data set, wherein the price data associated with the normalized market reference price data sets are input into one or more predefined algorithms associated with the at least one evaluation service to generate the at least one synthetic market value for the item,

wherein the metric application is programmed further to determine one or more comparison values, wherein the programming causes the metric application to;

compare the synthetic market value determined for at least one item in the at least one product specification data set with the synthetic market value determined for the corresponding item in at least one price data set; and

/or

compare the synthetic market value determined for at least one item in the product specification data set with the price data corresponding to the at least one item in at least one price data set; and

/or

compare the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in at least one price data set with the price data corresponding to the at least one item in the price data set, and

wherein the service provider computing device is further configured to;

communicate the one or more comparison values via the network interface to at least the user-agent computing device.

129. The system of claim 128, further comprising comparing two or more received price data sets, wherein said comparing includes ranking and/or grouping the two or more price data sets by the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in each price data set.

130. The system of claim 128, wherein the product specification data set and the at least one price data set include a quantity value for the at least one item, wherein the normalized market reference price data sets comprise a comparable market value per unit for the at least one item, and wherein determining at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item comprises multiplying the comparable market value per unit by the quantity value for the at least one item.

131. The system of claim 128, wherein at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to divide the price data for the at least one item in the at least one price data set by the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item, generating a relative value metric, represented as a ratio or index value.

132. The system of claim 128, wherein at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to divide the synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the at least one price data set by the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set, generating a ratio or index value.

133. The system of claim 128, wherein at least one subsequent evaluation service causes the metric application to divide the price data for the at least one item in the at least one price data set by the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set, generating a ratio or index value.

134. The system of claim 131, further comprising comparing two or more received price data sets, wherein said comparing includes ranking and/or grouping the two or more price data sets by the relative value metric generated for the at least one item as represented in each price data set.

135. The system of claim 134, wherein the at least one item as represented in at least one price data set varies by one or more parameter values from the same item as represented in another price data set, and wherein the relative value metric for the at least one item as represented in each price data set provides an objective measure with which to compare and the at least one item across the plurality of price data sets possessing unequal parameters.

136. The system of claim 128, wherein the at least one synthetic market value determined for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or in at least one price data set is further compared and/or manipulated in one or more subsequent evaluation services.

137. The system of claim 128, wherein the at least one evaluation service is predefined and stored in the memory, and invoked in response to receiving a product specification data set identifying at least one item for the evaluation service.

138. The system of claim 128, wherein the service provider computing device is further configured to communicate one or more visual representations of the one or more comparison values, wherein the one or more visual representations are expandable to expose additional detail or linked information, or the same evaluation service presented in a different format or as determined over a different period of time.

139. The system of claim 128, further comprising associating one or more of the predefined instructions with a specific item, a specific source of market transaction data, a specific parameter, and/or a specific event.

140. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine and add a new evaluation service or to modify a predefined evaluation service or to specify at least one additional evaluation service to be invoked when the user-agent computing device provides at least one product specification data set for the new, modified, or additional evaluation service.

141. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric manager is further configured to manage one or more dynamic or conditional rules, variables, or criteria, including:

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

a combination of rules, variables, or criteria relating to a plurality of items, parameters, and/or databases, the application of which may be conditional, priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or another prespecified method of control;

a combination of evaluation services, wherein at least one evaluation service is further combined with one or more actions, functions, or subroutines, and/or with one or more other evaluation services, the execution of which may be conditional, priority weighted, sequential, recursive, or another prespecified method of control;

or

one or more validation rules relating to a plurality of items, parameters, databases, normalized market price data sets, and/or calculated metric values, the application of which may be conditional, priority weighted, recursive, or other prespecified method of control.

142. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to predefine instructions for exclusive use of the user-agent computing device or to modify one or more of the predefined instructions for adapting metric data, and to store the predefined or modified instructions until executed by the metric application in response to receipt of a product specification data set from the user-agent computing device.

143. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows a user-agent computing device to identify or preselect one or more methods or algorithms to be applied to the plurality of normalized market reference price data sets to generate the at least one synthetic market value, wherein at least one identified or preselected method or algorithm comprises at least one replicable mathematical process for determining a mean value, a median value, or variation of a mean or median.

144. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric manager further comprises an interface that allows the user-agent computing device to identify an item, predefine the item'"'"'s attributes and one or more parameter values, and associate the item and/or one or more of the parameter values with one or more of the predefined instructions, wherein upon identification of the item, the metric manager automatically applies the predefined instructions that are associated with the attributes and/or parameter values of the identified item.

145. The system of claim 128, wherein the obtained market reference transaction data sets includes price data previously exposed by at least one buyer agent or seller agent and stored in one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device.

146. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric application is further programmed to automatically query one or more databases accessible to the service provider computing device or monitor one or more data streams to obtain a market transaction data set responsive to the at least one item identified in the product specification data set and/or responsive to at least one item predefined by the user-agent computing device and/or responsive to at least one item in the at least one received price data set.

147. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric application is further programmed to calculate and apply an adjustment value responsive to each varying parameter of at least one obtained market transaction data set having one or more varying parameter values, wherein the adjustment value minimizes a difference between the market transaction data set with the varying parameter and (1) an average of responsive market transaction data sets over the particular period of time, or (2) an average of a control group of market transaction data sets, and wherein the adjustment value is calculated using a least squares or similar curve-fit algorithm and applied to the price data of the market transaction data set.

148. The system of claim 128, wherein at least one predefined instruction managed by the metric manager causes the metric application to determine the at least one synthetic market value based, at least in part, on a formula, rule, or correlation that is applied to market transaction price data for at least one other item, wherein the at least one other item is a different item or varies by at least one parameter value from the item as identified in the product specification data set or at least one price data set.

149. The system of claim 128, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include one or more validation rules and/or statistical criteria for validating (1) the obtained market transaction data sets and/or the normalized market reference price data sets, and/or (2) the at least one synthetic market value determined from the normalized market reference price data sets, and wherein the at least one synthetic market value is communicated to the user-agent computing device in response to being determined valid.

150. The system of claim 128, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to automatically update the at least one synthetic market value as previously determined for the at least one item, wherein executing the instructions causes the metric application to:

obtain updated market transaction data sets having more-current market reference price data responsive to the at least one item, wherein one or more of the predefined instructions cause the updated market transaction data sets to be obtained continuously, at a predefined time or interval of time, or upon occurrence of a predefined event;

ascertain the parameter values for the at least one item as represented in each market transaction data set;

execute the predefined instructions that pertain to the at least one evaluation service to the market transaction data sets, thereby transforming the market reference price data in the market transaction data sets and generating a plurality of more-current normalized market reference price data sets responsive to the at least one item; and

determine at least one updated synthetic market value for the at least one item, wherein the price data associated with the more-current normalized market reference price data sets are input into one or more predefined algorithms to generate the at least one updated synthetic market value for the item.

151. The system of claim 150, wherein determining an updated synthetic market value for the at least one item includes dynamically adding at least one additional or more-current market transaction data set, or excluding or not obtaining at least one market transaction data set that is no longer responsive to the at least one item or no longer represents market reference price data of the specified period of time, wherein specification of the period of time can include specification of an updated period of time.

152. The system of claim 150, wherein the metric application is further configured to regenerate at least one comparison value using the at least one updated synthetic market value.

153. The system of claim 150, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include one or more validation rules and/or statistical criteria, and when the updated synthetic market value satisfies the validity criteria, the metric application is further programmed to communicate the at least one updated synthetic value to the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

154. The system of claim 128, wherein the one or more predefined instructions include at least one validation rule that causes the metric application to statistically validate the at least one synthetic market value by measuring a deviation of the at least one synthetic market value as determined from an earlier-determined synthetic market value or a base market value for the at least one item, wherein exceeding a predefined threshold deviation from the earlier-determined or base market value for the at least one item causes a redetermination of the synthetic market value using the same and/or at least one preselected alternate evaluation service, and/or flagging of the determined synthetic market value as falling outside the predefined threshold deviation when communicating the at least one synthetic market value to at least the user-agent computing device via the network interface.

155. The system of claim 128, wherein execution of one or more predefined instructions causes the metric application to filter the normalized market reference price data sets using one or more control values, including user-agent prespecified criteria and/or one or more parameter values, before determining the at least one synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set.

156. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric application is further enabled to expose the obtained transaction data, the received price data and/or the synthetic market value for the at least one item in the product specification data set and/or the price data set to at least one tracking system.

157. The system of claim 128, wherein the metric application is programmed to coordinate invocation of subroutines of the at least one evaluation service and/or multiple evaluation services, in parallel, in combination, or sequentially.

158. The system of claim 128, wherein, subject to instructions predefined by the user-agent computing device, the service provider computing device is further configured to automatically transmit on behalf of the user-agent a purchase notice to at least one seller-agent from whom a price data set was received.

159. The system of claim 158, wherein, subject to instructions predefined by the user-agent computing device, the service provider computing device is further enabled to automatically transmit a purchase notice to user-agent back-office or accounting system via integrated data exchange.

170. The system of claim 128, wherein the price data is limited to electronically created data resulting from a computer-based interaction.

171. The system of claim 170, wherein the price data further does not include human-reported transaction data or transaction data manually transcribed into a digital format.