Demandtec, Inc.

Decisionnext, Inc.

Michael R Neal

Phil Delurgio

Suzanne Noel Valentine

Krishna Venkatraman

Hau Leung Lee

Rob Parkin

John Close

Robert David Pierce

David Rodriguez Gomez

Arden Martin Arnold

Hua Lee

Tamara Pringle

In accordance with various embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device including a display device and one or more input devices. The method includes displaying, on the display device, a first graphing area including a first section presenting a plot of a first set of data points for a first variable and a second section. The method includes detecting, via the one or more input devices, a user input indicative of a path within a second section. The method includes determining, based on the user input indicative of a path within the second section, a second set of data points for the first variable. The method includes determining, based at least on the second set of data points for the first variable, a set of data points for a second variable. The method includes displaying, on the display device, a second graphing area presenting a plot of the set of data points for the second variable.

Methods and devices for capturing heuristic information via a sketching tool

In accordance with various embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device including a display device and one or more input devices. The method includes displaying, on the display device, a first graphing area section presenting a plot of a first set of data points for a first variable. The method includes detecting, via the one or more input devices, a first user input indicative of a selection of a portion of the first graphing area section. The method includes determining, based on the first user input indicative of a selection of a portion of the first graphing area section, a portion of the first set of data points for the first variable. The method includes detecting, via the one or more input devices, a second user input indicative of a weighting of the portion of the first set of data points for the first variable. The method includes determining, based on the weighting, a second set of data points. The method includes displaying, on the display device, a second graphing area section presenting a plot of the second set of data points.

Methods and devices for capturing heuristic information via a weighting tool

In accordance with various embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device including a display device and one or more input devices. The method includes displaying, on the display device, a first graphing area presenting a plot of a first set of data points for a first variable versus a first set of data points for a second variable. The method includes displaying, on the display device, an indication of a relationship between the first variable and the second variable. The method includes detecting, via the one or more input devices, a user input indicative of change to the relationship between the first variable and the second variable. The method includes determining, based on the changed relationship between the first variable and the second variable, a second set of data points. The method includes displaying, on the display device, a second graphing area presenting a plot of the second set of data points.

Methods and devices for capturing heuristic information via a relationship tool

A method for creating a sales model for a plurality of products is provided. Generally a plurality demand groups are created, where each demand group is a set of at least one product and wherein at least one of the demand groups is a set of at least two products. A sales model is created for each demand group. A market share model is created for each product in each demand group. In addition, an econometric engine for modeling sales as a function of price is provided. An imputed variable generator and a coefficient estimator coupled to the imputed variable generator form the econometric engine, where imputed variables generated by the variable generator are used by the coefficient estimator to create a sales model.

Econometric engine

A method for computing a preferred set of prices for products in a subset of a plurality of products is provided. Generally, initial prices for a plurality of products are stored. A subset of products of the plurality of products is designated, where the number of products in the subset of products is less than the number of products in the plurality of products. A demand model is created based on Bayesian modeling. Prices for the products in the subset of products are optimized, while maintaining the initial prices of products of the plurality of products that are not in the subset of products, wherein the optimization uses a grid method to determine the optimized prices.

Subset optimization system

A method for computing a preferred set of prices for products in a subset of a plurality of products is provided. Generally, initial prices for a plurality of products are stored. A subset of products of the plurality of products is designated, where the number of products in the subset of products is less than the number of products in the plurality of products. Prices for the products in the subset of products are optimized, while maintaining the initial prices of products of the plurality of products that are not in the subset of products.

Rule relaxation and subset optimization system

A preferred set of prices for a plurality of products, generally demand coefficients is provided. Cost data including activity-based costs is also received. A preferred set of prices that will provide a local optimum for the preferred set of prices which maximizes profit is then determined. In one embodiment, a sales model and a cost model are created. A plurality of rules is specified. The preferred set of prices is then determined based on the sales model, the cost model, and the plurality of rules.

Econometric optimization engine

Methods and apparatus for creating a promotional event calendar are provided. A sales model and a cost model are created The value of offers and promotional events using the sales model and cost model is determined. Combinations of offers and promotional events based on determined value are selected to create a promotion event calendar subject to the conditions from at least one store. The apparatus includes an econometric engine for modeling sales as a function of price to create a sales model, a financial model engine for modeling costs to create a cost model, a promotional engine coupled to the econometric engine, and financial model engine to receive input from the econometric engine and financial model engine. The promotional engine analyzes a plurality of offers and a plurality of promotional events to optimally match offers with promotional events to create a promotional event calendar.

System for creating optimized promotion event calendar

A method for modeling cost is provided. Sales data is received. Cost data is also received. Cost per unit of product is estimated from the sales data and the cost data. In addition, an apparatus for modeling costs, useful in association with an optimization engine, is provided. Generally, an econometric engine for receiving sales data, cleaning the data and generating imputed variables is combined with a financial engine for receiving imputed variables from the econometric engine, receiving cost data, generating a cost model, and outputting the cost model to the optimization engine.

Financial model engine

A price optimization system computes a preferred set of prices for a plurality of products. The optimization system stores a plurality of rules. The system may also prioritize the plurality of rules, and further relax lower priority rules to allow higher priority rules to become feasible. The feasible set of rules may then be utilized to generate the preferred set of prices.

Price optimization with rule relaxation

A method for determining a preferred set of prices for a plurality of products is provided. Generally, a sales model is created. A cost model is also created. A preferred set of prices for the plurality of products based on the sales model and cost model is then generated. An apparatus for computing a preferred set of prices for a plurality of products is provided. An econometric engine for modeling sales as a function of price to create a sales model is provided. A financial model engine for modeling costs to create a cost model is provided. An optimization engine is coupled to the econometric engine and financial model engine to receive input from the econometric engine and financial model engine, wherein the optimization engine generates the preferred set of prices.

Price optimization system

A preferred set of prices for a plurality of products, generally demand coefficients is provided. Cost data including activity-based costs is also received. A preferred set of prices that will provided a local optimum for the preferred set of prices which maximizes profit is then determined. In one embodiment, a sales model and a cost model are created. A plurality of rules is specified. The preferred set of prices is then determined based on the sales model, the cost model, and the plurality of rules.

An apparatus is provided for determining optimum prices of products for sale. The apparatus includes a scenario/results processor through which a user prescribes an optimization scenario, and through which optimum prices are presented to the user. The optimum prices are determined by execution of the optimization scenario, where the optimum prices are determined based upon estimated product demand and calculated activity based costs. The scenario/results processor has an input/output processor and a scenario controller. The input/output processor acquires data corresponding to the optimization scenario from the user, and distributes optimization results to the user. The scenario controller is coupled to the input/output processor. The scenario controller controls acquisition of the data and the distribution of the optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure. The price optimization procedure enables the user to selectively prescribe the subset of the products for sale.

Apparatus and method for selective merchandise price optimization

An interface that enables a user to determine optimum prices of products for sale. The interface includes a scenario/results processor through which the user prescribes an optimization scenario, and through which optimum prices are presented to the user. The optimum prices are determined by execution of the optimization scenario, where the optimum prices are determined based upon estimated product demand and calculated activity based costs. The scenario/results processor has an input/output processor and a scenario controller. The input/output processor acquires data corresponding to the optimization scenario from the user, and distributes optimization results to the user. The scenario controller is coupled to the input/output processor. The scenario controller controls acquisition of the data and the distribution of the optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure. The price optimization procedure is configured to relax constraints of lower priority conflicting rules to render the optimization scenario feasible.

Selective merchandise price optimization

A method for optimizing the prices of products for sale. The method includes utilizing a computer-based scenario/results processor within an optimization server to present a sequence of data entry templates to a user, whereby the user specifies an optimization scenario, and whereby the user is enabled to prescribed and prioritize rules for the optimization scenario; within the optimization server, optimizing the prices according to market demand for the products and demand chain costs for the products; and generating a plurality of optimization results templates and providing these templates to the user, wherein the optimum prices are presented. The optimizing includes estimating the market demand and calculating the demand chain costs for the products; selectively limiting the number of prices that are optimized by said optimizing; and, up to a limit, progressively relaxing lower priority rules that contribute to a conflict in order to render the optimizing feasible.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Michael R Neal