The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 11, 2009
Craig E. Boutilier, Toronto, CA;
George L. Nemhauser, Atlanta, GA (US);
David C. Parkes, Cambridge, MA (US);
Tuomas Sandholm, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Robert L. Shields, Jr., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
William E. Walsh, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Craig E. Boutilier, Toronto, CA;
George L. Nemhauser, Atlanta, GA (US);
David C. Parkes, Cambridge, MA (US);
Tuomas Sandholm, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Robert L. Shields, Jr., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
William E. Walsh, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
CombineNet, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
In a computer-implemented method of determining an abstraction of a plurality of differentiated goods available for exchange, data regarding each differentiated good is stored in a computer storage, wherein the data regarding each differentiated good includes an attribute value assigned to at least one attribute of the differentiated good. A processor of a computer determines a first abstraction of the plurality of differentiated goods based on the stored data. The first abstraction includes at least one abstract good. Each abstract good includes one or more differentiated goods. At least one abstract good of the first abstraction includes at least two distinct differentiated goods. The processor determines for each abstract good a specification for the abstract good based on the data regarding one or more differentiated goods forming the abstract good. The processor stores in the computer storage the specification determined for each abstract good.