Patent US6049774A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6049774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Machine, method and medium for dynamic optimization for resource allocation
Assignee: AT7T CORP
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Filing: 1996-07-08
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Granted: 2000-04-11
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Expires: 2016-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A machine, method and medium for allocating resources over given time periods. Various requests (e.g., from customers) are received for products and/or services, and a preferred scheme for allocating resources, over a plurality of time periods, to provide the requested products and/or services, is determined. Marketing, procurement and production processes are taken into account in the analysis. The end result is a set of systems indicating how the resources should be deployed over the various time periods to satisfy customer demand.
Inventors
- 👤 Romanath Roy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06313; G06Q10/04; G06Q10/06312; G06Q10/06315; G06Q10/0637; G06Q10/06375; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0201; G06Q30/0206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A computer-implemented method for allocating available communication system resources used within a communication system over a plurality of time periods t, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving at a computer, communication system resource requirements required for each of the plurality of time periods t; (2) receiving at said computer, communication system resource availability information indicating anticipated communication system resource availability during each of the plurality of time periods t; (3) configuring communication system resources at each time period t based upon said steps (1) and (2) so as to match communication system resources to communication system resource demands during each time period t, wherein the communication system resources used at each time period t are interdependent with the other plurality of time periods; (4) assigning to a plurality of communication system resources of said communication system, prices determined using a virtual pricing technique, to be charged to use said plurality of communication system resources during said plurality of time periods t, said prices being based upon availability of the communication system resources at each time period t; and (5) delivering to customers of said communication system resources, said communication system resources at said prices during said plurality of time periods t.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A computer-implemented method for allocating available communication system resources used within a communication system over a plurality of time periods t, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving at a computer, communication system resource requirements required for each of the plurality of time periods t; (2) receiving at said computer, communication system resource availability information indicating anticipated communication system resource availability during each of the plurality of time periods t; (3) configuring communication system resources at each time period t based upon said steps (1) and (2) so as to match communication system resources to communication system resource demands during each time period t, wherein the communication system resources used at each time period t are interdependent with the other plurality of time periods; (4) assigning to a plurality of communication system resources of said communication system, prices determined using a virtual pricing technique, to be charged to use said plurality of communication system resources during said plurality of time periods t, said prices being based upon availability of the communication system resources at each time period t; and (5) delivering to customers of said communication system resources, said communication system resources at said prices during said plurality of time periods t.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein step (3) comprises, the steps of: (a) determining, for said available communication system resources, which of all available communication system resources are classified as primary and secondary communication system resources; (b) determining which of said secondary communication system resources are required in conjunction with said primary communication system resources to provide said available communication system resources; (c) for each of said required secondary communication system resource, determining whether said secondary communication system resource is available at each time period t; and (d) for each primary communication system resource, determining whether the primary communication system resources are available at each time period t.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of: (e) determining which available communication system resources can be classified as tertiary communication system resources; (f) determining which tertiary communication system resources are required in conjunction with said primary communication system resources or said secondary communication system resources, to provide said available communication system resources over a plurality of time periods t; and (g) for each of said required tertiary communication system resource, determining whether said tertiary communication system resource is available.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein step (g) comprises the step of: (i) determining amounts of the tertiary communication system resources in inventory that can be assembled with primary and secondary communication system resources.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein step (g) comprises the step of: (i) determining amounts of the secondary communication system resources in inventory that can be assembled with primary communication system resources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein step (3) comprises the step of: (a) determining the lowest cost for providing the communication system resources by minimizing an objective function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises the step of: (a) determining the optimal amount of communication system resources to be purchased or leased.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein step (2) further comprises the step of: (b) determining the required number of tertiary resource components required to support a communication service.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein step (2) further comprises the step of: (c) determining the number of tertiary resource components which can be assembled with primary resource components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein step (2) further comprises the step of: (d) determining the number of secondary resource components which can be assembled with primary resource components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein step (2) further comprises the step of: (b) determining the number of primary resource components to be purchased or leased.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises the step of: (a) determining usage of each of the communication system resources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein step (a) includes the step of determining the usage of resource components selected from the group consisting of tertiary, secondary and primary resource components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises the step of: (a) determining amounts of the communication system resources in inventory for a plurality of time periods t.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises the step of: (a) determining customer demand for the communication system resources.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein step (a) includes the step of determining customer demand based on variables selected from the group consisting of time period, customer demand locations, type of product, and type of service.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein step (3) comprises the step of: (a) determining which communication system resources can be rearranged from one location to another.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein step (3) further comprises the step of: (b) determining whether to rearrange the communication system resources.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
110 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein: step (1) comprises the step of (a) determining customer demand for the communication system resources; step (2) comprises the steps of (a) determining usage of each of the communication system resources; and (b) determining amounts of the communication system resources in inventory; and step (3) comprises the steps of (a) determining the lowest cost for providing the communication system resources by minimizing an objective function; (b) determining the optimal amount of communication system resources to be purchased or leased; (c) determining which communication system resources should be rearranged from one location to another; and (d) determining whether to rearrange the communication system resources.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
181 words
A computer-readable medium for allocating communications system resources of a communication system over a plurality of time periods t, comprising: a first module of computer program instructions, within a computer, receiving communication system resource requirements information for each of the plurality of time periods t; a second module of computer program instructions receiving communication system resource availability information indicating anticipated communication system resource availability during each of the plurality of time periods t; a third module of computer program instructions configuring the communication system resources of a communication system at each time period t to match communication system resources to communication system resource demand based upon input information from said first and second modules received by said third module wherein the communication system resources of a communication system are used at each time period t are interdependent with the other plurality of time periods t; and a fourth module of computer program instructions assigning a price to use the communication system resources of said communication system based at least upon availability of the communication system resources at each time period t.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
181 words
A computer-readable medium for allocating communications system resources of a communication system over a plurality of time periods t, comprising: a first module of computer program instructions, within a computer, receiving communication system resource requirements information for each of the plurality of time periods t; a second module of computer program instructions receiving communication system resource availability information indicating anticipated communication system resource availability during each of the plurality of time periods t; a third module of computer program instructions configuring the communication system resources of a communication system at each time period t to match communication system resources to communication system resource demand based upon input information from said first and second modules received by said third module wherein the communication system resources of a communication system are used at each time period t are interdependent with the other plurality of time periods t; and a fourth module of computer program instructions assigning a price to use the communication system resources of said communication system based at least upon availability of the communication system resources at each time period t.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
131 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein said third module comprises, at each time period t: a fifth module of computer program instructions determining which communication system resources can be classified as primary and secondary communication system resources; a sixth module of computer program instructions wherein said sixth module determines which of said secondary communication system resources are required in conjunction with said primary communication system resources, to provide said communication system resource; a seventh module of computer program instructions, wherein said seventh module determines, for each of said required secondary communication system resource, whether said secondary communication system resource is available; and an eighth module of computer program instructions, wherein said eighth module determines, for each of said primary communication system resource, whether the primary communication system resource is available.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising: a ninth module of computer program instructions, determining which communication system resources can be classified as tertiary communication system resources; a tenth module of computer program instructions, determining which of said tertiary communication system resources are required in conjunction with said primary communication system resources or said secondary communication system resources to provide said communication system resources; and an eleventh module of computer program instructions, determining for each of said required tertiary communication system resource, whether said tertiary communication system resource is available.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
146 words
A machine for allocating and pricing communication system resources of a communication system over a plurality of time periods t, comprising: first means for receiving communication system resource requirements required by said communication system in each of the plurality of time periods t; second means for receiving communication system resource availability information indicating anticipated communication system resource availability in said communication system during each of the plurality of time periods; third means for configuring a communication system at each time period t based upon signals from said first and second means, wherein the communication system resources of said communication system used at each time period t are interdependent with the other plurality of time periods; and fourth means for assigning a price to said communication system resources based upon a virtual pricing technique, including the availability of the communication system resources at each time period t.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
146 words
A machine for allocating and pricing communication system resources of a communication system over a plurality of time periods t, comprising: first means for receiving communication system resource requirements required by said communication system in each of the plurality of time periods t; second means for receiving communication system resource availability information indicating anticipated communication system resource availability in said communication system during each of the plurality of time periods; third means for configuring a communication system at each time period t based upon signals from said first and second means, wherein the communication system resources of said communication system used at each time period t are interdependent with the other plurality of time periods; and fourth means for assigning a price to said communication system resources based upon a virtual pricing technique, including the availability of the communication system resources at each time period t.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
93 words
The machine of claim 23, wherein said third means comprises, at each time period t: fifth means for determining, which communication system resources can be classified as primary and secondary communication system resources; sixth means for determining which of said secondary communication system resources are required, in conjunction with said primary communication system resources; seventh means for determining, for each said required secondary communication system resource, whether said secondary communication system resource is available; and eighth means for determining, for each primary communication system resource, whether the primary communication system resource is available.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
75 words
The machine of claim 24, further comprising: ninth means for determining which communication system resources can be classified as tertiary communication system resources; tenth means for determining which of said tertiary communication system resources are required, in conjunction with said primary communication system resources or said secondary communication system resources, to provide said communication service; and eleventh means for each said required tertiary communication system resource, determining whether said tertiary communication system resource is available.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-11 | 2003-10-11 | 2004-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-11 | 2007-10-11 | 2008-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-11 | 2011-10-11 | 2012-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |