US6078893A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for stabilized tuning of demand models
Assignee: SAP SE
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Filing: 1998-05-21
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Granted: 2000-06-20
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Expires: 2018-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for tuning a demand model in manner that is stable with respect to fluctuations in the sales history used for the tuning is provided. A market model is selected, which predicts how a subset of the parameters in the demand model depends upon information external to the sales history; this model may itself have a number of parameters. An effective figure-of-merit function is defined, consisting of a standard figure-of-merit function based upon the demand model and the sales history, plus a function that attains a minimum value when the parameters of the demand model are closest to the predictions of the market model. This effective figure-of-merit function is minimized with respect to the demand model and market model parameters. The resulting demand model parameters conform to the portions of the sales history data that show a strong trend, and conform to the external market information when the corresponding portions of the sales history data show noise.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J. Ouimet
- 👤 Charu V. Chaubal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0201; G06Q30/0202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A computer-implemented method for tuning a demand model to a sales history that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history, said method comprising the steps of: providing a data storage having sales history data; selecting a demand model, said demand model depending on a plurality of parameters including at least one demand parameter; selecting a market model to describe how a subset of said at least one demand parameter is expected to vary according to external market information, said market model depending on at least one market parameter, which is external to said sales history data; constructing a an effective figure-of merit function from said demand model and said market model, said effective figure-of-merit function having a plurality of parameters including said at least one demand parameter and said at least one market parameter; and minimizing said effective figure-of-merit function with respect to said at least one demand parameter and said at lest one market parameter, thereby attaining an optimal value for said at least one demand parameter that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A computer-implemented method for tuning a demand model to a sales history that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history, said method comprising the steps of: providing a data storage having sales history data; selecting a demand model, said demand model depending on a plurality of parameters including at least one demand parameter; selecting a market model to describe how a subset of said at least one demand parameter is expected to vary according to external market information, said market model depending on at least one market parameter, which is external to said sales history data; constructing a an effective figure-of merit function from said demand model and said market model, said effective figure-of-merit function having a plurality of parameters including said at least one demand parameter and said at least one market parameter; and minimizing said effective figure-of-merit function with respect to said at least one demand parameter and said at lest one market parameter, thereby attaining an optimal value for said at least one demand parameter that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said demand model predicts the demand for at least one item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said demand model predicts the demand for at least one service.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said demand model is a function having the form: q=q({X};{D}) where {D} is said at least one demand parameter and {X} is a set of all variable for said at least one item or service.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said market model is a function having the form: M=M({g},{S}) where {g} is said subset of said at least one demand parameter and {S} is said at least one market parameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said market model is defined such that its value is minimized as said subset of said at least one demand parameter is optimized with respect to said external market information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising the step of: constructing a figure-of-merit function from said demand model such that said figure-of-merit function attains a minimum value when said at least one demand parameter is optimized with respect to said sales history data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein said step of constructing said effective figure-of-merit function further includes the step of: combining said figure-of-merit function with said market model to form said effective figure-of-merit function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing said optimal value for said at least one demand parameter in an external data storage, whereby said optimal value can be used in another routine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
A computer-readable storage medium, for use in a computer having a storage device for storing sales history data, said computer-readable storage medium for storing program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of: selecting a demand model to predict the demand of a plurality of parameters including at least one demand parameter; selecting a market model to describe how a subset of said at least one demand parameter is expected to vary according to external market information, said market model depending on at least one market parameter, which is external to said sales history data; combining said demand model and said market model to from an effective figure-of-merit function; and minimizing said effective figure-of-merit function with respect to said at least one demand parameter and said at least one market parameter, thereby attaining an optimal value for said at least one demand parameter that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
A computer-readable storage medium, for use in a computer having a storage device for storing sales history data, said computer-readable storage medium for storing program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of: selecting a demand model to predict the demand of a plurality of parameters including at least one demand parameter; selecting a market model to describe how a subset of said at least one demand parameter is expected to vary according to external market information, said market model depending on at least one market parameter, which is external to said sales history data; combining said demand model and said market model to from an effective figure-of-merit function; and minimizing said effective figure-of-merit function with respect to said at least one demand parameter and said at least one market parameter, thereby attaining an optimal value for said at least one demand parameter that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein said demand model is a function having the form: q=q({X};{D}) where {D} is said at least one demand parameter and {X} is a set of all variable for said plurality of items.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein said market model is a function having the form: M=M({g},{S}) where {g} is said subset of said at least one demand parameter and {S} is said at least one market parameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein said market model is defined such that its value approaches zero as said subset of said at least one demand parameter is optimized with respect to said external market information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprising program code for causing the computer to perform the step of: constructing a figure-of-merit function from said demand model such that said figure-of-merit function attains a minimum value when said at least one demand parameter is optimized with respect to said sales history data; wherein said effective figure-of-merit function is formed by combining said figure-of-merit function with said market model.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprising program code for causing the computer to perform the step of: storing said optimized value for said at least one demand parameter in a storage device, whereby said optimized value can be used in another routine.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
150 words
A system for tuning a demand model to a sales history that stabilizes said demand model with respect to fluctuations in said sales history, said system for use with a storage device for storing sales history data, said system comprising: means for selecting a demand model and a market model, said demand model depending on a plurality of parameters including at least one demand parameter; wherein said market model describes how a subset of said at least one demand parameter is expected to vary according to external market information, said market model depending on at least one market parameter that is external to said sales history; means for combining said demand model and said market model to form an effective figure-of-merit function; and means for optimizing said at least one demand parameter in said effective figure-of-merit function that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history data.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
150 words
A system for tuning a demand model to a sales history that stabilizes said demand model with respect to fluctuations in said sales history, said system for use with a storage device for storing sales history data, said system comprising: means for selecting a demand model and a market model, said demand model depending on a plurality of parameters including at least one demand parameter; wherein said market model describes how a subset of said at least one demand parameter is expected to vary according to external market information, said market model depending on at least one market parameter that is external to said sales history; means for combining said demand model and said market model to form an effective figure-of-merit function; and means for optimizing said at least one demand parameter in said effective figure-of-merit function that is stable with respect to random fluctuations in said sales history data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising means for accessing said external market data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising: means for storing said optimized value of said at least one demand parameter, whereby said optimized value can be used in another routine.
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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) | 2003-06-20 | 2003-12-20 | 2004-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | 2008-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-20 | 2011-12-20 | 2012-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |