867results about How to "Good price" patented technology

A system and method for conducting a multi-person, interactive auction, in a variety of formats, without using a human auctioneer to conduct the auction. The system is preferably implemented in software. The system allows a group of bidders to interactively place bids over a computer or communications network. Those bids are recorded by the system and the bidders are updated with the current auction status information. When appropriate, the system closes the auction from further bidding and notifies the winning bidders and losers as to the auction outcome.

The invention relates to video and music distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video/audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's recording, storage and playback system. Customers may preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for the video/audio content that is actually viewed.

A method and system for advertising selection, placement management, payment and delivery in a dynamic, real-time environment wherein the production, listing, procurement, payment, real time management, re-allocation and financial settlement of all types of digital advertising mediums, with optional automated delivery for advertisement and messaging for such ads is performed. The planning, purchasing, delivery and payment for on-line and traditional media advertising is automated, standardized and tracked across multiple mediums, such as TV, Internet, satellite, radio, wireless telephone, outdoor screens, and other digital mediums that display dynamic content. As a result, transparency and discovery of price, performance and availability segmented by specific markets and customer profiles for specific products is achieved. A buyer/seller real time feedback is provided to allow both buyers and sellers to dynamically change existing ads, ad space, prices, etc, in a real time environment based on real time sale/conversion feedback.

A new concept of soft quality-of-service (soft-QoS) is developed that bridges the gap between the efficient provision of network-level QoS and the requirements of multimedia applications. Soft-QoS is defined by a satisfaction index (a number that rates users' perceptual quality) and a softness profile (a function that captures the robustness of multimedia applications to network congestion). Another aspect of this invention is a bandwidth allocation scheme for multimedia applications with soft-QoS requirements is presented. The implementation of the bandwidth allocation scheme on a network element realizes a soft-QoS controller. The controller uses the connections' softness profiles to compute a bandwidth allocation that maximizes the minimum satisfaction index of active connections.

A management system for a vehicle having a commodity storage region and traveling along a path having a plurality of geographically-distributed commodity replenishing stations, includes a sensor for measuring a level of the commodity in the storage region and providing commodity level data. A global positioning system (GPS) determines a location of the vehicle along the path. A controller stores a record of current geographical locations of the commodity replenishing stations and current commodity prices thereat, and calculates commodity replenishing schedules of the vehicle at the replenishing stations based on an output from each of the GPS and the sensor, and a commodity price at at least some of the replenishing stations.

Methods for generating comparison shopping data are provided. One example method includes receiving a request for a desired item and generating an item table for the desired item. The item table is assembled from current on-line data that includes e-commerce purchasing information. Once the item table is assembled, the item table is displayed for the requested item such that the displayed information can inform an on-line buyer of the best current purchasing alternatives for the requested item. In one aspect of this method, the desired item can be selected form a data base of classified advertising. Once the classified advertising item is selected, the item table is generated and displayed along with the selected classified advertising item. In one example, the item table can include merchant name information, price information, availability information, new and used information, tax and shipping information, prior purchaser ratings, and total cost information. The displayed information will therefore provide an on-line purchaser with a powerful array of information to enable the making of an intelligent on-line purchasing decision.

The invention includes a method and system to provide a competitive pricing tool so that automobile dealers can more efficiently and effectively price their used vehicles. The system achieves the optimal sales price by obtaining the relevant pricing and mileage of vehicles for sale that are similarly situated to the focus vehicle. Once the information is obtained, the system creates a value ranking for each of the vehicles for sale and for the focus vehicle. The user is then able to revise the focus vehicle pricing to determine the optimal sales price. The invention also provides information to the potential customer about the vehicle for sale, including information relating to other similar vehicles for sale in a particular geographical area that can be accessed at the point of sale, or by the customer at a later time and place. The party offering the product for sale is informed each time the customer accesses the information, thereby indicating the level of interest by the customer. The invention further provides a stocking tool to determine when to purchase additional vehicles for inventory, a merchandising view to review and revise advertisements, and an automatic description generator for the particular vehicle being sold.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a method and system to provide a competitive pricing tool so that automobile dealers can more efficiently and effectively price their used vehicles. The system achieves the optimal sales price by obtaining the relevant pricing and mileage of vehicles for sale that are similarly situated to the focus vehicle. Once the information is obtained, the system creates a value ranking for each of the vehicles for sale and for the focus vehicle. The user is then able to revise the focus vehicle pricing to determine the optimal sales price.

In the volume pricing methodology, a seller initially establishes a price structure for a product which provides for lower prices as larger quantities of the product are purchased. The price structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the price structure may be displayed on an Internet site. The sellers further establish an “open session” period during which orders for the product are accepted. During the open session period, multiple buyers are able to place orders for the product up to a maximum available quantity. At the end of the open session, the total quantity of products collectively ordered by all of the buyers is calculated. Based on the total quantity ordered, the final price to all buyers is the lowest price provided from the price structure regardless of whether the lowest price had been reached at the time a particular buyer placed their order during the open session.

A hybrid energy market and currency system is provided to manage energy consumption in an energy market comprising a community of users. A central energy authority issues energy currency units to users and sets an exchange rate between the energy currency units and a monetary currency unit, thereby setting a variable price for energy. Energy currency units have a defined validity period at the end of which the energy currency unit is automatically converted to monetary currency units by the central energy authority. Users consume energy currency units through use of energy consumptive services, such as domestic consumption of electricity and water, and through use of transportation. Users are also able to buy additional energy currency units from the central energy authority, and to sell them back. Users cannot speculatively trade energy currency units. Prices are set by comparing the cumulative actual and desired demand

In the volume pricing methodology, a seller initially establishes a price structure for a product which provides for lower prices as larger quantities of the product are purchased. The price structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the price structure may be displayed on an Internet site. The sellers further establish an “open session” period during which orders for the product are accepted. During the open session period, multiple buyers are able to place orders for the product up to a maximum available quantity. At the end of the open session, the total quantity of products collectively ordered by all of the buyers is calculated. Based on the total quantity ordered, the final price to all buyers is the lowest price provided from the price structure regardless of whether the lowest price had been reached at the time a particular buyer placed their order during the open session.

An anonymous trading system includes a prime broker facility that allows a third party to trade on behalf of an institution. A deal is executed between the third party and a counter-party and a further deal is then executed between the third party and the party on whose behalf it has traded. The second deal may be for the same amount as the first deal or may be altered to include the third party's fee for conducting the first deal. Clients of the third party have prices available to them for trades made via the third party which are displayed at their trader terminals. The client sees that a better price is available though the third party than by dealing direct and selects to conduct a deal through the third party.

An online video advertising platform and marketplace. The present invention enables sellers to enhance the way they market products by providing them with a platform that uses location, images, product information, and Internet video. Because images and text are static and videos are dynamic, a seller can better represent their product and receive a better price and quicker sale as a result of the dynamic presentation. The marketplace uses both a database and “cloud computing” file storage system. So when a new user is created, there is both an entry in the database, and file structure with the username or other unique identifier in the file system. The database then stores pointers to these files. All listings are tied to a central product (listing) Id (PID). Videos can be searched for by both video and product related metrics. Videos file themselves are tagged with product metadata.

A system and method for assigning loss of residential home value, due to systemic risks, through the creation and distribution of a financial instrument such as Home Value Assurance™ (“HVA™”). HVA™ is a process by which a capital market investor takes risk of a down-turn in national or regional real estate markets through a fully-funded index-linked note, while simultaneously providing contractual protection to consumers and institutions against drops in home prices due to the systemic pressures that drive home price index levels. The product may be sold to those who are exposed to the risk of a systemic downturn in residential home values, i.e. a singular home owner, an institution owning a portfolio of loans secured by liens on residential real property, etc.

Enhancing queries for information retrieval that automatically finds the preferred, first ranked matching term usage subject area (“TUSA”) from a prior query. The process automatically finds alternative TUSAs for the prior query, ranked by degree of match or preference, and provides an option to switch among the alternative TUSAs. It is required that a TUSA for the query be passively accepted or actively selected from a presented list based on the prior query. Using means prepared in advance from data sets of messages collected for each TUSA and general vocabulary the process also ranks and presents to the user alternative and additional query terms and phrases reflecting specificity and relevance to the query and the TUSA. Significantly relevant terms and phrases are presented for query refinement and ranked by relevance permitting the user to select and deselect query terms and effect a new search based on the enhanced query.

The invention discloses a low-welding crack sensitivity steel board and manufacturing method, which comprises the following parts: not more than 0.07% C, 0.15-0.40% Si, 1.00-1.60% Mn, not more than 0.015% P, not more than 0.010% S, not more than 0.30% Cu, not more than 0.50% Ni, not more than 0.30% Cr, not more than 0.30% Mo, not more than 0.08% V, not more than 0.08% Nb, 0.010-0.020% Ti, not more than 0.003% B, Fe and inevitable impurity. The invention is characterized by the following: (1)displaying lower welding crack sensitivity component with Pcm not more than 0.20%; (2)mating the strength and flexibility reasonably with fitful yielding ratio; (3)making the price and property of the steel board superior to the congeneric import product; (4)making the maximum breadth of steel board to 4000mm; (5)simplifying the technique to ensure higher flatness without quenching water.

The market simulator/optimizer of the present invention combines partworth valuation techniques of Conjoint analysis with Nash equilibrium profit-maximization methodologies for sophisticated statistical treatment of a virtual available market comprising a multiplicity of virtual customers. An easy-to-use graphical user interface allows a user to arrange various market component icons to model various market characteristics. Associated with the market component icons are various distributions, including a benefit distribution containing values indicative of respective benefits to the multiplicity of virtual customer, and a cost distribution containing values indicative of respective costs associated with providing the respective benefits to the multiplicity of virtual customers.

The present invention is a plank incorporating a base layer with a thickness ranging from 12 to 25 mm, a solid wood top layer, with a thickness ranging from 4.6 to 6 mm, glued to base layer, wherein the base layer is made of a wood based compound, also containing non flammable polymers, hardeners, etc., wherein the wood content of the compound is at least 2% by volume and 95% by volume at maximum, wherein the wood and the polymers are distributed homogeneously, or distributed, depending only on the perpendicular distance to the glued surface, wherein the glue between base layer and top layer is a non flammable glue. The plank of the invention combines the stability and homogeneity of the base layer with the appearance of a solid plank, and moreover has a flame retardant effect, caused by the structure of the product and by the use of fire retardant polymers.

System to manage and provide dynamic personalized prices as a result of a promotion of the product by the customer on the internet, in particular through a mobile device.

The present invention has application in the intersection between physical commerce and the online identity of its customers using their mobile phones and its data connections as a means for identification and communication.

This invention consists in a computer system that allows customers of physical stores, using their mobile phones, to promote the store and its products and be rewarded with special deals with optimized value and customized for that particular customer, taking into account, among other things, the degree of his online social influence.

Accordingly, the present invention is useful for allowing algorithmically optimization of the prices of their products, and for letting the store know automatically and in real time the identity of the customers present in their stores as well as the products they are interested.

Electronic trading of interests using reserves and a price change feature. A portion of a total desired trade quantity may be held in reserve, and thereby not disclosed in the relevant market. The invention provides for a subsequent trade order or quotation to be automatically initiated from the reserve when the disclosed order is accepted. The price of the subsequent order of a given reserve quantity will be different from the prior disclosed price. The process for disclosing a subsequent order may be fully or partially automatic, e.g., with or without a requirement for a response to a prompt by the trader entering the order. Preferably, the cycle of new orders with changed prices continues until the reserve is exhausted. The invention is useful for trading, for example, current or future interests in equities, fixed-income securities, currencies, and commodities such as foods, resources, energy, and emissions rights, and other interests.

A computer-implemented marketplace (16) for providing financial transaction services to participants (12, 14, 60, 62) in connection with commercial transactions involving the participants (12, 14, 60, 62) includes a database (22). The database (22) contains registration information for types of transactions available to participants (12, 14, 60, 62) and participation criteria for each participant (12, 14, 60, 62) that specifies types of transactions in which the participant (12, 14, 60, 62) is willing to participate. Processes (24) provide associated financial transaction services for the participants (12, 14, 60, 62) in connection with ongoing transactions involving the participants (12, 14, 60, 62). The marketplace (16) initiates a selected process (24) in response to a specified event associated with an ongoing transaction, according to the registration information and participation criteria, to provide a corresponding financial transaction service to at least one participant (12, 14, 60, 62) involved in the ongoing transaction.

A centralized system that acts on behalf of multiple merchants, wherein a controlled and manageable way to monitor and issue rewards, discounts, coupons and payments to customers is provided. The system performs calculations to allocate discounts and rewards for individual buyers, designate final prices for individual buyers, and provide fast and efficient settlements of outstanding balances.