Portfolio Obligation Graph Netting for Delivery Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual process of netting and aggregation of obligations in physical commodity delivery is inefficient, leading to unoptimized portfolios and increased operational costs due to the inability to identify circular obligations and lack of efficient netting across multiple market participants.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates a graph representing obligations between market participants, identifies trade circles and washes, and automatically eliminates circular obligations, optimizing portfolios by suggesting trades to reduce manual effort and enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual netting and aggregation processes are used for physical commodity delivery, then operational flexibility is maintained, but efficiency is reduced and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery process efficiencyVSAvoidmanual processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual netting and aggregation processes with an automated computerized system that uses algorithms to identify circular obligations and perform optimization calculations, eliminating the need for manual intervention while improving efficiency and reducing processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a computerized optimization system as an intermediary between market participants and the delivery process, which automatically analyzes portfolios, identifies circular obligations, and suggests netting opportunities without requiring direct manual coordination between participants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If manual netting processes are used, then system complexity is avoided, but the ability to identify circular obligations is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcircular obligation identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs computerized algorithms and data processing systems to automatically identify circular obligations across multiple market participants, a task that would be impractical to perform manually while maintaining acceptable system complexity through automated infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated portfolio optimization is implemented, then efficiency is improved, but computing resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveportfolio optimization efficiencyVSAvoidcomputing resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements portfolio optimization at selective points in the delivery process and focuses computational efforts on identifying key circular obligations rather than continuously optimizing all portfolios, reducing overall computing resource consumption while maintaining efficiency benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the portfolio optimization process into discrete segments that can be processed independently, allowing computational tasks to be distributed and managed more efficiently, reducing peak computing resource demands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3839868B1Portfolio optimization and transaction generation
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE INC
  • EP3839868B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3839868B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3839868B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computer implemented method and associated hardware provides optimization of a delivery or settlement process for a group of portfolios and calculation of a transaction suggestion to one or more participants. Data records, identified in a portfolio data structure, are indicative of obligations between participants. A weighted directed graph data structure is generated and includes vertex data records representing the participants and edge data records representing the obligations between participants. The weighted directed graph structure is analyzed for at least one series of multiple vertex data records or multiple edge data records. A proposed edge associated with a first vertex of the series and a second vertex of the at least one series is identified. A report is generated that describes at least one transaction in response to the proposed edge associated with the first vertex of the series and the second vertex of the series for the at least one of the participants.