Michael D Neal

US Patent:

6553352, Apr 22, 2003

Filed:

May 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849616

Inventors:

Phil Delurgio - Walnut Creek CA
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Demand Tec Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

705400, 703 6, 705 7

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are provided for an interface enabling a user to determine optimum prices of products for sale. The interface includes a scenario/results processor that enables the user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and that presents the optimum prices to the user. The optimum prices are determined by execution of the optimization scenario, where the optimum prices are determined based upon estimated product demand and calculated activity based costs. The scenario/results processor has an input/output processor and a scenario controller. The input/output processor acquires data corresponding to the optimization scenario from the user, and distributes optimization results to the user. The scenario controller is coupled to the input/output processor. The scenario controller controls acquisition of the data and the distribution of the optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure.

US Patent:

7092896, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

May 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849448

Inventors:

Phil Delurgio - Walnut Creek CA, US
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

DemandTec, Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00

US Classification:

705 10, 705400

Abstract:

A method for providing interface to an apparatus for optimizing a promotion plan for merchandising products, including utilizing a computer-based scenario/results processor within an optimization server to present a sequence of data entry templates to a user, whereby the user specifies an optimization scenario, the optimization server optimizing the promotion plan according to modeled market for the products and calculated demand chain costs for the products, where the calculated demand chain costs include fixed and variable costs for the products; and generating a plurality of optimization results templates and proving these templates to the user, wherein optimum promotion events and optimum supplier offers are presented.

US Patent:

7092918, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

May 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849168

Inventors:

Phil Delurgio - Walnut Creek CA, US
Hua Lee - Los Altos CA, US
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA, US
Suzanne Valentine - Atlanta GA, US
Krishna Venkatraman - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

DemandTec, Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

705400

Abstract:

A technique for determining optimum prices of products. The apparatus includes a scenario/results processor, a demand engine, an activity based cost engine, and a price optimization engine. The scenario/results processor enables a user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and presents the optimum prices to the user, where the optimum prices are determined by execution of the optimization scenario. The demand engine models relationships between potential prices of the products and market demand for the products. The activity based cost engine estimates costs for the products based upon market demand. The price optimization engine employs the market demand and the demand chain costs to determine the optimum prices, where the optimum prices are a subset of the potential prices, and where the optimum prices maximize a merchandising performance figure of merit according to the optimization scenario.

US Patent:

7130811, Oct 31, 2006

Filed:

May 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849621

Inventors:

Phil Delurgio - Walnut Creek CA, US
Hua Lee - Los Altos CA, US
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA, US
Rob Parkin - San Francisco CA, US
Suzanne Valentine - Atlanta GA, US
Krishna Venkatraman - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

DemandTec, Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00

US Classification:

705 10, 705400

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for determining an optimum promotion plan for merchandising of products for sale. A scenario/results processor enables a user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and presents the optimum promotion plan to the user, where the optimum promotion plan is determined by execution of the optimization scenario. The demand engine models relationships between potential prices of the products and market demand for the products, where the potential prices correspond to potential promotion events and potential supplier offers. The activity based cost engine estimates demand chain costs for the products based upon the market demand. The promotion optimization engine employs the market demand and the demand chain costs to determine the optimum promotion plan, where the optimum promotion plan maximizes a merchandising performance figure of merit according to the optimization scenario, and where the optimum promotion plan comprises a subset of the promotion events and potential supplier offers.

US Patent:

7133882, Nov 7, 2006

Filed:

Aug 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/213372

Inventors:

Tamara Pringle - Berkeley CA, US
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA, US
Phil Delurgio - Dana Point CA, US
Suzanne Valentine - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

Demandtec, Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

7071041, 707 5, 707 10, 707102

Abstract:

A method for updating a master product attribute catalog database for consumer response modeling is provided. Data is received from at least one source of product data. A data integrity check is preformed on the received data. A reconciliation is performed between the received data and the master product attribute catalog. The reconciled received data is placed in a master product attribute catalog.

US Patent:

7240019, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

May 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/144537

Inventors:

Phil Delurgio - Walnut Creek CA, US
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Demandtec Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

705 10, 705400

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for an interface enabling a user to determine optimum prices of products for sale. The interface includes a scenario/results processor that enables the user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and that presents the optimum prices to the user. The optimum prices are determined by execution of the optimization scenario, where the optimum prices are determined based upon estimated product demand and calculated activity based costs. The scenario/results processor has an input/output processor and a scenario controller. The input/output processor acquires data corresponding to the optimization scenario from the user, and distributes optimization results to the user, where the data includes activity based cost data. The scenario controller is coupled to the input/output processor. The scenario controller controls acquisition of the data and the distribution of the optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure.

US Patent:

7249031, Jul 24, 2007

Filed:

Nov 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/994465

Inventors:

John Close - San Francisco CA, US
Phil Delurgio - Walnut Creek CA, US
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Demandtec Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00
G06F 17/30
G06F 17/00
G06G 7/00

US Classification:

705 1, 705 10, 705400

Abstract:

An interface that enables a user to determine optimum prices of products for sale. The interface includes a scenario/results processor through which the user prescribes an optimization scenario, and through which optimum prices are presented to the user. The optimum prices are determined by execution of the optimization scenario, where the optimum prices are determined based upon estimated product demand and calculated activity based costs. The scenario/results processor has an input/output processor and a scenario controller. The input/output processor acquires data corresponding to the optimization scenario from the user, and distributes optimization results to the user. The scenario controller is coupled to the input/output processor. The scenario controller controls acquisition of the data and the distribution of the optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure. The price optimization procedure is configured to relax constraints of lower priority conflicting rules to render the optimization scenario feasible.

US Patent:

7249032, Jul 24, 2007

Filed:

Nov 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/999078

Inventors:

John Close - San Francisco CA, US
Phil Delurgio - Walnut Creek CA, US
Hau Lee - Los Altos CA, US
Michael Neal - San Francisco CA, US
Rob Parkin - San Francisco CA, US
Suzanne Valentine - Atlanta GA, US
Krishna Venkatraman - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Demandtec Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00
G06F 17/30
G06F 17/00
G06G 7/00

US Classification:

705 1, 705 10, 705400

Abstract:

A method for optimizing the prices of products for sale. The method includes utilizing a computer-based scenario/results processor within an optimization server to present a sequence of data entry templates to a user, whereby the user specifies an optimization scenario, and whereby the user is enabled to prescribed and prioritize rules for the optimization scenario; within the optimization server, optimizing the prices according to market demand for the products and demand chain costs for the products; and generating a plurality of optimization results templates and providing these templates to the user, wherein the optimum prices are presented. The optimizing includes estimating the market demand and calculating the demand chain costs for the products; selectively limiting the number of prices that are optimized by said optimizing; and, up to a limit, progressively relaxing lower priority rules that contribute to a conflict in order to render the optimizing feasible.