Patent ID: 6751597
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method for constructing a match-making constraint that expresses a fact that a match among a plurality of traders is acceptable to all of the traders, the method comprising:(a) defining, in a computing device, an adaptive trade specification for each of the traders, the adaptive trade specification comprising (i) item specifications of items that the trader is willing to trade, the item specifications comprising at least one give-item specification of an item that the trader is willing to give in a trade and at least one take-item specification of an item that the trader is willing to take in the trade, (ii) at least one constraint representing a restriction on the trade and (iii) an objective representing a function that the trader wishes to optimize in the trade; (b) constructing, in the computing device, an original constraint by performing a logical AND function on the constraints of all of the adaptive trade specifications; (c) constructing, in the computing device, a give-quantity constraint in accordance with the give-item specifications of all of the adaptive trade specifications, the give-quantity constraint representing quantities of all of the items specified in the give-item specifications; (d) constructing, in the computing device, a take-quantity constraint in accordance with the take-item specifications of all of the adaptive trade specifications, the take-quantity constraint representing quantities of all of the items specified in the take-item specifications; (e) constructing, in the computing device, all-give-item specifications identifying all of the items specified in the give-item specifications of all of the adaptive trade specifications; (f) constructing, in the computing device, all-take-item specifications identifying all of the items specified in the take-item specifications of all of the adaptive trade specifications; (g) for each of the items identified in the all-give-item specification and for each of the items identified in the all-take-item specification, creating, in the computing device, a quantity variable of the item identified in the all-give-item specifications given toward the quantity of the item identified in the all-take-item specifications; (h) constructing, in the computing device, a take-zero-sum constraint in accordance with the quantity variables determined in step (g), the take-zero-sum constraint identifying whether all of the items in the all-take-item specifications are available in the all-give-item specifications; (i) constructing, in the computing device, a give-zero-sum constraint in accordance with the quantity variables determined in step (g), the give-zero-sum constraint identifying whether all of the items in the all-give-item specifications are required in the all-take-item specifications; and (j) constructing the match-making constraint in the computing device by performing a logical AND operation on the original constraint, the give-quantity constraint, the take-quantity constraint, the take-zero-sum constraint and the give-zero-sum constraint, then outputting said match-making constrains to a user.