Patent ID: 7249031

Claim:
An interface enabling a user to determine optimum prices of products for sale, comprising: a scenario/results processor, configured to enable a user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and configured to present the optimum prices to said user, wherein the optimum prices are determined by execution of said optimization scenario by an optimization engine coupled to said scenario/results processor, and wherein said optimum prices are determined based upon product demand estimated by said optimization engine and calculated activity based costs, said scenario/results processor comprising: an input/output processor, configured to acquire data corresponding to said optimization scenario from said user, and configured to distribute optimization results to said user wherein said input/output processor comprises: a template controller, configured to provide first price optimization templates and second price optimization templates, wherein said first price optimization templates are presented to said user to allow for prescription of said optimization scenario, and for distribution of said optimization results, and wherein said first price optimization templates comprise: a plurality of new scenario templates, configured to enable said user to prescribe scenario parameters corresponding to said optimization scenario, wherein said plurality of new scenario templates comprises: an at-large rules template, for specifying rules to govern determination of the optimum prices, said rules comprising: maximum allowable price swing for each of the products for sale; and maximum allowable swing for average price of each demand group within said plurality of demand groups; and a command interpreter; configured to extract commands from said first price optimization templates executed by said user, and configured to populate said second price optimization templates according to result data provided for presentation to said user; and a scenario controller, coupled to said input/output processor, configured to control acquisition of said data and distribution of said optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure, wherein said price optimization procedure is configured to relax constraints of lower priority conflicting rules to render said optimization scenario feasible.