Patent ID: 7240019

Claim:
An interface enabling a user to determine optimum prices of products for sale, comprising: a scenario/results processor, configured to enable the 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, wherein said optimum prices are determined based upon estimated product demand and calculated activity based costs, said scenario/results processor comprising: an input/output processor, configured to acquire data corresponding to said optimization scenario from the user, and configured to distribute optimization results to the user, wherein said data comprises activity based cost data corresponding to the products for sale, and wherein said input/output processor comprises: a template controller, configured to provide first price optimization templates and second price optimization templates, wherein said 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 comprise: an at-large rules template, from 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 for average price of each demand group within a 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 the distribution of said optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure.