Patent ID: 8326772

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a processor for executing machine-readable instructions; and a memory device storing a program of machine-readable instructions, wherein said program of machine-readable instructions comprises instructions for executing a calculator for pricing a good or a service to a customer based on processing an objective function for expected profits over a finite time horizon being considered, said finite time horizon having a plurality of time intervals, said calculator executing a pricing model that includes a dimension of a utility of said good or said service to said customer, said utility comprising an adjustment of a stand-alone value of said good or said service, said stand-alone value comprising a value of said good or said service absent external factors including time, delivery, and competition, wherein, for a given price charged, said utility is calculated in said model by modifying said stand-alone value of an engagement by a price sensitivity multiplied by the price and a delay sensitivity multiplied by a delay of implementation, and wherein said objective function incorporates said utility as reflected in a component in said objective function that defines a probability of acceptance of an engagement by said customer, as calculated using said utility.