Patent ID: 7260516

Claim:
A computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for finding at least one local optimum model, the method comprising: a. specifying a base model that includes a variable having a value, b. specifying a goal which identifies a characteristic of the base model that is to be optimized; c. specifying a maximum number of optimizations to be performed; d. specifying a minimum value and a maximum value for the variable; e. specifying a list of different values for the variable between the minimum and maximum values for the variable; f. creating a model for every value of the variable included in the list; g. running each model created to determine a value of the characteristic for each model; h. comparing each model run with its adjacent model or models; i. identifying each model as a local model if the model has a better value of the characteristic than its adjacent model or models; j. ranking all local models identified; k. optimizing each local model to find a local optimum for each local model up to the maximum number of optimizations specified; and l. identifying and storing the at least one local optimum model.