Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – For cost/price
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2002-09-24
Cosimano, Edward R. (Department: 2161)
Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co
For cost/price
C379S111000, C379S114010, C379S114030, C705S030000, C705S034000, C705S418000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06456986
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to using a decision network to evaluate a Price Plan and an Event rating for rating customer transactions, and, more particularly, to a system that rates and/or discounts Events based on business rules stored in a Price Plan database.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flexible pricing plans are becoming ever more important in satisfying the needs of customers. Conventional pricing plans use simple hierarchical pricing structures, such as usage based pricing. Complex Price Plan structures are not suitable for such hierarchical arrangements. What is needed is a system that supports complex Price Plan structures used to rate Events.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to use decision networks to facilitate complex Price Plan structures used to rate and/or discount Events.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that supports conditional branching in a Price Plan.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a business with the competitive advantage of creating complex pricing models attractive to the business customers.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a flexible solution for Price Plans that can be used in an environment that requires high performance, such as real time rating of telecommunications Events.
The above objects can be attained by a system that uses decision networks to execute a Price Plan to rate an Event. A plan selection rule set is used to select a Price Plan for the Event and an Algorithm rule set is used to select an Algorithm to rate the Event. Conditions are also evaluated as the rule sets are traversed and include a program that determines if an Event qualifies for the Condition.
These together with other objects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4286325 (1981-08-01), Dlugos et al.
patent: 5027388 (1991-06-01), Bradshaw et al.
patent: 5063506 (1991-11-01), Brockwell et al.
patent: 5414624 (1995-05-01), Anthonyson
patent: 5570291 (1996-10-01), Dudle et al.
patent: 5659601 (1997-08-01), Cheslog
patent: 5737710 (1998-04-01), Anthonyson
patent: 5784443 (1998-07-01), Chapman et al.
patent: 5790643 (1998-08-01), Gorden et al.
patent: 5815560 (1998-09-01), Kasai et al.
patent: 5852812 (1998-12-01), Reeder
patent: 5923741 (1999-07-01), Wright et al.
patent: 6018725 (2000-01-01), Boucher et al.
patent: 6041318 (2000-03-01), Danford-Klein et al.
patent: 6047271 (2000-04-01), Danford-Klein et al.
patent: 6061667 (2000-05-01), Danford-Klein et al.
patent: 6078889 (2000-06-01), Boucher et al.
patent: 6199047 (2001-03-01), Dimino et al.
patent: 0809387 (1997-11-01), None
patent: 03-35352 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 11-331440 (1999-11-01), None
patent: 95/24093 (1995-09-01), None
Yasin: “Suite with Global View for Analyzing and Planning Telecom Networks”; Communications Week, Apr. 1, 1996, v603, p. 69.*
Ness et al: “Average cost pricing in the compound feed industry” British Food Journal; 1995, v97, n11, pp. 27-35.*
Geoff Mason, “Evolution of BT's Billing Systems”, British Telecommunications Engineering, vol. 11, 1993, pps. 262-268.
International Search Report, PCT/US99/16790, Nov. 1999, pps. 1-2.
Boardman Stuart
Rübesam Andreas
American Management Systems, Incorporated
Cosimano Edward R.
Staas & Halsey , LLP
LandOfFree
Decision network based event pricing system in a component... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Decision network based event pricing system in a component..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Decision network based event pricing system in a component... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2837768