System and method employing yield management in human-factor resource industry

A computer-based marginal value system coupled to a computer-based resource revenue management system, the computer-based marginal value system comprising:

• an input device configured to receive data related to individual resources and associated composite resources from the resource revenue management system, wherein the individual resources include human-factor resources, and wherein the associated composite resources each include a collection of at least two of the individual resources;
• at least one processor configured to construct internal data structures which link each of the individual resources to their associated composite resources and link each of the composite resources to their associated individual resources, and to determine marginal values for the individual resources with a continuous optimization function using the internal data structures;
• and
• memory storing the data related to the individual resources and the associated composite resources, the internal data structures, and at least one program for controlling the at least one processor.

A method of producing a marginal value representing currency determined using a computer-based marginal value system for use in a computer-based resource revenue management system for granting and denying a sale of one or more composite resources, comprising at least one human-factor resource, being made unavailable at a future time depending on marginal values for each of such composite resources received from the computer-based resource revenue management system, the method comprising:

• loading data for human-factor resources, composite resources, and a resource value from the computer-based resource revenue management system into the computer-based marginal value system;
• constructing internal data structures for the human-factor resources, composite resources, and resource value;
• determining marginal values for the human-factor resources using a continuous optimization function;
• and
• storing the marginal values from the computer-based marginal value system into the computer-based resource revenue management system.

A computer-based method of determining marginal values for human-factor resources, the method comprising:

• loading data related to individual resources and associated composite resources from a resource revenue management system into a marginal value system, wherein the individual resources include human-factor resources, and wherein the associated composite resources each include a collection of at least two of the individual resources;
• constructing internal data structures, in the marginal value system, which link each of the individual resources to their associated composite resources and link each of the composite resources to their associated individual resources;
• evaluating a locally optimal marginal value for one of the human-factor resources using a continuous optimization function dependent on the marginal values for other of the individual resources;
• and
• iteratively reevaluating the locally optimal marginal value until a globally optimal marginal value is attained for the one of the human-factor resources.

A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a computer to perform a method comprising:

• receiving data related to individual resources and associated composite resources, wherein the individual resources include human-factor resources, and wherein the associated composite resources each include a collection of at least two of the individual resources;
• storing the data related to the individual resources and the associated composite resources;
• constructing internal data structures which link each of the individual resources to their associated composite resources and link each of the composite resources to their associated individual resources;
• and
• determining transaction parameter values using the internal data structures for one of the composite resources having at least one human-factor resource which includes a transaction price calculated with yield management techniques.

A computer-based method for producing composite resource transactions, the method comprising:

• determining transaction parameter values for composite resources having at least one human-factor resource which includes an offer price calculated using yield management techniques;
• communicating the transaction parameter values for at least one composite resource to at least one user;
• and
• receiving a responding communication from at least one user binding at least one composite resource with specified transaction parameter values.