# US 9,519,907 B2 · Method and apparatus for efficient delta pricing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,907 B2 - Document ID: US9519907B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/550,075 - Filed: 2009-08-28 - Published: 2009-12-31 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2002-02-01 - Assignees: Versata Development Group, Inc. - Applicants: Thomas J. Carter, III; Meetesh M. Karia; August R. Buerkle; Boris Motik; Ramanathan Ramadass; Reuben Swartz - Inventors: Thomas J. Carter, III; Meetesh M. Karia; August R. Buerkle; Boris Motik; Ramanathan Ramadass; Reuben Swartz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519907B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0283: Price estimation or determination - G06Q 10/063: Operations research, analysis or management - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - G06Q 30/0206: {Price or cost determination based on market factors} - G06Q 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - Y10S 707/99932: Access augmentation or optimizing - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A method includes generating a delta price and generating a final price using the delta price. A process and system provide an ability to determine a product's final price with a selected set of features in which multiple configurations are to be generated. The ability to determine such final prices can be based on the ability to determine the change in price between one configuration of a product and that of another product configuration (e.g. the product configured with the desired feature(s)). A customer is able to select one or more features, and so view the effect on the product's final price, as well as compare the prices (and incremental price differences) between various configurations of a given product. This increases the likelihood of the purchase being made, because it provides the potential purchaser with the final price earlier in the sales cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of utilizing a super-quote data structure to reduce database accesses, reducing time spent accessing a database in computer processing operations, and increasing a speed of the computer processing operations, the method comprising: executing a program by a computer system that transforms the computer system into a machine to perform: receiving data representing at least a modification of one or more features of a first configuration of a product; generating a super-quote utilizing the super-quote data structure to retrieve sufficient information from the database to generate multiple quotes for multiple configurations of the product, wherein the super-quote data structure permits consolidation of data representing multiple quotes; instantiating a quote processor by a service layer to execute within a context of a pricing service to process the super-quote and for further: accessing the database using a query for the super-quote to reduce accesses to the database, reduce time spent accessing the database in the computer processing operations, and increase the speed of the computer processing operations relative to queries utilizing non-super-quote data structures; processing the data representing the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration to generate in the computer system a first delta price for a second configuration of the product, wherein the second configuration is the first configuration as modified as a result of the received modification, the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration results in a price change between a price of the first configuration and a price of the second configuration of the product, and the first delta price represents a price difference between the price of the first configuration and the price of the second configuration of the product; processing information including the information in the super-quote to generate a price of the second configuration using the first delta price and the price of the first configuration; and providing data representing the first delta price of the product to a computer system of a user to indicate to the user a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration of the product. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the price of the first configuration prior to the modification of one or more features of the first configuration represents a base price of the first configuration, the method further comprising generating a final price of the second configuration using the base price and the first delta price. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein generating the final price of the second configuration comprises adjusting the base price by the delta price. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: receiving a selection of an additional feature, wherein: the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises adding an additional feature to the first configuration; the final price is associated with the product; and a second delta price is generated in response to the selection of the additional feature for the product. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: receiving a selection removing a feature from the first configuration, wherein: the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises removing the feature from the first configuration; the final price is associated with the product; and the final price is generated in response to the selection removing the feature from the first configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the computer system of the user is a client computer system; the first delta price is generated by a server computer system, the first delta price is generated in response to the modification of one or more of features of the first configuration of the product at the client computer system, and the client computer system is communicatively coupled to the server computer system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising: providing the final price to the client computer system for display by the client computer system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein: the base price is generated in response to a selection of the first configuration of the product, and the first delta price is generated in response to at least one member of a group consisting of: addition of one or more features to the first configuration, removal of one or more features of the first configuration, and substitution of one or more features of the first configuration with one or more additional features of the first configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: the product is selected from a group consisting of: one or more services, one or more goods, and one or more goods and services. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving at least a modification of one or more features of the second configuration of the product; generating a second delta price for a third configuration of the product after receiving the modification of the one or more features in the second configuration, wherein the third configuration is the second configuration as modified by the received modification of the one or more features of the second configuration, the modification of the one or more features of the second configuration results in a price change between the second configuration and the third configuration of the product, and the second delta price comprises a price difference between a price of the second and a price of the third configurations of the product; generating a price of the third configuration using second delta price and the price of the second configuration; and providing the price of the third configuration and the second delta price to the computer system of the user to indicate to the user a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the second configuration of the product. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein: the computer system of the user is a client computer system; the first delta price and the second delta price are generated by a server computer system; the first delta price is generated in response to a first selection of a first feature at the client computer system; the second delta price is generated in response to a second selection of a second feature at the client computer system; and the client computer system is communicatively coupled to the server computer system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: generating a final price of the third configuration using a base price of the first configuration and the second delta price; and providing the final price to the client computer system for display by the client computer system to allow comparison between the final price and the price of the second configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein modification of the one or more features of the first configuration further comprises adding multiple features to the first configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein modification of the second configuration further comprises at least one member of a group consisting of: adding multiple features to the second configuration and removing at least one of the features of the second configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises at least one member of a group consisting of: addition of one or more features to the first configuration, removal of one or more features of the first configuration, and substitution of one or more features of the first configuration with one or more additional features of the first configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein a unique feature is a feature not common to both the first and second configurations of the product, each unique feature has an individual price, and the price difference does not equal an aggregate of each individual price for each unique feature. ### Claim 17 A method of utilizing a super-quote data structure to reduce database accesses, reducing time spent accessing a database in computer processing operations, and increasing a speed of the computer processing operations, the method comprising: executing a program by a computer system that transforms the computer system into a machine to perform: sending data representing at least a modification of one or more features of a first configuration of a product; and receiving a first delta price of the product from a second computer system to indicate a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration of the product, wherein: the second computer system generates a super-quote to retrieve sufficient information from a memory to generate multiple quotes for multiple configurations of the product, wherein utilizing the super-quote data structure to retrieve sufficient information from the database to generate multiple quotes for multiple configurations of the product, and the super-quote data structure permits consolidation of data representing multiple quotes; the second computer instantiates a quote processor by a service layer to execute within a context of a pricing service to process the super-quote and for further: accessing the database using a query for the super-quote to reduce accesses to the database, reduce time spent accessing the database in the computer processing operations, and increase the speed of the computer processing operations relative to queries utilizing non-super-quote data structures; generating a second configuration of the product as modified by the data representing at least the modification of one or more features of a first configuration of a product; processing information including the information in the super-quote to generate the first delta price is generated for the second configuration after sending the one or more features of the first configuration; providing data representing the first delta price of the product to the first computer system indicate to a user of the first computer system a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration of the product; wherein: the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration results in a price change between a price of the first configuration and a price of the second configuration of the product; the first delta price represents a price difference between the price of the first configuration and the price of the second configuration of the product; and the price of the second configuration is generated using the first delta price and the price of the first configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the price of the first configuration prior to the modification of one or more features of the first configuration represents a base price of the first configuration, the method further comprising receiving a final price of the second configuration that is generated using the base price and the first delta price. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the final price of the second configuration is adjusted the base price by the delta price. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising: sending a selection of an additional feature, wherein: the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises adding an additional feature to the first configuration; the final price is associated with the product; and a second delta price is generated in response to the selection of the additional feature for the product. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising: sending a selection removing a feature from the first configuration, wherein: the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises removing the feature from the first configuration; the final price is associated with the product; and the final price is generated in response to the selection removing the feature from the first configuration. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the at least a modification of one or more features of a first configuration of a product is sent by a client computer system; the first delta price is generated by a server computer system, the first delta price is generated in response to the modification of one or more of features of the first configuration of the product at the client computer system, and the client computer system is communicatively coupled to the server computer system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 further comprising: receiving the final price from the server computer system for display by the client computer system. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein: the base price is generated in response to a selection of the first configuration of the product, and the first delta price is generated in response to at least one member of a group consisting of: addition of one or more features to the first configuration, removal of one or more features of the first configuration, and substitution of one or more features of the first configuration with one or more additional features of the first configuration. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein: the product is selected from a group consisting of: one or more services, one or more goods, and one or more goods and services. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: sending at least a modification of one or more features of the second configuration of the product; and receiving a price of the third configuration and the second delta price to indicate a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the second configuration of the product, wherein: a second delta price for a third configuration is generated after receiving the modification of the one or more features in the second configuration; the third configuration is the second configuration as modified by the received modification of the one or more features of the second configuration; the modification of the one or more features of the second configuration results in a price change between the second configuration and the third configuration of the product; the second delta price comprises a price difference between the prices of the second and third configurations of the product; and a price of the third configuration is generated using the second delta price and the price of the second configuration. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26 wherein: the computer system of the user is a client computer system; the first delta price and the second delta price are generated by a server computer system; the first delta price is generated in response to a first selection of a first feature at the client computer system; the second delta price is generated in response to a second selection of a second feature at the client computer system; and the client computer system is communicatively coupled to the server computer system. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 further comprising: generating a final price of the third configuration using a base price of the first configuration and the second delta price; and providing the final price to the client computer system for display by the client computer system to allow comparison between the final price and the price of the second configuration. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein modification of the one or more features of the first configuration further comprises adding multiple features to the first configuration. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein modification of the second configuration further comprises at least one member of a group consisting of: adding multiple features to the second configuration and removing at least one of the features of the second configuration. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises at least one member of a group consisting of: addition of one or more features to the first configuration, removal of one or more features of the first configuration, and substitution of one or more features of the first configuration with one or more additional features of the first configuration. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein a unique feature is a feature not common to both the first and second configurations of the product, each unique feature has an individual price, and the price difference does not equal an aggregate of each individual price for each unique feature. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing the first delta price and the price of the second configuration of the product to a computer system of the user to indicate to the user a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration of the product. ### Claim 34 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: receiving the first delta price and a price of the second configuration of the product to indicate a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration of the product. ### Claim 35 A method of utilizing a super-quote data structure to reduce database accesses, reducing time spent accessing a database in computer processing operations, and increasing a speed of the computer processing operations, the method comprising: executing a program by a computer system that transforms the computer system into a machine to perform: receiving with an electronic input/output device at least a modification of one or more features of a first configuration of a product; generating a super-quote utilizing the super-quote data structure to retrieve sufficient information from the database to generate multiple quotes for multiple configurations of the product, wherein the super-quote data structure permits consolidation of data representing multiple quotes; instantiating a quote processor by a service layer to execute within a context of a pricing service to process the super-quote and for further: accessing the database using a query for the super-quote to reduce accesses to the database, reduce time spent accessing the database in the computer processing operations, and increase the speed of the computer processing operations relative to queries utilizing non-super-quote data structures; receiving electronic signals from a memory to cause electrical circuits to generate a first delta price after receiving the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration, wherein a second configuration is the first configuration as modified as a result of the received modification, the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration results in a price change between a price of the first configuration and a price of the second configuration of the product, and the first delta price represents a price difference between the price of the first configuration and the price of the second configuration of the product; receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to generate a price of the second configuration using the first delta price and the price of the first configuration; and receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to provide the first delta price of the product to a computer system of a user to indicate to the user a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration of the product. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 further comprising: receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to provide the first delta price and the price of the second configuration of the product to a computer system of a user to indicate to the user a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration of the product. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 wherein the electrical circuits are included in a microprocessor. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 wherein the price of the first configuration prior to the modification of one or more features of the first configuration represents a base price of the first configuration, the method further comprising receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to generate a final price of the second configuration using the base price and the first delta price. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein to generate the final price of the second configuration comprises adjusting the base price by the delta price. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 further comprising: receiving with the electronic input/output device a selection of an additional feature, wherein: the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises adding an additional feature to the first configuration; the final price is associated with the product; and a second delta price is generated by the electrical circuits in response to the selection of the additional feature for the product. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 further comprising: receiving with the electronic input/output device a selection removing a feature from the first configuration, wherein: the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises removing the feature from the first configuration; the final price is associated with the product; and the final price is generated by the electrical circuits in response to the selection removing the feature from the first configuration. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein: the computer system of the user is a client computer system; the first delta price is generated by a server computer system, the first delta price is generated in response to the modification of one or more of features of the first configuration of the product at the client computer system, and the client computer system is communicatively coupled to the server computer system. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42 further comprising: providing the final price to the client computer system for display by the client computer system. ### Claim 44 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein: the base price is generated in response to a selection of the first configuration of the product, and the first delta price is generated in response to at least one member of a group consisting of: addition of one or more features to the first configuration, removal of one or more features of the first configuration, and substitution of one or more features of the first configuration with one or more additional features of the first configuration. ### Claim 45 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 wherein: the product is selected from a group consisting of: one or more services, one or more goods, and one or more goods and services. ### Claim 46 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 further comprising: receiving with the electronic input/output device at least a modification of one or more features of the second configuration of the product; receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to generate a second delta price for a third configuration of the product after receiving the modification of the one or more features in the second configuration, wherein the third configuration is the second configuration as modified by the received modification of the one or more features of the second configuration, the modification of the one or more features of the second configuration results in a price change between the second configuration and the third configuration of the product, and the second delta price comprises the price change between the second and third configurations of the product; receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to generate a price of the third configuration using second delta price and the price of the second configuration; and receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to provide the price of the third configuration and the second delta price to the computer system of the user to indicate to the user a pricing impact associated with the modification of the one or more features of the second configuration of the product. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The method of claim 46 wherein: the computer system of the user is a client computer system; the first delta price and the second delta price are generated by a server computer system; the first delta price is generated in response to a first selection of a first feature at the client computer system; the second delta price is generated in response to a second selection of a second feature at the client computer system; and the client computer system is communicatively coupled to the server computer system. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47 further comprising: receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to generate a final price of the third configuration using a base price of the first configuration and the second delta price; and receiving electronic signals from the memory to cause the electrical circuits to provide the final price to the client computer system for display by the client computer system to allow comparison between the final price and the price of the second configuration. ### Claim 49 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44 wherein modification of the one or more features of the first configuration further comprises adding multiple features to the first configuration. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44 wherein modification of the second configuration further comprises at least one member of a group consisting of: adding multiple features to the second configuration and removing at least one of the features of the second configuration. ### Claim 51 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 wherein the modification of the one or more features of the first configuration comprises at least one member of a group consisting of: addition of one or more features to the first configuration, removal of one or more features of the first configuration, and substitution of one or more features of the first configuration with one or more additional features of the first configuration. ### Claim 52 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 wherein a unique feature is a feature not common to both the first and second configurations of the product, each unique feature has an individual price, and the price difference does not equal an aggregate of each individual price for each unique feature.