SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDEX-BASED PRICING IN A PRICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The present invention provides a flexible pricing method for providing pricing adjustments for a product in a deal in response to price variations in selected indexes. The method comprises: designating an index for the product wherein said index has a published index value; and computing a price for said product based on said published index value. The invention also provides for periodically re-pricing deals with index-based pricing terms.
1 - 19 . (canceled)
20 . In a computerized integrated price management system, a method for protecting a price of at least one product having a designated index, said method comprising:
selecting a deal including said at least one product having a designated index, wherein:
said designated index has a published index value, wherein:
the price of said at least one product is computed based on said published index value; and
designating a price protection period, wherein:
said price remains unchanged for the duration of said price protection period.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:
computing a new price for said at least one product at the expiration of said price protection period based on said designated index, wherein:
a value equal to the published index value at the start of said price protection period is used for said computation; and
maintaining said new price unchanged for the duration of said price protection period.
22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising:
computing a current price at the expiration of each price protection period; and
maintaining said current price unchanged for the duration of each price protection period.
23 . The method of claim 22 wherein said at least one product comprises more than one component.
24 . The method of claim 23 further comprising:
designating at least one critical index for at least one of said components;
setting a threshold value for change in said at least one critical index; and
computing a new price of said product irrespective of said price protection period when said threshold value is met or exceeded.
25 . The method of claim 24 wherein said critical index is used to compute said new price.
26 - 33 . (canceled)
34 . A computerized integrated price management system configured to protect a price of at least one product having a designated index, the price management system configured to:
select a deal including said at least one product having a designated index, wherein said designated index has a published index value, and wherein the price of said at least one product is computed based on said published index value; and
designate a price protection period, wherein said price remains unchanged for the duration of said price protection period.
35 . The price management system of claim 34 further configured to:
compute a new price for said at least one product at the expiration of said price protection period based on said designated index, wherein a value equal to the published index value at the start of said price protection period is used for said computation; and
maintain said new price unchanged for the duration of said price protection period.
36 . The price management system of claim 35 further configured to:
compute a current price at the expiration of each price protection period; and
maintain said current price unchanged for the duration of each price protection period.
37 . The price management system of claim 36 wherein said at least one product comprises more than one component.
38 . The price management system of claim 37 further configured to:
designate at least one critical index for at least one of said components;
set a threshold value for change in said at least one critical index; and
compute a new price of said product irrespective of said price protection period when said threshold value is met or exceeded.
39 . The price management system of claim 38 wherein said critical index is used to compute said new price.