Systems and methods for index-based pricing in a price management system

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.