Patents Assigned to Emcien, Inc.
  • Product configuration modeling and optimization
    Patent number: 8756092
    Abstract: A computerized system and related methods of identifying an optimum set of product configurations from a plurality of possible product configurations, wherein each product configuration has a plurality of features and each feature has a plurality of options, includes the steps of representing each of the possible product configurations as an ordered set or array of at least n-dimensions, each dimension of the array representing a predetermined one of the features, identifying a subset of valid product configurations, identifying which valid configurations are captured by other configurations through upgrades, conversions, or acceptance of different options, defining and solving an optimization model to identify the optimum set of valid product configurations based on a desired objective, such as to maximize profit, minimize cost, or maximizing coverage of customer demand, and then presenting the optimum set of valid product configurations that satisfy the desired objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Emcien, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy E. Marsten
  • Product configuration modeling and optimization
    Patent number: 8498889
    Abstract: A computerized system and related methods of identifying an optimum set of product configurations from a plurality of possible product configurations, wherein each product configuration has a plurality of features and each feature has a plurality of options, includes the steps of representing each of the possible product configurations as an ordered set or array of at least n-dimensions, each dimension of the array representing a predetermined one of the features, identifying a subset of valid product configurations, identifying which valid configurations are captured by other configurations through upgrades, conversions, or acceptance of different options, defining and solving an optimization model to identify the optimum set of valid product configurations based on a desired objective, such as to maximize profit, minimize cost, or maximizing coverage of customer demand, and then presenting the optimum set of valid product configurations that satisfy the desired objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Emcien, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy E. Marsten
  • Demand modeling and forecasting for configurable products or services
    Patent number: 8301486
    Abstract: A system and method for modeling demand for a configurable product or service and then forecasting demand for said product or service based on the statistical associations of options across features within said product or service. By use of this method a manufacturer, for example, would be able to produce product combinations in advance with an increased probability that they would meet customer demand or project parts inventory needs and build fewer unwanted combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: EMCIEN, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy Earl Marsten
  • Product configuration modeling and optimization
    Patent number: 8078489
    Abstract: A computerized system and related methods of identifying an optimum set of product configurations from a plurality of possible product configurations, wherein each product configuration has a plurality of features and each feature has a plurality of options, includes the steps of representing each of the possible product configurations as an ordered set or array of at least n-dimensions, each dimension of the array representing a predetermined one of the features, identifying a subset of valid product configurations, identifying which valid configurations are captured by other configurations through upgrades, conversions, or acceptance of different options, defining and solving an optimization model to identify the optimum set of valid product configurations based on a desired objective, such as to maximize profit, minimize cost, or maximizing coverage of customer demand, and then presenting the optimum set of valid product configurations that satisfy the desired objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Emcien, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy E. Marsten