Abstract: Each product of a number of products is assigned to one of a number of popularity tiers. The popularity tiers are ordered from a most popular tier to a least popular tier. The popularity tiers indicate how popular the products are expected to be among consumers. Each product is assigned to one of a number of margin tiers. The margin tiers are ordered from a highest margin tier to a lowest margin tier. The margin tiers indicate how much money a retailer makes in selling the products to the consumers. Which of the products to offer for sale by the retailer to the consumers are selected by applying decision rules to the products as have been assigned to the popularity tiers and to the margin tiers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for making an extended warranty coverage. Making an extended warranty decision can include determining by a computer, a customer's expected cost of terminating the extended warranty coverage, determining, by the computer, the customer's expected cost of continuing the extended warranty coverage, and comparing, by the computer, the expected cost of terminating the extended warranty coverage and the expected cost of continuing the extended warranty coverage. Making an extended warranty decision can also include determining, by the computer, the extended warranty coverage decision based on the comparison.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for profit comparison. Profit comparison can include determining a first profitability function of a flexible duration extended warranty offering with respect to a first plurality of warranty parameters and determining a second profitability function of a fixed duration extended warranty offering with respect to a second plurality of warranty parameters. Profit comparison can also include comparing the first function and the second function for at least one level of at least one of profit lift and flexible duration warranty offering coverage duration. Presenting results of the comparison for a range of values of the first and second plurality of warranty parameters can also be included in profit comparison.

Abstract: Link used variables are defined for links related to an interconnection fabric. The links used variables are representative of whether or not a link is used for handling flows between a plurality of hosts and devices. Constraints for links, and hop counts or port counts are also defined. An objective function is used by an integer programming solver to determine connections as a function of the definitions.

Abstract: Link used variables are defined for links related to an interconnection fabric. The links used variables are representative of whether or not a link is used for handling flows between a plurality of hosts and devices. Constraints for links, and hop counts or port counts are also defined. An objective function is used by an integer programming solver to determine connections as a function of the definitions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for designing warranty bonuses. Designing warranty bonuses can include determining, for a customer base of a product, a first probability that a customer will replace the product with a different product. Designing warranty bonuses may also include determining, for the customer base, a marginal contribution to the first probability for a plurality of warranty bonus sizes and a plurality of warranty bonus types. Designing warranty bonus can include determining, for the customer base, a second probability that the customer will purchase a warranty for the plurality of warranty bonus sizes and the plurality of warranty bonus types. Designing warranty bonuses may also include bundling the product and the warranty, and assigning a number of the plurality of warranty bonus sizes and a number of the plurality of warranty bonus types to the product-warranty bundle based on the first and second probabilities and the marginal contribution.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to net utility determinations based on product replacement and coverage decisions of a customer. In example embodiments, a number of net utility values corresponding to each possible product replacement decision and each possible coverage decision in each of a plurality of time periods is determined. An expected net utility attributable to the customer over the plurality of time periods is then determined based on the determined utility values.

Abstract: A method (200) of eliciting customer preference from purchasing behavior surveys clusters (210) survey respondents into two or more clusters according to a data pattern identified in a dataset (330) of responses to survey questions that include a question regarding a product purchasing decision, and questions regarding respondent attributes (such as behavioral questions) and product attributes. Clustering (210) may be performed based on responses to behavioral questions that are not endogenously linked to any control variables. A model for each cluster, relating purchasing decision responses to product attribute responses, is produced (220), and each model is used to generate (230) projected purchasing decision responses for each cluster by replacing a value relating to a response to a selected product attribute question, which may be a control variable, with an alternative value. The dataset is transformed (240) by replacing purchasing decision responses with the projected responses.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the optimum price that a service provider should charge to customers of a periodic extended-product warranty to optimize profits generated from providing such warranties. In one aspect of the present invention the customer is allowed to elect or to cancel warranty coverage on a monthly basis which election is based in part on the customer's expected net utility from his coverage decisions. In one embodiment, the customer can be afforded complete warranty coverage flexibility in terms of his ability to turn coverage on and off whenever desired. In another aspect of the present invention the customer can be allowed to make dynamic repair or replacement decisions in each period based on the product's failure status or on other criteria.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the optimum price that a service provider should charge to customers of at least a partially refundable extended-product warranty to optimize profits generated from providing such warranties. In one aspect of the present invention the customer may elect to purchase warranty coverage when the product is new and cancel warranty coverage at any time thereafter, which election is based in part on the customer's expected discounted net utility from his coverage decisions. In another aspect of the present invention, the customer is allowed to make dynamic repair or replacement decisions in each period based on the product's failure status or on other criteria. In one embodiment, the customer can be afforded warranty coverage flexibility in terms of his ability to turn coverage off whenever desired and to obtain a partial refund of the warranty premium.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method that determines, for a sale of a product and a post-sale service for the product from a supplier to a retailer, an expected supply chain profit for the sale as a function of an effort cost function of the retailer, a quantity of the product ordered, and an expected revenue of the retailer. A wholesale price schedule is determined that is a function of the quantity of the product ordered by the retailer. The wholesale price schedule reduces effects of double marginalization on the sale of the product and the post-sale service.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus is disclosed for allocating resources to applications. Available resources of a networked computing system may be determined. For each application, required resources of the application may be determined. An assigned subset of the available resources for each application is determined as a function of the required resources of the application and the available resources. The function reduces communication delays between resources of the subset of the available resources in conformance with bandwidth capacity requirements of the application and in conformance with network bandwidth limitations. The applications may then be associated with the assigned subsets of resources.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for determining a state of flow through, or a cut of, a network in which some the capacities of at least some of the conduits are dependent upon a specified parameter. Initially, a derived network is obtained by replacing capacities in the original network that depend upon the parameter. A particular flow state then is identified for that derived network, and this flow state is used to determine either a state of flow through or a cut of the original network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wastewater treatment. A nitrate source may be dosed to a collection tank, such as a wet well, for downstream control of hydrogen sulfide levels in the wastewater. A source of a strong oxidizer may also be dosed to the wet well. The oxidizer, such as chlorite, may temporarily interrupt denitrification processes in the wet well to prevent floatation of undesirable constituents therein. The oxidizer dosage may be generally consistent with the nitrate dosage. An ORP sensor may facilitate regulation of dosing. The nitrate and the oxidizer may be present in a single mixture to be dosed to the wet well.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wastewater treatment. A nitrate source may be dosed to a collection tank, such as a wet well, for downstream control of hydrogen sulfide levels in the wastewater. A source of a strong oxidizer may also be dosed to the wet well. The oxidizer, such as chlorite, may temporarily interrupt denitrification processes in the wet well to prevent floatation of undesirable constituents therein. The oxidizer dosage may be generally consistent with the nitrate dosage. An ORP sensor may facilitate regulation of dosing. The nitrate and the oxidizer may be present in a single mixture to be dosed to the wet well.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for pricing limited use product warranties to increase profit. Such a method can include selecting a plurality of potential warranty options, where each warranty option has an associated product usage limit and an associated warranty purchase cost; calculating a customer's expected support cost; determining a customer demand for each of the plurality of warranty options; calculating a provider's expected option profit for each of the plurality of warranty options; and calculating a provider's expected total profit for the plurality of warranty options.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to product warranties having a residual value and a potential rebate based on the residual value. The residual value can thus be inversely related to the number of claims filed against the warranty.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wastewater treatment. A nitrate source may be dosed to a collection tank, such as a wet well, for downstream control of hydrogen sulfide levels in the wastewater. A source of a strong oxidizer may also be dosed to the wet well. The oxidizer, such as chlorite, may temporarily interrupt denitrification processes in the wet well to prevent floatation of undesirable constituents therein. The oxidizer dosage may be generally consistent with the nitrate dosage. An ORP sensor may facilitate regulation of dosing. The nitrate and the oxidizer may be present in a single mixture to be dosed to the wet well.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wastewater treatment. A nitrate source may be dosed to a collection tank, such as a wet well, for downstream control of hydrogen sulfide levels in the wastewater. A source of a strong oxidizer may also be dosed to the wet well. The oxidizer, such as chlorite, may temporarily interrupt denitrification processes in the wet well to prevent floatation of undesirable constituents therein. The oxidizer dosage may be generally consistent with the nitrate dosage. An ORP sensor may facilitate regulation of dosing. The nitrate and the oxidizer may be present in a single mixture to be dosed to the wet well.

Abstract: Interconnection links between hosts and devices are optimized by using the operational parameters, for example, the bandwidth, of an edge/core switch network. In one embodiment, integer programming is used to create a mathematical model of the connectivity problem so as to optimize the minimum fraction of each host's or device's bandwidth demand routable from that host or devices to a core switch. In one embodiment, the mathematical model is solved by an integer problem solver.