Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for providing network based optimization tools. The method may be implemented in a system having a user system connected to a host system by a network and a transfer function database accessible by the host system. The method includes presenting the user system with an application setup screen including application fields having predefined application parameters. The user system is presented with at least one transfer function descriptor in response to user-selected predefined application parameters. The user system is presented with a factor and a response in response to a user-selected transfer function. The responses are recalculated in response to the user system altering a value associated with a factor or a response.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for optimizing a product design. The method includes specifying a plurality of application parameters for the product. A plurality of predetermined factors and responses are obtained in response to the plurality of application parameters. A transfer function is obtained which relates at least one factor to at least one response. The transfer function is optimized in response to user-defined optimization criteria to generate an optimized factor and an optimized response. The optimized factor and the optimized response are then displayed.