Method and apparatus for outlet location selection using the market region partition and marginal increment assignment algorithm

US8458008B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Jin Dong · Beijing, CN
• Ta-Hsin Li · Yorktown Heights, US
• Jin Yan Shao · Beijing, CN
• Ming Xie · Beijing, CN
• Li Xia · Qingdao, CN
• Wen Jun Yin · Beijing, CN
• Bin Zhang · Beijing, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 2009
• Grant date: Jun 4, 2013
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/0205
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method of determining at least one location for a retail outlet in a region are described. The system and method use clustering technology for partitioning the region into a fixed number of sub-regions. Then, the system and method compute marginal increments from input data for each sub-region. The system and method choose a sub-region having a maximal marginal increment for a location of a first retail outlet.