Spread-maximizing travel-services trading system using buyer- and seller-specified multi-attribute values

摘要

A multi-attribute trading system creates value for both the buyer and seller. A spread or net value between the buyer's true value and the seller's true value is divided among the buyer, seller, and trading system. Multiple true values are inputted by a buyer for products with varied attribute specifications such as travel services. These multiple values are stored in a buyer attribute tree. Likewise, the seller specifies multiple true values for a multi-attribute product that are stored in a seller attribute tree. The trading system compares the buyer attribute tree to the seller attribute tree. For each specification of the multiple attributes, the spread or difference between the buyer-specified true value and the seller-specified true value is calculated. The attribute specification producing the maximum of these spreads is selected for trading.