A method of optimizing multi-enterprise supply chain agreements using an electronic option contract includes determining at a buyer computer a range of forecasted demand for a product and communicating from the buyer computer to a seller computer an offer to enter into an option contract for the supply of a product, the option contract including an option corresponding to the range of forecasted demand. The method further includes executing the option contract, updating at the buyer computer the forecasted demand, and exercising the option in the option contract within the range of forecasted demand based on the updated forecasted demand.

 
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> Method for performing a plurality of candidate actions and monitoring the responses so as to choose the next candidate action to take to control a system so as to optimally control its objective function

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