US 12,072,858 B2
Computer-based data collection, management, and forecasting
Anders R. Gjerde, Pleasanton, CA (US); William Palarca, San Francisco, CA (US); Rick Myers, Brentwood, CA (US); Calvin Tamano, Union City, CA (US); Charissa Fanucchi, Livermore, CA (US); Peggah Elahi, San Ramon, CA (US); Zohra Qasimi, Torrance, CA (US); Gemma Asin Laguna, Pleasanton, CA (US); and Valerie R. Hancock, Livermore, CA (US)
Assigned to Blackhawk Networ, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed by Blackhawk Network, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/891,322.
Application 17/891,322 is a continuation of application No. 17/146,829, filed on Jan. 12, 2021, granted, now 11,468,023.
Application 17/146,829 is a continuation of application No. 15/736,892, granted, now 10,922,293, issued on Feb. 16, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2016/038346, filed on Jun. 20, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/182,601, filed on Jun. 21, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0398234 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 16/00 (2019.01); G06F 16/22 (2019.01); G06F 16/28 (2019.01)
CPC G06F 16/22 (2019.01) [G06F 16/285 (2019.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method which reduces a data storage capacity requirement for the computer and increases the computer's processing speed, the method comprising:
collecting historical data for a plurality of items;
storing the historical data for the plurality of items in a first part of a datastore;
categorizing each of the plurality of items;
storing a categorization of each of the plurality of items in a second part of the datastore;
assigning at least one of the plurality of items as an index item for at least another of the plurality of items, wherein the assigning enables accurate forecasting, wherein forecasting comprises using a first factor and a second factor with reference to a first context parameter of the plurality of context parameters to calculate a forecast value of the one of the plurality of items needed over a future period of time when a period of time for the historical data collected for the one of the plurality of items needed over the future period of time with reference to the first context parameter is above a first threshold, wherein the first factor and the second factor are related to the plurality of items.