WO2008124789A2

WO2008124789A2 - Fuel offering and purchase management system

Info

Publication number: WO2008124789A2
Application number: PCT/US2008/059790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Kirch; Daniel Sharfman; Saurabh H. Sanghvi
Original assignee: Goldman Sachs & Co.
Priority date: 2007-04-09
Filing date: 2008-04-09
Publication date: 2008-10-16
Also published as: WO2008124789A3

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods that facilitate pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity fuel to a Customer. The disclosure teaches a Fuel Offer Generator that facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings which allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers can buy fuel offers such that they may later exercise the offers locking-in their fuel costs (e.g., may be strike prices). The Fuel Offer Generator also can establish a Premium Price that will be part of the fuel offer. The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. Ultimately, a customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offenng order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for purchased fuel and price specified in their fuel offenng order.

Description

FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

PRIORITY CLAIMS AND RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001 ] Applicants hereby claim priority under 35 U. S. C. § 1 19 for United States provisional patent application No. 60/910,816 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209- 076PV; United States non-provisional patent application No. 11/733,178 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209-076US1 ; United States non-provisional patent application No. 1 1/733,191 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209-076US2; United States non-provisional patent application No. 11/733,192 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209-076US3; United States non-provisional patent application No. 1 1/733,193 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209- 076US4; United States non-provisional patent application No. 1 1/733,199 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209-076US5; United States non-provisional patent application No. 11/733,198 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209-076US6; United States non- provisional patent application No. 11/733,197 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209- 076US7; and United States non-provisional patent application No. 1 1/733,200 filed April 9, 2007, entitled, "FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," attorney docket no. 17209-076US8.

[0002 J The entire contents of the aforementioned application(s) are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD

[0003] The disclosure relates generally to commodity management systems and more particularly to apparatuses, systems and methods for facilitating the pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity or a commodity derivative to a customer.

BACKGROUND [0004] The generally increasing and unpredictably fluctuating costs of vehicle fuels, for example automobile fuels, have impacted both private consumers and commercial businesses. Not only have fuel prices risen steadily over the long term at rates that significantly exceed the general cost of living, but fuel prices also suffer significant short- term fluctuations due both to predictable and unpredictable market forces.

[0005] Long-term, steady increases in fuel prices result from a variety of influencing factors, including growing depletion of fossil fuels, increasing costs associated with locating and developing raw fuel materials, increasing pricing demands made by oil-producing countries, and others as will be known to the reader.

[0006] Short-term price fluctuations in fuel prices can result from both predictable and unpredictable events. Summer travel is an example of a predictable market demand event that typically causes the price of vehicle fuel to fluctuate upwards at a time when the increased cost has the most significant effect on a typical purchaser. National and international conflicts and political unrests in and amongst oil-producing countries are examples of unpredictable events that often produce unexpected and volatile increases in crude and hence processed fuel products.

[0007] These price fluctuations have significantly impacted many purchasers. Automobile drivers find the cost of fuel prohibitive for both business commuting and optional travel. Airlines have been forced to significantly increase the cost of air transportation to accommodate rising fuel prices. Service providers dependent on fuel prices, for example taxis, trucking services, package delivery services and others have all been forced to increase prices to accommodate rising fuel prices.

[0008] Many consumers and commercial fuel users have taken significant steps to control or diminish their fuel consumption. More fuel-efficient vehicles have become available and put into use. Unnecessary travel or fuel usage may be curtailed. Carpooling and the use of public transportation have increased. These "green," environmentally friendly efforts may result in lower fuel usage and hence lower fuel costs. However, they do not protect against the ongoing, steady, long-term rise in fuel costs. Neither do they offer significant help against unpredictable, short-term fuel price fluctuations.

[0009] In general, it is quite difficult if not impossible for parties dependent on fuel costs to plan and budget accurately and appropriately for the ever-changing price of fuel,

particularly vehicle fuel. Some parties have engaged in pre-purchase programs of automotive fuel, which is stored at specified filling stations for subsequent pick-up and use by the parties. Such action require purchase and storage of the fuel, and require the parties to pick up the fuel from the storage location. For large, sophisticated commercial practitioners, hedging is another method of controlling the future cost of a commodity. SUMMARY

[0010] The present disclosure is directed towards apparatuses, systems and methods to facilitate the pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity fuel to a Customer. In one embodiment, the disclosure teaches a Fuel Offer Generator that facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers can buy these fuel offers such that they may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels (e.g., they may be set to strike prices). The Fuel Offer Generator also can establish a Premium Price that will be part of the fuel offer. The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. Ultimately, a customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order.

[0011 ] In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for providing fuel offerings, the method comprising: setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering; determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the commodity offering; providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by a customer; and providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a geographically averaged commodity price. [0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate various non-limiting, example, inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure:

[0014] FIGURES IA-B illustrate aspects of an embodiment of the Fuel Offering

Generator;

[0015] FIGURE 2 shows a top level information flow of a process for creating and managing the execution of fuel offerings to one or more Purchasers, according to one embodiment;

[0016] FIGURES 3A-B are of aspects of financial structure model operation in particular embodiments of Fuel Offering Generator operation;

[0017] FIGURES 4A-B illustrate operation of financial structure pricing and price- pump model operation in respective embodiments of Fuel Offering Generator operation;

[0018] FIGURES 5A-D illustrate operation aspects for some embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator;

[0019] FIGURE 6 illustrates a fixed volume aspect of fuel offerings in one embodiment;

[0020] FIGURE 7 illustrates an aspect of fuel usage restrictions for fuel offerings in one embodiment;

[0021 ] FIGURE 8 illustrates an aspect of cap restrictions for fuel offerings in one embodiment; [0022] FIGURE 9 illustrates an aspect of structural constraints of a fuel offering in one embodiment;

[0023] FIGURE 10 illustrates one embodiment of SPZ map generation;

[0024] FIGURE 11 illustrates further aspects of SPZ map generation and management in one embodiment;

[0025] FIGURE 12 illustrates aspects of SPZ pricing in one embodiment;

[0026] FIGURES 13A-B illustrate aspects of withdrawal expiry restrictions on offerings in one embodiment;

[0027] FIGURE 14 shows an overview of one aspect of the multi-SPZ fuel offering exercise in one embodiment;

[0028] FIGURE 15 illustrates aspects of process flow for management of Purchaser profile incentives and/or penalties in one embodiment;

[0029] FIGURE 16 illustrates further aspects of process flow for management of

Purchaser profile incentives and/or penalties in one embodiment;

[0030] FIGURE 17 illustrates further aspects of process flow for management of

Purchaser profile incentives and/or penalties in one embodiment;

[0031 ] FIGURE 18 illustrates further aspects of process flow for management of

Purchaser profile incentives and/or penalties in one embodiment;

[0032] FIGURE 19 illustrates aspects of process flow for management of retailer price group incentives and/or penalties in one embodiment; [0033 ] FIGURE 20 illustrates further aspects of process flow for management of retailer price group incentives and/or penalties in one embodiment;

[0034] FIGURE 21 illustrates further aspects of process flow for management of retailer price group incentives and/or penalties in one embodiment; and

[0035] FIGURE 22 is of a block diagram illustrating embodiments of the present invention of a Fuel Offering Generator system controller.

[0036] The leading number of each reference number within the drawings indicates the figure in which that reference number is introduced and/or detailed. As such, a detailed discussion of reference number 101 would be found and/or introduced in Figure 1. Reference number 201 is introduced in Figure 2, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FUEL OFFERING GENERATOR

[0037] Figure IA illustrates a system 100 for generating fuel offerings according to an embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. System 100 comprises a market parameter generator 408 coupled for real-time monitoring of data related to a fuel market 410. Realtime market data refers to data reflecting current market conditions as trading in the market takes place. Examples of real-time market data provided to real-time market parameter generator 108 include wholesale over-the-counter fuel options market data, wholesale fuel options over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, and spot prices for retail fuel as well as spot prices for wholesale fuel. In an alternative embodiment, a market parameter generator may be configured to periodically and/or intermittently query current values for market parameters.

[0038] A market history analyzer 115 is coupled to receive and/or record observable real-time market data and/or historical records of market data related to market 110. The market history analyzer may record and store observed market data and/or historical market data accumulated historically and received by the market history analyzer. In that manner, market history analyzer 115 develops data related to the historical performance of the market. In one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, market data includes retail gas spot prices and wholesale gas spot prices.

[0039] A product matrix generator 125 is coupled to the market parameter generator

108 and to the market history analyzer 115. Product matrix generator 125 is configured to the behavior of market 1 10. Product matrix generator 125 operates on the parameters it receives from real-time market parameter generator 108 and market history analyzer 1 15 in accordance with a stochastic model of the dynamics of the market 110. In one implementation, the product matrix generator 125 may consider some of the market variables and/or other input parameters in Fig. 4A and discussed below. Product matrix generator 125 may solve a stochastic differential equation to provide a commodity volatility model based on the input parameters.

[0040] In one embodiment, the matrix generator 125 is configured to solve stochastic differential equations for market models using parameters provided by real-time market parameter generator 108 and market history analyzer 1 15. Among other parameters provided by real-time market parameter generator 108 and market history analyzer 1 15, parameters reflecting retail fuel sales activity may be collected and provided to real-time market parameter generator 108 and market history analyzer 1 15 in embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator.

[004 I J For example, in one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, the matrix generator 125 is configured to process spot price spread information provided by real-time market parameter generator 108. The spot price spread information is related to a difference between a retail fuel spot price and a wholesale fuel spot price. Matrix generator 125 processes the spot price spread information in accordance with a stochastic model. In embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator, the matrix generator 125 is further configured to process retail fuel forward curve parameters in accordance with a stochastic model. The retail forward curve parameters may be provided by the market history analyzer 1 15. In another embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, the matrix generator 125 may further solve alternative market models that are adapted and/or deemed suitable for use in embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator. [0042] In one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, the matrix generator 125 receives market parameters from real-time market parameter generator 108 and from market history analyzer 1 15. Product matrix generator 125 processes and analyzes the information to provide a solution for the adapted stochastic differential equation. Product matrix generator 125 may be coupled to price information generator 130 and configured to provide the solution thereto. Based upon the solution it receives from product matrix generator 125, price information generator 130 may provide data representing a product price at an output in one implementation. In an embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, the price information generator 130 may also provide data representing price sensitivity at an output. In one implementation, the price sensitivity may indicate price sensitivity not only with respect to wholesale fuel markets but also with respect to retail fuel prices, and/or with respect to other input variables received from real-time market parameter generator 408, market history analyzer 405, and/or product modeler 420.

[0043] In one embodiment, the system 100 further comprises a product modeler 120. Product modeler 120 is coupled to at least one computer system 102. In some embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator, the product modeler 120 is coupled to two computer systems 102 and 104. In embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator at least one of computer systems 102 and 104 comprises a fuel offering Purchaser computer. In some embodiments the fuel offering Purchaser computer may be coupled to product modeler 120 via a communications network, such as the Internet. A fuel purchaser may enter information related to a fuel product, such as a fuel offering, using the fuel offering Purchaser computer. The fuel offering Purchaser computer transmits the information to product modeler 120. In one implementation, the product modeler 120 may use the information from the fuel offering Purchaser to determine features of a financial product to be modeled by product modeler 120.

[0044] In one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator 100 comprises at least one

Distributor computer system 104. Distributor computer system 104 is coupled to product modeler 120 and may enable a Distributor to define characteristics of a financial product comprising fuel offerings to be offered to a consumer. In that embodiment a Distributor inputs data to Distributor computer 104. Distributor computer 104 provides the data to product modeler 120. Product modeler 120 models the financial product in accordance with the characteristics provided by Distributor computer system 104.

[0045] Product modeler 120 is coupled to product matrix generator 125. Based upon inputs from at least one of a fuel purchaser computer 102 and a Distributor computer 104 product modeler 120 generates data representing features of a financial product. System 100 determines the price of the financial product based upon product data provided by product modeler 120, real-time market parameters provided by real-time market parameter generator and on historical market data provided by market history analyzer 115.

[0046] In one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, the matrix generator 125 is coupled to a consumer behavior modeler 170. Consumer behavior modeler 170 receives data representing Purchaser (e.g., consumer) behavior with respect to fuel offering execution and/or purchase, ownership, exercising, and/or the like. Based upon the behavior data consumer behavior modeler 170 provides Purchaser and/or consumer behavior parameters to matrix generator 125. In that embodiment, matrix generator 125 considers the Purchaser and/or consumer behavior in calculating price for a financial product. [0047] Figure IB describes one embodiment of a Fuel Offering Generator 101. In one implementation of the Fuel Offering Generator, a fuel offering comprises a product related to future purchases of fuel in a retail fuel market. Both the retail and the wholesale fuel markets are observed 103. Observable wholesale fuel market parameters include wholesale fuel over-the-counter (OTC) options information, wholesale gas over-the-counter (OTC) forward market data in a wholesale fuel market. Fuel market data including retail fuel spot price information is obtained 103.

[0048] Market parameters related to current market conditions are generated based on the observed fuel market condition 1 1 1. At least one generated market parameter related to current market conditions is wholesale-retail spot price spread in one implementation. Other generated market parameters may include a wholesale implied volatility and a wholesale forward curve.

[0049] In one embodiment of the invention parameters related to current market conditions are sampled and stored to provide historical data describing past market behavior 113. One sampled and stored parameter used in one implementation to provide historical data is retail fuel market spot price. Thus historical data related to retail fuel spot price is acquired.

[0050] Historical data, such as data related to retail fuel spot price, may be analyzed

119. The analysis may, in one implementation, consider retail fuel market information. The data is used to estimate parameters of models for fuel market behavior 121. Examples of generated fuel market behavior parameters may include retail implied volatility, wholesale mean reversion, retail forward curve and retail mean reversion. The indicators of fuel market behavior and the parameters related to current market conditions are analyzed 123. In one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, the analyzing step is carried out by stochastic modeling. Price information for the fuel offering is generated 143. In one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator, price sensitivity information related to the fuel offering is generated 144. [0051 ] In further embodiments of the invention Purchaser and/or consumer behavior may be observed 141. Data related to Purchaser and/or consumer behavior is obtained based on the observations. In one embodiment of the invention Purchaser and/or consumer behavior data is analyzed 142 as considered in an analyzing step 123 as a factor in generating price information 143.

Fuel Offering Generator Information Flow

[0052] With reference now to Figure 2, there are shown and described a top level information flow of a process for creating and managing the execution of fuel offerings to one or more Purchasers, according to one embodiment.

[0053] Figure 2 is seen to include three principal parties including a Provider 202 of fuel offerings, a Distributor 204 of fuel offerings and at least one Purchaser 206 of fuel offerings. It will be understood that in certain embodiments, the Provider 202 and

Distributor 204 may be considered as a single entity from the perspective of the Purchaser

206. It will also be understood that while Figure 2 illustrates a single Purchaser 206, for ease of explanation, the single Purchaser 206 is representative of a marketplace of potential Purchasers 206 of the fuel offering.

[0054] At block Bl, a request is made by the Distributor 204, directed to the Provider

202, to structure and/or generate one or more fuel offerings. In some embodiments, the request may include some number of product factors and/or parameters, for example, (i) the type of fuel to offered, (ii) the quantity of fuel to be offered, (iii) usage per period limitations, (iv) tenor, (v) geography, and/or (vi) strike price. Of course, in other embodiments, other combinations and/or additional factors and/or parameters may alternatively or additionally be provided.

[0055] At block Cl, the Provider 206 structures a selection of fuel offerings, responsive to the Distributor 204 request. The selection of fuel offerings may, in one embodiment, include associated premiums based on the parameters provided by the Distributor 204. In certain embodiments, the selection of fuel offerings may constitute a single fuel offering or a range of fuel offerings, as shown in Table 1 below. Depending on the embodiment, a fuel offering may be characterized its type (e.g., fuel type, such as regular unleaded gasoline, premium unleaded gasoline, diesel, bio-diesel, ethanol, hydrogen and/or the like), strike price, tenor or term (e.g., 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc.), calculated premium and/or the like. Table I, illustrates, by way of non-limiting example, an exemplary range of fuel offerings which may be constructed by the Provider 206, responsive to a Distributor 204 request.

[0056] With continued reference to Figure 2, at block C2, the range of fuel offerings, such as those shown in Table 1 , are presented to the Distributor 204 for his or her approval and/or selection. [0057] At block B2, the Distributor 204, may select one or more fuel offerings and make said offering(s) available to Purchasers 202. In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the fuel offering(s) may be made widely available over to a large population of potential Purchasers over an electronic network, such as the Internet. In the case where the Distributor 204 does not select one or more fuel offerings, the process may return to block Cl and the fuel offerings may be re-structured in an appropriate manner.

[0058] At block B3, the Distributor 204 may pay the Provider 206 an up front strike price plus premium and/or service markup, or otherwise paying only a premium and/or service markup. [0059] At block C3, the Provider 206 may protect its fuel offering investment by employing hedging strategies, such as, for example, utilizing forward contracts, futures, wholesale fuel options and/or the like in appropriate combination(s). In some embodiments, the Provider 206 may alternatively elect not to employ any hedging strategies.

[0060] At block Al, a Purchaser 202 may access the Distributor 204 (e.g., via a web- site) to purchase one or more fuel offerings being marketed by the Distributor 204. For example, with reference again to Table I, a Purchaser 202 may elect to purchase the first listed fuel offering (see row 1 of Table I),

[0061 ] At block A2, the Purchaser 202, in possession of the fuel offering shown above, may exercise the fuel offering to purchase fuel (in this case, diesel fuel) up to the stipulated quantity, during the indicated tenor, and at the indicated strike price. Additional details of the transaction may be dependent upon the model being utilized by the Distributor 204 (e.g., based on a national average price or a pump price). For example, in some embodiments, when a Purchaser 202 purchases fuel, the Distributor 204 may pay the difference between the strike price ($2.50), and either the pump price at the point of purchase or a national average price on the date of purchase. In one embodiment, the fuel offering is priced to include the strike price plus the premium, so that upon exercising the fuel offering (i.e., buying gas), the Purchaser 202 pays out no money, and the fuel retailer is paid by the Distributor 204. As a further example, in accordance with one implementation of the pump price model, if the pump price is $3.00 and the fuel offering strike price is $2.50, the Purchaser 202 effectively pays $0.10 less than the pump price, considering a premium payment of $0.40, which is advantageous to the Purchaser 202.

[0062] At block B4, in response to the Purchaser 202 purchasing fuel at block A2 within the construct of the fuel offering, the Distributor 204 pays the fuel retailer (e.g., gas station) at the point of purchase the cost of the gasoline based on the pump price on the date of purchase. In an alternative embodiment wherein the Purchaser has only paid a premium and not a strike price to the Distributor up front, the Distributor may only pay based on the difference between the pump price and the fuel offering strike price to the gas station.

[0063] At block B5, the Distributor collects feedback data on each fuel offering exercise and/or purchase, such as the one described at block A2 and said data is provided to the Provider 206 to enable refinement of future fuel offerings. The collected data may include the prices at which Purchasers are exercising fuel offerings (e.g., purchasing fuel) relative to the corresponding fuel offerings strike prices, the quantities involved and/or other indicia. [0064] At block C4, the Provider pays the Distributor the cost of the gasoline for which the Distributor has paid the gas station. In an alternative embodiment, the Provider may only pay the difference between the cost of the gasoline and the cost calculated based on the fuel offering strike price.

Financial Structure Model

[0065] Figures 3A-B show aspects of financial structure model operation in particular embodiments of Fuel Offering Generator operation. In Figure 3 A, a combined logic and data flow diagram is shown illustrating one implementation of the financial structure model. A pricing module 301 receives as inputs fuel market information 303, historical analysis 305, and offering parameters 310. Details surrounding the nature of these inputs, including examples thereof, and of pricing module operation, will be discussed in greater detail in the context of offering pricing below. The pricing module yields as output at least one offering price and/or price matrix 320, that may be comprised of one or more offerings with associated strike price, premium, tenor, terms, service markup, restrictions, constraints, discounts, and/or the like. The pricing module may also yield as output at least one set of sensitivity data characterizing the sensitivity of price matrix elements to input parameters. For example, the sensitivity data may delineate, among other things, the sensitivity of the premium of a given offering or set of offerings to fuel market factors, such as retail gasoline spot prices. Sensitivity may be represented, in one implementation, by the first derivative of the output variable (e.g., offering price, premium, strike price, etc.) with respect to an input variable (e.g., market factors, historical factors, offering parameters).

[0066] The Provider determines at 330 whether the price matrix 320 is satisfactory based on a set of price matrix satisfaction criteria, which may include a consideration of the reasonableness of premium value and strike price combinations. Price matrix satisfaction criteria may also be based in part on accumulated Purchaser (e.g., consumer) marketing research data 333, such as data describing which offerings, premium and strike price combinations, etc. are most attractive to Purchasers, which types of offerings are least likely to be exercised, and/or the like. If the price matrix 320 output by the pricing module 301 is not satisfactory based on the satisfaction criteria, then the offering parameters 310 may be adjusted in order to improve the alignment of the pricing matrix with the satisfaction criteria in the next iteration. If, on the other hand, the pricing matrix does meet a minimum standard of satisfaction, then the corresponding offerings are made available in a Purchaser market, such as a consumer market 335. Purchasers may execute purchases of offerings 340 and, subsequently, exercise the offerings 345 to receive pay-outs consistent with offering terms.

[0067] In one implementation, the Provider itself may price offerings, make them available to a Purchaser market, execute Purchaser offering purchases, and honor Purchaser offering exercises. In another implementation, the Provider may price offerings and make them available to an intermediary Distributor entity, who may provide them to a Purchaser market and interface with Purchasers for offer purchases and exercises. Additional details surrounding Provider-Distributor-Purchaser interactions in the context of offering exercise delays are discussed below.

[0068] Data related to offering executions and exercises (e.g., offering popularity, exercise rates, and/or the like) may be monitored by the Provider and incorporated into a Purchaser marketing research data set that may be sampled in subsequent selection of offering parameters. For example, the Provider may observe that all 3-month tenor, regular octane gasoline offerings having a strike price of $2.90/gallon and up sell considerably more poorly than other offerings regardless of the premium charged. Subsequent offering generations may, consequently, exclude these offering parameters and/or terms altogether. Offering exercise information may also be fed back into the pricing module through historical analysis variables that may alter the strike price and/or premium of particular offering rather than changing the presence or absence of offering parameters altogether. For example, the Provider may observe that the profits derived from 12-month tenor, regular octane gasoline offerings having a strike price of $2.00/gallon are greater than expected because Purchasers who exercise these particular offerings tend to behave sub-optimally. Consequently, the system may incorporate that knowledge to charge a lower premium for these particular offerings that may attract more Purchasers to these types of offerings and potentially increase the profits derived from them even more.

[0069] Data related to execution 340 and exercise 345 of offerings may also be incorporated, along with sensitivity data 325, into Provider hedging strategies and/or practices 350. In an effort to offset, mitigate, and/or eliminate some amount of risk associated with the sale of offerings, the Provider may elect to select, purchase, and/or manage a portfolio of hedging instruments. A Provider devised hedging portfolio may be comprised of a variety of different types of holdings in various implementations that may include but are not limited to equities, debts, derivatives, synthetics, notes, stocks, preferred shares, bonds, debentures, options, futures, swaps, rights, warrants, commodities, currencies, long and/or short positions, ETFs, and/or other assets or investment interests. In one implementation, a Provider devised hedging portfolio may be comprised of forward contracts and/or futures of exchange or over-the-counter (OTC) traded wholesale fuel options, gasoline options, and/or the like. Sensitivity data 325 provides information describing the degree to which a particular input variable (e.g., a market parameter) affects the strike price and/or premium of an offering. Counteracting the risk associated with an offering may, therefore, be accomplished by seeking instruments whose sensitivity to input variables is similar in magnitude but opposite in direction to offering sensitivities. Observed offering execution and exercise practices and/or trends of Purchasers may further affect Provider hedging strategies and/or practices. For example, an observation of sub-optimal exercise of offerings by Purchasers may indicate to a Provider that a smaller purchase of hedging instruments will suffice to offset the risk associated with the offerings. In the extreme case, wherein the offerings are never exercised under any circumstances, the Provider would have no need for hedging instruments at all. Further details surrounding hedging strategies and/or practices in the context of Purchaser aggregation and scale are discussed below.

[0070] Figure 3B shows logic flow in an implementation of the financial structure model in one embodiment of Fuel Offering Generator operation. A Provider collects financial structure model inputs 360, such as market factors, average and/or specific fuel prices, price and/or market factor geographic distributions, historical price data and/or market factors, offering parameters (e.g., strike price, premium, tenor, restrictions, discounts, incentives, and/or the like), Purchaser and/or consumer behavior considerations, hedging strategy considerations, and/or the like and stores them in a variables table at 365. Based at least in part on financial structure model inputs, the Provider may determine a price matrix 370. Model inputs, outputs, and price matrix determination logic will be discussed in greater detail below. In one implementation, a price matrix may be comprised of a collection of offerings with varying terms, strike prices, premiums, incentives, restrictions, and/or the like. In one implementation, the Provider and/or the Distributor may further append a service markup to the strike price and/or premium to yield an offering price and/or collection of offering prices within a consumer price matrix.

[0071 ] The Provider may send 375 a price matrix, consumer price matrix, and/or some portion thereof 376 to Purchasers for consideration and, for any Purchasers who request to purchase offerings, the Provider may subsequently receive notices of offering purchases 380 and execute offerings. These executed offerings may be sorted 383 and subsequently aggregated 385 into a plurality of similarity classes based on some desired criteria, such as Purchaser location, selected offering parameters and/or terms, Purchaser characteristics and/or demographics, Purchaser behavior and/or history, and/or the like. A sensitivity and/or risk analysis 388 may be performed on the similarity classes in order to determine sensitivity of offering prices to various input parameters (such as described above) and risk characteristics that may be considered in a hedging strategy for subsequent hedging of Provider risks and/or obligations. In addition, the Provider may optionally perform correlation analysis 390 on similarity classes, similarity class sensitivities, and/or similarity class risks in order to determine which, if any, similarity classes exhibit similar sensitivity and/or risk characteristics and/or correlations. Similarity classes with correlated sensitivity and/or risk behaviors may then be aggregated to simplify and/or expedite Provider hedging strategies.

[0072] The Provider may subsequently implement hedging strategies and/or accumulate a hedging portfolio 395. In one implementation, Provider hedging strategies may be based in part on execution of Purchaser offering purchases, Purchaser offering exercises, and/or other Purchaser behaviors (e.g., Purchaser irrationality, and/or the like) at different scales of Purchaser granularity. In one implementation, Provider hedging strategies may be based in part on individual Purchaser offering purchases and/or exercises. For example, a large institutional Purchaser (e.g., a trucking company) may purchase a large enough offering and/or quantity of smaller offerings to motivate a Provider to develop a hedge strategy based solely on the single Purchaser purchase and/or behavior. In another implementation, Provider hedging strategies may be based in part on aggregated Purchaser offering purchases and/or exercises. For example, in this implementation, a Purchaser's offering purchase of a small quantity of gasoline may not affect the Provider's hedging strategy and/or portfolio. Instead, the Provider may enter a record of the offering purchase into a purchase repository for temporary storage and/or aggregation with other fuel offerings. The Provider may then periodically analyze purchase repository contents in order to determine when there is an aggregation of Purchaser offering purchases that is sufficiently large and/or significant to warrant consideration in the Provider hedging strategy and/or modification of the Provider devised hedging portfolio. Aggregation of Purchaser offering purchases may be made in a variety of different ways within various implementations. In one implementation, Purchaser offering purchases may be aggregated based on time of purchase. In another implementation, Purchaser offering purchases may be aggregated based on Purchaser characteristics (e.g., demographics, location, Purchaser behavior profile, and/or the like). In another implementation, Purchaser offering purchases may be aggregated based on the nature of Purchasers (e.g., individual Purchasers, small business Purchasers, large business Purchasers, government/institutional Purchasers, and/or the like). In another implementation, Purchaser offering purchases may be aggregated based on the risk characteristics associated with Purchasers and/or Purchaser characteristics. In addition to storing execution of Purchaser offering purchases for aggregation, a Provider may additionally or alternatively store exercise of Purchaser offerings for aggregation and subsequent consideration in hedging strategies.

[0073] The Provider may monitor and/or track Purchaser offerings to determine if offerings are exercised 3100. If a Purchaser has exercised a purchased offering, then the Provider may query the circumstances of the Purchase exercise and pay-out the Provider's obligation under the terms of the offering in light of those circumstances 3105. Circumstances may include location, time, fuel price (e.g., the average price of gasoline in a region wherein the offering was exercised, a regional or national average fuel price, and/or the like), status of Purchaser owned offering and/or offering restrictions at the time of purchase (e.g., whether the Purchaser has exceeded a monthly cap, whether the Purchaser is in a restricted region, and/or the like), and/or the like. In one implementation, the Provider may determine the Purchaser owned offering's strike price and a reference fuel price at the time of offering exercise and, if the strike price is less than the reference fuel price, determine the difference between those prices, multiply that difference by the volume of gas on which the offering is being exercised, and implement any additional discounts, penalties, or restrictions in order to determine the payout amount. In one implementation, the reference fuel price is a regional average fuel price. In another implementation, the reference fuel price is a national average fuel price. The Provider may also collect and/or analyze Purchaser behavior characteristics 3110. The Provider may recollect and/or update financial structure model inputs at 31 15. The Provider may also store collected and/or analyzed Purchaser behavior characteristics in a Purchaser table 3120.

[0074] In alternative implementations, a Provider may interface with Purchasers through an intermediary Distributor entity. In such an implementation, the Provider at 375 and/or 376 may send a pricing matrix or portion thereof to the Distributor, who may then optionally select elements of the price matrix and/or add a service markup to create a consumer price matrix for subsequent presentation to Purchasers. Purchasers who wish to purchase offerings may request offerings from the Distributor and offer payment based on the corresponding entries in the consumer price matrix. The Distributor, in turn, may relay purchase requests to the Provider 380 and/or purchase offerings from the Provider, and relay those offerings back to the Purchasers. When a Purchaser exercises an offering 3100, the Distributor may pay-out to the Purchaser to regain ownership of the offering and immediately submit an exercise notice to the Provider to receive pay-out therefrom. Alternatively, a Distributor may pay-out obligations to Purchasers when offerings are exercised by those Purchasers, retake ownership of those offerings, and yet retain ownership until some later time at which an exercise notice is submitted to the Provider. Such a delay may allow the Distributor to take advantage of subsequent market changes (e.g., increases in fuel prices) that are foregone by suboptimal exercise of offerings by Purchasers. Such delay between Purchaser and Distributor offering exercise and/or suboptimal exercise by either Purchaser or Distributor may be considered by the Provider in pricing matrix generation and/or hedging strategies.

Financial Structure Pricing

[0075] Figures 4A-B show operation of financial structure pricing and price-pump model operation in respective embodiments of Fuel Offering Generator operation. Figure 4A shows processing flow for pricing of offerings in one embodiment of Fuel Offering Generator operation. A collection of module inputs 401 may comprise current fuel market information 403, historical fuel market information and/or analysis 405, and observable 410 and non-observable 415 parameters derived therefrom. Some examples of possible current fuel market information 403 may include current wholesale gasoline OTC options market data, current wholesale gasoline OTC forward market and futures market data, current retail gasoline spot prices, and/or the like. Some examples of possible historical market information and/or analysis 405 may include historical wholesale gasoline OTC options market data, historical wholesale gasoline OTC forward market and futures market data, historical retail gasoline spot prices, historical wholesale gasoline spot prices, correlations between historical retail and wholesale gasoline prices, and/or the like. Some examples of observable parameters 410 that may be derived from current fuel market information may include wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curves, spread of retail over wholesale spot prices, and/or the like. Some examples of non-observable parameters 415 that may be derived from historical fuel market information and/or analysis may include retail gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline mean reversion parameters, retail gasoline mean reversion parameters, retail gasoline forward curves, and/or the like.

[0076] In one implementation, the pricing module may also admit as inputs a collection of Purchaser historical data. Purchaser historical data may be comprised of records of Purchaser execution and/or exercise of offerings. In particular, the system may monitor Purchaser execution and/or exercise of offerings with specific attention to particular Purchaser behavior flags. In one implementation, a Purchaser behavior flag may comprise consistent solicitation of and/or exercising of offerings at more expensive than average fuel retailers. In another implementation, a Purchaser behavior flag may comprise consistent solicitation of and/or exercising of offering at cheaper than average fuel retailers. In another implementation, a Purchaser behavior flag may comprise too optimal a pattern of offering exercising. In another implementation, a Purchaser behavior flag may comprise too suboptimal a pattern of offering exercising. In another implementation, a Purchaser behavior flag may comprise strong time dependence of Purchaser exercising of offerings. If the number of observed Purchaser behavior flags exceeds a threshold minimum value, a Purchaser behavior history variable admitted as input to the pricing module may be adjusted so as to cause the pricing module to yield an adjusted pricing matrix intended to correct and/or direct future Purchaser behavior.

[0077] In addition to the aforementioned factors and variables, the pricing module may admit a collection of offering parameters that may specify offering terms presented to a

Purchaser. Some examples of possible offering parameters may include strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, restrictions, incentives, discounts, fuel type, geographic location, and/or the like. In one implementation, a pricing module operator (e.g., Provider) may set values for some offering parameters and receive others as outputs from the pricing generator. For example, a particular desired strike price, tenor, set of restrictions, fuel type, and location may be input to the pricing module, and a premium received as an output from the module.

Alternatively, a particular desired premium, tenor, set of restrictions, fuel type, and location may be input to the pricing module, and a strike price received as an output from the module.

The particular mode of operation, including selection of offering parameter inputs and outputs, may be varied within different implementations depending on the particular goals and/or requirements of particular applications of the system.

[0078 J Values for a selected group of module inputs 401 may be fed into the pricing module 301 for processing. Inputs are incorporated into an offering pricing model 425 such as, in one implementation, a commodity volatility model incorporated into a stochastic

differential equation describing commodity value. An example of such a model is provided in U. S. Patent No. 7,065,475 entitled, "Modeling Option Price Dynamics," filed on October

31, 2000, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. U.S. Patent No. 7,980,960 entitled, "System and method for providing a fuel purchase incentive," filed on March 28, 2001 , and U.S. Application Serial No. 09/853,196 entitled "System and method for providing a fuel purchase incentive with the sale of a vehicle," filed May 1 1, 2001, are each

incorporated in their entirety by reference. Solving a stochastic differential equation to

extract output offering parameters may be accomplished by a variety of techniques in different embodiments, such as but not limited to grid pricing, Monte Carlo simulation,

analytic formulas, and/or the like.

[0079] In one implementation, the XML for module inputs may take the following

form:

<module_inputs> <observables>

<WGJmplied_vol> Jan08-Mar08, 30%, Apr08-Dec08, 25% </WG implied_vol>

<WG__forward__curve> JanO8-JunO8, $2/gal, JulO8-DecO8,

$2.2/gal </WG_forward_curve>

<Retailjwholesale_spot_spread> $0.8/gal </Retail_wholesale_spot_spread> </observables> <non-observables> <RG implied_^vol> 20%

</RG_implied_vol> <WG mean reversion> 0.5 </WG_mean_reversion> <RG_jnean_reversion> 0.5 </RG_meanj"eversion> <RGJbroard_curve> $2.9/gal </RG_forward_curve>

</non-observables> <offering_parameters>

<premium> $0.15/gallon </premium> <tenor> 3 months </tenor> <restrictions>

<total_volume> 60 gallons </total_volume> <cap> 20 gallons/month </cap> </restrictions>

<fuel_type> "regular" gasoline (87 octane) </fuel type> <location> New York Metro </location>

<index> New York Metro Average published by DOE</index> </offeringj>arameters> </module_inputs>

[0080] The pricing module 301 subsequently outputs sensitivity data 435 and price data 440. Price data 440 may, as discussed above, be comprised of different offering

parameters depending on the requirements and consequent module inputs within a particular implementation. Thus, the price data 440 output may include, but is not limited to, strike price, premium, tenor, restrictions, usage constraints, incentives, fuel type constraints, geographic constraints, and/or the like. Sensitivity data 435, as discussed above, describes the extent to which price data 440 may vary as module inputs 401 are varied. In one

implementation, sensitivity data may be comprised of the first derivative of a price data

variable with respect to one or more module input variables. [0081 ] In one implementation, the XML for module outputs may take the following form:

<sensitivity_data> <WG_imρlied_vol_sensitivity> JanO8-JunO8, $1000 per percent vol move, JulO8-DecO8, $500 per percent vol move

</WG__implied_vol_sensitivity >

<WG_forward_curve sensitivity > JanO8 - JunO8, $500 per $l/gal move, MO8-DecO8, $750 per $l/gal move </WG_forward_curve_sensitivity >

<Retail_wholesale_spot_spread_sensitivity > $3000 per $ 1 /gal move

</Retail_wholesale_spot_spread_sensitivity > <RG_implied_vol_sensitivity >$1500 per percent vol move

</RG_irnplied_vol_sensitivity >

<WG_rnean_reversion_sensitivity > $200 per 0.1 move in mean-reversion

</WG_mean_reversion_sensitivity > <RG_mean_reversion_sensitivity >$150 per 0.1 move in mean-reversion

</RG_mean_reversion_sensitivity >

<RG_forward_curve_sensitivity > JanO8 - Jun08, $700 per $l/gal move, JulO8-DecO8, $600 per $l/gal move </RG_forward_curve_sensitivity >

</sensitivity__data> <price_data>

<strike_price> $2.89/gallon </strike__price> </price_data> </module_putputs>

[0082] The pricing module output described by the above XML includes a single

strike price within the price_data/strike_price field. In an alternative implementation, a Provider may determine price data for a variety of module input values in order to yield an

array of price_data with different corresponding offering parameters. Such an array of price data with corresponding offering parameters may be incorporated into a pricing matrix. In one implementation, the XML for a three-offering pricing matrix may take the following form:

<pricing_matrix> <offering 1 >

<strike__price> $2.89 </strikej>rice> <premium> $0.15/gallon </premium> <tenor> 3 months </tenor>

<total__volume> 60 gallons </total_volume> <cap> 20 gallons/month </cap> </restrictions> <fuel_type> "regular" gasoline (87 octane) </fuel type>

<location> New York Metro </location> <index> New York Metro Average published by DOE</index> </offeringl> <offering2> <strike_price> $3.02 </strike_price>

<premium> $0.10/gallon </premium> <tenor> 3 months </tenor> <restrictions>

<total__volume> 60 gallons </totaljvolume> <cap> 20 gallons/month </cap>

</restrictions>

<fuel_type> "regular" gasoline (87 octane) </fuel type> <location> New York Metro </location> </offering2> <index> New York Metro Average published by DOE</index> </offering2> <offering3>

<strikej>rice> $2.94 </strike_price> <premium> $0.15/gallon </premium> <tenor> 6 months </tenor> <restrictions>

<index> New York Metro Average published by DOE</index> </offering3> </pricing_matrix>

Pump-price model and pricing

[0083] Figure 4B shows logic flow for determination of offering pricing within a pump-price model context in one embodiment of Fuel Offering Generator operation. Although geography is not necessarily central to the price structure itself, it is relevant, and greater detail may be found in Figures 10-11. In this embodiment, the strike price associated

with an offering is compared with the price charged by the particular fuel retailer at which an offering is exercised in assessing the extent of pay-out obliged to an exercising Purchaser.

For example, in a non-prepay embodiment wherein a Purchaser has only paid a premium upfront, if a Purchaser exercises an offering based on a strike price of $2.20 for a gallon of gasoline at a retailer that charges $2.40/gallon, the Purchaser may be refunded $0.20/gallon

by the Provider, while the same offering exercised at a retailer charging $2.55 would yield

$0.35/gallon if exercised. In an alternative, prepay embodiment wherein a Purchaser has

paid both strike price and premium up front, the Provider would directly pay the gas station the cost of the fuel based on either the $2.40 or $2.55 pump prices. Due in part to the pump- specific sensitivity of this model, a number of additional restrictions and/or structural considerations, such as management of geographic price variations and undesirable Purchaser behavior, may be implemented to facilitate desired Generator operation and will be described in greater detail below. These factors may, in one implementation, be incorporated into determination of up-front pricing (e.g., premiums) for fuel offerings. They may also, or in an alternative implementation, be considered as part of fuel offering redemption structure as discussed below and in Figures 10-12 and 14-21.

[0084] Owing to the dependence of pump-price model payout on the price at the pump itself, considerations of variability between pump prices in different geographic regions must be incorporated. The Generator develops a Single-Price Zone (SPZ) map at 445, wherein an SPZ is defined as a region and/or collection of retailers defined by a single, uniform pricing assignment. For example, a Purchaser may exercise an offering with the same strike price at a given premium at all retailers belonging to the same SPZ. SPZ map determination is described in greater detail below in Figures 10-11. The SPZ map defines SPZ boundaries and may guide the accumulation of historical pump price distribution data for a given SPZ 450. Historical Purchaser bias data may also be accumulated for a given SPZ 455. Purchase bias data may, in one implementation, describe the extent to which Purchasers tend to exercise offerings at retailers that are biased to one side or the other of the average of retailers within the SPZ. For example, a large Purchaser bias may indicate that Purchasers tend to exercise their offerings disproportionately often at expensive fuel retailers. The SPZ map and accumulated data may be employed to determine and/or collect further factors relevant to pricing within the pump-price model 460. These factors may include the size of Purchaser bias with an SPZ, volatility of that bias, convexity of that bias, and the existence of a no-arbitrage condition. Convexity of bias in this context may, in one implementation, be construed to describe the extent to which there is a difference in the average pay-out amount between those offerings based on the difference between strike price and an average retailer pump price and those offerings based on the difference between a strike price and a pump price at which the offering is exercised. Volatility of bias reflects the extent to which the distribution of prices within an SPZ may vary over time and the effect of such variation on deviations of Purchaser behavior from average expectations. The no- arbitrage condition in this context may, in one implementation, be construed to describe the avoidance of a situation where a Purchaser can buy an offering and immediately exercise to make riskless profit. These and other factors discussed may affect the cost of offerings and, consequently, be considered in either the up-front pricing (e.g., premium) of offerings, or in the devising of incentives, restrictions, discounts, and penalties. A financial structure pricing determination is performed at 465, similar to those described above in the context of the financial structure pricing model above, and the output premium and/or strike price is adjusted by an amount determined by the factors in 460 to yield a pump-price pricing 470.

[0085] An example of a premium adjustment made as part of the price-pump model may be to determine the average pump price within an SPZ, compute the total payout for an offering exercised at all retailers charging higher than that average, divide by the total number of retailers, and add this quantity (the convexity of bias, in one implementation) directly to the premium. Another example of a premium adjustment made as part of the price-pump model may be to determine the standard deviation of average retailer pump prices within an SPZ over some period of time and add that deviation, or some fraction thereof, to the premium. Further premium and/or strike price adjustments may be implemented within different embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator.

[0086] Based on the SPZ map developed in 445, the Generator may determine current and/or historical variability of basis (i.e., difference) between SPZ premiums and/or strike prices for a given collection of SPZs, such as a collection that is incorporated as part of a Purchaser offering. Based on that information, the Generator may yield strike price and/or premium adjustments and/or a premium adjustment table, as described in greater detail in

Figures 10-14. The adjustment of premium price based on geographic considerations and/or the generation of a premium adjustment table may be relevant, in one implementation, to only those fuel offerings that cover fuel purchases made in multiple SPZs.

Customer Interaction Flow

[0087] Figure 5 illustrates an aspect of purchase and fuel offering exercise for one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. Prior to discussing process Figure 5 in detail, it is instructive to first review, in a broad sense, the Purchaser's perspective of Fuel Offering Generator. The Purchaser may be an entity who desires to purchase fuel offering to mitigate fuel costs over some period of time. In accordance with this goal, a number of fuel offerings may be made available for purchase by the Distributor. A fuel offering may include specific details regarding the terms and conditions, as shown in the below example.

[0088] The example fuel offering has a tenor of three months, during which the

Purchaser may exercise the fuel offering on up to 30k gallons of diesel fuel at a strike price of $2.50. The premium may, in some embodiments, represents the measure of risk associated with the fuel offering, i.e., higher premiums may correlate to higher risk fuel offerings. By purchasing the fuel offering shown above, the Purchaser mitigates the risk of fuel costing in excess of $2.90 (strike + premium) over the three month tenor. That is, by purchasing the fuel offering, the Purchaser pays $0.40 for the ability or right to purchase fuel for $2.50, up to the stipulated number of gallons (e.g., 30k). In some embodiments, an offer price of $2.90 (strike + premium) may represent the Purchaser's effective purchase price for any purchase made within the 3 month period for up to 30k gallons of fuel if the cost of fuel over that three month period exceeds the offer price. As is apparent to the astute reader, exercising the fuel offering does not clearly provide economic benefit to the Purchaser for prevailing pump prices and/or national average prices below $2.90, though it may still be beneficial to the Purchaser to exercise the offering between $2.50 and $2.90 because the premium is, at that point, a sunk cost.

[0089] As shown in Figure 5, the Purchaser purchases a fuel offering with a particular strike price for certain fuel volume (N) 505. At some point subsequent to the purchase of the fuel offering, the Purchaser may decide to purchase X gallons of fuel 510. In so doing, the Purchaser may elect to exercise the offering on the fuel purchase of X gallons or not 515, generally depending upon the pump price of fuel at the time of purchase. In the case where the cost of fuel is less than the strike price, it does not make economic sense for the Purchaser to exercise the offering, for reasons described above, and in such a situation, the Purchaser may simply pay the prevailing pump price 525. Alternatively, in the case where the cost of fuel is greater than the strike price, particularly where the cost of fuel is greater than the strike price + premium, it may make economic sense to exercise the fuel offering 520, though the Purchaser may not necessarily exercise the fuel offering (e.g., if the Purchaser expects the cost of fuel to be even higher the next day). In some embodiments, the fuel offering may be automatically exercised whenever the cost of fuel is greater than the strike, or alternatively, the strike + premium. In another embodiment, the fuel offering is not exercised automatically. If the Purchaser decides to exercise the fuel offering 515, the Purchaser profile (e.g., a data file that includes information regard the Purchaser's fuel offering(s)) or like information source regarding the fuel offering may be queried to determine the unused fuel volume (R) remaining for the fuel offering 520. A determination is then made as to whether the remaining volume (R) is equal to or greater than purchase volume (X) 530. If not, then the Purchaser pays the prevailing pump rate 525 for the full purchase. In another embodiment the Purchaser may be able to exercise the fuel offering for a partial amount of the full purchase (i.e., for the remaining volume). Otherwise, a determination is made regarding whether the prevailing pump price (or other price, such as the national average price, as indicated by the implementation) is greater than the strike price 540. If so, the Purchaser's account is credited with the difference (D) between the strike price and the pump price, multiplied by the number of gallons (X) purchased 545. Otherwise, in the case where the prevailing pump price is determined to be less than the strike price 540, the Purchaser pays the prevailing pump price 550.

[0090] Figure 5B provides an example strike vs. exercise graph for one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. The strike 552 is the strike price (e.g., $1.50) of the fuel offering and the exercise boundary 553 represents the price over which exercise of the fuel offering is approximately economically optimal over the tenor (e.g., 6 months) of the offering. The exercise boundary 553 is initially the strike 552 plus an initial boundary and decreases to the strike at the end of the tenor of the offering. In some embodiments, the optimal initial boundary is found by maximizing the average pay-out across a range of initial boundaries, and the resulting exercise behavior (e.g., economically optimal exercise) used to model Purchaser behavior, including average pay-out.

[0091 ] Figures 5C and 5D provide further illustrate payout aspects for some embodiments. Figure 5 C provides a flow diagram for an embodiment in which the Purchaser prepays the strike price (e.g., pays the premium plus the strike) to the Provider 561 and/or Distributor at the time of purchasing the fuel offering. When the Purchaser subsequently makes a fuel purchase 562, there is a determination of whether the pump price is greater than the strike price 563, and if not, the Purchaser is charged the pump price 564. If the pump price is greater than the strike price 563 (or another threshold price as determined by the implementation), in one embodiment, the Purchaser's fuel offering(s) is(are) exercised and Purchaser's profile is updated 565, and the Provider (and/or Distributor) pays out the pump price 566 (e.g., to the fuel retailer). In another embodiment, if the pump price is greater than the strike price 563 (or like threshold price), the Purchaser may be notified and queried to determine if they wish to exercise their offering(s) 567 with the Purchaser's response 568 determining the next action (564/565).

f 0092 J Figure 5D provides a flow diagram for an embodiment in which the Purchaser pays the premium to the Provider 571 and/or Distributor at the time of purchasing the fuel offering. When the Purchaser subsequently makes a fuel purchase 572, there is a determination of whether the pump price is greater than the strike price 573, and if not, the Purchaser is charged the pump price 574. If the pump price is greater than the strike price 573 (or another threshold price as determined by the implementation), in one embodiment, the Purchaser's fuel offering(s) is(are) exercised and Purchaser's profile is updated 575, the Purchaser is charged the strike price 576 (e.g., pays the strike price to the fuel retailer) and the Provider (and/or Distributor) pays out the difference between the strike and the pump price 577 (e.g., to the fuel retailer). In another embodiment, if the pump price is greater than the strike price 573 (or like threshold price), the Purchaser may be notified and queried to determine if they wish to exercise their offering(s) 578 and the Purchaser's response 579 decides the next action (574/575).

Minimum Usage Requirement

[0093] Figure 6 illustrates an aspect of enforcing minimum usage of fuel offerings in an embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. Prior to discussing Figure 6 in detail, it is instructive to first briefly review the structure and purpose of imposing minimum fuel usage consumption. In some embodiments, a fuel offering sold to a Purchaser may include a restriction directed to the manner in which the fuel offering is exercised over the specified tenor. As one example, consider an example fuel offering with the terms below.

[0094] The exemplary terms of the illustrative fuel offering indicate a tenor of three months, during which the Purchaser may purchase up to 30k gallons of fuel at a strike price of $2.50. To preclude the consumption of 30k gallons all the end, or in disproportionate amounts over the three month tenor, it is contemplated that some embodiments may impose a minimum monthly usage requirement. In this manner, more predictable exercise of fuel offerings may be achieved. Of course, in other embodiments, the restriction period may be of a longer or shorter duration (e.g., quarterly minimum usage, weekly minimum usage) in accordance with the fuel offering tenor, and may be allocated in a variable fashion. [0095] Referring now to Figure 6, in one embodiment, enforcing a monthly minimum usage begins with a determination regarding whether the end of the current calendar date coincides with the end of the month 605 or some other stipulated period. The Purchaser's profile is queried to determine the monthly fixed volume (F), which represents the amount that the Purchaser must use per month 610. The Purchaser's profile is queried a second time to retrieve the total quantity of fuel already consumed by the Purchaser for the current month, (U) 615. A determination is then made regarding whether the total quantity of fuel already consumed in the current month (U) is greater than the fixed volume (F) 620. If so, the process terminates because it is determined that the Purchaser has already purchased in excess of the fixed volume (F) for the current month. Otherwise, a calculation is performed to compute the difference (D) between the fixed volume (F) and the total quantity of fuel already consumed (U) 625. A further evaluation is performed to determine the amount to be credited to the Purchaser's account for the unused portion. The further calculation determines an amount to be credited (V) corresponding to the value of (D) minus any fees (e.g., due to failure to meet fixed volume requirements), multiplied by the strike price 630. This amount (V) may then be credited back to the Purchaser's account 635.

[0096] For example, in one embodiment, if a Purchaser purchases a fuel offering for a quantity of 500 gallons of gasoline over a tenor of 10 months, the fuel offering may specify a minimum monthly usage of 50 gallons, i.e., F=50. In this exemplary case, if the Purchaser uses less than 50 gallons in the first month (e.g., 20 gallons), then the balance, 30 gallons (i.e., the unused portion), is deducted from the Purchaser's total available volume, leaving 450 gallons at the start of the second month. In one embodiment, in the event of a prepay, the strike price for the deducted (i.e., unused) gallons may be returned to the Purchaser, while in another embodiment the prepayed strike for the deducted gallons are not returned to the Purchaser. Alternatively, if the Purchaser uses an amount in excess of 50 in a particular month (e.g., 70 gallons), then no action is required in that the Purchaser has met his or her minimum usage requirement for the month.

Maximal Fuel Usage Restrictions

[0097] With reference now to Figure 7, there is shown a process for enforcing periodic (e.g., monthly) maximum fuel usage restrictions on fuel offerings. Prior to discussing process in detail, it is instructive to first briefly review the structure and purpose of monthly fuel usage restrictions. In general, a fuel offering sold to a Purchaser may include a restriction directed to the manner in which the fuel is consumed over the tenor of the offering. As one example, consider the following exemplary fuel offering -

[0098] The exemplary illustrative offering has a tenor of three months, during which the Purchaser may consume up to 30k gallons of fuel with a strike price of $2.50/gallon. To preclude the consumption of 30k gallons all at once, or in grossly disproportionate amounts over the three month tenor, it is contemplated to impose a monthly cap (i.e.. monthly maximum usage restriction). In this manner, more predictable consumption and/or exercising of offerings may be achieved. Of course, in other embodiments, the restriction period may be of a longer or shorter duration (e.g., quarterly cap, weekly cap) in accordance with offering tenor.

[0099] Referring again to Figure 7, the process for enforcing a monthly cap restriction begins with a Purchaser 220 attempting to exercise an offering on a quantity of fuel (e.g., "N" gallons) 701. In response, the Purchaser's profile is queried to determine a cap (e.g., monthly cap) amount specified as offering parameters within an offering owned by the Purchaser. The Purchaser's profile may also be queried to retrieve a total quantity of fuel, "M", previously consumed by the Purchaser for the current month 703. A determination is then made as to whether the sum of the fuel already consumed "M" by the Purchaser in the current month plus the amount of fuel "N" on which the Purchaser seeks to exercise his or her offering(s) is less than or equal to the monthly cap restriction 705. If so, the Purchaser is permitted to exercise on "N" gallons of fuel 707. Otherwise, a determination is made of the remaining amount of fuel that may be allocated to the Purchaser to stay within the limitations of the imposed monthly cap 709. The remaining amount which may be allocated is an amount "B", less than the requested amount "N", which may be determined by subtracting the amount of fuel already consumed in the month "M" from the monthly cap. The Purchaser may, in one implementation, be issued a notice indicating that the Purchaser's remaining allowable monthly allocation is "B" gallons 711. The Purchaser may be offered the choice to proceed or not with the exercise of his or her offering on "B" gallons 713. In the case where the Purchaser elects not to proceed with exercising the offering, the Purchaser may be charged the pump price 715. Otherwise, in the case where the Purchaser elects to proceed, the Purchaser is permitted to exercise his or her offering on "B" gallons 717 and the Purchaser's profile is updated to reflect the exercise of the offering 719. In an alternative embodiment, the Purchaser may be automatically charged the pump price if the exercise puts the Purchaser over the cap for the period.

[00100] In various embodiments, maximal usage restrictions may be implemented on a periodic, quasi-periodic, or non-periodic basis. For example, usage caps may be implemented and/or varied yearly, seasonally, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, based on fiscal quarters, based on holiday travel patterns, based on expected high-traffic time periods, and/or the like. In one embodiment, the usage cap per period may be uniform over the tenor of the offerings owned by a Purchaser, such as being set to the total quantity of fuel covered by the offerings divided by the number of periods covered by the offering tenor. In another embodiment, the usage cap per period may vary from period to period.

Cap Payout Restriction

[00101 ] With reference now to Figure 8, there is shown a process for enforcing a cap payout restriction on fuel offerings in one embodiment. Prior to discussing the process in detail, it is instructive to first briefly review the structure and purpose of cap payout restrictions. In general, a fuel offering sold to a Purchaser may include a restriction directed to limiting the difference paid between the strike price and some reference price (e.g., pump price, national average price, spot price, and/or the like) in order to minimize Provider and/or Distributor exposure and/or liability. As one example, consider the following exemplary fuel offering -

[00102] The exemplary illustrative offering has a tenor of three months, during which the Purchaser may consume up to 30k gallons of fuel with a strike price of $2.50/gallon. To preclude the Purchaser from exercising the offering on purchases where the pump price or national average price is far in excess of the strike price, it is contemplated to impose a cap restriction on the payout. In other words, a payout cap may be established such that when the Purchaser exercises his or her offering, the amount paid cannot exceed the the payout cap. In this manner, a higher degree of certainty is guaranteed regarding payouts. More particularly, the payout is assured not to exceed the payout cap. For example, if a Purchaser seeks to exercise an offering with a strike price of $2.50/gallon on fuel with a reference price of $3.50/gallon, and the payout cap is set to $0.50/gallon, the Purchaser will may only redeem $0.50/gallon rather than the $1.00/gallon he or she would receive in the absence of the payout cap. In an alternative embodiment, it is contemplated that the payout cap may be configured as a price cap, whereby any reference price exceeding the price cap on which a Purchaser seeks to exercise an offering may be replaced by the price cap for the purpose of determining payout obligations. In a non-prepay example, if a Purchaser seeks to exercise an offering with a strike price of $2.50/gallon on fuel with a reference price of $3.50/gallon, and the price cap is set to $3.00/gallon, the Purchaser will may only redeem $0.50/gallon rather than the $1.00/gallon he or she would receive in the absence of the price cap. In yet another embodiment, a payout and/or price cap may be expressed as some function of the premium and/or strike price (e.g., a percentage of the strike price).

[00103] Referring now to Figure 8 in an implementation employing a payout cap, a Provider and/or Distributor may receive a notice of Purchaser exercise of an offering on some quantity of fuel 805. The Purchaser's profile may be queried to seek and/or extract a specified payout cap amount, "K" 810. A determination is made 815 as to whether such a cap exists in the Purchaser profile and, if not, then a basic payout amount is formulated 820 without consideration of a payout cap. Otherwise, the Generator queries a reference price corresponding to the offering being exercised. In one implementation, the Generator may determine whether the offering is subject to a pump-price reference price (e.g., the price of the retailer at which the fuel is purchased) or a financial structure reference price (e.g., a regional average price, a national average price, and/or the like) 825. In the former case, the reference price, Z, may be set to the pump price 835, and in the latter case, Z may be set to a national average price. A strike price, S, corresponding to the offering being exercised may be queried from a Purchaser profile 840, and a determination made of the difference, D, between S and Z 845. If that difference does not exceed the payout cap, K, then a basic payout is prepared 855 without consideration of a payout cap. Otherwise, the payout reimbursement to the Purchaser's account may be made based on the volume of fuel on which the offering is exercised subject to the payout restriction K.

[00104] In an alternative embodiment wherein a price cap is specified rather than a payout cap, the comparison at 850 would be between the price cap and the reference price, Z, and the payout amount at 860 would be based on the difference between the price cap and the strike price.

[00105] In various embodiments, price and/or payout caps may be implemented on a periodic, quasi-periodic, or non-periodic basis. For example, price and/or payout caps may be implemented and/or varied yearly, seasonally, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, based on fiscal quarters, based on holiday travel patterns, based on expected high-traffic time periods, and/or the like. In one embodiment, price and/or payout caps per period may vary from period to period. In another embodiment, multiple different price and/or payout caps may be specified for different circumstances, including different locations, regions, SPZs, retailers, Purchasers, Distributors, Providers, times, periods of time, and/or the like.

Structural Constraint

[00106] Figure 9 illustrates one aspect of structural constraints in an embodiment of Fuel Offering Generator. Specifically, Figure 9 provides details for implementing and/or enforcing a structural constraint on the amount (or percentage) of gas volume that may be reimbursed upon exercising a fuel offering for a particular fuel purchase of a volume (N). In general, a fuel offering sold to a Purchaser may include a restriction directed to the amount or percentage volume of a fuel purchase considered eligible for reimbursement upon exercising the fuel offering during its tenor. As one example, consider the following exemplary fuel offering terms -

[00107] The exemplary illustrative fuel offering has a tenor of three months, during which the Purchaser may exercise the fuel offering on up to 30k gallons of fuel at a strike price of $2.50. To discourage the Purchaser from exercising the fuel offering at an fuel retailer that is relatively more expensive that other fuel retailers (e.g., a gas station that sells at $3.20 when most other stations sell at $3.00), some embodiments may impose a structural constraint that limits and/or specifies the amount (or percentage) of a fuel purchase on which a Purchaser may exercise the fuel offering.

[00108] As shown in Figure 9, enforcing a structural constraint pertaining to the amount (or percentage) of a fuel purchase that may be reimbursed upon exercising a fuel offering for a specified purchase volume of gas (N) begins with a Purchaser attempting to exercise a fuel offering on a purchase of (N) gallons of fuel 905. In response to the Purchaser's attempt to exercise the offering on (N) gallons, the Purchaser's profile may be queried to retrieve associated structural constraint(s), defined herein as (Q) 910. In the embodiment of Figure 9, this constraint defines a percentage multiplier to be applied to the purchase volume (N) to ascertain a reimbursable volume of fuel (R), as will be described. A determination is made regarding whether the query of the Purchaser's profile yields the structural constraint, that is, does the Purchaser's profile include the structural constraint, i.e., variable (Q). If not, the Purchaser may exercise the offering on (N) gallons of fuel at the basic payout rate 920. Otherwise, a determination is made regarding the amount of fuel (R) that is considered to be reimbursable, in this case, a percentage of the total purchase amount (N) on which the Purchaser desires to exercise the offering on 925. For some embodiments, the determination may be a computation comprising multiplication of the (N) gallons of total fuel purchase by the constraint parameter (Q) to yield a reimbursable volume of fuel (R). Reimbursement is then made to the Purchaser's account based on the volume (R) 930, i.e., the fuel offering is exercised on (R) and not the total purchase (N). In some embodiments, the Purchaser may be notified of the restricted reimbursement 935. Depending on the embodiment, structural constraints may be implemented on a fixed amount per purchase and/or be distributed over the tenor of a fuel offering in a periodic, quasi-periodic, or non- periodic manner.

Geography

[00109] In one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator may utilize single price zones (SPZs) in determining a price matrix, strike price and/or premium of a fuel offering. SPZs may define, for example, a geographic area and/or other grouping, such as certain station groups, station brands and/or the like, in which a fuel offering may be exercised (i.e., where the fuel offering Purchaser may get his or her selected amount of fuel at the single, preset price).

[00110] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the Fuel Offering Generator may generate an SPZ map 1005. In certain embodiments, a fuel offering may be restricted to only one SPZ. In another embodiment, the exercise of the fuel offering may be restricted to multiple, pre-selected SPZ(s), i.e., the Purchaser selects one or more SPZs when purchasing the fuel offering, and can only exercise the fuel offering within the identified SPZ(s). In an alternative embodiment, the Purchaser may be allowed to exercise the fuel offering outside of the single or multiple pre-selected SPZ(s), but doing so may be associated with an additional fee/penalty. Based on the SPZ map (and associated price matrix data), the Fuel Offering Generator may create pricing structures and/or strike adjustments for multi-SPZ Purchasers 1010. Alternatively, or additionally, the Fuel Offering Generator may determine fees/penalties for exercising fuel offerings outside of the pre-selected SPZ(s) 101 1. In one embodiment, the pricing structures, strike adjustments and/or fees/penalties are fixed at purchase (e.g., a Purchaser buys a fuel offering for SPZl and locks in an adjustment of $0.25 per gallon for SPZ2 for purchases, if any, in SPZ2). In another embodiment, the pricing structures, strike adjustments and/or fees/penalties may be floating and/or variable until the time of exercise. The Fuel Offering Generator may also manage Purchasers' utilization of SPZs 1015, including managing Purchasers' pricing structures, strike adjustments and/or fees/penalties.

[00111 ] Figure 11 provides additional detail regarding SPZ mapping and management for an embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. Upon receiving a request to determine SPZs 1101, the Fuel Offering Generator may determine if the SPZs are to be set to existing geographic boundaries 1 105. If the SPZs are to be set to existing geographic boundaries 1105, the Fuel Offering Generator determines what scale (e.g., city, county, metropolitan area, state and/or region) for setting the boundaries is appropriate 1110. In one embodiment, the size of the SPZ may be particularly relevant in pricing associated fuel offerings, for example, the fuel offering for a large SPZ may be relatively expensive due to adverse selection and/or moral hazard issues due to a larger distribution and/or geographic area. Similarly, in one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator may determine SPZs to minimize excluding or "shutting out" potential Purchasers, for example, Purchasers in upstate New York may prefer a fuel offering in which geographic SPZ determination is based on county, rather than state. The Fuel Offering Generator may also account for other issues in determining SPZs, such as the smaller the SPZ, the more restrictive the fuel offering and/or the more complicated the adjustments needed to use the fuel offering products across SPZs. Based on such information, the Fuel Offering Generator may then set the boundaries of the SPZs to the appropriate existing geographic boundaries 11 15. While some embodiments may set SPZs according to one scale, other embodiments may combine scales in constructing SPZs (e.g., one SPZ's boundary may be set to a city, while another SPZ's boundary is set to a state). The Fuel Offering Generator may then determine the price matrix for each SPZ 1145 and store the price matrices in a SPZ table 1150.

[00112] If the SPZs are not to be set to existing geographic boundaries 1105, the Fuel Offering Generator collects 1120 and stores 1125 a geographic distribution of pricing variables. The Fuel Offering Generator may then perform a similarity analysis on the geographically distributed pricing variables 1130 and, as described previously, determine the scale or granularity with which the SPZ divisions will be set 1 135. The Fuel Offering Generator may then assign SPZs according to the similarity analysis and/or determined granularity 1140. In a further embodiment, the assigned geographic boundaries may include, but are not limited to, existing geographic boundaries. The Fuel Offering Generator then determines the price matrix for each SPZ 1 145 and stores the price matrices in an SPZ table 1150.

[00113] Figure 12 provides additional detail regarding the SPZ pricing aspect of an embodiment of Fuel Offering Generator. A Purchaser interacts with the Fuel Offering Generator and specifies desired terms for a fuel offering 1205. The Purchaser then specifies one or more SPZs in which they want the ability to exercise the fuel offering 1210. The Fuel Offering Generator then determines is the Purchaser has specified multiple SPZs 1215, and if not, serves the fuel offering pricing based for the desired terms and selected SPZ 1220. In one embodiment, if the Purchaser has specified multiple SPZs 1215, the Fuel Offering Generator identifies the most expensive SPZ of the multiple SPZs based on the desired terms 1225 and derives an adjustment table (e.g., a strike adjustment table) for the other specified SPZs 1230. In other embodiments, the Fuel Offering Generator may derive an adjustment table for a Purchaser's primary SPZ (e.g., the Purchaser's default location, most traveled location, and/or the like), with credits for exercising fuel offerings in relatively cheaper SPZs and debits or penalties for exercising in relatively more expensive SPZs. The Fuel Offering Generator may then serve the fuel offering pricing based on the most expensive selected SPZ and the derived adjustment table for the Purchaser's desired terms 1235.

[00114] Moving momentarily back to the topic of restrictions and constraints, in some embodiments, the Fuel Offering Generator may provide fuel offerings that in which there is a withdrawal expiry, i.e., a certain amount or percentage of the initial amount (e.g., initial volume amount of the fuel offering) that must be exercised before a specified time or else be subject to expiration. For example, the specifications of a certain fuel offering may include a particular strike price, a total volume of 1200 gallons, a term of one year, and requirement that the Purchaser must exercise at least 8.33% (i.e., purchase at least 100 gallons) each month or else lose the difference. In one embodiment, the withdrawal expiry is set uniformly, for example, if the term of the fuel offering is one year, and the length of a sub-period is one month, 8.33% of the initial total of the fuel offering must be exercised by the end of each month or be subject to expiration, while in another embodiment, the withdrawal expiry could be non-uniform. Figure 13A illustrates the available exercise volume per month for a fuel offering with a term of one year, an initial exercisable volume of 1200 gallons, and a withdrawal expiry of 8.33% (100 gallons) per month. As can be seen in the figure, the Purchaser may exercise any or all of the 1200 gallons in the first month, but only a maximum of 100 gallons by the last month.

[00115] In one implementation, the required exercise could be based on a cumulative amount, for example, in the situation described above, if a Purchaser exercised 20% in the first month and only 1% in the second month, no part of the fuel offering would be subject to expiration (i.e., 20% + 1% is greater than 8.33% + 8.33%). Alternatively, in another implementation, the withdrawal expiry could be periodic, so that either a certain percentage of the initial or remaining amount must be exercised each period or be subject to expiration. In one embodiment, the Purchaser may exercise the entire remaining (i.e., non-expired) amount of the fuel offering, while in another embodiment, the fuel offering may also be subject to usage caps.

[001 16] Figure 13B provides additional detail for the withdrawal expiry aspect of one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. After generation of the fuel offering, the Fuel Offering Generator checks whether it is the end of the specified sub-period 1305, and if it is not, cycles/waits 1335 and re-checks 1305. If it is the end of the specified sub-period 1305, the Fuel Offering Generator queries the Purchaser profile for the specified sub-period expiry volume 1310 and the Purchaser's sub-period exercise volume 1315. If the Purchaser's sub- period exercise volume is greater than or equal to the specified sub-period expiry volume 1320, then no part of the Purchaser's fuel offering expires and the Fuel Offering Generator waits for the end of the next period 1335. However, if the Purchaser's sub-period exercise volume is less the specified sub-period expiry volume 1320, then the Fuel Offering Generator determines the difference between the sub-period expiry volume and the sub-period exercise volume 1325 and expires that amount from the Purchaser's fuel offering, updates the Purchaser's profile 1330, and waits for the end of the next sub-period 1335. In one embodiment, if the Purchaser prepaid the strike price, the strike price for the expired amount may be returned (but not the premium). Alternatively, some embodiments do not return the prepaid strike price.

[001 17] Returning to the topic of geography, Figure 14 provides an overview of one aspect of the multi-SPZ fuel offering exercise in an embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. The Fuel Offering Generator receives Purchaser exercise information for a fuel offering 1405, for example, in one implementation, via an electronic credit transaction. The Fuel Offering Generator may then determine or extract from the exercise information the location information (e.g., address of the gas station) where the Purchaser exercised the fuel offering 1410, and matches the location to the corresponding SPZ 1415. If the SPZ corresponding to the exercise location information is also the most expensive SPZ of the Purchaser's specified SPZs 1420, then the transaction is completed 1425. If the SPZ is not the most expensive SPZ of the Purchaser's specified SPZs 1420, the Fuel Offering Generator extracts the appropriate discount from the Adjustment Table 1430 and credits the Purchaser's account 1435. In a further embodiment, an adjustment table may also include penalties that could be charged to a Purchaser for exercising the fuel offering outside of a pre-selected SPZ (if allowed by the Fuel Offering Generator).

[00118] In one embodiment, the adjustment table is a strike adjustment table indicating the refund or rebate the Purchaser would receive if they exercised the fuel offering in one of the selected SPZs which was not the most expensive SPZ. For example, if a Purchaser selects a fuel offering with two SPZs, Manhattan and Pittsburgh, and the Manhattan SPZ is the most expensive, the Purchaser would pay for fuel offering based on the Manhattan indicated price.

However, if the strike adjustment table indicated an adjustment of $0.10 for Pittsburgh, and the Purchaser exercised the fuel offering in Pittsburgh, the Purchaser may receive a corresponding credit or rebate for exercising the fuel offering in the less expensive SPZ.

Purchaser Behavior [00119] Figures 15 through 18 illustrate the process flow for one aspect of Purchaser behavior management in an embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. As shown in Figure 15, the Fuel Offering Generator may collect relative pump price usage data for a Purchaser 1505 (for example, the pump price at which the Purchaser exercises one or more fuel offerings relative to the pump price at which other Purchasers with like characteristics, such as location and/or similar fuel offerings, exercise fuel offerings). Alternatively, or additionally, other Purchaser behavior data such as the relative time-from-purchase-to- exercise of fuel offerings, suboptimal exercise traits (e.g., whether the Purchaser typically exercises the fuel offering suboptimally, and if so, if said exercise is pre-optimal and/or post- optimal), and/or the like, as well as Purchaser characteristics (e.g., demographic information) may also be collected. Depending on the implementation, the above data may be collected periodically and/or continuously. In some embodiments, the collected data for multiple Purchasers may be amassed and marketing and behavior analyses performed to identify relevant trends and characteristics of Purchasers, including data regarding adverse selection (e.g., within a particular SPZ, if there is more interest in fuel offerings among Purchaser's who typically pay higher prices) and/or moral hazard information (e.g., if Purchaser's start frequenting more expensive fuel retailers after purchase of fuel offerings).

[00120] The Fuel Offering Generator may utilize the collected data to characterize a Purchaser, and the characterization may be based on the Purchaser's current information and/or aggregate information. If the characterization is based on aggregate information 1510, the Fuel Offering Generator determines an aggregate Purchaser behavior profile 1515, while if the characterization is based on current Purchaser information 1510, the Fuel Offering Generator determines a current Purchaser behavior profile 1520. Based on the Purchaser behavior profile, the Purchaser may be grouped, rated and/or otherwise identified, where such identification is used in optimizing subsequent interactions with the Purchaser. For example, as shown in the figure, in one embodiment, the Purchaser may be identified as preferred, undesirable, or indifferent 1525. In one implementation, the grouping may reflect the relative value the Purchaser represents (e.g., profitable, unprofitable, or break-even, respectively). The identification may be stored in the Purchasers profile 1530, and in some embodiments, the Purchaser may be notified of their associated status and/or associated incentives or penalties (as described below in Figures 16, 17 and 18).

[00121 ] As shown in Figure 16, in one embodiment, if the Purchaser is preferred, the Fuel Offering Generator may determine if the Purchaser's length of stay (i.e., the time the Purchaser has had a relationship with the Fuel Offering Generator and/or associated entities) is greater than a certain threshold 1640, the Fuel Offering Generator may associate a length of stay incentive package (such as discounts, rebates, and/or the like) with the Purchaser's account and/or profile 1645. If the Purchaser's length of stay is not greater than a certain threshold 1640, the Fuel Offering Generator may associate another style of incentive package with the Purchaser's account and/or profile 1650. Depending on the Purchaser characteristics, rewards or incentives may be directed to retain Purchasers, encourage increased use and/or acquisition of fuel offerings, and/or otherwise encourage or modify future Purchaser behavior.

[00122] Similarly, Figure 17 shows Purchaser incentive structures 1780, 1785, 1790 related to those shown in Figure 16 (1640, 1645,1650, respectively), and further illustrates an embodiment in which the Fuel Offering Generator determines if the Purchaser is in a high variance zone 1770 (e.g., Purchaser could be exercising fuel offerings at relatively expensive gas stations, but is not doing so as indicated by their preferred status), and if so, associating a supplemental bonus incentive package with the Purchaser's account and/or profile 1775 (e.g., a package that reinforces/rewards positive Purchaser behavior).

[00123] Alternatively, if the Purchaser is undesirable 1525, in one embodiment, as shown in Figure 18, the Fuel Offering Generator may determine if the Purchaser represents aggregate undesirability 1855 (e.g., the Purchaser has been undesirable for a significant portion of the relationship between the Purchaser with the Fuel Offering Generator and/or associated entities), and if so, may terminate the Purchaser's account and/or not provide the Purchaser with additional fuel offerings. If the Fuel Offering Generator determines the Purchaser does not have aggregate undesirability 1855, a penalty package (or an incentive package that directs the Purchaser towards preferred behaviors) may be associated with the Purchaser's profile and/or account 1865.

[00124] Figure 19 illustrates the process flow for one aspect of Purchaser behavior management in one embodiment of the Fuel Offering Generator. The Fuel Offering Generator may sample an SPZ pump price distribution 1905 in order to extract therefrom one or more statistical quantities characterizing fuel retailers within the SPZ. In one implementation, the Generator samples pump prices across all retailers within an SPZ, while in another implementation the Generator samples pump prices from some representative subset of fuel retailers within the SPZ. In still another embodiment, the Generator may sample pump prices across a subset of retailers in the SPZ that excludes one or more non- participating fuel retailers from consideration. The Generator may determine a measure of pump price spread (σ) 1910. such as a standard deviation, variance, and/or the like. A determination is made 1915 as to whether this pump price spread measure exceeds a pre- established threshold, and if not, then the process of Figure 19 completes with no further action. Otherwise, if the pump price spread measure exceeds the threshold 1915, then fuel retailers in the SPZ may be segmented into a plurality of price groups based on the relation of their pump prices to the average pump price 1920. For example, fuel retailers may be segmented and/or grouped based on the number of standard deviations away from the mean pump price that their pump prices fall. In one implementation, a fuel retailer's current pump price is considered, while in another implementation the fuel retailer's pump price averaged over some period of time is considered. In some embodiments, the segmentation information may be used by the Fuel Offering Generator as an input in determining a price matrix and/or in constructing an appropriate hedging strategy. Based on this, segmentation, the Generator may incentivize or penalize Purchaser solicitation of particular fuel retailers 1925. In some embodiments, incentives and/or penalties may be provided and/or assessed immediately (i.e., communicated to Purchaser's to directly influence behavior), while in a further embodiment, such incentives and/or penalties may take the form of modified premiums, price adjustments and/or restrictions associated with subsequent fuel offerings.

[00125] Figure 20 illustrates an aspect of fuel retailer incentivizing for some embodiments of the Fuel Offering Generator. The Fuel Offering Generator samples SPZ pump price distribution 2005 for one or more statistical quantities characterizing fuel retailers within the SPZ, in one embodiment in the process as described in Figure 19. The Fuel Offering Generator may determine a measure of pump price spread (σ) 2010, such as a standard deviation, variance, and/or the like, and a determination is made 2015 as to whether this pump price spread measure exceeds a pre-established threshold, and if not, then the process of Figure 20 completes with no further action. Otherwise, if the pump price spread measure exceeds the threshold 2015, the Fuel Offering Generator segments fuel retailers in the SPZ into a plurality of price groups based on the relation of their pump prices to the average pump price 2020, similar to Figure 19 above. The Fuel Offering Generator then determines the fuel offering utilization within and/or across the price groups 2025 and identifies if, for a particular price group and/or specific fuel retailer(s) within the price group, there is minimum utilization by Purchasers 2030 (i.e., most Purchasers are not exercising their fuel offering(s)s at the fuel retailers within the price group). In some embodiments, information regarding fuel offering utilization within and/or across the price groups may be used by the Fuel Offering Generator as an input in determining a price matrix and/or in constructing an appropriate hedging strategy. [00126] If there is not minimum utilization 2030, in particular, if there is not minimum utilization of the more expensive fuel retailers by Purchasers, the Fuel Offering Generator does not continue the process of Figure 20, and in a further embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator may reassess associated pricing, incentives, penalties, premiums, price adjustments and/or restrictions, for example, as described in Figure 19. If there is minimum utilization of a price group and/or particular fuel retailer(s) by Purchasers 2030, as shown in Figure 21 , the Fuel Offering Generator may determine the group mobility premium 2135. In one embodiment, the group mobility premium represents the value that inclusion in another price group (and the associated increase in Purchaser solicitation) represents to the fuel retailer(s), while in another embodiment the group mobility premium represents the cost of allowing and/or not disincentivizing Purchaser solicitation of the fuel retailer(s). In yet another embodiment, the group mobility premium represents the value that Purchasers place on having access to the particular price group and/or fuel retailer(s). The group mobility premium may, in some embodiments, by utilized by the Fuel Offering Generator as an input in determining a price matrix and/or in constructing an appropriate hedging strategy. In one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator and/or associated entities may utilize the group mobility premium in offering or negotiating group mobility (e.g., the removal of restrictions and/or penalties to allow fuel retailers access to Purchasers) with one or more fuel retailers. This may be particular attractive to fuel retailers with relatively high pump prices (such as premium gas stations or conveniently located retailers) in that it allows for segmentation of customers and/or de facto price discrimination. For example, in one embodiment, a gas station could continue to charge a relatively high pump price to typical customers, while also gaining access to the solicitation of Purchasers. If the fuel retailer accepts the offer and associated group mobility premium 2145, the Fuel Offering Generator adjusts the fuel retailer's position within the price groups 2150. In one embodiment the group mobility premium could be paid by the fuel retailer to the Fuel Offering Generator (and/or associated entities) as a one time and/or periodic fee. In another embodiment, the group mobility premium could consist of and/or further include a revenue and/or risk sharing agreement, with pricing adjustment and/or payments from the fuel retailer to the Fuel Offering Generator (and/or associated entities) and/or vice versa. In yet another embodiment, said pricing adjustments and/or payments could be made from the fuel retailer and/or Fuel Offering Generator (and/or associated entities) to the Purchaser, as necessary. In some embodiments, the group mobility premium and associated arrangements may be used by the Fuel Offering Generator as an input in determining a price matrix and/or in constructing an appropriate hedging strategy.

FUEL OFFERING GENERATOR SYSTEM CONTROLLER [00127] FIGURE 22 of the present disclosure illustrates inventive aspects of an Fuel Offering Generator controller 2201 in a block diagram. In this embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator controller 2201 may serve to aggregate, process, store, search, serve, identify, instruct, generate, match, and/or facilitate comparative interactions with information, and/or other related data.

[00128] Typically, users, which may be people and/or other systems, engage information technology systems (e.g., commonly computers) to facilitate information processing. In turn, computers employ processors to process information; such processors are often referred to as central processing units (CPU). A common form of processor is referred to as a microprocessor. CPUs use communicative signals to enable various operations. Such communicative signals may be stored and/or transmitted in batches as program and/or data components facilitate desired operations. These stored instruction code signals may engage the CPU circuit components to perform desired operations. A common type of program is a computer operating system, which, commonly, is executed by CPU on a computer; the operating system enables and facilitates users to access and operate computer information technology and resources. Common resources employed in information technology systems include: input and output mechanisms through which data may pass into and out of a computer; memory storage into which data may be saved; and processors by which information may be processed. Often information technology systems are used to collect data for later retrieval, analysis, and manipulation, commonly, which is facilitated through a database program. Information technology systems provide interfaces that allow users to access and operate various system components.

[00129] In one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator system controller 2201 may be connected to and/or communicate with entities such as, but not limited to: one or more users from user input devices 2211; peripheral devices 2212; a cryptographic processor device 2228; and/or a communications network 2213.

[00130] Networks are commonly thought to comprise the interconnection and interoperation of clients, servers, and intermediary nodes in a graph topology. It should be noted that the term "server" as used throughout this disclosure refers generally to a computer, other device, program, or combination thereof that processes and responds to the requests of remote users across a communications network. Servers serve their information to requesting "clients." The term "client" as used herein refers generally to a computer, other device, program, or combination thereof that is capable of processing and making requests and obtaining and processing any responses from servers across a communications network. A computer, other device, program, or combination thereof that facilitates, processes information and requests, and/or furthers the passage of information from a source user to a destination user is commonly referred to as a "'node." Networks are generally thought to facilitate the transfer of information from source points to destinations. A node specifically tasked with furthering the passage of information from a source to a destination is commonly called a "router." There are many forms of networks such as Local Area Networks (LANs), Pico networks, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Networks (WLANs), etc. For example, the Internet is generally accepted as being an interconnection of a multitude of networks whereby remote clients and servers may access and interoperate with one another.

[00131 ] The Fuel Offering Generator system controller 2201 may be based on common computer systems that may comprise, but are not limited to, components such as: a computer systemization 2202 connected to memory 2229.

Computer Systemization

[00132] A computer systemization 2202 may comprise a clock 2230, central processing unit (CPU) 2203, a read only memory (ROM) 2206, a random access memory (RAM) 2205, and/or an interface bus 2207, and most frequently, although not necessarily, are all interconnected and/or communicating through a system bus 2204. Optionally, the computer systemization may be connected to an internal power source 2286. Optionally, a cryptographic processor 2226 may be connected to the system bus. The system clock typically has a crystal oscillator and provides a base signal. The clock is typically coupled to the system bus and various clock multipliers that will increase or decrease the base operating frequency for other components interconnected in the computer systemization. The clock and various components in a computer systemization drive signals embodying information throughout the system. Such transmission and reception of signals embodying information throughout a computer systemization may be commonly referred to as communications. These communicative signals may further be transmitted, received, and the cause of return and/or reply signal communications beyond the instant computer systemization to: communications networks, input devices, other computer systemizations, peripheral devices, and/or the like. Of course, any of the above components may be connected directly to one another, connected to the CPU, and/or organized in numerous variations employed as exemplified by various computer systems.

[00133] The CPU comprises at least one high-speed data processor adequate to execute program components for executing user and/or system-generated requests. The CPU may be a microprocessor such as AMD's Athlon, Duron and/or Opteron; IBM and/or Motorola's PowerPC; IBM's and Sony's Cell processor; Intel's Celeron, Itanium, Pentium, Xeon, and/or XScale; and/or the like processor(s). The CPU interacts with memory through signal passing through conductive conduits to execute stored signal program code according to conventional data processing techniques. Such signal passing facilitates communication within the Fuel Offering Generator system controller and beyond through various interfaces. Should processing requirements dictate a greater amount speed, parallel, mainframe and/or super-computer architectures may similarly be employed.Alternatively, should deployment requirements dictate greater portability, smaller Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) may be employed. Power Source

[00134] The power source 2286 may be of any standard form for powering small electronic circuit board devices such as the following power cells: alkaline, lithium hydride, lithium ion, lithium polymer, nickel cadmium, solar cells, and/or the like. Other types of AC or DC power sources may be used as well. In the case of solar cells, in one embodiment, the case provides an aperture through which the solar cell may capture photonic energy. The power cell 2286 is connected to at least one of the interconnected subsequent components of the Fuel Offering Generator system thereby providing an electric current to all subsequent components. In one example, the power source 2286 is connected to the system bus component 2204. In an alternative embodiment, an outside power source 2286 is provided through a connection across the I/O 2208 interface. For example, a USB and/or IEEE 1394 connection carries both data and power across the connection and is therefore a suitable source of power.

Interface Adapters [00135] Interface bus(ses) 2207 may accept, connect, and/or communicate to a number of interface adapters, conventionally although not necessarily in the form of adapter cards, such as but not limited to: input output interfaces (I/O) 2208, storage interfaces 2209, network interfaces 2210, and/or the like. Optionally, cryptographic processor interfaces 2227 similarly may be connected to the interface bus. The interface bus provides for the communications of interface adapters with one another as well as with other components of the computer systemization. Interface adapters are adapted for a compatible interface bus. Interface adapters conventionally connect to the interface bus via a slot architecture. Conventional slot architectures may be employed, such as, but not limited to: Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Card Bus, (Extended) Industry Standard Architecture ((E)ISA), Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), NuBus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (Extended) (PCI(X)), PCI Express, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), and/or the like.

[00136 J Storage interfaces 2209 may accept, communicate, and/or connect to a number of storage devices such as, but not limited to: storage devices 2214, removable disc devices, and/or the like. Storage interfaces may employ connection protocols such as, but not limited to: (Ultra) (Serial) Advanced Technology Attachment (Packet Interface) ((Ultra) (Serial) ATA(PI)), (Enhanced) Integrated Drive Electronics ((E)IDE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, fiber channel, Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/or the like.

[00137] Network interfaces 2210 may accept, communicate, and/or connect to a communications network 2213. Through a communications network 113, the Fuel Offering Generator system controller is accessible through remote clients 2233b (e.g., computers with web browsers) by users 2233a. Network interfaces may employ connection protocols such as, but not limited to: direct connect, Ethernet (thick, thin, twisted pair 10/100/1000 Base T, and/or the like), Token Ring, wireless connection such as IEEE 802.1 la-x, and/or the like. A communications network may be any one and/or the combination of the following: a direct interconnection; the Internet; a Local Area Network (LAN); a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN); an Operating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI); a secured custom connection; a Wide Area Network (WAN); a wireless network (e.g., employing protocols such as, but not limited to a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), I-mode, and/or the like); and/or the like. A network interface may be regarded as a specialized form of an input output interface. Further, multiple network interfaces 2210 may be used to engage with various communications network types 2213. For example, multiple network interfaces may be employed to allow for the communication over broadcast, multicast, and/or unicast networks.

[00138] Input Output interfaces (I/O) 2208 may accept, communicate, and/or connect to user input devices 221 1, peripheral devices 2212, cryptographic processor devices 2228, and/or the like. I/O may employ connection protocols such as, but not limited to: Apple Desktop Bus (ADB); Apple Desktop Connector (ADC); audio: analog, digital, monaural, RCA, stereo, and/or the like; IEEE 1394a-b; infrared; joystick; keyboard; midi; optical; PC AT; PS/2; parallel; radio; serial; USB; video interface: BNC, coaxial, composite, digital, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), RCA, RF antennae, S-Video, VGA, and/or the like; wireless; and/or the like. A common output device is a television set 145, which accepts signals from a video interface. Also, a video display, which typically comprises a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) based monitor with an interface (e.g., DVI circuitry and cable) that accepts signals from a video interface, may be used. The video interface composites information generated by a computer systemization and generates video signals based on the composited information in a video memory frame. Typically, the video interface provides the composited video information through a video connection interface that accepts a video display interface (e.g., an RCA composite video connector accepting an RCA composite video cable; a DVI connector accepting a DVI display cable, etc.).

[00139] User input devices 2211 may be card readers, dongles, finger print readers, gloves, graphics tablets, joysticks, keyboards, mouse (mice), remote controls, retina readers, trackballs, trackpads, and/or the like. [00140] Peripheral devices 2212 may be connected and/or communicate to I/O and/or other facilities of the like such as network interfaces, storage interfaces, and/or the like. Peripheral devices may be audio devices, cameras, dongles (e.g., for copy protection, ensuring secure transactions with a digital signature, and/or the like), external processors (for added functionality), goggles, microphones, monitors, network interfaces, printers, scanners, storage devices, video devices, video sources, visors, and/or the like.

[001 41 ] It should be noted that although user input devices and peripheral devices may be employed, the Fuel Offering Generator system controller may be embodied as an embedded, dedicated, and/or monitor-less (i.e., headless) device, wherein access would be provided over a network interface connection.

[00142] Cryptographic units such as, but not limited to, microcontrollers, processors 2226, interfaces 2227, and/or devices 2228 may be attached, and/or communicate with the Fuel Offering Generator system controller. A MC68HC16 microcontroller, commonly manufactured by Motorola Inc., may be used for and/or within cryptographic units. Equivalent microcontrollers and/or processors may also be used. The MC68HC16 microcontroller utilizes a 16-bit multiply-and-accumulate instruction in the 16 MHz configuration and requires less than one second to perform a 512-bit RSA private key operation. Cryptographic units support the authentication of communications from interacting agents, as well as allowing for anonymous transactions. Cryptographic units may also be configured as part of CPU. Other commercially available specialized cryptographic processors include VLSI Technology's 33 MHz 6868 or Semaphore Communications' 40 MHz Roadrunner 184. Memory

[00143] Generally, any mechanization and/or embodiment allowing a processor to affect the storage and/or retrieval of information is regarded as memory 2229. However, memory is a fungible technology and resource, thus, any number of memory embodiments may be employed in lieu of or in concert with one another. It is to be understood that the Fuel Offering Generator system controller and/or a computer systemization may employ various forms of memory 2229. For example, a computer systemization may be configured wherein the functionality of on-chip CPU memory (e.g., registers), RAM, ROM, and any other storage devices are provided by a paper punch tape or paper punch card mechanism; of course such an embodiment would result in an extremely slow rate of operation. In a typical configuration, memory 2229 will include ROM 2206, RAM 2205, and a storage device 2214. A storage device 2214 may be any conventional computer system storage. Storage devices may include a drum; a (fixed and/or removable) magnetic disk drive; a magneto-optical drive; an optical drive (i.e., CD ROM/RAM/Recordable (R), Rewritable (RW), DVD R/RW, etc.); an array of devices (e.g., Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)); and/or other devices of the like. Thus, a computer systemization generally requires and makes use of memory.

Component Collection

[00144] The memory 2229 may contain a collection of program and/or database components and/or data such as, but not limited to: operating system component(s) 2215 (operating system); information server component(s) 2216 (information server); user interface component(s) 2217 (user interface); Web browser component(s) 2218 (Web browser); database(s) 2219; mail server component(s) 2221; mail client component(s) 2222; cryptographic server component(s) 2220 (cryptographic server); the Fuel Offering Generator system component(s) 2235; and/or the like (i.e., collectively a component collection). These components may be stored and accessed from the storage devices and/or from storage devices accessible through an interface bus. Although non-conventional program components such as those in the component collection, typically, are stored in a local storage device 2214, they may also be loaded and/or stored in memory such as: peripheral devices, RAM, remote storage facilities through a communications network, ROM, various forms of memory, and/or the like.

Operating System [00145] The operating system component 2215 is an executable program component facilitating the operation of the Fuel Offering Generator system controller. Typically, the operating system facilitates access of I/O, network interfaces, peripheral devices, storage devices, and/or the like. The operating system may be a highly fault tolerant, scalable, and secure system such as Apple Macintosh OS X (Server), AT&T Plan 9, Be OS, Linux, Unix, and/or the like operating systems. However, more limited and/or less secure operating systems also may be employed such as Apple Macintosh OS, Microsoft DOS, Microsoft Windows 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millenium/NT/Vista/XP (Server), Palm OS, and/or the like. An operating system may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or the like. Most frequently, the operating system communicates with other program components, user interfaces, and/or the like. For example, the operating system may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses. The operating system, once executed by the CPU, may enable the interaction with communications networks, data, I/O, peripheral devices, program components, memory, user input devices, and/or the like. The operating system may provide communications protocols that allow the Fuel Offering Generator system controller to communicate with other entities through a communications network 2213. Various communication protocols may be used by the Fuel Offering Generator system controller as a subcarrier transport mechanism for interaction, such as, but not limited to: multicast, TCP/IP, UDP, unicast, and/or the like.

Information Server

[00146] An information server component 2216 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. The information server may be a conventional Internet information server such as, but not limited to Apache Software Foundation's Apache, Microsoft's Internet Information Server, and/or the. The information server may allow for the execution of program components through facilities such as Active Server Page (ASP), ActiveX, (ANSI) (Objective-) C (++), C#, Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts, Java, JavaScript, Practical Extraction Report Language (PERL), Python, WebObjects, and/or the like. The information server may support secure communications protocols such as, but not limited to, File Transfer Protocol (FTP); Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP); Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), and/or the like. The information server provides results in the form of Web pages to Web browsers, and allows for the manipulated generation of the Web pages through interaction with other program components. After a Domain Name System (DNS) resolution portion of an HTTP request is resolved to a particular information server, the information server resolves requests for information at specified locations on the Fuel Offering Generator system controller based on the remainder of the HTTP request. For example, a request such as http://123.124.125.126/mylnformation.html might have the IP portion of the request '"123.124.125.126" resolved by a DNS server to an information server at that IP address; that information server might in turn further parse the http request for the '7mylnformation.html" portion of the request and resolve it to a location in memory containing the information "mylnformation.html." Additionally, other information serving protocols may be employed across various ports, e.g., FTP communications across port 21 , and/or the like. An information server may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the information server communicates with the Fuel Offering Generator system database 2219, operating systems, other program components, user interfaces, Web browsers, and/or the like.

[00147] Access to the Fuel Offering Generator system database may be achieved through a number of database bridge mechanisms such as through scripting languages as enumerated below (e.g., CGI) and through inter-application communication channels as enumerated below (e.g., CORBA, WebObjects, etc.). Any data requests through a Web browser are parsed through the bridge mechanism into appropriate grammars as required by the Fuel Offering Generator system. In one embodiment, the information server would provide a Web form accessible by a Web browser. Entries made into supplied fields in the Web form are tagged as having been entered into the particular fields, and parsed as such. The entered terms are then passed along with the field tags, which act to instruct the parser to generate queries directed to appropriate tables and/or fields. In one embodiment, the parser may generate queries in standard SQL by instantiating a search string with the proper join/select commands based on the tagged text entries, wherein the resulting command is provided over the bridge mechanism to the Fuel Offering Generator system as a query. Upon generating query results from the query, the results are passed over the bridge mechanism, and may be parsed for formatting and generation of a new results Web page by the bridge mechanism. Such a new results Web page is then provided to the information server, which may supply it to the requesting Web browser.

[00148] Also, an information server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.

User Interface [00149] The function of computer interfaces in some respects is similar to automobile operation interfaces. Automobile operation interface elements such as steering wheels, gearshifts, and speedometers facilitate the access, operation, and display of automobile resources, functionality, and status. Computer interaction interface elements such as check boxes, cursors, menus, scrollers, and windows (collectively and commonly referred to as widgets) similarly facilitate the access, operation, and display of data and computer hardware and operating system resources, functionality, and status. Operation interfaces are commonly called user interfaces. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) such as the Apple Macintosh Operating System's Aqua, Microsoft's Windows XP, or Unix's X- Windows provide a baseline and means of accessing and displaying information graphically to users.

[00150] A user interface component 2217 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. The user interface may be a conventional graphic user interface as provided by, with, and/or atop operating systems and/or operating environments such as Apple Macintosh OS, e.g., Aqua, GNUSTEP, Microsoft Windows (NT/XP), Unix X Windows (KDE, Gnome, and/or the like), mythTV, and/or the like. The user interface may allow for the display, execution, interaction, manipulation, and/or operation of program components and/or system facilities through textual and/or graphical facilities. The user interface provides a facility through which users may affect, interact, and/or operate a computer system. A user interface may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the user interface communicates with operating systems, other program components, and/or the like. The user interface may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.

Web Browser [00151 ] A Web browser component 2218 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. The Web browser may be a conventional hypertext viewing application such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Secure Web browsing may be supplied with 128bit (or greater) encryption by way of HTTPS, SSL, and/or the like. Some Web browsers allow for the execution of program components through facilities such as Java, JavaScript, ActiveX, and/or the like. Web browsers and like information access tools may be integrated into PDAs, cellular telephones, and/or other mobile devices. A Web browser may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the Web browser communicates with information servers, operating systems, integrated program components (e.g., plug-ins), and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses. Of course, in place of a Web browser and information server, a combined application may be developed to perform similar functions of both. The combined application would similarly affect the obtaining and the provision of information to users, user agents, and/or the like from the Fuel Offering Generator system enabled nodes. The combined application may be nugatory on systems employing standard Web browsers.

Mail Server [00152] A mail server component 2221 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU 2203. The mail server may be a conventional Internet mail server such as, but not limited to sendmail, Microsoft Exchange, and/or the. The mail server may allow for the execution of program components through facilities such as ASP, ActiveX, (ANSI) (Objective-) C (++), CGI scripts, Java, JavaScript, PERL, pipes, Python, WebObjects, and/or the like. The mail server may support communications protocols such as, but not limited to: Internet message access protocol (IMAP), Microsoft Exchange, post office protocol (POP3), simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), and/or the like. The mail server can route, forward, and process incoming and outgoing mail messages that have been sent, relayed and/or otherwise traversing through and/or to the Fuel Offering Generator system.

[00153] Access to the Fuel Offering Generator system mail may be achieved through a number of APIs offered by the individual Web server components and/or the operating system.

[00154] Also, a mail server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, information, and/or responses.

Mail Client

[00155] A mail client component 2222 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU 2203. The mail client may be a conventional mail viewing application such as Apple Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, Mozilla Thunderbird, and/or the like. Mail clients may support a number of transfer protocols, such as: IMAP, Microsoft Exchange, P0P3, SMTP, and/or the like. A mail client may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the mail client communicates with mail servers, operating systems, other mail clients, and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, information, and/or responses. Generally, the mail client provides a facility to compose and transmit electronic mail messages.

Cryptographic Server

[00156] A cryptographic server component 2220 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU 2203, cryptographic processor 2226, cryptographic processor interface 2227, cryptographic processor device 2228, and/or the like. Cryptographic processor interfaces will allow for expedition of encryption and/or decryption requests by the cryptographic component; however, the cryptographic component, alternatively, may run on a conventional CPU. The cryptographic component allows for the encryption and/or decryption of provided data. The cryptographic component allows for both symmetric and asymmetric (e.g., Pretty Good Protection (PGP)) encryption and/or decryption. The cryptographic component may employ cryptographic techniques such as, but not limited to: digital certificates (e.g., X.509 authentication framework), digital signatures, dual signatures, enveloping, password access protection, public key management, and/or the like. The cryptographic component will facilitate numerous (encryption and/or decryption) security protocols such as, but not limited to: checksum, Data Encryption Standard (DES), Elliptical Curve Encryption (ECC), International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA), Message Digest 5 (MD5, which is a one way hash function), passwords, Rivest Cipher (RC5), Rijndael, RSA (which is an Internet encryption and authentication system that uses an algorithm developed in 1977 by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman), Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), and/or the like. Employing such encryption security protocols, the Fuel Offering Generator system may encrypt all incoming and/or outgoing communications and may serve as node within a virtual private network (VPN) with a wider communications network. The cryptographic component facilitates the process of "security authorization" whereby access to a resource is inhibited by a security protocol wherein the cryptographic component effects authorized access to the secured resource. In addition, the cryptographic component may provide unique identifiers of content, e.g., employing and MD5 hash to obtain a unique signature for an digital audio file. A cryptographic component may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. The cryptographic component supports encryption schemes allowing for the secure transmission of information across a communications network to enable the Fuel Offering Generator system component to engage in secure transactions if so desired, The cryptographic component facilitates the secure accessing of resources on the Fuel Offering Generator system and facilitates the access of secured resources on remote systems; i.e., it may act as a client and/or server of secured resources. Most frequently, the cryptographic component communicates with information servers, operating systems, other program components, and/or the like. The cryptographic component may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses. The Fuel Offering Generator Database

[00157] The Fuel Offering Generator database component 2219 may be embodied in a database and its stored data. The database is a stored program component, which is executed by the CPU; the stored program component portion configuring the CPU to process the stored data. The database may be a conventional, fault tolerant, relational, scalable, secure database such as Oracle or Sybase. Relational databases are an extension of a flat file. Relational databases consist of a series of related tables. The tables are interconnected via a key field. Use of the key field allows the combination of the tables by indexing against the key field; i.e., the key fields act as dimensional pivot points for combining information from various tables. Relationships generally identify links maintained between tables by matching primary keys. Primary keys represent fields that uniquely identify the rows of a table in a relational database. More precisely, they uniquely identify rows of a table on the "one" side of a one-to-many relationship.

[00158] Alternatively, the Fuel Offering Generator database may be implemented using various standard data-structures, such as an array, hash, (linked) list, struct, structured text file (e.g., XML), table, and/or the like. Such data-structures may be stored in memory and/or in (structured) files. In another alternative, an object-oriented database may be used, such as Frontier, ObjectStore, Poet, Zope, and/or the like. Object databases can include a number of object collections that are grouped and/or linked together by common attributes; they may be related to other object collections by some common attributes. Object-oriented databases perform similarly to relational databases with the exception that objects are not just pieces of data but may have other types of functionality encapsulated within a given object. If the Fuel Offering Generator database is implemented as a data-structure, the use of the Fuel Offering Generator database 2219 may be integrated into another component such as the Fuel Offering Generator component 2235. Also, the database may be implemented as a mix of data structures, objects, and relational structures. Databases may be consolidated and/or distributed in countless variations through standard data processing techniques. Portions of databases, e.g., tables, may be exported and/or imported and thus decentralized and/or integrated.

[00159] In one embodiment, the database component 2219 includes several tables 2219a-i. A Purchaser table 2219a includes fields such as, but not limited to: a user name, email address, address, profile, userjd, and/or the like. A Provider table 2219b includes fields such as, but not limited to: a Provider name, email address, address, profile, Providerjd, and/or the like. A fuel vendor table 2219c includes fields such as, but not limited to: a fuel vendor name, address, vendor_id, and/or the like. A Purchaser usage table 2219d includes fields such as, but not limited to: Purchaser id, Provider id, Distributor id, vendor id, transaction_id, fuel used, date, fuel purchase price, and/or the like. A market usage table 2219e includes fields such as, but not limited to: date, volume, fuel price, and/or the like. A market price table 2219f includes fields such as, but not limited to: financial instrumented, price, and/or the like. A Distributor table 2219g includes fields such as, but not limited to: a Distributor name, email address, address, profile, Distributor id, and/or the like. A single price zone table 2219h includes fields such as, but not limited to: spz_^id, region zipcode, region bounding (longitude, latitude), region radius, and/or the like. A variables table 22191 includes fields such as, but not limited to: current fuel market variables, historical fuel market variables, price matrices, consumer price matrices, sensitivity data, Purchaser behavior data, and/or the like. f 00160] In one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator system database may interact with other database systems. For example, employing a distributed database system, queries and data access by Fuel Offering Generator system component may treat the combination of the Fuel Offering Generator system database, an integrated data security layer database as a single database entity.

[00161 ] In one embodiment, user programs may contain various user interface primitives, which may serve to update the Fuel Offering Generator system. Also, various accounts may require custom database tables depending upon the environments and the types of clients the Fuel Offering Generator system may need to serve. It should be noted that any unique fields may be designated as a key field throughout. In an alternative embodiment, these tables have been decentralized into their own databases and their respective database controllers (i.e., individual database controllers for each of the above tables). Employing standard data processing techniques, one may further distribute the databases over several computer systemizations and/or storage devices. Similarly, configurations of the decentralized database controllers may be varied by consolidating and/or distributing the various database components 2219a-e. The Fuel Offering Generator system may be configured to keep track of various settings, inputs, and parameters via database controllers.

[00162] The Fuel Offering Generator system database may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the Fuel Offering Generator system database communicates with the Fuel Offering Generator system component, other program components, and/or the like. The database may contain, retain, and provide information regarding other nodes and data. The Fuel Offering Generator

[00163] The Fuel Offering Generator component 2235 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. The Fuel Offering Generator component affects accessing, obtaining and the provision of information, services, transactions, and/or the like across various communications networks. As such, the Fuel Offering Generator component enables one to access, calculate, engage, exchange, generate, identify, instruct, match, process, search, serve, store, and/or facilitate transactions to promote fuel offerings to customers. In one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator component incorporates any and/or all combinations of the aspects of the Fuel Offering Generator that were discussed in the previous figures.

[00164] The Fuel Offering Generator system component enabling access of information between nodes may be developed by employing standard development tools such as, but not limited to: (ANSI) (Objective-) C (++), Apache components, binary executables, database adapters, Java, JavaScript, mapping tools, procedural and object oriented development tools, PERL, Python, shell scripts, SQL commands, web application server extensions, WebObjects, and/or the like. In one embodiment, the Fuel Offering Generator system server employs a cryptographic server to encrypt and decrypt communications. The Fuel Offering Generator system component may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the Fuel Offering Generator system component communicates with the Fuel Offering Generator system database, operating systems, other program components, and/or the like. The Fuel Offering Generator system may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.

Distributed Fuel Offering Generator system

[00165] The structure and/or operation of any of the Fuel Offering Generator system node controller components may be combined, consolidated, and/or distributed in any number of ways to facilitate development and/or deployment. Similarly, the component collection may be combined in any number of ways to facilitate deployment and/or development. To accomplish this, one may integrate the components into a common code base or in a facility that can dynamically load the components on demand in an integrated fashion.

[00166 J The component collection may be consolidated and/or distributed in countless variations through standard data processing and/or development techniques. Multiple instances of any one of the program components in the program component collection may be instantiated on a single node, and/or across numerous nodes to improve performance through load-balancing and/or data-processing techniques. Furthermore, single instances may also be distributed across multiple controllers and/or storage devices; e.g., databases. All program component instances and controllers working in concert may do so through standard data processing communication techniques.

[00167] The configuration of the Fuel Offering Generator system controller will depend on the context of system deployment. Factors such as, but not limited to, the budget, capacity, location, and/or use of the underlying hardware resources may affect deployment requirements and configuration. Regardless of if the configuration results in more consolidated and/or integrated program components, results in a more distributed series of program components, and/or results in some combination between a consolidated and distributed configuration, data may be communicated, obtained, and/or provided. Instances of components consolidated into a common code base from the program component collection may communicate, obtain, and/or provide data. This may be accomplished through intra- application data processing communication techniques such as, but not limited to: data referencing (e.g., pointers), internal messaging, object instance variable communication, shared memory space, variable passing, and/or the like.

[00168] If component collection components are discrete, separate, and/or external to one another, then communicating, obtaining, and/or providing data with and/or to other component components may be accomplished through inter-application data processing communication techniques such as, but not limited to: Application Program Interfaces (API) information passage; (distributed) Component Object Model ((D)COM), (Distributed) Object Linking and Embedding ((D)OLE), and/or the like), Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), process pipes, shared files, and/or the like. Messages sent between discrete component components for inter-application communication or within memory spaces of a singular component for intra-application communication may be facilitated through the creation and parsing of a grammar. A grammar may be developed by using standard development tools such as lex, yacc, XML, and/or the like, which allow for grammar generation and parsing functionality, which in turn may form the basis of communication messages within and between components. Again, the configuration will depend upon the context of system deployment.

[00169] The entirety of this disclosure (including the Cover Page, Title, Headings, Field, Background, Summary, Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, Claims, Abstract, Figures, and otherwise) shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed inventions may be practiced. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed principles. It should be understood that they are not representative of all claimed inventions. As such, certain aspects of the disclosure have not been discussed herein. That alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the invention or that further undescribed alternate embodiments may be available for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. It will be appreciated that many of those undescribed embodiments incorporate the same principles of the invention and others are equivalent. Thus, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and functional, logical, organizational, structural and/or topological modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. As such, all examples and/or embodiments are deemed to be non-limiting throughout this disclosure. Also, no inference should be drawn regarding those embodiments discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than it is as such for purposes of reducing space and repetition. For instance, it is to be understood that the logical and/or topological structure of any combination of any program components (a component collection), other components and/or any present feature sets as described in the figures and/or throughout are not limited to a fixed operating order and/or arrangement, but rather, any disclosed order is exemplary and all equivalents, regardless of order, are contemplated by the disclosure. Furthermore, it is to be understood that such features are not limited to serial execution, but rather, any number of threads, processes, services, servers, and/or the like that may execute asynchronously, concurrently, in parallel, simultaneously, synchronously, and/or the like are contemplated by the disclosure. As such, some of these features may be mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of the invention, and inapplicable to others. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed. Applicant reserves all rights in those presently unclaimed inventions including the right to claim such inventions, file additional applications, continuations, continuations in part, divisions, and/or the like thereof. As such, it should be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functional, features, logical, organizational, structural, topological, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is: L A processor-implemented method to generate fuel offerings, comprising: determining a strike price for a fuel offering; determining a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering; establishing restrictions for the associated strike price and premium price for the fuel offering; and providing the fuel offering for selection by a customer.

2. The method of claim 1 , further, comprising: determining a service markup price associated with the premium price for the fuel offering.

3. The method of claim 1 , further, comprising: obtaining a customer order with a selected fuel offering with specified parameters including a quantity of fuel and a tenor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the specified parameters further include a type of fuel.

5. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: reimbursing a customer that exercises a customer fuel offering order.

6. The method of claim 5, further, comprising: storing information regarding the customer's fuel offering order exercise in a historical usage database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the exercise information includes a location where fuel was purchased.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the exercise information includes a quantity of fuel that was purchased.

9. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: reimbursing the customer for fuel purchased having a price greater than the strike price.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the customer reimbursement is limited to the quantity specified in the customer fuel offering order.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the specified parameters further include a periodic usage limit.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the specified parameters further include a geographic region.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the geographic region is a single-price zone.

14. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: aggregating customer fuel offering orders.

15. The method of claim 14, further, comprising: executing a hedge for the aggregated fuel offering orders.

16. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: executing a hedge for the fuel offering order.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the hedge employs a forward contract.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the restrictions include a usage cap.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the usage cap is a periodic usage cap.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the periodic usage cap is a monthly usage cap. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the periodic usage cap specifies a maximum usage for a given period of time, wherein fuel usage less than or equal to the specified maximum is eligible for purchase at prices specified in the fuel offering. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the periodic usage cap specifies a minimum usage amount for a given period of time, wherein a number of units of fuel are no longer eligible for purchase at prices specified in the fuel offering, wherein the ineligible number is the difference between an actual number of fuel units purchased at prices specified in the fuel offering and the specified minimum usage amount. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the restrictions include a price cap. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the price cap specifies a maximum re- reimbursable fuel price, wherein fuel purchased that is less than or equal to the specified maximum is eligible for purchase at prices specified in the fuel offering. 25. The method of claim 3, wherein the restrictions include a structural constraint. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the structural constraint specifies a maximum percentage of the quantity of fuel specified in the customer fuel offering order that may be procured at the strike price, wherein any fuel purchased in excess of the maximum percentage will not be reimbursed. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein any fuel purchased in excess of the maximum percentage within a specified period will not be reimbursed. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the specified period is a month. 29. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: providing the customer with incentives to modify the customer's behavior. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is determined to be undesirable, pricing disincentives negatively affect the fuel offering provided to the customer. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the pricing disincentives will be put into effect when the customer has been determined to be undesirable for a specified period of time. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the customer's fuel purchasing behavior is undesirable when the customer tends to purchase fuel at higher prices. 33. The method of claim 30, the negative disincentives increases the cost of the fuel offering. 34. The method of claim 29, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is determined to be desirable, incentives are offered to the customer. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the incentives decrease the cost of the fuel offering. 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the incentives award points to the customer. 37. The method of claim 34, wherein the incentives are offered to the customer when the customer has been determined to be desirable for a specified period of time. 38. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: providing a fuel vendor with incentives to modify behavior. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is determined to be undesirable, pricing disincentives negatively affect the fuel offering provided to the customer.

88 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the pricing disincentives will be put into effect

89 when the customer has been determined to be undesirable for a specified period of time.

90 41. The method of claim 39, wherein the customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

91 undesirable when the customer tends to purchase fuel at higher prices.

92 42. The method of claim 39, the negative disincentives increases the cost of the fuel

93 offering.

94 43. The method of claim 38, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

95 determined to be desirable, incentives are offered to the customer.

96 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the incentives decrease the cost of the fuel

97 offering.

98 45. The method of claim 43, wherein the incentives award points to the customer.

99 46. The method of claim 43, wherein the incentives are offered to the customer when

100 the customer has been determined to be desirable for a specified period of time.

101 47. The method of claim 3, further, comprising:

102 determining a sensitivity to price.

103 48. The method of claim 47, wherein the price is the strike price.

104 49. The method of claim 47, wherein the price is the premium price.

105 50. The method of claim 47, wherein the price is a service markup price.

106 51. The method of claim 3, further, comprising:

107 aggregating customer fuel offering orders;

108 determining a sensitivity to price; executing a hedge for the customer fuel offering order based on the determined sensitivity to price. 52. The method of claim 47, further, comprising: executing a hedge for the customer fuel offering order based on the determined sensitivity to price. 53. The method of claim 3, wherein customer marketing research are used to establish the fuel offering. 54. The method of claim 3, wherein historical usage analysis is used to establish the fuel offering. 55. The method of claim 3, wherein market information is used to establish the fuel offering. 56. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: querying a market information database for information to be used as a factor in determining prices for the fuel offering. 57. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: querying a historical usage database for information to be used as a factor in determining prices for the fuel offering. 58. The method of claim 3, further, comprising: querying a customer marketing database for information to be used as a factor in determining prices for the fuel offering. 59. The method of claim 3, wherein determination of a fuel price further includes: obtaining pricing input factors; 131 employing the pricing input factors in commodity volatility model to generate a

132 volatility solution;

133 determining the fuel price by using the volatility solution as an input into a pricing

134 simulation.

135 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the fuel price is based on an national average

136 fuel price.

137 61. The method of claim 59, wherein the fuel price is the strike price.

138 62. The method of claim 59, wherein the fuel price is the premium price.

139 63. The method of claim 59, wherein the fuel price is a service markup price.

140 64. The method of claim 59, wherein the commodity volatility model is based on a

141 stochastic differential equation.

142 65. The method of claim 59, wherein the pricing simulation is based on grid pricing.

143 66. The method of claim 59, wherein the pricing simulation is based on a Monte

144 Carlo simulation.

145 67. The method of claim 59, wherein pricing input factors include fuel market

146 information.

147 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the fuel market information may include any of:

148 a wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market, wholesale gasoline over-the-counter

149 forward market and futures market, retail gasoline spot prices.

150 69. The method of claim 59, wherein the pricing input factors include historical

151 analysis.

152 70. The method of claim 69, wherein the historical analysis may include any of:

153 wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market, wholesale gasoline over-the-counter

154 forward market, wholesale gasoline over-the-counter futures market, historical retail gasoline

155 spot prices, historical wholesale gasoline spot prices, correlation between wholesale and

156 retail gasoline prices.

157 71. The method of claim 59, wherein the pricing input factors include observable

158 parameters.

159 72. The method of claim 71, wherein the observable parameters may include any of:

160 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

161 spot price over wholesale spot price.

162 73. The method of claim 59, wherein the pricing input factors include non-observable

163 parameters.

164 74. The method of claim 73, wherein the non-observable parameters may include any

165 of: retail gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline mean reversion parameters, retail

166 gasoline mean reversion parameters, retail gasoline forward curve.

167 75. The method of claim 59, wherein the pricing input factors include offering

168 parameters.

169 76. The method of claim 75, wherein the offering parameters may include any of:

170 strike price, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions, fuel type, geographic location.

171 77. The method of claim 59, wherein the pricing input factors includes a geographic

172 region.

173 78. The method of claim 77, wherein the geographic region is a single-price zone.

174 79. The method of claim 77, wherein in determination of the single-price zone

175 further, includes:

176 generating a single-price-zone map;

177 creating multiple single-price-zone pricing structures;

178 managing purchasers with the multiple single-price-zone structures.

179 80. The method of claim 59, wherein the fuel price is based on fuel pump prices.

180 81. The method of claim 80, wherein the pricing input factors include a bias for a

181 geographic region.

182 82. The method of claim 81 , wherein the pricing the bias for the region is based on

183 historical fuel pump price distribution.

184 83. The method of claim 81 , wherein the pricing the bias for the region is based on

185 historical purchaser bias price distribution.

186 84. The method of claim 81, wherein the geographic region is a single-price zone.

187 85. The method of claim 84, wherein the pricing input factors include a volatility of

188 the bias.

189 86. The method of claim 84, wherein the pricing input factors include a convexity of

190 the bias.

191 87. The method of claim 84, wherein the pricing input factors include a no-arbitrage

192 condition.

193 88. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

194 comprising:

195 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering; 196 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

197 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

198 the commodity offering;

199 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

200 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

201 a customer; and

202 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

203 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

204 a geographically averaged commodity price.

205 89. The method of claim 88, wherein the commodity is a fuel.

206 90. The method of claim 89, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

207 91. The method of claim 89, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

208 92. The method of claim 88, wherein the geographically averaged commodity

209 price is a regional average commodity price.

210 93. The method of claim 88, wherein the geographically averaged commodity

211 price is a national average commodity price.

212 94. The method of claim 88, wherein the geographically averaged commodity

213 price is a multi-national average commodity price.

214 95. The method of claim 88, wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

215 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

216 96. The method of claim 88, wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

217 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

218 97. The method of claim 88, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

219 includes at least one commodity market variable.

220 98. The method of claim 97, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

221 is a geographically averaged commodity price.

222 99. The method of claim 97, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

223 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

224 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

225 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

226 spot price over wholesale spot price.

227 100. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

228 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering

229 pricing values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

230 101. The method of claim 100, wherein the determining whether the at least one

231 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

232 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

233 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

234 102. The method of claim 100, wherein the determining whether the at least one

235 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

236 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

237 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

238 103. The method of claim 102, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

239 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory. 240 104, The method of claim 102, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

241 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

242 105. The method of claim 100, wherein the determining whether the at least one

243 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

244 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

245 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

246 106. The method of claim 105, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

247 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

248 107. The method of claim 105, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

249 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

250 108. The method of claim 88, wherein the commodity offering term parameters

251 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

252 commodity type.

253 109. The method of claim 88, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

254 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation.

255 110. The method of claim 109, wherein the commodity volatility model described

256 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

257 1 1 1. The method of claim 109, wherein the commodity volatility model described

258 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

259 112. The method of claim 109, wherein the commodity volatility model described

260 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

261 113. The method of claim 88, wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

262 terms is based on a customer specification.

263 114. The method of claim 113, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

264 price.

265 115. The method of claim 113, wherein the customer specification includes a

266 premium.

267 116. The method of claim 113, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

268 117. The method of claim 113, wherein the customer specification includes a

269 commodity type.

270 1 18. The method of claim 88, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

271 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

272 1 19. The method of claim 1 18, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

273 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

274 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

275 120. The method of claim 88, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

276 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

277 121. The method of claim 120, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

278 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

279 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the geographically

280 averaged price.

281 122. The method of claim 88, wherein the payment for some portion of a

282 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

283 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

284 123. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

285 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection

286 database; and

287 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

288 124. The method of claim 123, further comprising:

289 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class

290 prior to executing a hedge; and

291 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

292 125. The method of claim 124, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

293 offering terms.

294 126. The method of claim 124, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

295 offering pricing.

296 127. The method of claim 124, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

297 characteristics.

298 128. The method of claim 124, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

299 considerations.

300 129. The method of claim 123, wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

301 one forward contract.

302 130. The method of claim 88, further comprising: 303 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

304 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile

305 database.

306 131. The method of claim 130, further comprising:

307 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the

308 customer profile based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity

309 offering.

310 132. The method of claim 130, further comprising:

31 1 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the

312 customer profile based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity

313 offering.

314 133. The method of claim 88, wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

315 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

316 134. The method of claim 133, further comprising:

317 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at least one price sensitivity

318 value.

319 135. The method of claim 134, further comprising:

320 analyzing the hedge based on a set of risk mitigation criteria; and

321 modifying the commodity pricing model based on the analysis.

322 136. A processor-implemented method to generate fuel offerings for selection by

323 customers, comprising:

324 setting a strike price for a fuel offering; 325 determining a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering

326 based on the strike price and pricing input factors;

327 monitoring customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

328 storing information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

329 exercises as monitored information;

330 adjusting fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

331 providing the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and premium

332 price for selection by customers.

333 137. The method of claim 136, wherein the customers are in a retail market.

334 138. The method of claim 136, further, comprising;

335 determining a service markup price associated with the premium price for the fuel

336 offering.

337 139. The method of claim 136, wherein the strike price is arbitrarily set.

338 140. The method of claim 136, wherein the strike price is based on a determined

339 metric.

340 141. The method of claim 140, wherein the determined metric is based on a national

341 average.

342 142. The method of claim 140, wherein the determined metric is based on a multi-

343 national average.

344 143. The method of claim 136, further, comprising: 345 determining if the strike and premium price are satisfactory by querying a market

346 information database for information to be used as a factor in determining whether said strike

347 and premium price are satisfactory.

348 144. The method of claim 136, further, comprising:

349 determining if the strike and premium price are satisfactory by querying a customer

350 marketing database for information to be used as a factor in determining whether said strike

351 and premium price are satisfactory.

352 145. The method of claim 136, further, comprising:

353 determining if the strike and premium price are satisfactory by querying a historical

354 usage database for information to be used as a factor in determining whether said strike and

355 premium price are satisfactory.

356 146. The method of claim 136, wherein the pricing input factors comprise: fuel

357 market

358 information, historical analysis, offering parameters, observable parameters and non- 359 observable parameters.

360 147. The method of claim 146, wherein the fuel market information may include any

361 of:

362 a wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market, wholesale gasoline over-the-

363 counter forward market and futures market, retail gasoline spot prices.

364 148. The method of claim 146, wherein the historical analysis may include any of: 365 wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market, wholesale gasoline over-the-

366 counter forward market, wholesale gasoline over-the-counter futures market, historical retail

367 gasoline spot prices, historical wholesale gasoline spot prices, correlation between wholesale

368 and retail gasoline prices.

369 149. The method of claim 146, wherein the offering parameters may include any of:

370 strike price, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions, fuel type, geographic location.

371 150. The method of claim 146, wherein the observable parameters may include any

372 of: wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

373 spot price over wholesale spot price.

374 151. The method of claim 146, wherein the non-observable parameters may include

375 any of: retail gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline mean reversion parameters,

376 retail gasoline mean reversion parameters, retail gasoline forward curve.

377 152. The method of claim 136, wherein determination of the premium price based on

378 the pricing input factors, further includes:

379 obtaining the pricing input factors;

380 employing the pricing input factors in a commodity volatility model to generate a

381 volatility solution; and

382 partially determining the premium price based on the pricing input factors using the

383 volatility solution as an input into a pricing simulation.

384 153. The method of claim 152, wherein the commodity volatility model is based on a

385 stochastic differential equation.

386 154. The method of claim 152, wherein the pricing simulation is based on grid

387 pricing.

388 155. The method of claim 152, wherein the pricing simulation is based on a Monte

389 Carlo simulation.

390 156. The method of claim 136, further, comprising:

391 obtaining a customer order responsive to said fuel offering, the customer order

392 including specified parameters including at least a quantity of fuel and a tenor.

393 157. The method of claim 156, wherein the specified parameters further include a

394 type of fuel.

395 158. The method of claim 156, wherein the specified parameters further include a

396 periodic usage limit.

397 159. The method of claim 136, further, comprising:

398 reimbursing a customer that exercises a customer fuel offering order.

399 160. The method of claim 159, further, comprising:

400 storing exercise information regarding the customer's fuel offering order exercise in a

401 historical usage database.

402 161. The method of claim 160, wherein the exercise information includes a location

403 where fuel was purchased.

404 162. The method of claim 160, wherein the exercise information includes a quantity

405 of fuel that was purchased.

406 163. The method of claim 136, further, comprising: reimbursing the customer for fuel

407 purchased having a price greater than the strike price.

408 164. The method of claim 163, wherein the customer reimbursement is limited to the

409 quantity specified in the customer fuel offering order.

410 165. The method of claim 156, further, comprising:

41 1 aggregating customer fuel offering orders.

412 166. The method of claim 165, further, comprising:

413 executing a hedge for the aggregated customer fuel offering orders.

414 167. The method of claim 165, wherein the hedge employs a forward contract.

415 168. The method of claim 156, further, comprising:

416 providing the customer with incentives to modify the customer's behavior.

417 169. The method of claim 168, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

418 determined to be undesirable, pricing disincentives negatively affect the fuel offering

419 provided to the customer.

420 170. The method of claim 169, wherein the pricing disincentives will be put into

421 effect when the customer has been determined to be undesirable for a specified period of

422 time.

423 171. The method of claim 169, wherein the customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

424 undesirable when the customer tends to purchase fuel at higher prices.

425 172. The method of claim 169, the negative disincentives increases the cost of the

426 fuel offering.

427 173. The method of claim 168, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

428 determined to be desirable, incentives are offered to the customer.

429 174. The method of claim 173, wherein the incentives decrease the cost of the fuel

430 offering.

431 175. The method of claim 173, wherein the incentives award points to the customer.

432 176. The method of claim 173, wherein the incentives are offered to the customer

433 when the customer has been determined to be desirable for a specified period of time.

434 177. The method of claim 156, further, comprising:

435 providing a fuel vendor with incentives to modify behavior.

436 178. The method of claim 177, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

437 determined to be undesirable, pricing disincentives negatively affect the fuel offering

438 provided to the customer.

439 179. The method of claim 178, wherein the pricing disincentives will be put into

440 effect when the customer has been determined to be undesirable for a specified period of

441 time.

442 180. The method of claim 178, wherein the customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

443 undesirable when the customer tends to purchase fuel at higher prices.

444 181. The method of claim 179, the negative disincentives increases the cost of the

445 fuel offering.

446 182. The method of claim 179, wherein if a customer's fuel purchasing behavior is

447 determined to be desirable, incentives are offered to the customer.

448 183. The method of claim 182, wherein the incentives decrease the cost of the fuel

449 offering.

450 184. The method of claim 182, wherein the incentives award points to the customer.

451 185. The method of claim 182, wherein the incentives are offered to the customer

452 when the customer has been determined to be desirable for a specified period of time.

453 186. The method of claim 136, further, comprising:

454 determining a sensitivity to the offer price.

455 187. The method of claim 186, wherein the price is the strike price.

456 188. The method of claim 186, wherein the price is the premium price.

457 189. The method of claim 186, wherein the price is a service markup price.

458 190. The method of claim 136, further, comprising:

459 aggregating customer fuel offering orders;

460 determining a sensitivity to said offered strike and premium price;

461 executing a hedge for the customer fuel offering order based on the determined

462 sensitivity to said fuel offering strike and premium pricing.

463 191. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

464 comprising:

465 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

466 setting at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a commodity

467 offering;

468 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

469 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

470 the commodity offering; 471 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

472 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

473 a customer; and

474 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

475 exercised commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise

476 restrictions, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a geographically

477 averaged commodity price.

478 192. The method of claim 191 , wherein the commodity is a fuel.

479 193. The method of claim 192, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

480 194. The method of claim 192, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

481 195. The method of claim 191 , wherein the geographically averaged commodity

482 price is a regional average commodity price.

483 196. The method of claim 191, wherein the geographically averaged commodity

484 price is a national average commodity price.

485 197. The method of claim 191, wherein the geographically averaged commodity

486 price is a multi-national average commodity price.

487 198. The method of claim 191, wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

488 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

489 199. The method of claim 191 , wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

490 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

491 200. The method of claim 191 , wherein the commodity offering pricing model

492 includes at least one commodity market variable.

493 201. The method of claim 200, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

494 is a geographically averaged commodity price.

495 202. The method of claim 200, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

496 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

497 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

498 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

499 spot price over wholesale spot price.

500 203. The method of claim 191, further comprising:

501 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing

502 values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

503 204. The method of claim 203, wherein the determining whether the at least one

504 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

505 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

506 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

507 205. The method of claim 203, wherein the determining whether the at least one

508 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

509 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

510 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

511 206. The method of claim 205, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

512 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

513 207. The method of claim 205, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

514 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

515 208. The method of claim 203, wherein the determining whether the at least one

516 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

517 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

518 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

519 209. The method of claim 208, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

520 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

521 210. The method of claim 208, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

522 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

523 21 1. The method of claim 191 , wherein the commodity offering term parameters

524 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

525 commodity type.

526 212. The method of claim 191 , wherein the commodity offering pricing model

527 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation.

528 213. The method of claim 212, wherein the commodity volatility model described

529 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

530 214. The method of claim 212, wherein the commodity volatility model described

531 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

532 215. The method of claim 212, wherein the commodity volatility model described

533 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

534 216. The method of claim 191, wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

535 terms is based on a customer specification.

536 217. The method of claim 216, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

537 price.

538 218. The method of claim 216, wherein the customer specification includes a

539 premium.

540 219. The method of claim 216, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

541 220. The method of claim 216, wherein the customer specification includes a

542 commodity type.

543 221. The method of claim 191, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

544 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

545 222. The method of claim 221 , wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

546 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

547 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

548 223. The method of claim 191 , wherein the selection by a customer comprises

549 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

550 224. The method of claim 223, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

551 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

552 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the geographically

553 averaged price.

554 225. The method of claim 191 , wherein the payment for some portion of a

555 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

556 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

557 226. The method of claim 191, further comprising:

558 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection database; and

559 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

560 227. The method of claim 226, further comprising:

561 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class prior

562 to executing a hedge; and

563 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

564 228. The method of claim 227, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

565 offering terms.

566 229. The method of claim 227, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

567 offering pricing.

568 230. The method of claim 227, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

569 characteristics.

570 231. The method of claim 227, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

571 considerations.

572 232. The method of claim 226, wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

573 one forward contract.

574 233. The method of claim 191 , further comprising:

575 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

576 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile database.

577 234. The method of claim 233, further comprising:

578 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the customer profile

579 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

580 235. The method of claim 233, further comprising:

581 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the customer profile

582 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

583 236. The method of claim 191, wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

584 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

585 237. The method of claim 236, further comprising:

586 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at least one price sensitivity value.

587 238. The method of claim 191, wherein the at least one commodity offering

588 exercise restrictions comprise:

589 a periodic usage restriction having a specified period.

590 239. The method of claim 238, wherein the specified period is a month.

591 240. The method of claim 238, wherein the specified period is a year.

592 241. The method of claim 238, wherein the specified period is a fiscal quarter.

593 242. The method of claim 238, wherein the periodic usage restriction having a

594 specified period is configured to allow a different usage restriction for each period.

595 243. The method of claim 238, wherein the periodic usage restriction

596 monotonically decreases with the passage of each successive period.

597 244. The method of claim 238, wherein the periodic usage restriction

598 monotonically increases with the passage of each successive period. - I l l -

599 245. The method of claim 238, wherein the periodic usage restriction comprises

600 commodity offering term specifying a maximum allowed usage per period.

601 246. The method of claim 238, wherein the periodic usage restriction comprises

602 commodity offering term specifying a fixed allowed usage per period.

603 247. The method of claim 191 , wherein the at least one commodity offering usage

604 restrictions comprise:

605 a maximum redemption restriction;

606 248. The method of claim 247, wherein the maximum redemption restriction

607 comprises a commodity offering term specifying a limiting commodity price, wherein

608 exercising the commodity offering on a quantity of commodity with a retail price that is

609 higher than the limiting commodity price yields a redemption based on the limiting

610 commodity price and not the retail price.

611 249. The method of claim 247, wherein the maximum redemption restriction

612 comprises a commodity offering term specifying a limiting payout, wherein exercising the

613 commodity offering on a quantity of commodity with a retail price higher than the sum of the

614 strike price and the limiting payout yields a redemption based on the limiting payout and not

615 the difference of the retail price and strike price.

616 250. A processor-implemented method to generate fuel offerings for selection by

617 customers in a retail market, comprising:

618 setting a strike price for a fuel offering; 619 determining a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering

620 based on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap restrictions and

621 structural restrictions;

622 monitoring customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

623 storing information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

624 exercises as monitored information;

625 adjusting fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

626 providing the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and premium

627 price for selection by customers.

628 251. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

629 comprising:

630 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

631 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

632 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

633 the commodity offering;

634 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

635 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

636 a customer;

637 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

638 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

639 a geographically averaged commodity price; 640 recording selection and exercise of commodity offerings in a customer

641 behavior database; and

642 modifying the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on the customer

643 behavior database.

644 252. The method of claim 251, wherein the commodity is a fuel.

645 253. The method of claim 252, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

646 254. The method of claim 252, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

647 255. The method of claim 251 , wherein the geographically averaged commodity

648 price is a regional average commodity price.

649 256. The method of claim 251, wherein the geographically averaged commodity

650 price is a national average commodity price.

651 257. The method of claim 251 , wherein the geographically averaged commodity

652 price is a multi-national average commodity price.

653 258. The method of claim 251 , wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

654 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

655 259. The method of claim 251 , wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

656 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

657 260. The method of claim 251 , wherein the commodity offering pricing model

658 includes at least one commodity market variable.

659 261. The method of claim 260, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

660 is a geographically averaged commodity price.

661 262. The method of claim 260, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

662 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

663 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

664 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

665 spot price over wholesale spot price.

666 263. The method of claim 251, further comprising:

667 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing

668 values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

669 264. The method of claim 263, wherein the determining whether the at least one

670 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

671 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

672 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

673 265. The method of claim 263, wherein the determining whether the at least one

674 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

675 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

676 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

677 266. The method of claim 265, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

678 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

679 267. The method of claim 265, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

680 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

681 268. The method of claim 263, wherein the determining whether the at least one

682 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

683 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

684 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

685 269. The method of claim 268, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

686 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

687 270. The method of claim 268, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

688 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

689 271. The method of claim 251 , wherein the commodity offering term parameters

690 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

691 commodity type.

692 272. The method of claim 251, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

693 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation.

694 273. The method of claim 272, wherein the commodity volatility model described

695 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

696 274. The method of claim 272, wherein the commodity volatility model described

697 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

698 275. The method of claim 272, wherein the commodity volatility model described

699 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

700 276. The method of claim 251 , wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

701 terms is based on a customer specification.

702 277. The method of claim 276, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

703 price.

704 278. The method of claim 276, wherein the customer specification includes a

705 premium.

706 279. The method of claim 276, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

707 280. The method of claim 276, wherein the customer specification includes a

708 commodity type.

709 281. The method of claim 251 , wherein the selection by a customer comprises

710 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

711 282. The method of claim 281 , wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

712 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

713 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

714 283. The method of claim 251, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

715 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

716 284. The method of claim 283, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

717 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

718 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the geographically

719 averaged price.

720 285. The method of claim 251 , further comprising:

721 storing commodity offering exercise information in a historical usage database.

722 286. The method of claim 285, wherein the commodity offering exercise

723 information includes a location where the commodity offering was exercised.

724 287. The method of claim 285, wherein the commodity offering exercise

725 information includes a commodity quantity on which the commodity offering was exercised.

726 288. The method of claim 251 , wherein the payment for some portion of a

727 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

728 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

729 289. The method of claim 251, further comprising:

730 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection database; and

731 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

732 290. The method of claim 289, further comprising:

733 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class prior

734 to executing a hedge; and

735 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

736 291. The method of claim 290, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

737 offering terms.

738 292. The method of claim 290, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

739 offering pricing.

740 293. The method of claim 290, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

741 characteristics.

742 294. The method of claim 290, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

743 considerations.

744 295. The method of claim 289, wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

745 one forward contract.

746 296. The method of claim 251 , further comprising:

747 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

748 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile database.

749 297. The method of claim 296, further comprising:

750 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the customer profile

751 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

752 298. The method of claim 296, further comprising:

753 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the customer profile

754 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

755 299. The method of claim 251 , wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

756 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

757 300. The method of claim 299, further comprising:

758 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at least one price sensitivity value.

759 301. The method of claim 300, further comprising:

760 analyzing the hedge based on a set of risk mitigation criteria; and

761 modifying the commodity pricing model based on the analysis.

762 302. The method of claim 251 , wherein modifying the at least one commodity

763 offering pricing model is based on a plurality of aggregated records stored in the customer

764 behavior database.

765 303. The method of claim 302, wherein the plurality of aggregated records are

766 aggregated based on commodity offering selection patterns.

767 304. The method of claim 302, wherein the plurality of aggregated records are

768 aggregated based on commodity offering exercise patterns.

769 305. The method of claim 251, wherein the recording selection and exercise of

770 commodity offerings in a customer behavior database comprises:

771 recording a location at which a commodity offering is exercised.

772 306. The method of claim 251 , wherein the recording selection and exercise of

773 commodity offerings in a customer behavior database comprises:

774 recording a time at which a commodity offering is exercised.

775 307. The method of claim 251 , wherein the recording selection and exercise of

776 commodity offerings in a customer behavior database comprises:

777 recording a commodity quantity on which a commodity offering is exercised.

778 308. A processor-implemented method to generate fuel offerings for selection by

779 customers in a retail market, comprising:

780 setting a strike price for a fuel offering;

781 determining a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering

782 based on the strike price, pricing input factors and customer behavior regarding the exercise

783 of the fuel offering;

784 monitoring customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

785 storing information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

786 exercises as monitored information;

787 adjusting fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; 788 providing the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and premium

789 price for selection by customers.

790 309. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

791 comprising:

792 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

793 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

794 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

795 the commodity offering;

796 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

797 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

798 a customer; and

799 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

800 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

801 a local retail commodity price.

802 310. The method of claim 309, wherein the commodity is a fuel.

803 31 1. The method of claim 310, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

804 312. The method of claim 310, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

805 313. The method of claim 310, wherein the local retail commodity price is a fuel

806 pump price.

807 314. The method of claim 314, wherein fuel pump price is paid by the customer.

808 315. The method of claim 309, wherein the local retail commodity price is a

809 commodity price charged by a retail commodity dealer at which the commodity offering is

810 exercised.

811 316. The method of claim 309, wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

812 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

813 317. The method of claim 309, wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

814 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

815 318. The method of claim 309, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

816 includes at least one commodity market variable.

817 319. The method of claim 318, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

818 comprises at least one local retail commodity price.

819 320. The method of claim 318, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

820 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

821 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

822 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

823 spot price over wholesale spot price.

824 321. The method of claim 309, further comprising:

825 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing

826 values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

827 322. The method of claim 321, wherein the determining whether the at least one

828 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

829 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

830 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory,

831 323. The method of claim 321, wherein the determining whether the at least one

832 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

833 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

834 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

835 324. The method of claim 323, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

836 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

837 325. The method of claim 323, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

838 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

839 326. The method of claim 321, wherein the determining whether the at least one

840 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

841 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

842 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

843 327. The method of claim 326, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

844 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

845 328. The method of claim 326, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

846 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

847 329. The method of claim 309, wherein the commodity offering term parameters

848 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

849 commodity type.

850 330. The method of claim 309, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

851 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation.

852 331. The method of claim 330, wherein the commodity volatility model described

853 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

854 332. The method of claim 330, wherein the commodity volatility model described

855 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

856 333. The method of claim 330, wherein the commodity volatility model described

857 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

858 334. The method of claim 309, wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

859 terms is based on a customer specification.

860 335. The method of claim 334, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

861 price.

862 336. The method of claim 334, wherein the customer specification includes a

863 premium.

864 337. The method of claim 334, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

865 338. The method of claim 334, wherein the customer specification includes a

866 commodity type.

867 339. The method of claim 334, wherein the customer specification includes at least

868 one geographic zone.

869 340. The method of claim 339, wherein the customer specification includes at least

870 one primary geographic zone.

871 341. The method of claim 340, wherein the customer specification includes at least

872 one peripheral geographic zone.

873 342. The method of claim 309, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

874 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

875 343. The method of claim 342, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

876 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

877 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

878 344. The method of claim 309. wherein the selection by a customer comprises

879 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

880 345. The method of claim 344, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

881 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

882 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the local retail

883 commodity price.

884 346. The method of claim 309, wherein the payment for some portion of a

885 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

886 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

887 347. The method of claim 309, further comprising:

888 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection

889 database; and

890 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

891 348. The method of claim 347, further comprising:

892 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class prior

893 to executing a hedge; and

894 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

895 349. The method of claim 348, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

896 offering terms.

897 350. The method of claim 348, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

898 offering pricing.

899 351. The method of claim 348, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

900 characteristics.

901 352. The method of claim 348, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

902 considerations.

903 353. The method of claim 347. wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

904 one forward contract.

905 354. The method of claim 309, further comprising:

906 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

907 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile

908 database.

909 355. The method of claim 354, further comprising:

910 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the customer

91 1 profile based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

912 356. The method of claim 354, further comprising: 913 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the customer

914 profile based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

915 357. The method of claim 309, wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

916 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

917 358. The method of claim 357, further comprising:

918 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at least one price sensitivity value.

919 359. A processor-implemented method to generate fuel offerings for selection by

920 customers in a retail market, comprising:

921 setting a strike price for a fuel offering;

922 determining a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering

923 based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price distribution

924 data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data;

925 monitoring customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

926 storing information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

927 exercises as monitored information;

928 adjusting fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

929 providing the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and premium

930 price for selection by customers.

931 360. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

932 comprising:

933 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering,

934 including at least one geographic zone specification; 935 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

936 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

937 the commodity offering;

938 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

939 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

940 a customer;

941 monitoring the location at which a commodity offering is exercised; and

942 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for the

943 exercised commodity offering based on the location of the exercised commodity offering and

944 the at least one geographic zone specification , wherein the strike price of the commodity

945 offering is less than a local retail commodity price.

946 361. The method of claim 360, wherein the commodity is a fuel.

947 362. The method of claim 361, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

948 363. The method of claim 361, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

949 364. The method of claim 361, wherein the local retail commodity price is a fuel

950 pump price.

951 365. The method of claim 365, wherein fuel pump price is paid by the customer.

952 366. The method of claim 360, wherein the local retail commodity price is a

953 commodity price charged by a retail commodity dealer at which the commodity offering is

954 exercised.

955 367. The method of claim 360, wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

956 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

957 368. The method of claim 360, wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

958 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

959 369. The method of claim 360, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

960 includes at least one commodity market variable.

961 370. The method of claim 369, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

962 comprises at least one local retail commodity price.

963 371. The method of claim 369, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

964 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

965 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

966 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

967 spot price over wholesale spot price.

968 372. The method of claim 360, further comprising:

969 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing

970 values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

971 373. The method of claim 372, wherein the determining whether the at least one

972 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

973 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

974 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

975 374. The method of claim 372, wherein the determining whether the at least one

976 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

977 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

978 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

979 375. The method of claim 374, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

980 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

981 376. The method of claim 374, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

982 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

983 377. The method of claim 372, wherein the determining whether the at least one

984 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

985 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

986 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

987 378. The method of claim 377, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

988 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

989 379. The method of claim 377, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

990 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

991 380. The method of claim 360, wherein the commodity offering term parameters

992 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

993 commodity type.

994 381. The method of claim 360, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

995 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation.

996 382. The method of claim 381 , wherein the commodity volatility model described

997 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

998 383. The method of claim 381, wherein the commodity volatility model described

999 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

1000 384. The method of claim 381, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1001 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

1002 385. The method of claim 360, wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

1003 terms is based on a customer specification.

1004 386. The method of claim 385, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

1005 price.

1006 387. The method of claim 385, wherein the customer specification includes a

1007 premium.

1008 388. The method of claim 385, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

1009 389. The method of claim 385, wherein the customer specification includes a

1010 commodity type.

101 1 390. The method of claim 385, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1012 one geographic zone.

1013 391. The method of claim 390, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1014 one primary geographic zone.

1015 392. The method of claim 391 , wherein the customer specification includes at least

1016 one peripheral geographic zone.

1017 393. The method of claim 360, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1018 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1019 394. The method of claim 393, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1020 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

1021 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

1022 395. The method of claim 360, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1023 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1024 396. The method of claim 395, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1025 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

1026 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the local retail

1027 commodity price.

1028 397. The method of claim 360, wherein the payment for some portion of a

1029 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

1030 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

1031 398. The method of claim 360, further comprising:

1032 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection database; and

1033 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

1034 399. The method of claim 398, further comprising:

1035 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class prior

1036 to executing a hedge; and

1037 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

1038 400. The method of claim 399, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1039 offering terms.

1040 401. The method of claim 399, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1041 offering pricing.

1042 402. The method of claim 399, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

1043 characteristics.

1044 403. The method of claim 399, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

1045 considerations.

1046 404. The method of claim 398, wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

1047 one forward contract.

1048 405. The method of claim 360, further comprising:

1049 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

1050 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile database.

1051 406. The method of claim 405, further comprising:

1052 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the customer profile

1053 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1054 407. The method of claim 405, further comprising:

1055 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the customer profile

1056 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1057 408. The method of claim 360, wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

1058 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

1059 409. The method of claim 408, further comprising:

1060 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at leat one price sensitivity value. s

1061 410. The method of claim 360, wherein providing payment for some portion of a

1062 commodity purchase for the exercised commodity offering based on the location of the

1063 exercised commodity offering and the at least one geographic zone specification comprises: 1064 providing no payment for exercise of a commodity offering when the location

1065 of the exercised commodity offering is different than the at least one geographic zone

1066 specification.

1067 411. The method of claim 360, wherein the at least one geographic zone

1068 specification specifies a primary geographic zone.

1069 412. The method of claim 41 1 , further comprising:

1070 specifying a plurality of peripheral geographic zones in the commodity

1071 offering; and

1072 determining a commodity offering pricing value for each of the plurality of

1073 peripheral geographic zones and the primary geographic zone.

1074 413. The method of claim 412, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1075 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity based

1076 on the commodity offering pricing value for the primary geographic zone.

1077 414. The method of claim 413, further comprising:

1078 providing a payout adjustment to a customer who exercises a commodity

1079 offering in a peripheral geographic zone.

1080

1081 415. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

1082 comprising:

1083 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1084 setting at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a commodity

1085 offering; 1086 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

1087 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

1088 the commodity offering;

1089 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1090 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1091 a customer; and

1092 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

1093 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

1094 a local retail commodity price.

1095 416. The method of claim 415, wherein the commodity is a fuel.

1096 417. The method of claim 416, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

1097 418. The method of claim 416, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

1098 419. The method of claim 416, wherein the local retail commodity price is a fuel

1099 pump price.

1100 420. The method of claim 420, wherein fuel pump price is paid by the customer.

1 101 421. The method of claim 415, wherein the local retail commodity price is a

1102 commodity price charged by a retail commodity dealer at which the commodity offering is

1 103 exercised.

1104 422. The method of claim 415, wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

1 105 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

1106 423. The method of claim 415, wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

1 107 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

1 108 424. The method of claim 415, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

1 109 includes at least one commodity market variable,

1 1 10 425. The method of claim 424, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

1 1 1 1 comprises at least one local retail commodity price.

1 1 12 426. The method of claim 424, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

1113 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

1114 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

1 1 15 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

1 1 16 spot price over wholesale spot price.

1117 427. The method of claim 415, further comprising:

1 1 18 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing

1 1 19 values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

1120 428. The method of claim 427, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1 121 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1 122 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

1123 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1124 429. The method of claim 427, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1 125 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1 126 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

1127 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1 128 430. The method of claim 429, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

1129 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1 130 431. The method of claim 429, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

1 131 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1 132 432. The method of claim 427, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1 133 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1 134 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

1 135 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1136 433. The method of claim 432, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

1 137 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1 138 434. The method of claim 432, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

1 139 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1 140 435. The method of claim 415, wherein the commodity offering term parameters

1 141 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

1142 commodity type.

1 143 436. The method of claim 415, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

1 144 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation.

1 145 437. The method of claim 436, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1 146 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

1147 438. The method of claim 436, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1148 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

1 149 439. The method of claim 436, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1 150 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

1 151 440. The method of claim 415, wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

1 152 terms is based on a customer specification.

1 153 441 . The method of claim 440, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

1 154 price.

1 155 442. The method of claim 440, wherein the customer specification includes a

1 156 premium.

1 157 443. The method of claim 440, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

1 158 444. The method of claim 440, wherein the customer specification includes a

1 159 commodity type.

1 160 445. The method of claim 440, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1 161 one geographic zone.

1 162 446. The method of claim 445, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1163 one primary geographic zone.

1 164 447. The method of claim 446, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1 165 one peripheral geographic zone.

1 166 448. The method of claim 415, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1167 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1168 449. The method of claim 448, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1 169 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

1170 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

1171 450. The method of claim 415, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1172 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1 173 451. The method of claim 450, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1 174 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

1 175 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the local retail

1 176 commodity price.

1 177 452. The method of claim 415, wherein the payment for some portion of a

1 178 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

1 179 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

1 180 453. The method of claim 415, further comprising:

1 181 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection database; and

1 182 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

1 183 454. The method of claim 453, further comprising:

1 184 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class prior

1185 to executing a hedge; and

1 186 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

1187 455. The method of claim 454, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1 188 offering terms.

1189 456. The method of claim 454, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1 190 offering pricing.

1 191 457. The method of claim 454, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

1 192 characteristics.

1193 458. The method of claim 454, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

1 194 considerations.

1 195 459. The method of claim 453, wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

1196 one forward contract.

1197 460. The method of claim 415, further comprising:

1 198 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

1 199 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile database.

1200 461. The method of claim 460, further comprising:

1201 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the customer profile

1202 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1203 462. The method of claim 460, further comprising:

1204 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the customer profile

1205 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1206 463. The method of claim 415, wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

1207 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

1208 464. The method of claim 463, further comprising:

1209 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at least one price sensitivity value.

1210 465. The method of claim 415, wherein the at least one commodity offering

1211 exercise restrictions comprise :

1212 a periodic usage restriction having a specified period.

1213 466. The method of claim 465, wherein the specified period is a month.

1214 467. The method of claim 465, wherein the specified period is a year.

1215 468. The method of claim 465, wherein the specified period is a fiscal quarter.

1216 469. The method of claim 465 , wherein the periodic usage restriction having a

1217 specified period is configured to allow a different usage restriction for each period.

1218 470. The method of claim 465, wherein the periodic usage restriction

1219 monotonically decreases with the passage of each successive period.

1220 471. The method of claim 465, wherein the periodic usage restriction

1221 monotonically increases with the passage of each successive period.

1222 472. The method of claim 465, wherein the periodic usage restriction comprises

1223 commodity offering term specifying a maximum allowed usage per period.

1224 473. The method of claim 465, wherein the periodic usage restriction comprises

1225 commodity offering term specifying a fixed allowed usage per period.

1226 474. The method of claim 415, wherein the at least one commodity offering usage

1227 restrictions comprise:

1228 a maximum redemption restriction;

1229 475. The method of claim 474, wherein the maximum redemption restriction

1230 comprises a commodity offering term specifying a limiting commodity price, wherein

1231 exercising the commodity offering on a quantity of commodity with a retail price that is

1232 higher than the limiting commodity price yields a redemption based on the limiting

1233 commodity price and not the retail price.

1234 476. The method of claim 474, wherein the maximum redemption restriction

1235 comprises a commodity offering term specifying a limiting payout, wherein exercising the

1236 commodity offering on a quantity of commodity with a retail price higher than the sum of the

1237 strike price and the limiting payout yields a redemption based on the limiting payout and not

1238 the difference of the retail price and strike price.

1239 477. A processor-implemented method to generate fuel offerings for selection by

1240 customers in a retail market, comprising:

1241 setting a strike price for a fuel offering;

1242 providing a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering based

1243 on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap restrictions, structural

1244 restrictions, regionally segmented pump price distribution data and regionally segmented

1245 purchase price bias data;

1246 monitoring customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1247 storing information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1248 exercises as monitored information;

1249 adjusting fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

1250 providing the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and premium

1251 price for selection by customers.

1252 478. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

1253 comprising:

1254 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering; 1255 setting at least one customer behavior direction motive for a commodity

1256 offering;

1257 setting at least one commodity offering exercise restriction for a commodity

1258 offering based on the at least one customer behavior direction motive;

1259 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

1260 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

1261 the commodity offering;

1262 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1263 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1264 a customer;

1265 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

1266 exercised commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise

1267 restriction, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a reference

1268 commodity price.

1269 479. The method of claim 478, wherein the commodity is a fuel.

1270 480. The method of claim 479, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

1271 481. The method of claim 479, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

1272 482. The method of claim 478, wherein the reference commodity price is a

1273 commodity price charged by a retail commodity dealer at which the commodity offering is

1274 exercised.

1275 483. The method of claim 478, wherein the reference commodity price is a regional

1276 average commodity price.

1277 484. The method of claim 478, wherein the reference commodity price is a national

1278 average commodity price.

1279 485. The method of claim 478, wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

1280 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

1281 486. The method of claim 478, wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

1282 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

1283 487. The method of claim 478, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

1284 includes at least one commodity market variable.

1285 488. The method of claim 487, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

1286 comprises at least one local retail commodity price.

1287 489. The method of claim 487, wherein the at least one commodity market variable

1288 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

1289 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

1290 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

1291 spot price over wholesale spot price.

1292 490. The method of claim 478, further comprising:

1293 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing

1294 values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

1295 491. The method of claim 490, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1296 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1297 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

1298 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1299 492. The method of claim 490, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1300 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1301 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

1302 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1303 493. The method of claim 492, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

1304 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1305 494. The method of claim 492, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

1306 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1307 495. The method of claim 490, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1308 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1309 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

1310 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1311 496. The method of claim 495, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

1312 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1313 497. The method of claim 495, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

1314 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1315 498. The method of claim 478, wherein the commodity offering term parameters

1316 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

1317 commodity type.

1318 499. The method of claim 478, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

1319 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation.

1320 500. The method of claim 499, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1321 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

1322 501. The method of claim 499, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1323 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

1324 502. The method of claim 499, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1325 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

1326 503. The method of claim 478, wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

1327 terms is based on a customer specification.

1328 504. The method of claim 503, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

1329 price.

1330 505. The method of claim 503, wherein the customer specification includes a

1331 premium.

1332 506. The method of claim 503, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

1333 507. The method of claim 503, wherein the customer specification includes a

1334 commodity type.

1335 508. The method of claim 503, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1336 one geographic zone.

1337 509. The method of claim 508, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1338 one primary geographic zone.

1339 510. The method of claim 509, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1340 one peripheral geographic zone.

1341 511. The method of claim 478, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1342 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1343 512. The method of claim 51 1, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1344 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

1345 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

1346 513. The method of claim 478, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1347 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1348 514. The method of claim 513, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1349 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

1350 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the local retail

1351 commodity price.

1352 515. The method of claim 478, further comprising:

1353 storing commodity offering exercise information in a historical usage database.

1354 516. The method of claim 515, wherein the commodity offering exercise

1355 information includes a location where the commodity offering was exercised.

1356 517. The method of claim 515, wherein the commodity offering exercise

1357 information includes a commodity quantity on which the commodity offering was exercised.

1358 518. The method of claim 478, wherein the payment for some portion of a

1359 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

1360 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

1361 519. The method of claim 478, further comprising:

1362 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection database; and

1363 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

1364 520. The method of claim 519, further comprising:

1365 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class prior

1366 to executing a hedge; and

1367 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

1368 521. The method of claim 520, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1369 offering terms.

1370 522. The method of claim 520, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1371 offering pricing.

1372 523. The method of claim 520, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

1373 characteristics.

1374 524. The method of claim 520, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

1375 considerations.

1376 525. The method of claim 519, wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

1377 one forward contract.

1378 526. The method of claim 478, further comprising:

1379 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

1380 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile database.

1381 527. The method of claim 526, further comprising:

1382 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the customer profile

1383 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1384 528. The method of claim 526, further comprising:

1385 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the customer profile

1386 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1387 529. The method of claim 478, wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

1388 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

1389 530. The method of claim 529, further comprising:

1390 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at least one price sensitivity value.

1391 531. The method of claim 478, wherein:

1392 the at least one customer behavior direction motive comprises discouraging

1393 customers from exercising commodity offerings on a large commodity quantity near end of a

1394 commodity offering tenor; and

1395 the at least one commodity offering exercise restriction comprises a periodic

1396 minimum quantity usage restriction, whereby if a customer exercises a commodity offering

1397 in one period on a period quantity less than a minimum amount specified by the periodic

1398 minimum quantity usage restriction, the customer forfeits rights to exercise on a commodity

1399 quantity equal to the difference between the minimum amount and the period quantity.

1400 532. A processor-implemented method to provide commodity offerings,

1401 comprising:

1402 setting at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering; 1403 determining at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at

1404 least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for

1405 the commodity offering;

1406 providing the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1407 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1408 a customer;

1409 providing payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

1410 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

141 1 a local retail commodity price;

1412 recording customer behavior, including selection and exercise of commodity

1413 offerings, in a customer behavior database; and

1414 modifying the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on the customer

1415 behavior database.

1416 533. The method of claim 532, wherein the commodity is a fuel.

1417 534. The method of claim 533, wherein the fuel is a vehicle fuel.

1418 535. The method of claim 533, wherein the fuel is a heating fuel.

1419 536. The method of claim 533, wherein the local retail commodity price is a fuel

1420 pump price.

1421 537. The method of claim 537, wherein fuel pump price is paid by the customer.

1422 538. The method of claim 532, wherein the local retail commodity price is a

1423 commodity price charged by a retail commodity dealer at which the commodity offering is

1424 exercised.

1425 539. The method of claim 532, wherein the strike price is pre-selected and the

1426 premium is determined based at least in part on the strike price.

1427 540. The method of claim 532, wherein the premium is pre-selected and the strike

1428 price is determined based at least in part on the premium.

1429 541. The method of claim 532, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

1430 includes at least one commodity market variable.

1431 542. The method of claim 541 , wherein the at least one commodity market variable

1432 comprises at least one local retail commodity price.

1433 543. The method of claim 541 , wherein the at least one commodity market variable

1434 includes any of: wholesale gasoline over-the-counter options market data, wholesale gasoline

1435 over-the-counter forward market and futures market data, retail gasoline spot prices,

1436 wholesale gasoline implied volatilities, wholesale gasoline forward curve, spread of retail

1437 spot price over wholesale spot price.

1438 544. The method of claim 532, further comprising:

1439 determining whether the at least one association based on the commodity offering pricing

1440 values between a strike price and a premium is satisfactory.

1441 545. The method of claim 544, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1442 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1443 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a market information database for

1444 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1445 546. The method of claim 544, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1446 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1447 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a customer marketing database for

1448 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1449 547. The method of claim 546, wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

1450 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1451 548. The method of claim 546, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

1452 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1453 549. The method of claim 544, wherein the determining whether the at least one

1454 association based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a

1455 premium is satisfactory, further, comprises querying a historical usage database for

1456 information to be used as a factor in determining whether said association is satisfactory.

1457 550. The method of claim 549. wherein the commodity offering terms are adjusted

1458 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1459 551. The method of claim 549, wherein the commodity pricing model is adjusted

1460 based on the determination of whether the association is satisfactory.

1461 552. The method of claim 532, wherein the commodity offering term parameters

1462 may include any of: strike price, premium, tenor, constraints, incentives, restrictions,

1463 commodity type.

1464 553. The method of claim 532, wherein the commodity offering pricing model

1465 comprises a commodity volatility model described by a stochastic differential equation. 1466 554, The method of claim 553, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1467 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a Monte Carlo simulation.

1468 555. The method of claim 553, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1469 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in a grid-pricing scheme.

1470 556. The method of claim 553, wherein the commodity volatility model described

1471 by a stochastic differential equation is manifested in at least one analytic formula.

1472 557. The method of claim 532, wherein the setting at least one commodity offering

1473 terms is based on a customer specification.

1474 558. The method of claim 557, wherein the customer specification includes a strike

1475 price.

1476 559. The method of claim 557, wherein the customer specification includes a

1477 premium.

1478 560. The method of claim 557, wherein the customer specification includes a tenor.

1479 561. The method of claim 557, wherein the customer specification includes a

1480 commodity type.

1481 562. The method of claim 557, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1482 one geographic zone.

1483 563. The method of claim 562, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1484 one primary geographic zone.

1485 564. The method of claim 563, wherein the customer specification includes at least

1486 one peripheral geographic zone.

1487 565. The method of claim 532, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1488 customer payment of a premium and a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1489 566. The method of claim 565, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1490 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a commodity retailer

1491 for the commodity purchase on which the commodity offering has been exercised.

1492 567. The method of claim 532, wherein the selection by a customer comprises

1493 customer payment of a premium but not a strike price for a specified commodity quantity.

1494 568. The method of claim 567, wherein payment for some portion of a commodity

1495 purchase for an exercised commodity offering comprises a payment to a customer based on a

1496 commodity purchase size and a difference between the strike price and the local retail

1497 commodity price.

1498 569. The method of claim 532, further comprising:

1499 storing commodity offering exercise information in a historical usage database.

1500 570. The method of claim 569, wherein the commodity offering exercise

1501 information includes a location where the commodity offering was exercised.

1502 571. The method of claim 569, wherein the commodity offering exercise

1503 information includes a commodity quantity on which the commodity offering was exercised.

1504 572. The method of claim 532, wherein the payment for some portion of a

1505 commodity purchase for an exercised commodity offering is limited to a total commodity

1506 quantity specified by the commodity offering terms.

1507 573. The method of claim 532, further comprising:

1508 recording customer selection of commodity offerings in a customer selection database; and

1509 executing a hedge based on entries in the customer selection database.

1510 574. The method of claim 573, further comprising:

1511 aggregating entries in the customer selection database into at least one similarity class prior

1512 to executing a hedge; and

1513 executing a hedge based on similarity classes.

1514 575. The method of claim 574, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1515 offering terms.

1516 576. The method of claim 574, wherein aggregating entries is based on commodity

1517 offering pricing.

1518 577. The method of claim 574, wherein aggregating entries is based on customer

1519 characteristics.

1520 578. The method of claim 574, wherein aggregating entries is based on risk

1521 considerations.

1522 579. The method of claim 573, wherein the hedge includes the purchase of at least

1523 one forward contract.

1524 580. The method of claim 532, further comprising:

1525 monitoring customer exercising of a commodity offering; and

1526 recording customer exercising of a commodity offering in a customer profile database.

1527 581. The method of claim 580, further comprising:

1528 associating at least one commodity offering purchase incentive with the customer profile

1529 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1530 582. The method of claim 580, further comprising:

1531 associating at least one commodity offering purchase disincentive with the customer profile

1532 based on accumulated records of customer exercising of a commodity offering.

1533 583. The method of claim 532, wherein the commodity pricing model is configured

1534 to output at least one price sensitivity value.

1535 584. The method of claim 583, further comprising:

1536 executing a hedge based at least in part on the at least one price sensitivity value.

1537 585. The method of claim 532, wherein the customer behavior includes a local

1538 retail commodity price at a time and retail establishment at which a customer has exercised a

1539 commodity offering.

1540 586. The method of claim 585, wherein the customer behavior further includes a

1541 regional average commodity price at a time and an area within which a customer has

1542 exercised a commodity offering.

1543 587. The method of claim 586, further comprising:

1544 ascribing a negative status point to a customer profile in the customer

1545 behavior database if the local retail commodity price at a time and retail establishment

1546 exceeds the regional average commodity price at a time and vicinity by an amount greater

1547 than a pre-set threshold.

1548 588. The method of claim 587, further comprising:

1549 assigning a disincentive package to the customer profile based on an accumulation of

1550 negative status points.

1551 589. The method of claim 586, further comprising:

1552 ascribing a positive status point to a customer profile in the customer behavior

1553 database if the local retail commodity price at a time and retail establishment is less than the

1554 regional average commodity price at a time and vicinity by an amount greater than a pre-set

1555 threshold.

1556 590. The method of claim 589, further comprising:

1557 assigning an incentive package to the customer profile based on an accumulation of

1558 negative status points.

1559 591. The method of claim 532, wherein the modifying the at least one commodity

1560 offering pricing model based on the customer behavior database comprises:

1561 ascribing at least one penalty for solicitation of a retailer satisfying a set of

1562 penalty criteria, comprising:

1563 the retailer's local retail commodity price consistently exceeds a regional

1564 average retail commodity price for a region containing the retailer; and

1565 a number of commodity offerings exercised at the retailer exceeds a pre-set

1566 threshold.

1567 592. The method of claim 532, wherein the modifying the at least one commodity

1568 offering pricing model based on the customer behavior database comprises: 1569 ascribing at least one incentive for solicitation of a retailer satisfying a set of

1570 incentive criteria, comprising:

1571 the retailer's local retail commodity price is consistently less than a regional

1572 average retail commodity price for a region containing the retailer; and

1573 a number of commodity offerings exercised at the retailer is less than a

1574 pre-set threshold.

1575 593. A processor-implemented method to generate fuel offerings for selection by

1576 customers in a retail market, comprising:

1577 setting a strike price for a fuel offering;

1578 determining a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering

1579 based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price distribution

1580 data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data, and customer behavior regarding the

1581 exercise of the fuel offering;

1582 monitoring customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1583 storing information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1584 exercises as monitored information;

1585 adjusting fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

1586 providing the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and premium

1587 price for selection by customers.

1588 594. An apparatus to generate fuel offerings, comprising:

1589 a memory; 1590 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1591 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1592 determine a strike price for a fuel offering;

1593 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1594 offering;

1595 establish restrictions for the associated strike price and premium price for the

1596 fuel offering; and

1597 provide the fuel offering for selection by a customer.

1598 595. An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1599 a memory;

1600 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1601 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1602 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1603 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on -the at least

1604 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1605 commodity offering;

1606 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1607 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1608 a customer; and

1609 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1610 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a

161 1 geographically averaged commodity price.

1612 596. An apparatus to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers, comprising:

1613 a memory;

1614 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1615 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1616 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1617 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1618 offering based on the strike price and pricing input factors;

1619 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1620 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1621 exercises as monitored information;

1622 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

1623 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1624 premium price for selection by customers.

1625 597. An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1626 a memory;

1627 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1628 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1629 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1630 set at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a commodity

1631 offering; 1632 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1633 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1634 commodity offering;

1635 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1636 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1637 a customer; and

1638 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised 1639, commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions,

1640 wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a geographically averaged

1641 commodity price .

1642 598. An apparatus to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

1643 market, comprising:

1644 a memory;

1645 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1646 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1647 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1648 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1649 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap

1650 restrictions and structural restrictions;

1651 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1652 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1653 exercises as monitored information; 1654 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

1655 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1656 premium price for selection by customers.

1657 599. An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1658 a memory;

1659 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1660 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1661 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1662 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1663 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1664 commodity offering;

1665 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1666 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1667 a customer;

1668 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1669 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a

1670 geographically averaged commodity price;

1671 record selection and exercise of commodity offerings in a customer behavior

1672 database; and

1673 modify the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on the customer

1674 behavior database.

1675 600. An apparatus to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

1676 market, comprising:

1677 a memory;

1678 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1679 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1680 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1681 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1682 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors and customer behavior regarding the

1683 exercise of the fuel offering;

1684 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1685 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1686 exercises as monitored information;

1687 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

1688 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1689 premium price for selection by customers.

1690 601. An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1691 a memory;

1692 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1693 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1694 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering; 1695 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1696 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1697 commodity offering;

1698 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1699 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1700 a customer; and

1701 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1702 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a local

1703 retail commodity price.

1704 602. An apparatus to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

1705 market, comprising:

1706 a memory;

1707 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1708 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1709 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1710 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

171 1 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price

1712 distribution data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data;

1713 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1714 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1715 exercises as monitored information;

1716 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; 1717 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1718 premium price for selection by customers.

1719 603. An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1720 a memory;

1721 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1722 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1723 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering, including

1724 at least one geographic zone specification;

1725 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1726 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1727 commodity offering;

1728 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1729 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1730 a customer;

1731 monitor the location at which a commodity offering is exercised; and

1732 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for the exercised

1733 commodity offering based on the location of the exercised commodity offering and the at

1734 least one geographic zone specification , wherein the strike price of the commodity offering

1735 is less than a local retail commodity price.

1736 604. An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1737 a memory; 1738 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1739 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1740 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1741 set at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a commodity

1742 offering;

1743 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1744 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1745 commodity offering;

1746 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1747 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1748 a customer; and

1749 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1750 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a local

1751 retail commodity price.

1752 605. An apparatus to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

1753 market, comprising:

1754 a memory;

1755 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1756 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1757 set a strike price for a fuel offering; 1758 provide a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering

1759 based on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap restrictions,

1760 structural restrictions, regionally segmented pump price distribution data and regionally

1761 segmented purchase price bias data;

1762 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1763 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1764 exercises as monitored information;

1765 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

1766 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1767 premium price for selection by customers,

1768 606. An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1769 a memory;

1770 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1771 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1772 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1773 set at least one customer behavior direction motive for a commodity offering;

1774 set at least one commodity offering exercise restriction for a commodity

1775 offering based on the at least one customer behavior direction motive;

1776 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1777 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1778 commodity offering; 1779 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1780 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1781 a customer;

1782 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1783 commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise restriction,

1784 wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a reference commodity price.

1785 607, An apparatus to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1786 a memory;

1787 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1788 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1789 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1790 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1791 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1792 commodity offering;

1793 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1794 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1795 a customer;

1796 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1797 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a local

1798 retail commodity price;

1799 record customer behavior, including selection and exercise of commodity

1800 offerings, in a customer behavior database; and 1801 modify the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on the

1802 customer behavior database.

1803 608. An apparatus to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

1804 market, comprising:

1805 a memory;

1806 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a

1807 plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are issuable to:

1808 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1809 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1810 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price

181 1 distribution data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data, and customer behavior

1812 regarding the exercise of the fuel offering;

1813 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1814 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1815 exercises as monitored information;

1816 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

1817 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1818 premium price for selection by customers.

1819 609. A processor-accessible medium to generate fuel offerings, comprising:

1820 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1821 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1822 determine a strike price for a fuel offering; 1823 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1824 offering;

1825 establish restrictions for the associated strike price and premium price for the

1826 fuel offering; and

1827 provide the fuel offering for selection by a customer.

1828 610. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1829 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1830 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1831 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1832 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1833 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1834 commodity offering;

1835 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1836 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1837 a customer; and

1838 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1839 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a

1840 geographically averaged commodity price.

1841 61 1. A processor-accessible medium to generate fuel offerings for selection by

1842 customers, comprising:

1843 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1844 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to: 1845 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1846 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1847 offering based on the strike price and pricing input factors;

1848 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1849 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1850 exercises as monitored information;

1851 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

1852 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1853 premium price for selection by customers.

1854 612. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1855 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1856 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1857 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1858 set at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a commodity

1859 offering;

1860 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1861 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1862 commodity offering;

1863 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1864 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1865 a customer; and 1866 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1867 commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions,

1868 wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a geographically averaged

1869 commodity price.

1870 613. A processor-accessible medium to generate fuel offerings for selection by

1871 customers in a retail market, comprising;

1872 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1873 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1874 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1875 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1876 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap

1877 restrictions and structural restrictions;

1878 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1879 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1880 exercises as monitored information;

1881 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

1882 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1883 premium price for selection by customers.

1884 614. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1885 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1886 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1887 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering; determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1889 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1890 commodity offering;

1891 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1892 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1893 a customer;

1894 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1895 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a

1896 geographically averaged commodity price;

1897 record selection and exercise of commodity offerings in a customer behavior

1898 database; and

1899 modify the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on the customer

1900 behavior database.

1901 615. A processor-accessible medium to generate fuel offerings for selection by

1902 customers in a retail market, comprising:

1903 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1904 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1905 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1906 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1907 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors and customer behavior regarding the

1908 exercise of the fuel offering;

1909 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises; 1910 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1911 exercises as monitored information;

1912 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

1913 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1914 premium price for selection by customers.

1915 616. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1916 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1917 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1918 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1919 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1920 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1921 commodity offering;

1922 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1923 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1924 a customer; and

1925 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1926 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a local

1927 retail commodity price.

1928 617. A processor-accessible medium to generate fuel offerings for selection by

1929 customers in a retail market, comprising:

1930 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1931 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to: 1932 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1933 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

1934 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price

1935 distribution data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data;

1936 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1937 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

1938 exercises as monitored information;

1939 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

1940 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1941 premium price for selection by customers.

1942 618. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1943 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1944 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1945 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering, including

1946 at least one geographic zone specification;

1947 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1948 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1949 commodity offering;

1950 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1951 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1952 a customer;

1953 monitor the location at which a commodity offering is exercised; and 1954 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for the exercised

1955 commodity offering based on the location of the exercised commodity offering and the at

1956 least one geographic zone specification , wherein the strike price of the commodity offering

1957 is less than a local retail commodity price.

1958 619. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1959 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1960 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1961 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1962 set at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a commodity

1963 offering;

1964 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1965 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1966 commodity offering;

1967 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1968 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

1969 a customer; and

1970 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

1971 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a local

1972 retail commodity price.

1973 620. A processor-accessible medium to generate fuel offerings for selection by

1974 customers in a retail market, comprising: 1975 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1976 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1977 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

1978 provide a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel offering

1979 based on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap restrictions,

1980 structural restrictions, regionally segmented pump price distribution data and regionally

1981 segmented purchase price bias data;

1982 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

1983 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and .

1984 exercises as monitored information;

1985 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

1986 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

1987 premium price for selection by customers.

1988 621. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

1989 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

1990 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

1991 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

1992 set at least one customer behavior direction motive for a commodity offering;

1993 set at least one commodity offering exercise restriction for a commodity

1994 offering based on the at least one customer behavior direction motive; 1995 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

1996 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

1997 commodity offering;

1998 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

1999 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

2000 a customer;

2001 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

2002 commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise restriction,

2003 wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a reference commodity price.

2004 622. A processor-accessible medium to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2005 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

2006 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

2007 set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2008 determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on the at least

2009 one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model for the

2010 commodity offering;

2011 provide the commodity offering, including at least one association based on

2012 the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for selection by

2013 a customer;

2014 provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an exercised

2015 commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a local

2016 retail commodity price; 2017 record customer behavior, including selection and exercise of commodity

2018 offerings, in a customer behavior database; and

2019 modify the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on the

2020 customer behavior database.

2021 623. A processor-accessible medium to generate fuel offerings for selection by

2022 customers in a retail market, comprising:

2023 processor readable instructions stored in the processor-accessible medium, wherein

2024 the processor readable instructions are issuable by the processor to:

2025 set a strike price for a fuel offering;

2026 determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

2027 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price

2028 distribution data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data, and customer behavior

2029 regarding the exercise of the fuel offering;

2030 monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

2031 store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering orders and

2032 exercises as monitored information;

2033 adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

2034 provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike price and

2035 premium price for selection by customers.

2036 624. A system to generate fuel offerings, comprising:

2037 means to determine a strike price for a fuel offering; 2038 means to determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the

2039 fuel offering;

2040 means to establish restrictions for the associated strike price and premium

2041 price for the fuel offering; and

2042 means to provide the fuel offering for selection by a customer.

2043 625. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2044 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2045 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2046 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2047 for the commodity offering;

2048 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2049 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2050 selection by a customer; and

2051 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

2052 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

2053 a geographically averaged commodity price.

2054 626. A system to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers, comprising:

2055 means to set a strike price for a fuel offering;

2056 means to determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the

2057 fuel offering based on the strike price and pricing input factors;

2058 means to monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises; 2059 means to store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering

2060 orders and exercises as monitored information;

2061 means to adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

2062 means to provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike

2063 price and premium price for selection by customers.

2064 627. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2065 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2066 means to set at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a

2067 commodity offering;

2068 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2069 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2070 for the commodity offering;

2071 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2072 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2073 selection by a customer; and

2074 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

2075 exercised commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise

2076 restrictions, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a geographically

2077 averaged commodity price.

2078 628. A system to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

2079 market, comprising:

2080 means to set a strike price for a fuel offering; 2081 means to determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the

2082 fuel offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap

2083 restrictions and structural restrictions;

2084 means to monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises:

2085 means to store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering

2086 orders and exercises as monitored information;

2087 means to adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

2088 means to provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike

2089 price and premium price for selection by customers.

2090 629. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2091 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2092 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2093 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2094 for the commodity offering;

2095 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2096 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2097 selection by a customer;

2098 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

2099 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

2100 a geographically averaged commodity price;

2101 means to record selection and exercise of commodity offerings in a customer

2102 behavior database; and 2103 means to modify the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on

2104 the customer behavior database.

2105 630. A system to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

2106 market, comprising:

2107 means to set a strike price for a fuel offering;

2108 means to determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the

2109 fuel offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors and customer behavior regarding

21 10 the exercise of the fuel offering;

21 1 1 means to monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

2112 means to store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering

21 13 orders and exercises as monitored information;

21 14 means to adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

2115 means to provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike

21 16 price and premium price for selection by customers.

21 17 631. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

21 18 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2119 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2120 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2121 for the commodity offering;

2122 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2123 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2124 selection by a customer; and 2125 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

2126 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

2127 a local retail commodity price.

2128 632. A system to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

2129 market, comprising:

2130 means to set a strike price for a fuel offering;

2131 means to determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the

2132 fuel offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price

2133 distribution data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data;

2134 means to monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

2135 means to store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering

2136 orders and exercises as monitored information;

2137 means to adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information;

2138 means to provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike

2139 price and premium price for selection by customers.

2140 633. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2141 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering,

2142 including at least one geographic zone specification;

2143 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2144 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2145 for the commodity offering; 2146 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2147 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2148 selection by a customer;

2149 means to monitor the location at which a commodity offering is exercised; and

2150 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for the

2151 exercised commodity offering based on the location of the exercised commodity offering and

2152 the at least one geographic zone specification , wherein the strike price of the commodity

2153 offering is less than a local retail commodity price.

2154 634. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2155 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2156 means to set at least one commodity offering exercise restrictions for a

2157 commodity offering;

2158 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2159 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2160 for the commodity offering;

2161 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2162 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2163 selection by a customer; and

2164 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

2165 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

2166 a local retail commodity price.

2167 635. A system to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

2168 market, comprising:

2169 means to set a strike price for a fuel offering;

2170 means to provide a premium price associated with the strike price for the fuel

2171 offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, volume restrictions, price cap

2172 restrictions, structural restrictions, regionally segmented pump price distribution data and

2173 regionally segmented purchase price bias data;

2174 means to monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

2175 means to store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering

2176 orders and exercises as monitored information;

2177 means to adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

2178 means to provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike

2179 price and premium price for selection by customers.

2180 636. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2181 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2182 means to set at least one customer behavior direction motive for a commodity

2183 offering;

2184 means to set at least one commodity offering exercise restriction for a

2185 commodity offering based on the at least one customer behavior direction motive;

2186 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2187 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2188 for the commodity offering; 2189 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2190 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2191 selection by a customer;

2192 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

2193 exercised commodity offering subject to the at least one commodity offering exercise

2194 restriction, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than a reference

2195 commodity price.

2196 637. A system to provide commodity offerings, comprising:

2197 means to set at least one commodity offering terms for a commodity offering;

2198 means to determine at least one commodity offering pricing value based on

2199 the at least one commodity offering terms and at least one commodity offering pricing model

2200 for the commodity offering;

2201 means to provide the commodity offering, including at least one association

2202 based on the commodity offering pricing values between a strike price and a premium, for

2203 selection by a customer;

2204 means to provide payment for some portion of a commodity purchase for an

2205 exercised commodity offering, wherein the strike price of the commodity offering is less than

2206 a local retail commodity price;

2207 means to record customer behavior, including selection and exercise of

2208 commodity offerings, in a customer behavior database; and

2209 means to modify the at least one commodity offering pricing model based on

2210 the customer behavior database.

2211 638. A system to generate fuel offerings for selection by customers in a retail

2212 market, comprising:

2213 means to set a strike price for a fuel offering;

2214 means to determine a premium price associated with the strike price for the

2215 fuel offering based on the strike price, pricing input factors, regionally segmented pump price

2216 distribution data and regionally segmented purchase price bias data, and customer behavior

2217 regarding the exercise of the fuel offering;

2218 means to monitor customer fuel offering orders and exercises;

2219 means to store information regarding the monitored customer fuel offering

2220 orders and exercises as monitored information;

2221 means to adjust fuel offering prices based on the monitored information; and

2222 means to provide the fuel offering at an offer price comprised of the strike

2223 price and premium price for selection by customers. 2224