Matching actionable events with goods and services providers

• US 10,085,116 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Allen, Joshua S., Lavery, Andrew J., Maldari, Mario A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US15/273,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20180091937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A method comprises receiving event data describing an event from an internet-coupled mobile communication device and receiving a geographical location of the event. The geographical location is identified by the internet-coupled mobile communication device. The method also comprises receiving an event identification request from a provider device, and determining that the event data and the geographical information match the event identification request. The method further comprises transmitting the event data and the geographical information to the provider device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a repository device from an Internet-coupled mobile communication device, event data describing an event that corresponds to a dysfunctional device, wherein the event data includes image data corresponding to an image of the dysfunctional device;

receiving, by the repository device from the Internet-coupled mobile communication device, a geographical location of the event, the geographical location identified by the Internet-coupled mobile communication device;

receiving, by the repository device, an event identification request from a provider device of a provider;

determining, by a processor of the repository device, that the provider provides goods or services to resolve the dysfunctional device based on provider information in the event identification request and based on the image data in the event data;

determining, by the processor, that the geographical location of the event satisfies a geographical requirement of the provider based on geographical information in the event identification request; and

transmitting, by the repository device, the event data and the geographical location to the provider device when the repository device determines that the provider provides the goods or services to resolve the dysfunctional device and the geographical location satisfies the geographical requirement of the provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a first acceptance signal from the provider device in response to the transmission of the event data and the geographical information to the provider device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting a second acceptance signal to the Internet-coupled mobile communication device in response to receiving the first acceptance signal.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing payment information associated with the Internet-coupled mobile communication device to the provider device in response to receiving the first acceptance signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning an identifier to the event data and the geographical information and providing the identifier to the provider device.

6. A system, comprising:

a network device configured to receive event data and a geographical location pertaining to an event from a user device and configured to receive an event identification request from a provider device of a provider, wherein the event data describes an event that corresponds to a dysfunctional device, and wherein the event data includes image data corresponding to an image of the dysfunctional device;

storage configured to store the event data, the geographical location pertaining to the event, and the event identification request; and

a processor coupled to the network device and the storage and configured to;

determine that the provider provides goods or services to resolve the dysfunctional device based on provider information in the event identification request and based on the image data in the event data;

determine, by the processor, that the geographical location pertaining to the event satisfies a geographical requirement of the provider based on geographical information in the event identification request;

notify the provider device of a match when the processor determines that the provider provides the goods or services to resolve the dysfunctional device and the geographical location satisfies the geographical requirement of the provider; and

upon receipt of an acceptance signal from the provider device in response to the notification, facilitate resolution of the event.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor assigns an identifier to the event data and the geographical location, and wherein the storage cross-references the event data and the geographical location with the identifier.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor assigns an identifier to the event identification request, and wherein the storage cross-references the event identification request with the identifier.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the network device is configured to receive additional event data from other user devices, and wherein the processor is configured to compare the event identification request to the additional event data for a predetermined length of time.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the event data further comprises an audio clip.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the storage stores the event data and the geographical location for a predetermined length of time before the processor identifies the match.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

receive, from an Internet-coupled mobile communication device, event data describing an event that corresponds to a dysfunctional device, wherein the event data includes image data corresponding to an image of the dysfunctional device;

receive, from the Internet-coupled mobile communication device, a geographical location associated with the event and identified by the Internet-coupled mobile communication device;

receive an event identification request from a provider device of a provider;

determine that the provider provides goods or services to resolve the dysfunctional device based on provider information in the event identification request and based on the image data in the event data;

determine that the geographical location of the event satisfies a geographical requirement of the provider based on geographical information in the event identification request; and

transmit the event data and the geographical location to the provider device when the processor determines that the provider provides the goods or services to resolve the dysfunctional device and the geographical location satisfies the geographical requirement of the provider.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive a first acceptance signal from the provider device in response to the transmission of the event data and the geographical location to the provider device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit a second acceptance signal to the Internet-coupled mobile communication device in response to receipt of the first acceptance signal from the provider device.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to retain the event data and the geographical location for a predetermined length of time.