SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING COMPETITIONS

• US 20100178978A1
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TopCoder, Inc. (Wipro Limited)
• Original Assignee: TopCoder, Inc. (Wipro Limited)
• Inventors: Fernandez-Ivern, Javier, Messinger, David, Fairfax, Ryan J., Hughes, John M., Lydon, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, a method for developing an asset by competition includes specifying standards for an asset, receiving from potential contestants indicia of interest in participating in an asset development competition in which the contestants compete to develop an asset, and determining an estimated likelihood that the asset development competition will result in an asset that meets the minimum standards based on historical information about the performance of the contestants from whom the indicia of interest were received. Steps may be taken to increase the estimated likelihood of success, upon a determination that the likelihood is less than desired. Steps may be taken to prevent registration by additional participants, upon a determination that the estimated likelihood is at or above a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method for developing an asset by competition, comprising:

specifying minimum standards for an asset;

receiving from potential contestants indicia of interest in participating in an asset development competition in which the contestants compete to develop the asset;

determining an estimated likelihood that the asset development competition will result in an asset that meets the minimum standards based on historical information about the performance of the contestants from whom the indicia of interest were received.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, upon determining that the asset development competition is not likely to be successful, taking one or more steps to increase the estimated likelihood of success.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one step taken to increase the estimated likelihood of success is to increase prize amounts.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein one step taken to increase the estimated likelihood of success is to modify the contest end date.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon determining that the asset development competition is likely to be successful, closing registration such that additional contestants may not register for the competition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the historical information includes information about the quality of the contestants'"'"' previous submissions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the historical information includes information about how reliably each contestant submits an asset in competitions for which the contestant registers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is a software program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is a design of a software program.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia of interest is received as part of a competition registration process.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimum standard comprises a minimum score on a review scorecard.

12. A system for developing an asset by competition, comprising:

a scorecard for specifying minimum standards for an asset;

a registration subsystem for receiving from potential contestants indicia of interest in participating in an asset development competition in which the contestants compete to develop the asset;

a prediction subsystem for determining an estimated likelihood that the asset development competition will result in an asset that meets the minimum standards based on historical information about the performance of the contestants from whom the indicia of interest were received.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising, an event subsystem for taking one or more steps to increase the estimated likelihood of success upon a determination by the prediction subsystem that the asset development competition is not likely to be successful.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein one step taken by the prediction subsystem to increase the estimated likelihood of success is to increase prize amounts.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein one step taken by the prediction subsystem to increase the estimated likelihood of success is to modify the contest end date.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising, wherein the registration subsystem limits further registration upon a determination that the asset development competition is likely to be successful.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the historical information includes information about the quality of the contestants'"'"' previous submissions.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the historical information includes information about the reliability of the contestants'"'"' previous submissions.