USING VIRTUAL CURRENCY TO COMPENSATE WORKERS IN A CROWDSOURCED TASK

• US 20110313820A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CrowdFlower, Inc. (Appen Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: CrowdFlower, Inc. (Appen Ltd.)
• Inventors: Biewald, Lukas A., Van Pelt, Christopher R.
• Granted Patent: US 11,023,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0655 e-cash managed centrally

Abstract

Systems and methods for using virtual currency to compensate workers in a crowd sourced task are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the online workers, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy; and/or setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the number of results. In response to determining that the worker has completed the unit job, the wage is provided to the online worker in a form of virtual currency.

Claims

1. A method of crowd sourcing by distributing a task over to online workers for completion using their respective computing devices, the method, comprising:

determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the online workers;

computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy;

setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the number of results;

in response to determining that the worker has completed the unit job, providing the wage to the online worker in a form of virtual currency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the virtual currency is for use as credit in a web-based gaming environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, the online workers are of a demographic which has an affinity for participating in online games.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, the online workers are individuals unable to obtain credit to purchase virtual currency in the web-based gaming environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, an entity initiates a request to distribute the task for completion at via user device;

and wherein, the entity specifies a channel through which the task is to be distributed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, the channel is a web-based gaming environment hosted by a third-party.

7. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which when executed causes a processor to perform a method of distributing a task for an entity over a network via a web-based platform for completion using their respective computing devices, the method, comprising:

presenting each unit job of the task to on-demand labor in the web-based platform;

in response to determining that the on-demand labor has completed a unit job, providing a wage to the on-demand labor in a form of virtual currency for use in the web-based platform.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, the web-based platform includes a web-based gaming environment.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein, the on-demand labor includes an online gamer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein, the unit job is presented on demand by request of the on-demand labor.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein, the unit job is presented to a gamer when the on-demand labor has depleted credits.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein, the unit job is presented to the on-demand labor between gaming sessions.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein, the web-based gaming environment hosted by a third-party.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein, the web-based gaming environment is a worker channel selected by the entity through which to distribute the task.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising, determining target accuracy desired by the entity in completion of the task by the multiple workers.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising, setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the number of results.

18. The method of claim 15, determining a total cost for the task using the wage amount for completing a unit job and a number of unit jobs in the task.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein, the wage amount is determined based on a budget of the entity in completing the task.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein, the wage amount is determined based on a target accuracy specified by the entity in completing the task.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein, the gamer is of a demographic which has an affinity for participating in social gaming environments.

19. A system to perform distribute a task for an entity to online garners for completion using their respective computing devices, the method, comprising:

means for, presenting each unit job of the task to online garners in a social gaming environment;

means for, detecting whether an online garner has completed a delegated unit job;

means for, determining a wage amount that is to be offered to the online garner;

means for, providing the wage to the online gamer in a form of virtual currency for use in the social gaming environment;

means for, determining a total cost to complete the task using the wage amount for completing a unit job and a number of unit jobs in the task;

means for, determining whether the task has been completed;

means for, determining whether the target accuracy has been met;

means for, assessing the total cost from the entity.