MITIGATION OF CONGESTION IN USE OF A CAPACITY CONSTRAINED RESOURCE BY PROVIDING INCENTIVES
First Claim
1. A method for mitigating congestion of a network, the method comprising:
- determining by a server a congestion state of the network;
identifying by the server users of the network contributing to the congestion state;
computing by the server, for each of the users, a network use recommendation based on the congestion state of the network, and a network use of the user;
sending from the server to the user an offer to award the user a credit if the user follows the network use recommendation, whereby the user is given an incentive to use the network efficiently to mitigate congestion;
awarding by the server the credit to the user if a measured network use of the user confirms that the user followed the network use recommendation;
storing by the server accumulated awarded credits for the user over time;
randomly selecting by the server a winner from among users awarded credits for following network use recommendations;
transferring rewards to the randomly selected winner.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Congestion of a network being accessed by users is mitigated by providing predetermined incentive credits to users who follow network use recommendations and allowing the users to redeem accumulated credits for entry in a game of chance that provides a chance of winning a large reward. A server collects network use data to determine network congestion states and to determine whether users followed network use recommendations. The server also implements a web portal through which users can view historical network use and awarded credits, and redeem their credits. Application domains of the method to mitigate congestion include public transportation networks, wireless communication networks, and energy distribution networks. The techniques may also be enhanced by integration with online social networking features.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for mitigating congestion of a network, the method comprising:
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determining by a server a congestion state of the network; identifying by the server users of the network contributing to the congestion state; computing by the server, for each of the users, a network use recommendation based on the congestion state of the network, and a network use of the user; sending from the server to the user an offer to award the user a credit if the user follows the network use recommendation, whereby the user is given an incentive to use the network efficiently to mitigate congestion; awarding by the server the credit to the user if a measured network use of the user confirms that the user followed the network use recommendation; storing by the server accumulated awarded credits for the user over time; randomly selecting by the server a winner from among users awarded credits for following network use recommendations; transferring rewards to the randomly selected winner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for incentivizing wellness comprising:
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implementing by a server an online social network; identifying by the server users of the social network who are enrolled in a wellness incentive program; computing by the server, for each of the users, a recommendation to engage in activity that will increase wellness and health; sending from the server to the user an offer to award the user a credit if the user follows the recommendation to engage in activity that will increase wellness and health; awarding by the server the credit to the user if a measured activity of the user confirms that the user followed the recommendation to engage in activity that will increase wellness and health; storing by the server accumulated awarded credits for the user over time; providing by the server a user interface visible on the social network for viewing accumulated awarded credits and associated historical activity of the user; randomly selecting by the server a winner from among users awarded credits for following network use recommendations; transferring rewards to the randomly selected winner.
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Specification