METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELLING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES VIA CROWDSOURCING

• US 20140058804A1
• Filed: 11/02/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew H.B. Zhou, Dylan T.X. Zhou, Tiger T.G. Zhou
• Original Assignee: Andrew H.B. Zhou, Dylan T.X. Zhou, Tiger T.G. Zhou
• Inventors: Zhou, Tiger T G, Zhou, Dylan T X, Zhou, Andrew H B
• Application Number:
  US14/070,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0279 Fundraising management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for selling products and services using crowdsourcing. An exemplary method comprises receiving information associated with a crowdsourcing item. The crowdsourcing item is associated with an owner of the crowdsourcing item. The information includes a target amount for crowdsourcing. One or more contributions associated with the crowdsourcing item are received from one or more users. The total amount of the contributions is periodically calculated. When determined that the total amount has reached the target amount, the total amount is transferred to the owner. Additionally, the crowdsourcing item may be produced by the owner using the contributions and delivered to the users who made contributions either by one item to each of the users or by a share of the crowdsourcing item proportional to the contribution made.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for crowdsourcing, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving information associated with a crowdsourcing item, wherein the information includes a target amount for crowdsourcing, the crowdsourcing item being associated with an owner of the crowdsourcing item;

receiving, from one or more of users, one or more contributions associated with the crowdsourcing item;

calculating a total amount of the one or more of contributions;

determining that the total amount is equal to or exceeds the target amount;

transferring the total amount to the owner.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a product, a service, a content, an idea, and a business.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information is provided by the owner.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the crowdsourcing item to the one or more users, each of the one or more users receiving a portion of the crowdsourcing item proportional to a contribution associated with a user.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more contributions include one or more investments, one or more votes, one or more content amendments, and one or more idea proposals.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more awards to the one or more users in consideration for the one or more contributions.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein the one or more awards are associated with a result of the one or more contributions.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the owner produces the crowdsourcing item using the one or more contributions.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more users receives a copy of the crowdsourcing item produced using the one or more contributions.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more users receives a share of the crowdsourcing item.

11. A crowdsourcing system comprising:

a processor configured to;

provide, via a user interface, information associated with a crowdsourcing item, wherein the crowdsourcing item is offered for crowdsourcing, crowdsourcing item being associated with an owner of the crowdsourcing item;

receive, from one or more users, one or more contributions associated with the crowdsourcing item;

calculate a total amount of the one or more contributions;

determine that the total amount is equal to or exceeds the target amount;

the database in communication with the processor and configured to store the information associated with a crowdsourcing item, the target amount, and the one or more contributions.

12. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowdsourcing idea, wherein the one or more contributions include sharing, commenting, and improving of the crowdsourcing idea.

13. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowdfunding project, wherein the one or more contributions include investments in a product or project until a funding goal is reached.

14. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowd pre-ordering, the crowd pre-ordering including receiving the one or more contributions in exchange for one or more products to be produced, the one or more products associated with the crowd pre-ordering.

15. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowd ordering, the crowd ordering including receiving the one or more contributions in exchange for one or more products associated with the crowd ordering

16. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowd equity, wherein the one or more contributions include partial investments to be invested in a startup, the investments being combined to form an investment.

17. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowd social assistance, wherein the one or more users provide one or more donations to the owner.

18. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowd voting item, wherein the one or more contributions include votes in support of a product, a service, or an idea associated with the crowd voting item.

19. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the crowdsourcing item includes a crowd game, wherein the one or more contributions include game actions.

20. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein a maximum number of the one or more contributions associated with the owner is determined to detect a maximum contribution owner, the maximum contribution owner receiving an award.

21. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive the information associated with the crowdsourcing item from the owner.

22. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to deliver the crowdsourcing item to the one or more users, each of the one or more users receiving a portion of the crowdsourcing item proportional to a contribution associated with a user.

23. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the one or more contributions include one or more investments, one or more votes, one or more content amendments, and one or more idea proposals.

24. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to provide one or more awards to the one or more users in consideration for the one or more contributions.

25. The crowdsourcing system of claim 16, wherein the one or more awards are associated with a result of the one or more contributions.

26. The crowdsourcing system of claim 11, wherein the owner produces the crowdsourcing item using the one or more contributions.

27. The computer implemented method of claim 26, wherein each of the one or more users receives a copy of the crowdsourcing item produced using the one or more contributions.

28. A computer implemented method for social network crowdsourcing and reality show crowdsourcing, the computer implemented method comprising:

providing information associated with a plurality of startup ideas, wherein the information includes a target amount for funding a startup idea, each of the plurality of startup ideas being associated with an owner of the startup idea;

receiving, from each of a predefined number of judges, an opinion associated with each of the plurality of startup ideas;

receiving, from audience, a plurality of contributions associated with the plurality of startup ideas;

evaluating an amount of contributions associated with each of the plurality of startup ideas;

based on the evaluation, periodically selecting one or more failed startup ideas, a failed startup idea dropping out of the reality show crowdsourcing;

determining a winning startup idea, the winning startup idea receiving an award.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of startup ideas is preselected by an organizer of the reality show crowdsourcing.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein each of the predefined number of judges provides a pre-investment amount to one or more of the plurality of startup ideas.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the contributions associated with the startup idea are provided to the owner associated with the startup idea.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of contributions is received via one or more of the following:

an SMS service, an online transaction, a phone service, and a banking operation.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of contributions includes media votes, the media votes comprising votes provided by a media representative, a newspaper, a magazine, an online media resource, a television channel, or a radio channel.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the owner periodically provides a progress report associated with the startup idea.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising displaying a third party advertisement.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing of the information associated with the plurality of startup ideas includes a television broadcasting, a public demonstration, a radio broadcasting, and online broadcasting.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein the receiving of the plurality of contributions is performed during a predefined period of time.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing of the information associated with the plurality of startup ideas includes presenting of the information via one or more social network services.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein the receiving of the plurality of contributions includes receiving votes through one or more social network services.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein the failed startup idea is sold to public, the sale including a direct sale, a sale via an auction, a delayed sale, and a sale with payment by installments.

41. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving production offers from one or more manufacturers, wherein the production offers are associated with the plurality of startup ideas.

42. The method of claim 28, further comprising presenting of data related to the judges, the amount of contributions, contributors, the one or more failed startup ideas, and the winning startup idea via one or more social network services.

43. The method of claim 28, further wherein the contributions are received via one or more social network services.

44. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing of the information associated with the plurality of startup ideas includes presenting of the information via one or more web-sites, the contributions being received via the one or more web-sites.

45. The method of claim 28, wherein the owner may act individually or in a group with other owners in one or more rounds.

46. The method of claim 28, wherein an income is generated through displaying a third party advertisement, selling of products associated with the plurality of startup, selling of tickets, receiving additional sponsorship.

47. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving additional sponsorship for one or more sponsors, wherein, in exchange for the additional sponsorship, products associated with the one or more sponsors are promoted in a reality show and one or more advertisements associated with the one or more sponsors are displayed in the reality show.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein a logotype of one or more products associated with the one or more sponsors are displayed during the reality show on a table of a judge.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the owner is shown in premises including a logotype or one or more products associated with the one or more sponsors.

50. The method of claim 28, wherein plurality of products or services associated with the plurality of the startup ideas is displayed in a theme park.

51. The method of claim 28, wherein the owner is associated with a coach, the coach guiding the owner during a reality show.

52. The method of claim 28, wherein the determining a winning startup idea is based on a month, season or year round time.

53. The method of claim 28, wherein the award includes a monetary amount, a prize and a title.

54. The method of claim 28, wherein the predefined number of judges provides the opinion based on a blind audition, wherein the judges face away from the owner presenting a startup idea.

55. The method of claim 28, wherein the owner includes a product manufacturer, product designer, and service provider.

56. The method of claim 28, wherein the owner specifies a target amount to finance a startup idea associated with the owner.

57. The method of claim 28, wherein the owner specifies a percentage to be provided to the judges in return to investments.

58. The method of claim 28, wherein the winner provides a predetermined amount or a percentage of the award.

59. The method of claim 28, wherein the startup idea includes fundraising associated with a non-profit organization.

60. The method of claim 28, wherein the contributions are received by scanning a barcode associated with a startup idea.

61. The method of claim 28, wherein the audience makes the contributions though a mobile device, wherein the mobile device generates a payment barcode encoding payment information, the payment barcode being scannable by a barcode scanner.

62. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, perform the following operations:

provide, via a user interface, information associated with a crowdsourcing item, wherein the crowdsourcing item is offered for crowdsourcing, crowdsourcing item being associated with an owner of the crowdsourcing item;

receive, from one or more users, one or more contributions associated with the crowdsourcing item;

calculate a total amount of the one or more contributions;

determine that the total amount is equal to or exceeds the target amount; and

store the information associated with a crowdsourcing item, the target amount, and the one or more contributions.