Method and apparatus for bidding on broadcast service requests and offers from nearby devices

• US 7,461,014 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Kirkland, Dustin C., Halcrow, Michael Austin
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US11/014,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions in a portable device for obtaining bids for a task. Access to a task in a set of tasks for bidding is provided through a wireless network. The access to the task includes a specification of a selected distance between a bidding entity and a location of the portable device that the bidding entity is required to be located within for generating bids. A bid for the task is received from an entity through the wireless network if the entity is within a selected distance of a location of the portable device. The bid may be accepted for completing the task.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for bidding on a task, the method comprising:

detecting a task published by a portable device for bidding, wherein the detecting the task published by the portable device for bidding comprises;

detecting a presence of the portable device in a wireless network for the data processing system;

responsive to detecting the presence of the portable device, determining by the data processing system whether a task list for the portable device is accessible;

accessing the task list to detect the task in the task list;

determining whether the portable device is within a selected distance of a location;

determining whether the task can be completed;

generating a bid to complete the task if the portable device is within the selected distance of the location and the task can be completed; and

sending the bid to the portable device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step includes:

sending at least one e-mail message from the entity containing the bid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the task is at least one of a purchase of an item and a purchase of a service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a Bluetooth network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected distance is selected by a user of the portable device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the specification of the selected distance is located in the task.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is a location of an entity generating the bid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step includes:

establishing a connection with a Web server; and

identifying the task at the Web server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the task is associated with a location of the portable device and wherein the determining step includes:

determining whether the task is of a type that can be completed; and

determining whether the location of the portable device allows for completion of the task.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the location of the portable device is determined using a global positioning system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the location of the portable device is approximated based on connectivity of the portable device with the wireless network.