Systems and methods for remote work sessions

• US 8,081,817 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tedesco, Daniel E., Jorasch, James A., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Tulley, Stephen C., O'Neil, Vincent M., Alderucci, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desire, Gregory M
• Application Number:
  US11/427,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20060239546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 382/103, 382/107, 382/115, 382/159
• US Class Current: 382/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5854 using shape and object relationship
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for facilitating the usage of an online workforce to remotely monitor security-sensitive sites and report potential security breaches.

In some embodiments, cameras are configured to monitor critical civilian infrastructure, such as water supplies and nuclear reactors. The cameras are operatively connected to a central computer or series of computers, and images captured by the cameras are transmitted to the central computer. After initially registering with the central computer, Guardians “log on” to a central website hosted by the central computer and monitor the images, thereby earning compensation. In one embodiment, images of “no-man” zones—areas where no humans or vehicles should be present or monitored—are sent to Guardians for a simple determination of whether or not a human exists in the picture. Site owners compensate the operator of the computer system for this monitoring service, and the operator in turn compensates Guardians based on, for example, (i) the amount of time spent monitoring, and/or (ii) the degree of a given Guardian'"'"'s responsiveness to real or fabricated security breaches.

Among other things, systems and methods are disclosed herein for facilitating (a) the registration of monitored sites, (b) the registration of Guardians, and (c) the management of monitoring sessions, including the routing of real and fabricated images to Guardians, the rating of Guardians, and the compensation of Guardians. Many additional and alternative embodiments are contemplated, including the following example of one embodiment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a central system and from a remote worker, a request to initiate a remote work session;

receiving, by the central system and from the remote worker, an indication of a worker registration number;

determining, by the central system, whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid;

identifying, by the central system and in the case that the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid results in an indication that the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, a remote work task for the remote worker to participate in;

providing, by the central system, data associated with the identified remote work task to the remote worker;

receiving, by the central system and from the remote worker and in response to the providing of the data associated with the identified remote work task, response data associated with participation in the identified remote work task;

evaluating, by the central system and based on one or more stored evaluation rules, the response data; and

providing, by the central system and based at least in part on the remote worker'"'"'s participation in the identified remote work task, compensation to the remote worker.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting, based on the evaluating of the response data, a rating of the remote worker.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a stored remote work session termination rule is satisfied.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the stored remote work session termination rule comprises a rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated upon receipt of a termination indication from the remote worker.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the stored remote work session termination rule comprises a rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated once the remote worker has worked for a maximum threshold amount of time within a certain time period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated once the remote worker has worked for a maximum threshold amount of time within a certain time period is based at least in part on a labor law.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated once the remote worker has worked for a maximum threshold amount of time within a certain time period is based at least in part on concerns regarding eyestrain of the remote worker.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated once the remote worker has worked for a maximum threshold amount of time within a certain time period is based at least in part on concerns regarding potential carpel tunnel injury to the remote worker.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated once the remote worker has worked for a maximum threshold amount of time within a certain time period is based at least in part on concerns regarding fatigue of the remote worker.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the stored remote work session termination rule comprises a rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated upon a performance of the remote worker degrading to a predetermined minimum performance threshold level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the performance of the remote worker is based on an average response time associated with a participation of the remote worker in the identified remote work task.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined minimum performance threshold level comprises a maximum response time threshold.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the stored remote work session termination rule comprises a rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated upon an attentiveness of the remote worker degrading to a predetermined minimum attentiveness threshold level.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the stored remote work session termination rule comprises a rule specifying that the identified remote work session be terminated once the remote worker has earned compensation equivalent to an amount owed by the remote worker in relation to a service bill.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the service bill comprises an Internet Service Provider (ISP) bill.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the service bill comprises a utility bill.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the service bill comprises a cable bill.

18. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

terminating, in the case that the determining of whether the stored remote work session termination rule is satisfied results in an indication that the stored remote work session termination rule is satisfied, the identified remote work session.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein after termination or request of termination, adjust the guardian'"'"'s rating.

20. The method of claim 4, wherein the identified remote work task comprises one of a plurality of remote work tasks associated with a remote work project, further comprising:

identifying, in the case that the determining of whether the stored remote work session termination rule is satisfied results in an indication that the stored remote work session termination rule is not satisfied, another one of the plurality of remote work tasks associated with a remote work project for the remote worker to participate in.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to initiate a remote work session is received without a remote work session having been scheduled in association with the remote worker.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to initiate the remote work session is received via a web interface.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to initiate the remote work session is received via an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to initiate the remote work session is received from a mobile terminal associated with the remote worker.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a handheld wireless device.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting the worker registration number from the remote worker.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the remote worker, an indication of a password.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

requesting the password from the remote worker.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether the worker registration number corresponds to a valid worker registration number stored in a database.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether a password provide by the remote worker corresponds to a valid password stored in a database.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether the remote worker is attempting to initiate a remote work session from an unauthorized location.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether the remote worker is attempting to initiate a remote work session utilizing unauthorized equipment.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether the remote worker is attempting to initiate a remote work session during an unauthorized time period.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether the remote worker has surpassed a predetermined work limit.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether the remote worker has surpassed a predetermined compensation limit.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, comprises:

determining whether the remote worker has surpassed a predetermined compensation limit within a certain time period.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the remote work task is conducted in a serial fashion.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the remote work task is conducted based at least in part on one or more stored task performance conditions associated with the remote work task.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the remote work task is conducted based at least in part on one or more stored task performance prerequisites associated with the remote work task.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the remote work task is conducted based at least in part on a rule specifying that remote workers may not participate in the remote work task more than once.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the identified remote work task comprises remote work task content data.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the remote work task content data comprises a textual description of the identified remote work task.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the remote work task content data comprises one or more questions associated with the identified remote work task.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the remote work task content data comprises one or more digital files associated with the identified remote work task.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the remote work task content data comprises one or more (i) images or (ii) sounds.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the identified remote work task comprises remote work task response option data.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the remote work task response option data comprises a textual description of a plurality of response options associated with the identified remote work task.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the textual description of the plurality of response options comprises a listing of possible answers to one or more questions associated with the identified remote work task.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein the response data comprises an indication of one or more answers selected by the remote worker.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluating of the response data comprises initiating a fraud-detection subroutine.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluating of the response data comprises evaluating an attentiveness of the remote worker.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the compensation comprises:

determining a transaction cost associated with providing the compensation to the remote worker; and

determining that an amount of the compensation is large enough to justify the associated transaction cost.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the compensation comprises:

determining a transaction cost associated with providing the compensation to the remote worker;

determining that an amount of the compensation is too small to justify the associated transaction cost; and

waiting until the remote worker earns enough additional compensation to justify the associated transaction cost.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the compensation comprises crediting a service account associated with the remote worker.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the compensation is performed immediately following termination.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the compensation is performed on a periodic basis.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the compensation is performed upon request from a remote worker.

58. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating the compensation.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises one of a plurality of remote work tasks associated with a specific remote work project, further comprising:

providing remote worker responses associated with each of the plurality of remote work tasks associated with the specific remote work project to an employing party associated with the remote work project.

60. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging an employing party associated with the identified remote work task for the remote worker'"'"'s participation in the identified remote work task.

61. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering a plurality of low-skill remote work tasks, each low-skill remote work task being associated with an employer, wherein the identified remote work task comprises one of the plurality of registered low-skill remote work tasks;

registering a plurality of remote workers that express a willingness to perform one or more low-skill remote work tasks, wherein the remote worker that requests the initiation of a remote work session comprises one of the plurality of registered remote workers; and

advertising the plurality of low-skill tasks to the plurality of registered remote workers.

62. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote worker is low-skilled worker.

63. The method of claim 1, wherein the central system comprises an Internet Service Provider (ISP) system.

64. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating, to the central system, a commission based on the participation of the remote worker in the identified remote work task.

65. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task is associated with an employer.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the employer comprises a manufacturer.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to view digital images of an assembly line and wherein the response data comprises data indicative of any irregularities in the assembly line.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to answer survey questions.

69. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to provide an opinion regarding packaging of a product.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to provide an opinion regarding a product.

71. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to rate one or more advertisements.

72. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to rate one or more TV programs.

73. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to rate one or more product configurations.

74. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises defining what the remote worker constitutes a valuable “

value meal”

.

75. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to provide an opinion regarding placement of a product in at least one of a retail display and an advertisement.

76. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review testimony of an individual and wherein the response data is indicative of an opinion of the remote worker as to whether the individual was lying or telling the truth.

77. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review an appearance of an individual and wherein the response data is indicative of an opinion of the remote worker regarding the appearance.

78. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review images of package assembly at a warehouse operation and wherein the response data is indicative of an opinion of the remote worker regarding whether an assembled package properly contains all invoiced items associated with the package.

79. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to remotely monitor cleanliness of a physical location.

80. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to check accuracy of an artificial intelligence speech recognition process.

81. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to check accuracy of an artificial intelligence handwriting recognition process.

82. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to provide an pinion regarding financial institution account activity.

83. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review one or more automated customer service communications.

84. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to provide an opinion regarding whether a retail customer appears to satisfied or dissatisfied.

85. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review images of a retail employee.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the response data is indicative of an opinion of the remote worker regarding customer service provided by the retail employee.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the response data is indicative of an opinion of the remote worker regarding whether the retail employee has committed a theft.

88. The method of claim 85, wherein the response data is indicative of rating of the remote worker.

89. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to determine whether a product is in stock.

90. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review an image of a customer and wherein the response data is indicative of an opinion of the remote worker regarding whether the customer appears to be of a certain age.

91. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review an image of an environmental indicator and wherein the response data is indicative of a status of the environmental indicator.

92. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review an image of an agricultural indicator and wherein the response data is indicative of a status of the agricultural indicator.

93. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review an image of public area and wherein the response data is indicative of whether suspicious activity exists within the public area.

94. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review an image of a parking space and wherein the response data is indicative of whether there is a parking violation within the parking space.

95. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to review data associated with an intersection and wherein the response data is indicative of whether there is a moving violation within the intersection.

96. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to rate a website and wherein the response data is indicative of rating of the website.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the rating of the website is associated with a quality of the website.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the rating of the website is associated with an appeal of the website.

99. The method of claim 96, wherein the rating of the website is associated with age-appropriateness of the website.

100. The method of claim 96, wherein the rating of the website is associated with a quality of the website.

101. The method of claim 96, wherein the evaluating of the response data comprises averaging ratings of the website received from each of a plurality of remote workers.

102. The method of claim 101, further comprising:

publishing results of the averaging of the ratings of the website.

103. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to categorize a website and wherein the response data comprises an indication of a categorization of the website.

104. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

utilizing the categorization of the website to facilitate a web search.

105. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

utilizing the categorization of the website to facilitate web navigation.

106. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to determine whether two websites should be linked.

107. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to determine whether content is appropriate for a minor.

108. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to determine whether an e-mail message should be classified as spam.

109. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to rate a pairing of potential dating candidates.

110. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified remote work task comprises requiring the remote worker to grade an educational test or paper.

111. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from an employer, task registration data associated with the identified task;

processing the task registration data in accordance with a predefined rule; and

storing the task registration data in a database.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the task registration data is received via an upload of the data via a web-accessible Graphical User Interface (GUI).

113. The method of claim 111, wherein the task registration data comprises one or more of (i) an IP address via which camera feeds associated with the identified remote work task may be patched, (ii) a remote address of a electronic file associated with the identified remote work task, (iii) a digital file associated with the identified remote work task, (iv) financial data associated with the identified remote work task, (v) compensation rates associated with the identified remote work task, (vi) compensation instructions associated with the identified remote work task, (vii) an account number associated with the employer, (viii) task completion instructions associated with the identified remote work task, (ix) instruction regarding how the identified remote work task is to be divided, (x) instructions regarding how a completion of the identified remote work task is to be provided to the employer, (xi) instructions regarding when the completion of the identified remote work task is to be provided to the employer, (xii) a required qualification for any remote worker assigned to the identified remote work task, (xiii) a desired qualification for any remote worker assigned to the identified remote work task, (xiv) a performance condition associated with the identified remote work task, and (xv) a performance prerequisite associated with the identified remote work task.

114. The method of claim 111, wherein the predefined rule defines how the task registration data is to be divided.

115. The method of claim 111, wherein the predefined rule defines one or more editing procedures to be applied to the task registration data.

116. The method of claim 111, further comprising:

registering the task registration data in a database a number of times specified by the employer.

117. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a registration request from the remote worker;

determining worker registration data associated with the remote worker;

determining, based on one or more stored rules, whether the remote worker qualifies to perform remote work tasks; and

storing, in the case that the determining of whether the remote worker qualifies to perform remote work tasks results in an indication that the remote work does qualify to perform remote work tasks, at least a portion of the worker registration information in a database.

118. The method of claim 117, further comprising:

storing an indication associating the remote worker with the worker registration number.

119. The method of claim 117, wherein the request to register is received via a website.

120. The method of claim 117, wherein the determining of the worker registration data comprises:

requesting the worker registration data from the remote worker.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein the requesting of the worker registration data comprises:

prompting the remote worker to input the worker registration data.

122. The method of claim 117, wherein the determining of the worker registration data comprises:

identifying information associated with the remote worker that is already stored by the central service pursuant to a separate relationship between the central service and the remote worker.

123. The method of claim 117, wherein the worker registration data comprises one or more of (i) contact information associated with the remote worker, (ii) a Social Security Number (SSN) of the remote worker, (iii) demographic information associated with the remote worker, and (iv) financial account information associated with the remote worker.

124. The method of claim 117, further comprising:

requiring the remote worker to accept terms of a confidentiality agreement associated with performing remote work tasks.

125. The method of claim 117, wherein the request to register is received via a central service comprising an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

126. The method of claim 117, wherein the one or more stored rules comprise a requirement that the remote worker does not reside within a certain geographical area.

127. The method of claim 117, wherein the one or more stored rules comprise a requirement that the remote worker be a United States citizen.

128. The method of claim 117, wherein the one or more stored rules comprise a requirement that the remote worker be at least a certain age.

129. The method of claim 117, wherein the determining of whether the remote worker qualifies to perform remote work tasks, comprises:

confirming, via one or more remote databases, at least a portion of the worker registration information.

130. The method of claim 117, wherein the determining of whether the remote worker qualifies to perform remote work tasks, comprises:

determining that a device associated with the remote worker satisfies one or more minimum device capability requirements.

131. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving from the remote worker comprise receiving from a device associated with the remote worker.

132. The method of claim 131, wherein the remote worker device comprises a mobile terminal.

133. The method of claim 131, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a cellular telephone.

134. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

receive, from a remote worker, a request to initiate a remote work session;

receive, from the remote worker, an indication of a worker registration number;

determine whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid;

identify, in the case that the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid results in an indication that the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, a remote work task for the remote worker to participate in;

provide data associated with the identified remote work task to the remote worker;

receive, from the remote worker and in response to the providing of the data associated with the identified remote work task, response data associated with participation in the identified remote work task;

evaluate, based on one or more stored evaluation rules, the response data; and

provide, based at least in part on the remote worker'"'"'s participation in the identified remote work task, compensation to the remote worker.

135. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

receive, from a remote worker, a request to initiate a remote work session;

receive, from the remote worker, an indication of a worker registration number;

determine whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid;

identify, in the case that the determining of whether the request to initiate a remote work session is valid results in an indication that the request to initiate a remote work session is valid, a remote work task for the remote worker to participate in;

provide data associated with the identified remote work task to the remote worker;

receive, from the remote worker and in response to the providing of the data associated with the identified remote work task, response data associated with participation in the identified remote work task;

evaluate, based on one or more stored evaluation rules, the response data; and

provide, based at least in part on the remote worker'"'"'s participation in the identified remote work task, compensation to the remote worker.

136. A communications system operable to:

transmit, from a remote worker device to a server associated with a central system, an indication of a request to initiate a remote work session;

transmit, from the remote worker device to the server, an indication of a worker registration number;

transmit, from the server to the remote worker device, an indication of data associated with a remote work identified by the server;

transmit, from the remote worker device to the server, and in response to a transmitting of the data associated with the identified remote work task, an indication of response data associated with the remote worker'"'"'s participation in the identified remote work task; and

transmit, between the server and the remote worker device, one or more signals to facilitate a providing, based at least in part on the remote worker'"'"'s participation in the identified remote work task, of compensation to the remote worker.