System and method for conducting a competition

• US 8,670,846 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Inventors: Warshaw, Lisa, Hardaway, Olaino
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kamal, Shahid
• Application Number:
  US13/194,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 700/91, 700/92, 705/51, 705/60, 705/64
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

This invention relates to system and method for conducting a competition. Specifically, the invention relates to a computer-implemented peer-to-peer anonymous evaluation to determine a winner of a competition.

Claims

1. A system for conducting a competition, said system comprising:

a dividing unit that divides users of said system into a plurality of groups, wherein said dividing unit determines minimum number of users in each group using the following formula;

p=m/n

wherein p is the minimum number of users in said group, m is the number of users competing for a challenge, and n is the number of groups for said challenge;

a challenge display unit that displays a challenge to one or more users of said plurality of groups;

a response entry unit that enables at least one user to enter a response for said challenge;

an assignment unit that assigns said response to one or more users for evaluating said response;

an evaluation unit that enables said one or more assigned users to evaluate and rate said response based on a plurality of predetermined criteria;

a collection unit that collects evaluation results from said one or more assigned users; and

a selection unit that selects a winner based on collected evaluation results.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprising an identity protection unit that enables a user to be an anonymous user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more assigned users are competitors who compete for said challenge.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprising a judgment facilitating unit that enables one or more pre-selected users to be judges and enables said judges to determine a winner based on collected evaluation results.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said challenge is a writing skill assessment challenge and said challenge display unit displays said writing skill assessment challenge.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said assignment unit that assigns said response randomly to one or more users.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said assignment unit that assigns said response based on a plurality of predetermined criteria.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said assignment unit that assigns a response from a user in one group to another user in the same group or another user in another group.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said challenge is a writing skill assessment challenge.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit that enables one or more users to evaluate the quality or accuracy of evaluation and rating provided by said one or more assigned users.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scoring unit that provides score to a user'"'"'s response based on its correlation with peer'"'"'s response.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a winner based on a score or rating received for an answer to a challenge as well as a score or rating received for an evaluation to an answer.

9. A method for conducting a competition by a computing system, said method comprising:

dividing users of the system into a plurality of groups, wherein said dividing is performed by determining minimum number of users in each group using the following formula;

p=m/n

wherein p is the minimum number of users in said group, m is the number of users competing for a challenge, and n is the number of groups for said challenge;

displaying said challenge to one or more users of said plurality of groups;

enabling at least one user to enter a response for said challenge;

assigning said response to one or more users for evaluating said response;

enabling said one or more assigned users to evaluate and rate said response based on a plurality of predetermined criteria;

collecting evaluation results from said one or more assigned users; and

selecting by a computing device, a winner based on collected evaluation results.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said method further comprising enabling a user of said system to be an anonymous user.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said one or more assigned users are competitors who compete for said challenge.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said method further comprising enabling one or more pre-selected users to be judges and enabling said judges to determine a winner based on collected evaluation results.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said response is assigned randomly to one or more users.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said response is assigned based on a plurality of predetermined criteria.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein a response from a user in one group is assigned to another user in the same group or another user in another group.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising instructions to perform a method for conducting a competition, said method comprising:

dividing users of a system into a plurality of groups, wherein said dividing is performed by determining minimum number of users in each group using the following formula;

p=m/n

wherein p is the minimum number of users in said group, m is the number of users competing for said challenge, and n is the number of groups for said challenge;

displaying said challenge to one or more users of said plurality of groups;

enabling at least one user to enter a response for said challenge;

assigning said response to one or more users for evaluating said response;

enabling said one or more assigned users to evaluate and rate said response based on a plurality of predetermined criteria;

collecting evaluation results from said one or more assigned users; and

selecting a winner based on collected evaluation results.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein said method further comprising enabling a user of said system to be an anonymous user.

19. The media of claim 17, wherein said one or more assigned users are competitors who compete for said challenge.

20. The media of claim 17, wherein said method further comprising enabling one or more pre-selected users to be judges and enabling said judges to determine a winner based on collected evaluation results.

21. The media of claim 17, wherein said challenge is a writing skill assessment challenge.

22. The media of claim 17, wherein said response is assigned randomly to one or more users.

23. The media of claim 17, wherein said response is assigned based on a plurality of predetermined criteria.

24. The media of claim 17, wherein a response from a user in one group is assigned to another user in the same group or another user in another group.