Social choice determination systems and methods

• US 20050065808A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fairnez Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fairnez Incorporated
• Inventors: Faltings, Boi
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system configured for: (A) identifying a first party of a plurality of parties as one of an excluded group of parties; (B) identifying a candidate group that includes each of the plurality of parties other than the excluded group of parties; (C) receiving, from the first party, a first-party utility value that the first party would associate with at least one of a plurality of different outcomes; (D) receiving, from a second party, a second-party utility value that the second party would associate with at least one of the plurality of different outcomes, the second party being part of the candidate group; and (E) determining which particular one of the plurality of outcomes should be selected based primarily on a set of utility values that comprises the second-party utility value. Step (E) may be made without substantially considering the first-party utility value, and Step (B) may be made without substantially considering the first-party utility value.

Claims

1. A system for determining which of a plurality of different outcomes should be implemented, said system being configured for:

(A) identifying a first party of a plurality of parties as one of an excluded group of parties, said excluded group of parties comprising at least one party;

(B) identifying a candidate group that includes each of said plurality of parties other than said excluded group of parties;

(C) receiving, from said first party, a first-party utility value that said first party would associate with at least one of said plurality of different outcomes;

(D) receiving, from a second party, a second-party utility value that said second party would associate with at least one of said plurality of different outcomes, said second party being part of said candidate group; and

(E) determining which particular one of said plurality of outcomes should be selected based primarily on a set of utility values that comprises said second-party utility value, wherein

said determining step at Step (E) is made without substantially considering said first-party utility value, and

said identifying step at Step (A) is made without substantially considering said first-party utility value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is further configured for:

(F) receiving, from a third party of said plurality of parties, a third-party utility value that said third party would associate with at least one of said plurality of different outcomes, and wherein;

said set of utility values comprises said third-party utility value.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said system is further configured for:

(G) calculating a side payment that at least one party within said candidate group must make to said excluded group.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said side payment comprises a VCG tax.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said side payment comprises a first-price tax.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said system is further configured for indicating that said at least one party within said candidate group must make said side payment to said excluded group.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said system is further configured for:

(G) calculating a side payment that each party within said candidate group must make to said excluded group.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said system is further configured for indicating that each party within said candidate group must make said side payment to said excluded group.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is further configured for, at said Step (A), identifying said first party in a substantially random manner.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said system is further configured for:

(F) receiving, from a third party of said plurality of parties, a third-party utility value that said third party would associate with at least one of said plurality of different outcomes, and wherein said set of utility values comprises said third-party utility value.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said system is further configured for:

(G) calculating a side payment that at least one party within said candidate group must make to said excluded group.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said side payment comprises a VCG tax.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said side payment comprises a first-price tax.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said system is further configured for:

(G) calculating a side payment that at least one of said plurality of parties must make to another of said plurality of parties.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said side payment is determined, at least in part, based on said second party utility value.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said side payment comprises an average of a plurality of VCG taxes.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said side payment comprises an average of a plurality of first price taxes.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein said excluded group of parties consists of said first party.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

said system is configured for determining which single one of said plurality of parties should comprise said excluded group of parties using a substantially random method in which each of said plurality of parties has substantially the same chance of being selected to comprise said excluded group of parties.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said system is further configured for:

(G) calculating a side payment that at least one of said plurality of parties must make to another of said plurality of parties, and wherein;

said side payment is calculated based on utility values associated with outcomes chosen when the excluded group consists of a single party.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said system is further configured for:

(G) calculating a side payment that said second party must make to said first party, and wherein;

said second party utility value is a utility value associated with an outcome under which said first party is an excluded group, and

said side payment is calculated based on said second party utility value.

22. The system of claim 3, wherein said side payment is determined, at least in part, based on said second party utility value.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said excluded group comprises more than one of said plurality of parties.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of different outcomes comprises a plurality of different outcomes of a determination of which of said plurality of parties should own a particular item.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of different outcomes comprises a plurality of different outcomes of a determination of which of said plurality of parties should have a pre-determined set of rights related to a resource.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of different outcomes comprises a plurality of different outcomes of a determination of a common parameter that affects at least one of the parties.

27. A system for determining which of a plurality of different outcomes should be implemented, each of said plurality of outcomes comprising both a first outcome for a first decision to be made and a second outcome for a second decision to be made, said system being configured for:

(A) for said first decision, identifying, from a plurality of parties;

(1) a first excluded group of parties, and (2) a first candidate group of parties;

(B) receiving a first group of candidate-group utility values comprising at least one utility value for at least one particular party within said first candidate group that said particular party within said first candidate group would associate with at least one outcome of said first decision;

(C) for said second decision, identifying, from said plurality of parties;

(1) a second excluded group of parties, and (2) a second candidate group of parties;

(D) receiving a second group of candidate-group utility values comprising at least one utility value for at least one particular party within said second candidate group that said particular party within said second candidate group would associate with at least one outcome of said second decision;

(E) receiving a first group of excluded-group utility values comprising at least one utility value for at least one particular party within said first excluded group that said particular party within said first excluded group would associate with said first decision;

(F) determining which of said plurality of different outcomes should be selected based primarily on a plurality of groups of utility values comprising said first and second groups of candidate-group utility values, wherein;

said determining Step (F) is made without substantially considering said first group of excluded-group utility values, and

said identifying Step (A) is made without substantially considering said first-party utility value.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein:

each of said plurality of outcomes further comprises a third outcome for a third decision to be made; and

said system is configured for;

(G) for said third decision, identifying, from said plurality of parties;

(1) a third excluded group of parties, and (2) a third candidate group of parties, and

(H) receiving a third group of candidate-group utility values comprising at least one utility value for at least one particular party within said third candidate group that said particular party within said third candidate group would associate with at least one outcome of said third decision; and

said plurality of groups of candidate-group utility values comprises said third group of candidate-group utility values.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said system is further configured for:

(G) receiving a second group of excluded-group utility values comprising at least one utility value for at least one particular party within said second excluded group that said particular party within said second excluded group would associate with said second decision, wherein

said determining step at Step (F) is made without substantially considering said second group of excluded-group utility values.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein:

each of said plurality of outcomes further comprises a third outcome for a third decision to be made;

said system is configured for;

(H) for said third decision, identifying, from said plurality of parties;

(1) a third excluded group of parties, and (2) a third candidate group of parties, and

(I) receiving a third group of candidate-group utility values comprising at least one utility value for at least one particular party within said third candidate group that said particular party within said third candidate group would associate with at least one outcome of said third decision; and

said plurality of groups of candidate-group utility values comprises said third group of candidate-group utility values.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said system is further configured for:

(J) receiving a third group of excluded-party utility values comprising at least one utility value for at least one particular party within said third excluded group that said particular party within said third excluded group would associate with said third decision, wherein

said determining step at Step (F) is made without substantially considering said third group of excluded-group utility values.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein said system is further configured for:

(K) after determining which particular one of said plurality of outcomes should be selected, calculating a side payment that at least one of said plurality of parties must make to another of said plurality of parties.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said side payment comprises a VCG tax.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein said side payment comprises a first-price tax.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein said side payment is determined, at least in part, based on said second party utility value.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein said system is further configured for, at said Step (A), identifying said first excluded group of parties in a substantially random manner.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said system is further configured for, at Step (C), identifying said second excluded group of parties in a substantially random manner.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said system is further configured for:

(K) after determining which particular one of said plurality of outcomes should be selected, calculating a side payment that at least one of said plurality of parties must make to another of said plurality of parties.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said side payment is determined, at least in part, based at least in part on said first group of utility values.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said side payment is determined, at least in part, based on said second group of utility values.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein said side payment comprises an average of a plurality of VCG taxes.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein said side payment comprises an average of a plurality of first price taxes.

43. The system of claim 32, wherein:

said first excluded group of parties consists of a single party; and

said system is configured for determining which single one of said plurality of parties should comprise said first excluded group of parties using a substantially random method in which each of said plurality of parties has substantially the same chance of being selected to comprise said first excluded group of parties.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein:

said second excluded group of parties consists of a single party; and

said system is configured for determining which single one of said plurality of parties should comprise said first excluded group of parties using a substantially random method in which each of said plurality of parties has substantially the same chance of being selected to comprise said second excluded group of parties.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein said system is further configured for:

(J) calculating a side payment that at least one of said plurality of parties must make to another of said plurality of parties, and wherein;

said side payment is calculated based on utility values associated with outcomes chosen for each decision when the excluded group consists of exactly one party.

46. The system of claim 27, wherein said plurality of different outcomes comprises a plurality of different outcomes of a determination of which of said plurality of parties should own a particular item.

47. The system of claim 27, wherein said plurality of different outcomes comprises a plurality of different outcomes of a determination of which of said plurality of parties should have a pre-determined set of rights related to a resource.

48. The system of claim 27, wherein said plurality of different outcomes comprises a plurality of different outcomes of a determination of a common parameter that affects at least one of the parties.

49. A system for determining which particular party of a plurality of parties should receive a set of rights, said plurality of parties consisting of a particular number of parties, said method comprising:

receiving a bid from each of said plurality of parties;

with a probability of about [(the number of particular parties−

1)/(the number of particular parties)] determining that the highest bidder of said plurality of parties should receive said set of rights; and

with a probability of about [1/(the number of particular parties)], determining that the second highest bidder of said plurality of parties should receive said set of rights.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said system is configured so that:

said system also determines that said highest bidder should pay each other of said plurality of parties aside itself and the second highest bidder a sum that is equal to about (the amount of the second highest bid offered by said plurality of parties)/(the number of particular parties).

51. The system of claim 49, wherein said system is configured so that:

said system also determines that said highest bidder should pay each other of said plurality of parties aside itself and the second highest bidder a sum that is equal to about (the amount of the highest bid offered by said plurality of parties)/(the number of particular parties).

52. A system for attributing a plurality of obligations to a plurality of parties, said system being adapted for executing the steps of:

(A) identifying a first party of the plurality of parties as an excluded party;

(B) receiving, from a second party of the plurality of parties, a cost value that the second party would incur if the second party were assigned a set of obligations comprising at least one of said obligations; and

(C) determining, for each particular one of said obligations, which party of said plurality of parties should be assigned that particular obligation, wherein;

the determining step at Step (C) is based primarily on a set of cost values that comprises the second-party cost value;

the identifying step at Step (A) is made randomly such that each party is excluded with a probability of about [1/(the number of particular parties)], and

in the determining step at step (C), no obligation is attributed to the excluded party.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein said system is configured to determine that said excluded party should pay said second party a tax payment, said tax payment being greater than or equal to the sum of the costs claimed by said second party in said receiving step (B) for the obligations attributed to it in said determining step (C).

54. The system of claim 52, wherein said system is configured to determine a set of payments that each of said plurality of parties must make to each other of said plurality of parties.