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

• US 20060136319A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Kirkland, Dustin C., Halcrow, Michael Austin
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• 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 portable device for obtaining bids for a task, the method comprising:

providing access to a task in a set of tasks for bidding through a wireless network, wherein 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; and

receiving a bid for the task from the entity through the wireless network, wherein the entity generating the bid for the task is within the selected distance from the location of the portable device and wherein the bid may be accepted for completing the task.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving additional bids on for the task;

selecting a particular bid from the bid and the additional bids; and

accepting the particular bid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes:

broadcasting the task on the wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes:

sending the task to a Web server accessed by entities wishing to bid on tasks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes:

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

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is located within a selected distance from a location the portable device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the portable device is determined using a global positioning system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the portable device is approximated based on connectivity of the portable device with the wireless network.

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

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

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

13. 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;

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.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the location is a location of an entity generating the bid.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the detecting step includes:

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

determining whether a task list for the portable device is accessible; and

accessing the task list to detect the task in the task list.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the detecting step includes:

establishing a connection with a Web server; and

identifying the task at the Web server.

17. The method of claim 16, 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 if the task.

18. A data processing system in a portable device for obtaining bids for a task, wherein the receiving means is a first receiving means, the data processing system comprising:

providing means for providing access to a task in a set of tasks for bidding through a wireless network wherein 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; and

receiving means for receiving a bid for the task from the entity through the wireless network, wherein the entity generating the bid for the task is within the selected distance from the location of the portable device and wherein the bid may be accepted for completing the task.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the receiving means is a first receiving means and further comprising:

second receiving means for receiving additional bids on for the task;

selecting means for selecting a particular bid from the bid and the additional bids; and

accepting means for accepting the particular bid.

20. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the providing means includes:

broadcasting means for broadcasting the task on the wireless network.

21. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the providing means includes:

sending means for sending the task to a Web server accessed by entities wishing to bid on tasks.

22. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the receiving means includes:

means for receiving at least one e-mail message from the entity containing the bid.

23. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the task is at least one of a purchase of an item and a purchase of a service.

24. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the entity is located within a selected distance from a location the portable device.

25. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the location of the portable device is determined using a global positioning system.

26. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the location of the portable device is approximated based on connectivity of the portable device with the wireless network.

27. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the network is a Bluetooth network.

28. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the selected distance is selected by the user of the portable device.

29. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the specification of the selected distance is located in the task.

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

detecting means for detecting a task published by a portable device for bidding;

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

second determining means for determining whether the task can be completed;

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

sending means for sending the bid to the portable device.

31. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the location is a location of an entity generating the bid.

32. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the detecting means includes:

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

determining means for determining whether a task list for the portable device is accessible; and

accessing means for accessing the task list to detect the task in the task list.

33. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the detecting means includes:

establishing means for establishing a connection with a Web server; and

identifying means for identifying the task at the Web server.

34. The data processing system of claim 33, wherein the task is associated with a location of the portable device and wherein the determining means includes:

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

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

35. A computer program product in a portable device for obtaining bids for a task, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for providing access to a task in a set of tasks for bidding through a wireless network, wherein 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; and

second instructions for receiving a bid for the task from the entity through the wireless network, wherein the entity generating the bid for the task is within the selected distance from the location of the portable device and wherein the bid may be accepted for completing the task.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 further comprising:

third instructions for receiving additional bids on for the task;

fourth instructions for selecting a particular bid from the bid and the additional bids; and

fifth instructions for accepting the particular bid.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the providing step includes:

sub instructions for broadcasting the task on the wireless network.

38. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the first instructions includes:

sub instructions for sending the task to a Web server accessed by entities wishing to bid on tasks.

39. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the second instructions includes:

sub instructions for receiving at least one e-mail message from the entity containing the bid.

40. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the task is at least one of a purchase of an item and a purchase of a service.

41. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the entity is located within a selected distance from a location the portable device.

42. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the location of the portable device is determined using a global positioning system.

43. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the location of the portable device is approximated based on connectivity of the portable device with the wireless network.

44. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the network is a Bluetooth network.

45. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the selected distance is selected by a user of the portable device.

46. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the specification of the selected distance is located in the task.

47. A computer program product in a data processing system for bidding on a task, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for detecting a task published by a portable device for bidding;

second instructions for determining whether the portable device is within a selected distance of a location; and

third instructions for determining whether the task can be completed;

fourth instructions for generating a bid to complete the task if the portable device is within the selected distance of the location and the task a determination is made that the task can be completed; and

fifth instructions for sending the bid to the portable device.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the location is a location of an entity generating the bid.

49. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the first instructions includes:

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

second sub instructions for determining whether a task list for the portable device is accessible; and

third sub instructions for accessing the task list to detect the task in the task list.

50. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the first instructions includes:

first sub instructions for establishing a connection with a Web server; and

second sub instructions for identifying the task at the Web server.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the task is associated with a location of the portable device and wherein the first instructions include:

first sub instructions for determining whether the task is of a type that can be completed; and

second sub instructions for determining whether the location of the portable device allows for completion of the task if the task.