COMMUNITY-BASED WORK VALUE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090307129A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Athsani, Athellina, Matkowsky, Jonathan, Kalaboukis, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/134,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307129A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a system and method to identify one or more tasks, determine a community corresponding to an identified task, receive input from the determined community, e.g. valuation input, suggestions on a performer of the task, inquiry input, etc. A value is assigned for the task using input received from the determined community. The determined community that values the task may be responsible for paying an amount equal to the value of the task identified by the community in exchange for performance of the task.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving input identifying a task to be performed;

determining a community of users for the identified task from a user base;

requesting valuation input from the determined community of users; and

assigning a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the community of users that are requested to provide valuation input for the task are responsible for funding the task.

3. The method of claim 1, the step of determining a community of users for the identified task further comprising:

filtering the user base using one or more filtering criteria to identify the users from the user base that satisfy the filtering criteria.

4. The method of claim 3, the step of filtering further comprising:

filtering the user base by comparing geographic location information identified for the task with spatial information stored for one or more users in the user base; and

identifying the one or more users from the user base that have a spatial relationship with the identified task for inclusion in the community of users.

5. The method of claim 4, the geographic information associated with a user is provided by the user.

6. She method of claim 3, the step of filtering further comprising:

filtering the user base by comparing information identified for the task with information collected for the one or more users in the user base, the information for each of user being collected from input provided by the user or from monitoring the user'"'"'s online activities; and

identifying the one or more users from the user base that have a relationship with the identified task for inclusion in the community of users.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting information about a user during a user registration.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a user'"'"'s online activities; and

collecting information about the user based on the user'"'"'s online activities.

9. The method of claim 1, the step of assigning a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community further comprising:

determining a monetary value of the task using the valuation input received from the determined community;

determining a convergence measure from the valuation input received from the determined community; and

comparing the determined convergence measure with a predetermined convergence threshold to determine whether or not to request approval from the determined community of the determined monetary value of the task.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

requesting approval of the determined monetary value of the task in a case that it is determined that the convergence measure exceeds the predetermined convergence threshold.

11. The method of claim 9, the step of determining a monetary value of the task further comprising:

determining a value range comprising a low-end value and a high-end value; and

determining the monetary value of the task using the determined value range.

12. The method of claim 11, the step of determining the monetary value of the task using the determined value range further comprising:

determining a monetary value of the task that is at least equal to the low-end value and is no more than the high-end value.

13. The method of claim 11, the step of determining the monetary value of the task using the determined value range further comprising:

determining a monetary value of the task that is mid-range between the low-end value and the high-end value.

14. The method of claim 1, the step of assigning a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community further comprising:

determining a monetary value of the task using historical valuation input received in connection with one or more other tasks;

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the historical valuation input is received from the determined community in connection with one or more other tasks related to the task.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the historical valuation input is received from one or more communities other than the determined community.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the historical valuation input corresponds to one or more tasks that are similar to the task.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the historical valuation input corresponds to one or more tasks associated with one or more members of the determined community.

19. The method of claim 1, the step of determining a community of users further comprising:

determining whether a relationship exists between a user that provided the task to be performed and another user determined for the user community; and

excluding the other user from the user community in a case that a relationship exists between the user that provided the task and the other user.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering each user of the user base, so that information is received for each user during the user'"'"'s registration; and

validating the user'"'"'s identification information.

21. The method of claim 20, the step of validating further comprising:

causing at least one credit card transaction to be performed using credit card information provided by the user during registration, each credit card transaction performed to validate the user being for a different amount;

confirming from a source other than the user that each credit card transaction completed successfully; and

receiving input from the user confirming the amount of each credit card transaction.

22. The method of claim 20, the step of registering a user further comprising:

receiving agreement by the user to abide by terms of service, the user'"'"'s agreement being a prerequisite to successful completion of the user'"'"'s registration.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the terms of service indicate that a violation of any provision of the terms service can result in punishment being imposed on the user.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the punishment comprises notifying the user base of the user'"'"'s violation.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the punishment comprises temporarily revoking the user'"'"'s privileges.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the punishment comprises permanently revoking the user'"'"'s privileges.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

notifying the user base that adherence to the terms of service can be monitored by one or more undercover agents.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more undercover agents are users selected from the user base.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more undercover agent are individuals posing as users in the user base.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more undercover agents are a combination of users selected from the user base and individuals posing as users in the user base.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

appointing a board comprising more than one member, the board being responsible for passing judgment in connection with the terms of service.

32. A system comprising:

one or more servers configured to;

receive input identifying a task to be performed;

determine a community of users for the identified task from a user base;

request valuation input from the determined community of users; and

assign a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community of users.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the community of users that are requested to provide valuation input for the task are responsible for funding the task.

34. The system of claim 32, the one or more servers configured to determine a community of users for the identified task being further configured to:

filter the user base using one or more filtering criteria to identify the users from the user base that satisfy the filtering criteria.

35. The system of claim 34, the one or more servers configured to filter being further configured to:

filter the user base by comparing geographic location information identified for the task with spatial information stored for one or more users in the user base; and

identify the one or more users from the user base that have a spatial relationship with the identified task for inclusion in the community of users.

36. The system of claim 35, the geographic information associated with a user is provided by the user.

37. The system of claim 34, the one or more servers configured to filter being further configured to:

filter the user base by comparing information identified for the task with information collected for the one or more users in the user base, the information for each of user being collected from input provided by the user or from monitoring the user'"'"'s online activities; and

identify the one or more users from the user base that have a relationship with the identified task for inclusion in the community of users.

38. The system of claim 32, the one or more servers being further configured to:

collect information about a user during a user registration.

39. The system of claim 32, the one or more servers being further configured to:

monitor a user'"'"'s online activities; and

collect information about the user based on the user'"'"'s online activities.

40. The system of claim 32, the one or more servers configured to assign a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community being further configured to:

determine a monetary value of the task using the valuation input received from the determined community;

determine a convergence measure from the valuation input received from the determined community; and

compare the determined convergence measure with a predetermined convergence threshold to determine whether or not to request approval from the determined community of the determined monetary value of the task.

41. The system of claim 40, the one or more servers being further configured to:

request approval of the determined monetary value of the task in a case that it is determined that the convergence measure exceeds the predetermined convergence threshold.

42. The system of claim 40, the one or more servers configured to determine a monetary value of the task being further configured to:

determine a value range comprising a low-end value and a high-end value; and

determine the monetary value of the task using the determined value range.

43. The system of claim 42, the one or more servers configured to determine the monetary value of the task using the determined value range being further configured to:

determine a monetary value of the task that is at least equal to the low-end value and is no more than the high-end value.

44. The system of claim 42, the one or more servers configured to determine the monetary value of the task using the determined value range being further configured to:

determine a monetary value of the task that is mid-range between the low-end value and the high-end value.

45. The system of claim 32, the one or more servers configured to assign a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community being further configured to:

determine a monetary value of the task using historical valuation input received in connection with one or more other tasks;

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the historical valuation input is received from the determined community in connection with one or more other tasks related to the task.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the historical valuation input is received from one or more communities other than the determined community.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the historical valuation input corresponds to one or more tasks that are similar to the task.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the historical valuation input corresponds to one or more tasks associated with one or more members of the determined community.

50. The system of claim 32, the one or more servers configured to determine a community of users being further configured to:

determine whether a relationship exists between a user that provided the task to be performed and another user determined for the user community; and

exclude the other user from the user community in a case that a relationship exists between the user that provided the task and the other user.

51. The system of claim 32, the one or more servers being further configured to:

register each user of the user base, so that information is received for each user during the user'"'"'s registration; and

validate the user'"'"'s identification information.

52. The system of claim 51, the one or more servers configured to validate being further configured to:

cause at least one credit card transaction to be performed using credit card information provided by the user during registration, each credit card transaction performed to validate the user being for a different amount;

confirm from a source other than the user that each credit card transaction completed successfully; and

receive input from the user confirming the amount of each credit card transaction.

53. The system of claim 51, the one or more servers configured to register a user being further configured to:

receive agreement by the user to abide by terms of service, the user'"'"'s agreement being a prerequisite to successful completion of the user'"'"'s registration.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the terms of service indicate that a violation of any provision of the terms service can result in punishment being imposed on the user.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the punishment comprises notifying the user base of the user'"'"'s violation.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the punishment comprises temporarily revoking the user'"'"'s privileges.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein the punishment comprises permanently revoking the user'"'"'s privileges.

58. The system of claim 53, the one or more servers being further configured to:

notify the user base that adherence to the terms of service can be monitored by one or more undercover agents.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the one or more undercover agents are users selected from the user base.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the one or more undercover agent are individuals posing as users in the user base.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the one or more undercover agents are a combination of users selected from the user base and individuals posing as users in the user base.

62. The system of claim 53, the one or more servers being further configured to:

appoint a board comprising more than one member, the board being responsible for passing judgment in connection with the terms of service.

63. A computer-readable medium tangibly embodying program code, the program code comprising code to:

receive input identifying a task to be performed;

determine a community of users for the identified task from a user base;

request valuation input from the determined community of users; and

assign a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community of users.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, wherein the community of users that are requested to provide valuation input for the task are responsible for funding the task.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, the code to determine a community of users for the identified task further comprising code to:

filter the user base using one or more filtering criteria to identify the users from the user base that satisfy the filtering criteria.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 65, the code to filter further comprising code to:

filter the user base by comparing geographic location information identified for the task with spatial information stored for one or more users in the user base; and

identify the one or more users from the user base that have a spatial relationship with the identified task for inclusion in the community of users.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 66, the geographic information associated with a user is provided by the user.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 65, the code to filter further comprising code to:

filter the user base by comparing information identified for the task with information collected for the one or more users in the user base, the information for each of user being collected from input provided by the user or from monitoring the user'"'"'s online activities; and

identify the one or more users from the user base that have a relationship with the identified task for inclusion in the community of users.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, the program code further comprising code to:

collect information about a user during a user registration.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, the program code further comprising code to:

monitor a user'"'"'s online activities; and

collect information about the user based on the user'"'"'s online activities.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, the code to assign a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community further comprising code to:

determine a monetary value of the task using the valuation input received from the determined community;

determine a convergence measure from the valuation input received from the determined community; and

compare the determined convergence measure with a predetermined convergence threshold to determine whether or not to request approval from the determined community of the determined monetary value of the task.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, the program code further comprising code to:

request approval of the determined monetary value of the task in a case that it is determined that the convergence measure exceeds the predetermined convergence threshold.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, the code to determine a monetary value of the task further comprising code to:

determine a value range comprising a low-end value and a high-end value; and

determine the monetary value of the task using the determined value range.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, the code to determine the monetary value of the task using the determined value range further comprising code to:

determine a monetary value of the task that is at least equal to the low-end value and is no more than the high-end value.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, the code to determine the monetary value of the task using the determined value range further comprising code to:

determine a monetary value of the task that is mid-range between the low-end value and the high-end value.

76. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, the code to assign a value to the task using the valuation input received from the determined community further comprising code to:

determine a monetary value of the task using historical valuation input received in connection with one or more other tasks;

77. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the historical valuation input is received from the determined community in connection with one or more other tasks related to the task.

78. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the historical valuation input is received from one or more communities other than the determined community.

79. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the historical valuation input corresponds to one or more tasks that are similar to the task.

80. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the historical valuation input corresponds to one or more tasks associated with one or more members of the determined community.

81. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, the code to determine a community of users further comprising code to:

determine whether a relationship exists between a user that provided the task to be performed and another user determined for the user community; and

exclude the other user from the user community in a case that a relationship exists between the user that provided the task and the other user.

82. The computer-readable medium of claim 63, the program code further comprising code to:

register each user of the user base, so that information is received for each user during the user'"'"'s registration; and

validate the user'"'"'s identification information.

83. The computer-readable medium of claim 82, the code to validate further comprising code to:

cause at least one credit card transaction to be performed using credit card information provided by the user during registration, each credit card transaction performed to validate the user being for a different amount;

confirm from a source other than the user that each credit card transaction completed successfully; and

receive input from the user confirming the amount of each credit card transaction.

84. The computer-readable medium of claim 82, the code to register a user further comprising code to:

receive agreement by the user to abide by terms of service, the user'"'"'s agreement being a prerequisite to successful completion of the user'"'"'s registration.

85. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, wherein the terms of service indicate that a violation of any provision of the terms service can result in punishment being imposed on the user.

86. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, wherein the punishment comprises notifying the user base of the user'"'"'s violation.

87. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, wherein the punishment comprises temporarily revoking the user'"'"'s privileges.

88. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, wherein the punishment comprises permanently revoking the user'"'"'s privileges.

89. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, the program code further comprising code to:

notify the user base that adherence to the terms of service can be monitored by one or more undercover agents.

90. The computer-readable medium of claim 89, wherein the one or more undercover agents are users selected from the user base.

91. The computer-readable medium of claim 89, wherein the one or more undercover agent are individuals posing as users in the user base.

92. The computer-readable medium of claim 89, wherein the one or more undercover agents are a combination of users selected from the user base and individuals posing as users in the user base.

93. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, the program code further comprising code to:

appoint a board comprising more than one member, the board being responsible for passing judgment in connection with the terms of service.