Broadcast Messaging of Incentives Based on Value
First Claim
1. A method for a provider to generate incentives for users u to perform tasks t, the method comprising the steps of:
- assigning the tasks t to the users u to obtain a matrix of task assignments A(u,t) in which each of the users u is assigned to at least one of the tasks t and each of the tasks t is assigned to at least one of the users u, wherein each of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) has a value to the provider and a cost to the provider, wherein for a given one of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) the value to the provider less the cost to the provider is an economic utility to the provider, and wherein the step of assigning the tasks to the users is done so as to maximize a net benefit to the provider which is a sum of the economic utility to the provider for all of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t); and
offering incentives to the users u to perform the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t).
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Abstract
A method for a provider to generate incentives for users to perform tasks includes the following steps. The tasks are assigned to the users to obtain a matrix of task assignments in which each of the users is assigned to at least one of the tasks and each of the tasks is assigned to at least one of the users, wherein each of the task assignments has a value and a cost to the provider, wherein for a given one of the task assignments the value less the cost to the provider is an economic utility to the provider, and wherein the step of assigning the tasks to the users is done so as to maximize a net benefit to the provider which is a sum of the economic utility for all of the task assignments. Incentives are offered to the users to perform the task assignments.
39 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for a provider to generate incentives for users u to perform tasks t, the method comprising the steps of:
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assigning the tasks t to the users u to obtain a matrix of task assignments A(u,t) in which each of the users u is assigned to at least one of the tasks t and each of the tasks t is assigned to at least one of the users u, wherein each of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) has a value to the provider and a cost to the provider, wherein for a given one of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) the value to the provider less the cost to the provider is an economic utility to the provider, and wherein the step of assigning the tasks to the users is done so as to maximize a net benefit to the provider which is a sum of the economic utility to the provider for all of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t); and offering incentives to the users u to perform the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for a provider to generate incentives for users u to perform tasks t, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory; and at least one processor device, coupled to the memory, operative to; assign the tasks t to the users u to obtain a matrix of task assignments A(u,t) in which each of the users u is assigned to at least one of the tasks t and each of the tasks t is assigned to at least one of the users u, wherein each of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) has a value to the provider and a cost to the provider, wherein for a given one of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) the value to the provider less the cost to the provider is an economic utility to the provider, and wherein the step of assigning the tasks to the users is done so as to maximize a net benefit to the provider which is a sum of the economic utility to the provider for all of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t); and offer incentives to the users u to perform the task assignments.
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23. An article of manufacture for a provider to generate incentives for users u to perform tasks t, comprising a machine-readable recordable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:
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assigning the tasks t to the users u to obtain a matrix of task assignments A(u,t) in which each of the users u is assigned to at least one of the tasks t and each of the tasks t is assigned to at least one of the users u, wherein each of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) has a value to the provider and a cost to the provider, wherein for a given one of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t) the value to the provider less the cost to the provider is an economic utility to the provider, and wherein the step of assigning the tasks to the users is done so as to maximize a net benefit to the provider which is a sum of the economic utility to the provider for all of the task assignments in the matrix A(u,t); and offering incentives to the users u to perform the task assignments.
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Specification