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

• US 7,813,968 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kirkland, Dustin C., Halcrow, Michael Austin
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US12/247,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• 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 data processing system for bidding on a task, the data processing system comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing a set of instructions, wherein the processor executes the set of instructions to perform the steps of;

detecting a task published by a portable device for bidding, wherein the detecting the task published by the portable device for bidding comprises;

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

responsive to detecting the presence of the portable device, for determining by the data processing system whether a task list for the portable device is accessible;

accessing the task list to detect the task in the task list;

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 a determination is made that the task can be completed; and

sending the bid to the portable device.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the location is a location of an entity generating the bid.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the detecting the task published by the portable device for bidding includes:

establishing a connection with a Web server; and

identifying the task at the Web server.

4. The data processing system of claim 3, wherein the task is associated with a location of the portable device and wherein the determining by the data processing system whether the task list for the portable device is accessible 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.

5. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the sending the bid to the portable device includes:

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

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

7. The data processing system of claim 4, wherein the location of the portable device is determined using a global positioning system.

8. The data processing system of claim 4, wherein the location of the portable device is approximated based on connectivity of the portable device with the wireless network.

9. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a Bluetooth network.

10. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the selected distance is selected by the user of the portable device.

11. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the specification of the selected distance is located in the task.

12. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having instructions for bidding on a task, the computer program product comprising;

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

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

second sub instructions, responsive to detecting the presence of the portable device, for determining by the data processing system 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;

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

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.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the location is a location of an entity generating the bid.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, 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.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, 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.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the second instructions include:

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

17. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the task is at least one of a purchase of an item and a purchase of a service.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the location of the portable device is determined using a global positioning system.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the location of the portable device is approximated based on connectivity of the portable device with the wireless network.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the wireless network is a Bluetooth network.

21. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the selected distance is selected by a user of the portable device.

22. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the specification of the selected distance is located in the task.