# US 2014/0156324 A1 · Selective automated transformation of tasks in crowdsourcing systems

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- Number: US 2014/0156324 A1
- Document ID: US20140156324A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/706,008
- Filed: 2012-12-05
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Osamuyimen T. Stewart; Maja Vukovic
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156324A1

## CPC

- G06Q 10/06311: {Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group}
- G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An embodiment of the invention is associated with a system disposed to post software related tasks to a crowdsourcing marketplace for execution. Prior to posting a specified task, it is determined whether the specified task comprises a complex task. Responsive to determining that the specified task comprises a complex task, the specified task is evaluated with respect to a first criterion, to determine whether the specified task should be decomposed into two or more atomic tasks. Responsive to determining that the specified task does not comprise a complex task, the specified task is evaluated with respect to a second criterion, to determine whether the specified task should be combined with other tasks into a bundled task.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In association with a system disposed to post software related tasks to a crowdsourcing marketplace for execution, a method comprising the steps of:
prior to posting a specified task to the crowdsourcing marketplace, determining whether or not the specified task comprises a complex task;
responsive to determining that the specified task comprises a complex task, evaluating the task with respect to at least a first criterion, to determine whether the specified task should be decomposed into two or more atomic tasks; and
responsive to determining that the specified task does not comprise a complex task, evaluating the task with respect to at least a second criterion, to determine whether the specified task should be combined with one or more other tasks into a bundled task.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
each of the atomic tasks comprises a discrete identifiable task that must be executed, in order to completely execute the specified task.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
determining whether the specified task comprises a complex task includes defining one or more metrics that each pertains to task complexity, wherein a value for each metric is derived from one or more parameters associated with the specified task.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further wherein:
each of the metric values is applied to a prespecified rule in order to determine whether the specified task comprises a complex task.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
evaluating the specified task with respect to the first criterion comprises determining whether a prespecified requirement will be complied with, if the prespecified task is submitted to the crowdsourcing marketplace for completion without being decomposed into atomic tasks.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein:
the prespecified requirement is that the specified task will be completed by a prespecified time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein:
determining whether the prespecified requirement will be complied with comprises assessing at least one element selected from a group of crowdsourcing marketplace elements, consisting of the number of crowdsourcing agents that each has a skill set required for the specified task; the number of tasks each agent has previously completed that are of the same type as the specified task; the current number of task requests posted by others to the crowdsourcing marketplace, wherein the tasks of the posted requests are of the same type as the specified task and have not yet been completed; and price information associated with the posted task requests.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
responsive to determining that the specified task should be decomposed into a given number of atomic tasks comprising two or more, decomposing the specified task into the given number of atomic tasks, for submission to the crowdsourcing marketplace.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the second criterion comprises an initial monetary incentive assigned to the specified task.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein:
evaluating the specified task with respect to the second criterion comprises comparing the initial incentive with other incentives in the crowdsourcing marketplace that are associated with tasks of the same type as the specified type.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:
responsive to determining that the specified task should be combined with one or more other tasks, combining the specified task with a given number of other tasks into a bundled task for submission to the crowdsourcing marketplace.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:
assigning a selected incentive to the bundled task.

### Claim at position 13

13-20. (canceled)