# US 2014/0156331 A1 · Methods and systems for connecting third party applications to crowdsourcing communities > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156331 A1 - Document ID: US20140156331A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/097,236 - Filed: 2013-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Inventors: Matthew Cordasco - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156331A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/06311: {Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group} - 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 Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for crowdsourcing a task. An exemplary method comprises receiving a request to source the task to a crowdsourcing community. The request is received from a crowd connector embedded in a third party application. The task is advertised to the crowdsourcing community. A contractor associated with the crowdsourcing community is selected for the task based on predetermined criteria. The selected contractor is connected to the third part application via the crowd connector. The contractor performs the task remotely. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for crowdsourcing a task, the method comprising: receiving, by a processor, from a crowd connector embedded in a third party application, a request to source the task to a crowdsourcing community; advertising, by the processor, the task to the crowdsourcing community; selecting a contractor associated with the crowdsourcing community for the task based on predetermined criteria; and connecting the contractor to the third party application via the crowd connector, wherein the task is performed by the contractor remotely. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the task includes one or more of a software development task, a testing task, a copywriting task, a research task, and a design task. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the third party application includes a browser, a web page, an editing tool, a development tool, a testing tool, and a web document. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contractor submits results of performing the task. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising monitoring the submissions associated with the task. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising generating a progress report associated with the task. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving additional information associated with the task. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the additional information includes a description of the task, timing data, and payment data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the crowd connector is embedded in the third party application as one or more of an application plug-in, an application add-in, through a tag management system, and by embedding referential links. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing, to a crowdsourcer associated with the task, data related to one or more potential contractors, the one or more potential contractors being preselected, based on the predefined criteria, by the processor from a plurality of potential contractors who expressed willingness to perform the task; receiving, from the crowdsourcer, a selection of the contractor. ### Claim 11 A system for crowdsourcing a task, the system comprising: a processor configured to: receive from a crowd connector embedded in a third party application, a request to source the task to a crowdsourcing community, advertise the task to the crowdsourcing community; select a contractor associated with the crowdsourcing community for the task based on predetermined criteria; and connect the contractor to the third party application via the crowd connector, wherein the task is performed by the contractor remotely; and a database communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store at least the request, the task, and credentials associated with the crowdsourcing community. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the task includes one or more of a development task, a testing task, a copywriting task, a research task, and a design task. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the third party application includes a browser, a web page, an editing tool, a development tool, a testing tool, and a web document. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the crowd connector is embedded in the third party application as an application plug-in, an application add-in, through a tag management system, and by embedding referential links. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: process the request to classify the task associated with the request; and determine one or more crowdsourcing platforms in the plurality of crowdsourcing platforms matching the task, wherein the task is advertised via the one or more crowdsourcing platforms. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: monitor submissions associated with the task; and generate one or more progress reports representing completion status of the task. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive additional information associated with the task, the additional information including a description of the task, timing data, and payment data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive, from a crowdsourcer associated with the task, a confirmation of completion of the task by the contractor; and based on the confirmation, manage payments associated with the task. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, perform the following operations: receive, from a crowd connector embedded in a third party application, a request to source a task to a crowdsourcing community; advertise the task to the crowdsourcing community; select a contractor associated with the crowdsourcing community for the task based on predetermined criteria; and connect the contractor to the third part application via the crowd connector, wherein the task is performed by the contractor remotely. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the task includes a development task, a testing task, a copywriting task, a research task, and a design task.