Automated incentive computation in crowdsourcing systems

In association with a specified task of a given type which is to be submitted for execution to a crowdsourcing marketplace, wherein task execution must be completed within a specified maximum time, and an incentive offered for task execution cannot exceed a specified maximum incentive value, a method comprising the steps of:

• computing an initial incentive range having values for a minimum incentive, a midrange incentive, and a maximum incentive, wherein the maximum incentive is equal to the specified maximum incentive value:
• acquiring historical data pertaining to tasks of the given type which were previously executed by crowdsourcing, wherein the historical data includes at least completion times and incentives of the previously executed tasks;
• using the historical data with the minimum incentive, the midrange incentive and the maximum incentive to compute, respectively, a minimum incentive task completion time (CT[B(C)min]), a midrange incentive task completion time (CT[B(C)mid]), and a maximum incentive task completion time (CT[B(C)max]);
• selectively processing CT[B(C)min], CT[B(C)mid], and CT[B(C)max] to determine whether a first criterion, a second criterion or a third criterion has been complied with;
• responsive to determining that either the first criterion or the second criterion has been complied with, selectively transforming the specified task, and computing an updated incentive range for the transformed task;
• and
• using the transformed task and updated incentive range in computing a final incentive value, for submission with at least a portion of the specified task to the crowdsourcing marketplace.