System and method for task-based marketplace platform

Abstract

The embodiments herein provides a computer-implemented system and method for facilitating on-demand task assignment and management in a distributed network. The system dynamically connects task requesters with service providers through an algorithmic matching engine that evaluates factors such as skills, location, availability, and reputation. A bidding mechanism allows service providers to compete for tasks, while an integrated escrow-based payment system ensures secure transactions. The platform further incorporates a reputation management system with user ratings and verification features to enhance trust and reliability. By automating task posting, matching, scheduling, and payment processing, the invention optimizes efficiency, transparency, and scalability in peer-to-peer task outsourcing. The system is accessible via web and mobile interfaces, enabling real-time coordination between users across diverse geographic locations.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TASK-BASED MARKETPLACE PLATFORMCross Reference to Related Application

[0001] Not applicable or include if claiming priority from a provisional application.

[0002] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented system and method for connecting individuals or businesses requiring task completion with available service providers in a distributed network. More specifically, the invention pertains to a dynamic, algorithm-driven platform that facilitates real-time task assignment, bidding, scheduling, and payment processing.

[0003] With the rise of gig economy platforms, individuals and businesses are increasingly seeking ways to outsource tasks, ranging from home repairs to administrative assistance, on-demand. Conventional methods for finding task-based services involve posting job listings on traditional employment websites or using phone-based systems, which are inefficient and do not provide the convenience of an on-demand marketplace. While some existing services provide task-based labor platforms, there is a need for a more efficient, scalable, and user-friendly system that matches service providers (or "Taskers") with users needing assistance ("Requesters") based on a set of criteria such as proximity, availability, and skill set.

[0004] Description or the related art including information disclosed . examples of such assemblies are disclosed in the following U.S. pat. Nos.:

[0005] US 2022 0284365 A1 ("Errand Services Software Application"): This patent describes a system highly similar to the one you outlined, where users post errands / tasks and contractors / agents, after verification checks (e.g., background checks), can request to perform them. The entire process of posting, selection, tracking, and rating is covered.

[0006] US 2020 0193371 A1: This pertains to an on-demand service for personal shopping and package pickup, featuring functions like selecting the nearest contractor, ensuring secure completion, and intelligent task tracking.

[0007] US 2024 0035830 A1: This introduces an "Errand service associated with a ride request," which involves linking multi-category services (e.g., dog walking or providing transportation to a specific location), targeting parts of your platform's concept .

[0008] This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of the present disclosure, and is not intended to identify essential elements or key elements of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed implementations. The proper scope of the present disclosure may be ascertained from the claims set forth below in view of the detailed description below and the drawings.

[0009] The present invention addresses the challenges of traditional task-oriented services by providing a dynamic, real-time online platform that matches requesters with suitable service providers based on task requirements, user profiles, ratings, and geographic location. The system allows users to both request services and offer services via a simple, intuitive interface. The platform ensures security, transparency, and convenience through integrated payment and task tracking systems.

[0010] The invention provides a user-friendly and secure platform for facilitating on-demand task-based services. By leveraging advanced algorithms and real-time matching, users can quickly find qualified service providers, and service providers can efficiently find work opportunities. This approach optimizes both task completion and user satisfaction while ensuring security and transparency for all parties involved.

[0011] Existing online marketplaces for local services often suffer from significant technical inefficiencies in their matching algorithms. Common problems include:

[0012] Inefficient and Slow Matching: Many platforms use simplistic filters (e.g., keyword search followed by manual selection by the requester). This process is time-consuming for both parties and does not leverage available data to automate and optimize the match.

[0013] Poor Match Quality: Simple algorithms may prioritize a single factor, such as lowest price or highest rating, leading to suboptimal outcomes. For example, the lowest-priced provider may be geographically too far away, causing delays, or a highly-rated provider may lack a specific skill required for the task.

[0014] Lack of Contextual Awareness: Traditional systems often fail to incorporate real-time, dynamic contextual data, such as:

[0015] Real-time provider location and traffic conditions affecting ETA.

[0016] Current provider workload and availability.

[0017] Fluctuating demand in specific geographic zones.

[0018] Scalability Limitations: As the number of users (both requesters and providers) grows, a naive matching system can become a computational bottleneck, leading to increased latency in task assignment and a poor user experience.

[0019] Static and Non-Adaptive Systems: Many matching algorithms use fixed rules and weights. They lack the ability to learn from historical transaction data, user feedback, and market trends to self-improve and adapt the matching criteria over time.

[0020] Therefore, there is a recognized need for a more sophisticated, efficient, and intelligent technical solution to the problem of task-provider matching in a two-sided marketplace platform.

[0021] The technical problem solved by the present invention is how to automatically, efficiently, and optimally match a service request from a requester with a suitable service provider from a large pool of providers inreal-time, considering a multi-dimensional set of static, dynamic, and learned factors to maximize the probability of a successful transaction and user satisfaction for both parties.

[0022] This involves solving key technical challenges:

[0023] The data ingestion and normalization of heterogeneous request and provider profiles.

[0024] The efficient pre-filtering of a large provider database to a relevant candidate set to reduce computational load.

[0025] The real-time calculation of a multi-factor suitability score for each candidate provider.

[0026] The dynamic weighting of score factors (e.g., prioritizing proximity for urgent tasks, skills for complex tasks).

[0027] Ensuring the scalability and low latency of the matching process under high load.

[0028] Incorporating machine learning to continuously refine the scoring model based on platform performance data.

[0029] 1-Increased Matching Efficiency: Reduces the computational time and resources required to find a suitable match by employing efficient pre-filtering and optimized scoring.

[0030] 2-Improved Match Quality: The multi-factor, weighted scoring model leads to more contextually relevant and higher-quality matches, increasing successful transaction rates.

[0031] 3-Enhanced System Scalability: The modular, pipeline-based architecture allows for horizontal scaling of each component (e.g., separate scaling for the filtering and scoring engines) to handle growing user bases.

[0032] 4-Adaptive and Intelligent Operation: The integration of machine learning allows the system to evolve and improve its matching accuracy autonomously without requiring manual re-engineering of rule-based logic.

[0033] 5-Reduced Latency: The optimized process from request to assignment provides a faster user experience, which is critical for real-time on-demand service platforms.

[0034] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

[0035] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be performed, a preferred embodiment will now be described by way of non-limiting example only,by refrence to the accompanying diagrams.

[0036] The drawings show embodiments of the disclosed subject matter for the purpose of illustrating the invention. However , it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities ahown in the drawings , wherein :Fig.1

[0037] system architecture, according to an embodiment herein.Fig.2

[0038] task posting and acceptance , according to an embodiment herein.Fig.3

[0039] task matching algorithm , according to an embodiment herein.Fig.4

[0040] user interface diagram , according to an embodiment herein.Fig.5

[0041] Performance of matching algorithm, according to an embodiment herein.Fig.6

[0042] worker / customer application demo , according to an embodiment herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and / or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

[0044] The following detailed description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the methods and devices disclosed in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the exemplary implementations will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations and applications without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0045] For purposes of reference, it should be understood that the techniques and systems disclosed herein are applicable to coupled motion in a wrist; however, the techniques and systems may be adapted to a number of other applications .

[0046] In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. The embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0047] It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

[0048] Although only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that modifications and substitutions, as well as rearrangements and combinations of the disclosed embodiment can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the teachings of this invention, accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited an necessitated by the accompanying claims.

[0049] The present invention provides a system for facilitating task-based exchanges between service requesters and service providers (Taskers) via an online marketplace platform. The platform can be implemented on mobile devices, desktop computers, or any other devices capable of accessing the internet.

[0050] System Architecture

[0051] The system includes a central server that hosts a database and provides the functionality for matchmaking, payments, ratings, and communication. The server interacts with client devices (user interfaces) via a cloud-based or on-premise network infrastructure. The client interfaces include mobile applications and web portals designed for both requesters and Taskers.

[0052] User Registration and Profile Creation

[0053] Users register by creating accounts on the platform, providing basic personal information, such as name, contact details, and location. Taskers must also submit qualifications and skills related to services they can provide (e.g., plumbing, electrical work, cleaning, etc.), along with any necessary certifications.

[0054] Task Request and Matching

[0055] Requesters initiate task requests by providing task details, including a description, budget, timeline, and location. The platform uses an algorithm to match these requests with available Taskers who meet the specified criteria, including proximity, skillset, and availability.

[0056] Dynamic Pricing and Task Assignment

[0057] Once a match is found, the platform provides dynamic pricing based on factors such as task difficulty, task duration, Tasker ratings, and geographical location. Requesters can accept or reject the task bid. If accepted, the platform generates a contract or agreement detailing the task specifications, which the Tasker must confirm before proceeding.

[0058] Payment Processing

[0059] The platform provides integrated payment processing capabilities, ensuring that funds are securely transferred from the requester to the Tasker once the task is completed. The platform holds the funds in escrow until task completion is verified by both the requester and the Tasker.

[0060] Task Completion and Rating

[0061] After the completion of a task, both the requester and Tasker rate each other based on predefined criteria such as quality of work, timeliness, communication, etc. These ratings are stored in the user profiles and are factored into the matching algorithm for future tasks.Additional Features

[0062] Notifications: Push notifications or alerts to inform both parties about updates, status changes, and deadlines.

[0063] Dispute Resolution: A built-in system to mediate any disputes between requesters and Taskers, allowing users to submit feedback and request reviews.

[0064] Task History: A log of all completed tasks for users, providing historical data and trends in task completion times, ratings, and pricing.

[0065] Matching Algorithm Objective:

[0066] To select the optimal service provider (worker) for each service request based on factors such as:• Geographic location• Skills and expertise• Availability• User rating• History of successful task completion• Proposed price

[0067] Matching Algorithm Structure:

[0068] Stage 1: Receiving Request InformationWhen an employer posts a job, the following information is entered into the system:FieldExampleService TypeCleaningLocationTehran, District 2Desired TimeAug 5th, 10:00 AMDuration2 hoursBudget500,000 Tomans

[0069] Stage 2: Initial Worker FilteringFilter based on:• Skill match with the service type• Proximity within a geographical radius (e.g., 10 km)• Availability on the specified date and time

[0070] Stage 3: Worker ScoringA total score is calculated for each filtered worker. Sample formula:

[0071] Score = (W1 * Proximity_Score) +

[0072] (W2 * Rating_Score) +

[0073] (W3 * Completion_Rate) +

[0074] (W4 * Response_Speed) -

[0075] (W5 * Price_Deviation)

[0076] Parameter Definitions:FactorExplanationSuggested Weight (W)Proximity ScoreCloseness to the service location (closer = higher score)0.25Rating ScoreAverage rating from previous users (e.g., out of 5)0.20Completion RatePercentage of successfully completed previous tasks0.20Response SpeedSpeed of responding to previous offers / requests0.15Price DeviationDifference between the worker's proposed price and the employer's budget0.20

[0077] Stage 4: Final SelectionWorkers are ranked by their score, and the top 3 are displayed for the employer to choose from, or the job is automatically assigned to the best worker (depending on system settings).

[0078] Algorithm Advantages:

[0079] • Flexible and configurable for any type of service• Capable of being improved over time with AI and machine learning• Balances quality, price, and proximity

[0080]

[0081]

[0082] While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and / or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.

[0083] Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.

[0084] The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow. That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the prosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement of Sections 202, 204, or 206 of the Patent Act, nor should they be interpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subject matter is hereby disclaimed.

[0085] Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.

[0086] It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study, except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as “first” and “second” and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, as used herein and in the appended claims are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, encompassing a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements that does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

[0087] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is not intended to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various implementations. Such grouping is for purposes of streamlining this disclosure, and is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed implementations require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed implementation. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

[0088] While various implementations have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more implementations are possible that are within the scope of the implementations. Although many possible combinations of features are shown in the accompanying figures and discussed in this detailed description, many other combinations of the disclosed features are possible. Any feature of any implementation may be used in combination with or substituted for any other feature or element in any other implementation unless specifically restricted. Therefore, it will be understood that any of the features shown and / or discussed in the present disclosure may be implemented together in any suitable combination. Accordingly, the implementations are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.Examples

[0089] 1. The Service Provider as a Digital Legal / Administrative Proxy

[0090] For example, a user needs to attend an administrative or municipal meeting, but their physical presence is not mandatory. The service provider, using digital proxy authorization and multi-factor authentication, attends on the user's behalf.

[0091] 2. Validation of Medical or Educational Services

[0092] The service provider can physically go and assess the quality of a clinic, doctor, or educational institution (e.g., verifying the authenticity of credentials, measuring client satisfaction levels, or taking photos of the school environment).

[0093] 3. Service Provider as an Environmental Proxy

[0094] A user wants to know the real-time condition of an area (e.g., traffic levels, air pollution, or neighborhood noise) before purchasing property. The service provider goes there, uses your application to perform real-time capture and measurements, and provides a documented report.

[0095] 4. Safe Accompaniment for Vulnerable Individuals

[0096] Elderly users or individuals with disabilities can request a service provider from the platform to accompany them to banking appointments, medical visits, or in-person shopping.

[0097] 5. Service Provider for Event Concierge Services

[0098] For example, before an exhibition, concert, or wedding, a service provider can be by your side to handle a series of on-site tasks, ensuring you have a more professional and higher-quality purchasing experience. For instance, a service provider who is a clothing designer can use their taste to help you buy clothes, or they can act as an on-site coordination manager: venue inspection, equipment testing, or even negotiating with suppliers.

[0099] 6. Service Provider with a Local Market Researcher Role

[0100] A brand or small company can request a service provider to report on the prices of goods or services in different neighborhoods.

[0101] 7. Service Provider for Quality Control

[0102] For example, when a user has ordered a product online and the seller is about to deliver it, the service provider goes to check the quality of the item before final acceptance and reports any discrepancies.

[0103] 8. Home or Workplace Safety Inspection

[0104] A user can send a service provider to inspect the electrical wiring, locks, or safety issues of a new home or rented office before moving in.

[0105] 9. Service Provider as a Local Research Assistant

[0106] A user needs field data (e.g., surveying passersby or checking book inventory in a library). The service provider acts as a "field researcher" to collect the data.

[0107] 10. In-Person Educational Services

[0108] Parents can send a service provider to accompany their child to school or to deliver documents to the school. They can also trust a service provider to purchase educational supplies (e.g., rare books).

[0109] 11. Service Provider for Pet Care

[0110] Picking up a pet from the veterinary clinic, accompanying them for vaccinations, or buying pet food.

[0111] 12. Service Provider as a Health Reminder

[0112] For example, making in-person visits to the elderly to remind them to take their medication or to deliver purchased medicine.

[0113] 13. Service Provider as a Short-Term Social Companion / Conversationalist

[0114] A lonely individual or a traveler can request a service provider for short-term companionship (e.g., going to a cafe, city touring, or practicing a foreign language).

[0115] 14. Service Provider for Surprise or Gift Management

[0116] For example, a remote user wants to throw a surprise birthday for their friend; a local service provider buys and delivers the cake, flowers, and gifts.

[0117] 15. Service Provider for Retrieval / Delivery of Hybrid Physical-Digital Documents

[0118] For example, obtaining an official printout from a university or government office, immediately scanning and uploading it to the platform, and then delivering the physical copy to the user or recipient.

[0119] 16. Service Provider for Setting Up or Troubleshooting Home / Office Hardware

[0120] A user selects someone from the platform to go in person and, for example, set up an internet modem or a company printer.

[0121] 17. Service Provider as a "Pre-Arrival Assistant" for Travel

[0122] Before a user arrives at their travel destination, they send a service provider to check the rental property / hotel, do initial shopping (e.g., water, food), and prepare the environment.

[0123] 18. Service Provider for Inter-City Travel Companionship

[0124] In situations where a user needs a companion for a road trip, the service provider accompanies them as a reliable co-traveler.

[0125] Performing Multiple Diverse Tasks SimultaneouslyDescription: The user can register multiple different tasks—such as shopping at traditional stores without online sales, picking up clothes from the dry cleaner, and delivering an item to a friend—in a single order. Various taskers submit their offers, and the user selects from among them, assigning the tasks to the chosen individual.Distinction: Combining multiple heterogeneous services into one integrated order, which is less common in prior art.

[0126] Proxy Handling of Administrative and Banking TasksDescription: The user can select a tasker through the platform to handle their administrative or banking tasks, such as visiting a government office to obtain a certificate, completing graduation procedures at a university, or conducting banking operations.Distinction: The proxy role of the tasker in interacting with governmental or educational institutions, going beyond simple errand models.

[0127] Property Validation Through On-Site VisitsDescription: The user assigns a tasker to visit a property in person, take photos and videos of its actual condition, and provide an honest report. This prevents potential misuse of promotional images by real estate agents and builds greater trust for the user.Distinction: The capability for independent, on-site evaluation of property quality by a third party.

[0128] This invention is applicable to various industries, including home services, logistics, professional services, and personal assistance. It provides businesses and individuals with an efficient and scalable platform for outsourcing tasks, reducing overhead, and enhancing productivity.

Claims

A computerized system for facilitating task-based service exchanges between a requester and a service provider via a network, the system comprising:a user interface configured to receive a service request from the requester, the service request including a description of a task, a location, and at least one task parameter;a database storing user profiles comprising requester profiles and service provider profiles, the service provider profiles including skills, certifications, geographic location, availability, and user ratings;a matching engine configured to:- analyze the received service request;- compare the task parameters with the stored service provider profiles; and- select one or more service providers that meet the task parameters and match criteria including proximity, skill match, and availability;a task management module configured to present the selected service providers to the requester for task acceptance;a communication module enabling bidirectional communication between the requester and the selected service providers;a payment processing module configured to securely hold funds in escrow upon task acceptance and release payment upon task completion confirmation; anda rating module configured to allow the requester and the service provider to submit ratings and feedback after task completion, wherein the ratings influence future matching and visibility of the service providers.The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes one or more of a web-based portal and a mobile application.The system of claim 1, wherein the matching engine further uses a dynamic pricing algorithm configured to calculate a task price based on factors comprising task complexity, task duration, geographic location, service provider rating, and requester budget.The system of claim 1, further comprising a notification module configured to send real-time notifications to the requester and service provider regarding task status updates, including task acceptance, task start, and task completion reminders.The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module supports real-time messaging, voice, and video communications between the requester and the service provider.The system of claim 1, wherein the payment processing module supports multiple payment methods including credit card, digital wallets, and direct bank transfers.The system of claim 1, further comprising a dispute resolution module configured to receive and process complaints from either the requester or the service provider, and to mediate resolution through automated or human intervention.The system of claim 1, wherein the rating module maintains a historical record of tasks, including task descriptions, ratings, payment amounts, and completion times, and uses the historical data to generate performance analytics for both requesters and service providers.A method for facilitating task-based service exchanges over a network between a requester and a service provider, comprising the steps of:receiving a service request from a requester through a user interface, the request including task details, location, and parameters;retrieving service provider profiles from a database, each profile including skills, certifications, location, availability, and ratings;matching the service request to one or more service providers based on proximity, skill match, and availability;dynamically calculating a price for the task based on task parameters and user profiles;presenting the matched service providers and pricing to the requester for acceptance;upon acceptance, securing payment from the requester and holding the payment in escrow;enabling communication between the requester and the service provider to clarify task details;facilitating task execution and monitoring task status;upon task completion, releasing payment to the service provider and allowing both parties to submit ratings and feedback;updating the service provider profiles based on received ratings to improve future task matching.The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of sending notifications to the requester and service provider at key task milestones, including task acceptance, task start, and task completion reminders.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of handling disputes between the requester and service provider through a dispute resolution process.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of matching includes weighting factors such as service provider reliability, user ratings, and historical task completion times.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of claim 9.

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