Article Trading Platform with Priority Matching Algorithm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online trading sites for used goods lack efficiency in matching buyers and sellers, and do not effectively compensate content creators for used article trades, leading to reduced revenue for artists and marketing partners.
Innovation Solution
A web-based platform that allows members to trade articles by registering accounts with trading credits, where the administration computer facilitates matches and allocates a portion of trading fees to content creators, enabling one-way trades with priority algorithms for article distribution based on supply and demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a barter-type trading system is used among members, then trading flexibility and member control are improved, but matching efficiency and trade completion rate deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an administration computer as an intermediary that automatically matches member want lists with available articles. This mediator system processes matching algorithms, sends notifications to members, and coordinates trades without requiring direct member-to-member negotiation, thereby maintaining trading flexibility while significantly improving matching efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Members register their want lists and available articles in advance, allowing the system to automatically identify potential matches. This self-service approach enables members to control their trading preferences while the system handles the complex matching process, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and efficiency
2Device complexity
If manual matching processes are used, then system complexity is reduced, but time consumption and trade completion rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual matching processes with an automated computer-based matching system that uses algorithms to compare want lists with available articles. This substitution eliminates time-consuming manual intervention while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized matching criteria and automated notification processes
Solution Approach 2:
Members submit their want lists and available articles in advance, allowing the system to pre-process and store this information for rapid matching. This preliminary action enables the automated system to quickly identify matches when articles become available, reducing overall trade completion time without requiring complex real-time processing
3Productivity
If content creators are not compensated for used article trades, then trading costs are reduced and member participation increases, but revenue streams for content creators deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a portion of each trade is automatically allocated to content creators based on the original purchase information stored in the system. This feedback loop ensures content creators receive compensation while members can still participate in trading, as the compensation is automatically deducted and processed without requiring additional member action
Solution Approach 2:
The administration computer acts as an intermediary that automatically handles the compensation allocation to content creators. This mediator process manages the revenue distribution transparently, ensuring content creators are compensated for used article trades while maintaining active member participation in the trading system
Data Source
AI summary
Articles such as compact discs or electronic files are traded among a plurality of members who are registered in a common community. Each member has an account including a trading credit balance and a mailing address. A user interface is provided that allows a member to enter articles that the member owns and is willing to trade and articles that the member wants to own. The user interface also receives article trading instruction messages. An administration computer hosts the plurality of members and facilitates article trades among the members. The administration computer identifies matches between owned and wanted articles. A priority algorithm is used to select the member who will receive the article if there is more than one member who wants an article that another member owns and is willing to trade. The priority algorithm is based in part on a member score that is a function of the relative value of the articles that a member owns and sends to another member compared to the relative value of the articles that the member wants and receives from another member, the relative value of the articles being determined by a demand for the article compared to a supply for the article among the members.