Micro-job Work Distribution via Inline Frame Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Micro-job platforms face challenges in efficiently distributing work units across multiple platforms due to a lack of available workers, leading to increased processing times, which cannot be resolved by simply increasing payment, as it is not desirable from a business perspective.

Innovation Solution

A method that automatically distributes work units across multiple micro-job platforms using a distribution scheme, injecting inline frames with source code into each platform, and dynamically reassigns work units based on throughput measurements to optimize worker utilization and balance load across platforms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If work units are distributed across multiple micro-job platforms, then worker availability and processing capacity are improved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized distribution system that acts as an intermediary between the job poster and multiple micro-job platforms. This intermediary manages the complexity of distributing work units across different platforms by handling the routing, monitoring, and coordination automatically, thus improving processing capacity without proportionally increasing system complexity from the user's perspective

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The distribution system is designed to universally interface with multiple micro-job platforms through standardized mechanisms. By creating a universal distribution architecture that can handle various platforms (e.g., Amazon Mechanical Turk, Clickworker, Appen), the system achieves multi-functionality that improves productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through standardization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If manual distribution of work units across multiple platforms is used, then platform-specific interfaces can be handled individually, but processing time and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform interface compatibilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automation where the distribution mechanism automatically handles work unit allocation across platforms without manual intervention. The system monitors platform performance, adjusts distribution dynamically, and manages the entire workflow autonomously, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining ease of operation through automated platform compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration and testing of platform interfaces before actual work distribution begins. By pre-establishing connection protocols, authentication mechanisms, and communication channels with multiple platforms, the system eliminates time-consuming setup operations during execution, thus reducing processing time while maintaining broad platform compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If work units are assigned to platforms with insufficient workers, then platform selection is simplified, but task completion time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform selection complexityVSAvoidtask completion time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors platform performance metrics including worker availability, task completion rates, and response times. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of work unit distribution to platforms that are currently underperforming or have insufficient workers, while automatically shifting to platforms with adequate capacity, thus reducing task completion time without increasing selection complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The platform selection and distribution strategy is made dynamic rather than static. The system adapts its platform choices in real-time based on changing worker availability, platform performance, and task requirements. This dynamic approach ensures optimal platform selection that minimizes task completion time while maintaining simple operation through automated adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3920112A1A method for distributing work units across multiple micro-job platforms, computer-readable medium and system
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 SCALEHUB AG
  • EP3920112A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3920112A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3920112A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Shifting work between micro-job platforms is at present not easily possible. This problem is overcome by a method (100), comprising the following steps: • Receiving (110) at least one micro-job-description (11), the at least one micro-job-description (11) comprising source-code (15) that provides a description of a task to be performed and input data (11) comprising a plurality of data elements (16, 16'); • Creating (120) a plurality of work units (12, 12') based on the at least one micro-job description (11) and being associated with at least one data element (16, 16'); • Assigning (130) a first set of work units (18) of the plurality of work units (18, 18', 18") to a first set of workers (8, 8', 8") of a first micro-job platform (6, 6', 6") and assigning (130) a second set of work units (18') of the plurality of work units (18, 18', 18") to a second set of workers (8, 8', 8') of a second micro-job platform (6, 6', 6") according to a distribution scheme (17); • For each worker (8, 8', 8') of the first and second set of workers (8, 8', 8'), injecting (140) an inline frame (13) into source-code (15) of a website (19, 19') corresponding to the work unit (12, 12').