Transparent Commodity Trading Network with Mobile Broadcast Matching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current online platforms and search engines fail to efficiently connect potential buyers and sellers of goods and services, making it difficult for them to find each other and facilitate transactions effectively.

Innovation Solution

Transparent commodity trading networks utilizing mobile communications devices to broadcast and receive product/service needs and offerings within a predetermined distance, with a transaction service allowing matching parties to identify and communicate, and potentially acting as intermediaries to facilitate transactions, while also providing ratings and incentives for successful matches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If online want-ad services and search engines are used to connect buyers and sellers, then information can be shared among potential parties, but the efficiency and effectiveness of connecting buyers and sellers is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation sharing efficiencyVSAvoidtransaction facilitation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transaction service as an intermediary that receives broadcasts from mobile devices, performs automated matching of buyers and sellers, and facilitates connections. This mediator resolves the contradiction by efficiently processing information matches while reducing the effort required for direct peer-to-peer connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual searching and browsing mechanisms with automated broadcast and match-based systems. Mobile devices automatically broadcast offerings and needs, and the system automatically matches compatible parties, substituting mechanical search processes with automated information propagation and pattern recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If mobile communications devices broadcast product needs and offerings within predetermined distance, then direct matching efficiency is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematching efficiencyVSAvoidmobile device configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages existing multi-functional mobile communication devices that can perform broadcasting, receiving, and computing operations. By utilizing the universal capabilities of standard mobile devices rather than requiring specialized equipment, the system achieves efficient matching without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Mobile devices autonomously perform broadcasting of their offerings and needs, automatic reception of other devices' broadcasts, and local processing of match identification. This self-service approach distributes the computational workload across individual devices rather than requiring complex centralized control, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining matching efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If mobile devices continuously broadcast and receive information, then transaction opportunities are increased, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction opportunity detectionVSAvoidmobile device energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous broadcasting and receiving, the system implements periodic actions where mobile devices broadcast and check for matches at intervals. This periodic operation reduces energy consumption compared to continuous operation while still maintaining effective detection of transaction opportunities through regular information exchange cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that during each active period, devices continuously broadcast and process information until a match is found or the periodic interval expires. This approach maximizes transaction opportunity detection during active phases while allowing energy-saving states during inactive periods, balancing productivity and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS7907892B2Transparent commodity trading networks and methods of facilitating transactions among buyers and sellers of products and services

Publication Date: 2011.03.15 BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION(US)

AI summary

A transparent commodity trading network facilitates transactions among parties. A plurality of mobile communications devices are each configured to broadcast product/service needs and/or product/service offerings of a party associated with the respective mobile communications device. Each mobile communications device is configured to receive product/service needs and/or product/service offerings broadcast by other mobile communications devices when respective mobile communications devices pass within a predetermined distance of each other. Each mobile communications device is configured to identify when a product/service need or product/service offering broadcast by another mobile communications device matches a corresponding product/service offering or broadcast product/service need broadcast by the respective mobile communications device. A transaction service that is accessible by each mobile communications device is configured to allow two parties that have a matching broadcast product/service need and offering to identify and communicate with each other.