Methods and systems for assigning tasks to workers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016140477-A1
Application number	US-201414540203-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments illustrate methods and systems for assigning one or more tasks to a labor channel from one or more labor channels. The method includes selecting a first labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a distribution of a performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels. The first labor channel is selected for execution of said one or more tasks. The method includes updating said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels. The method further includes selecting a second labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a comparison between said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with said first labor channel, and said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with remaining one or more labor channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for assigning one or more tasks to a labor channel from one or more labor channels, said method comprising:
selecting, by one or more processors, a first labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a distribution of a performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels, wherein said first labor channel is selected for execution of said one or more tasks; updating, by said one or more processors, said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels based on performance of said first labor channel on execution of said one or more tasks; selecting, by said one or more processors, a second labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a method for assigning comparison between said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with said first labor channel, and said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with remaining one or more labor channels; and assigning, by said one or more processors, said one or more tasks to said second labor channel.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting, by said one or more processors, information pertaining to said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels to requestors.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving input, by said one or more processors, from said requestors to select said second labor channel based on presentation of said information.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said performance metric comprises at least one of a response time, accuracy, cost, number of active workers across spatio-temporal dimensions, or work history of workers.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said distribution corresponds to a probability distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said second labor channel is further selected based at least on a time elapsed since said second labor channel previously worked on said one or more tasks, and a random number.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning, by said one or more processors, one or more sample tasks to each of said one or more labor channels, to determine said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said labor channel corresponds to a group of workers, wherein said group of workers is formed based on profile of said workers.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said profile comprises at least one of a worker's location, gender, age, or hobbies of said workers.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said distribution associated with each of said one or more labor channels is updated periodically.

11 . A system for assigning one or more tasks to a labor channel from one or more labor channels, said system comprising:
one or more processors operable to:
select a first labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a distribution of a performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels, wherein said first labor channel is selected for execution of said one or more tasks;
update said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels based on performance of said first labor channel on execution of said one or more tasks;
select a second labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a comparison between said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with said first labor channel, and said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with remaining one or more labor channels; and
assign said one or more tasks to said second labor channel.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said one or more processors are further operable to present information pertaining to said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels to requestors.

13 . The system of claim 11 , said performance metric comprises at least one of a response time, accuracy, cost, number of active workers across spatio-temporal dimensions, or work history of workers.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said distribution corresponds to a probability distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said second labor channel is further selected based at least on a time elapsed since said second labor channel previously worked on said one or more tasks, and a random number.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said one or more processors are further operable to assign one or more sample tasks to each of said one or more labor channels, to determine said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said labor channel corresponds to a group of workers, wherein said group of workers is formed based on profile of said workers.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein said profile comprises at least one of a worker's location, gender, age, or hobbies of said workers.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said distribution associated with each of said one or more labor channels is updated periodically.

20 . A computer program product for use with a computer, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium stores a computer program code for assigning one or more tasks to a labor channel from one or more labor channels, wherein the computer program code is executable by one or more processors to:
select a first labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a distribution of a performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels, wherein said first labor channel is selected for execution of said one or more tasks; update said distribution of said performance metric associated with each of said one or more labor channels based on performance of said first labor channel on execution of said one or more tasks; select a second labor channel from said one or more labor channels based at least on a comparison between said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with said first labor channel, and said updated distribution of said performance metric associated with remaining one or more labor channels; and assign said one or more tasks to said second labor channel.

21 . A graphical user interface presented to a requestor, said graphical user interface comprising:
a first interface comprising: a first input box enabling said requestor to select a performance metric of importance to said requestor; a second input box enabling said requestor to input a value of a selection variable; and a second interface comprising:
a first region configured to display a distribution of said selected performance metric for each of one or more labor channels;
a second region configured to display a recommended labor channel from said one or more labor channels;
an input button configured to receive first input from said requestor to at least accept or reject said recommended labor channel, wherein a third interface is displayed to said requestor based on said received first input; and
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Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Karanam Saraschandra
• Celis Laura Elisa
• Rajan Vaibhav
• Dasgupta Koustuv
• Chander Deepthi

Classifications

• G06Q10/063112 Primary

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