Patent ID: 8666842
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: creating, via a computer processor, an opportunity from input received by a user as a member of a transaction-based social network for a life science vertical industry, the input specifying criteria with respect to the opportunity and to a target user community of the transaction-based social network; identifying, via the computer processor, members of the target user community based on the criteria; posting the opportunity over the transaction-based social network to the members of the target user community; receiving, in response to the posting, a request for a collaborative bid from a target user in the target user community, the request for the collaborative bid including input identifying at least one of a user type and a community type selected by the target user, the collaborative bid indicating a request to jointly execute the opportunity with assistance from another member of the transaction-based social network; identifying members of the transaction-based social network having the at least one of the user type and the community type, and posting the collaborative bid over the transaction-based social network to the members having the at least one of the user type and the community type; receiving a response for the collaborative bid from one of the members having the at least one of the user type and the community type, and receiving an acceptance from the target user to collaborate with the one of the members having the at least one of the user type and the community type; and providing to the user, within a user interface screen, a view of bids received from the target user community, the view of the bids including the collaborative bid and information identifying the target user and the one of the members having the at least one of the user type and the community type.