Patent ID: 7415435
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-based method for providing an electronic service in a service environment of clients and electronic service providers for performing work via computer applications or devices comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an electronic request message for electronic service at a client specified price, said request message containing at least one data field representing an electronic service level desired by said client; (b) at an electronic service provider, generating a digital subsumption hierarchy of multiple service levels of said electronic service expressed in digital notation, wherein at least one of said service levels subsumes at least another one of said service levels provided that said at least one of said service levels offers at least the same quality of service as said at least another one of said service levels, (c) testing a first service level, comprising a first conjunction of features, and a second service level, comprising a second conjunction of features, for subsumption hierarchy; (d) determining if each feature in said first conjunction subsumes a corresponding feature in said second conjunction, if each said feature in said first conjunction subsumes said corresponding feature in said second conjunction, said first service level subsumes said second service level, otherwise said first service level does not subsume said second service level, wherein each of said features consist of a name and a value, and an arithmetic comparison or a negation; (e) determining a given service level price by deriving a numerical quality value from quality factors associated with each of said features; (f) generating an electronic quote message in response to said request, said quote message containing data representing the highest one of said service levels of which an associated one of said service providers is capable of delivering at said specified price and at no less than said service level desired by said client; (g) sending said quote message to said client; (h) receiving one of either a positive or negative notification message from said client in response to said quote message; and (i) providing said electronic service upon receipt of said positive notification message.