Patent ID: 8654386

Claim:
A system for selecting a print service provider, the system comprising: a computing device; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium in operable communication with the computing device, wherein the computer-readable medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to: receive information pertaining to a plurality of print service providers, wherein the information for each print service provider comprises an associated user reputation score identifying a strength of a reputation of the print service provider with respect to a user and an associated general reputation score identifying a strength of a reputation of a print service provider among a plurality of users; identify a distribution which comprises a first size for a first set of print service providers, and a second size for a second set of print service providers; select the first set of print service providers from the plurality of print service providers based on the first size, and select the second set of print service providers from the plurality of print service providers based on the second size, wherein each of the first set of print service providers has an associated user reputation score that exceeds a threshold value, wherein each of the second set of print service providers are randomly or pseudo-randomly selected from the plurality of print service providers; determine a trust score for each of the print service providers in the first and second sets of print service providers, wherein each trust score is based on the user reputation score and the general reputation score associated with the associated print service provider; select one or more negotiation print service providers from the first set and second set of print service providers based on the associated trust scores for the print service providers; and update one or more of the associated general reputation score and the associated user reputation score for each of the one or more negotiation print service providers based on one or more of a quality of a service provided to the user by the negotiation print service provider, an offer provided to a negotiation print service provider, and an offer provided by the negotiation print service provider.