Patent ID: 8412709

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: obtaining for a collection service, at a central hub from one or more user interfaces through a network, identification information of one or more persons to collect information from businesses different from the collection service, wherein the businesses are located in target geographic areas; for each target area: selecting, by the central hub, one of the persons as a representative of the collection service to directly collect information from businesses in the target area, wherein the selected person is to be compensated by the collection service for collecting the information; generating on a per target area basis, at the central hub, a set of unique identifiers for the businesses in the target area, each identifier in the set being generated to include a reference to the target area; assigning the set of identifiers for the businesses in the target area to the representative for the target area; receiving, at the central hub from at least one interface of the representative through a network, (i) business information that has been directly collected from a business among the businesses in the target area by the representative and (ii) an indication of a particular identifier from the set of identifiers assigned to the representative; storing the received business information for the business with a reference to the particular identifier; receiving, at the central hub from at least one interface of the business through the network and after storing the received business information, authentication information including the particular identifier assigned to the business; and in response to authenticating the authentication information, allowing modification of the business information for the business.