Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/US12/42425, filed on Jun. 14, 2012, entitled “ON DEMAND INFORMATION NETWORK,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiments described herein pertain generally to soliciting bids and resulting services from a network of subscribers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the advent of online services has come myriad free services that include street views of a desired address, restaurant reviews that include past customer reviews, or even real-time coverage, commentary, and media from a news-worthy event, e.g., by Facebook®, Twitter®, Google+®, etc. Such information, whether queued or real-time, is made available with the click of a mouse or a tap of a touch-screen by an online viewer using a device having a data connection to a network, i.e., the Internet. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one example embodiment, a computer-readable medium stores computer-executable components that comprise, at least, a user interface configured to receive input from a hosting device, a transmitting component configured to solicit competing bids from subscribing devices for a requested service based on the input from the hosting device, a queuing component configured to store bids from one or more of the subscribing devices in response to the transmitted request for bids for the requested service, and a receiving component configured to receive a manifestation of the requested service from one of the subscribing devices of which the received bid was accepted. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the detailed description that follows, embodiments are described as illustrations since various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items. 
         FIG. 1  shows an example configuration of an on-demand information network, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein; 
         FIG. 2  shows an example configuration of a client device application relative to an on-demand information network, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example configuration of a cloud-based platform relative to an on-demand information network, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein; 
         FIG. 4  shows an example configuration of a processing flow of operations implemented by a client device application relative to an on-demand information network, in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein; 
         FIG. 5  shows an example processing flow of operations implemented by a cloud-based platform relative to an on-demand information network, in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a block diagram illustrating an example computing device by which various example solutions described herein may be implemented, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, unless otherwise noted, the description of each successive drawing may reference features from one or more of the previous drawings to provide clearer context and a more substantive explanation of the current example embodiment. Still, the example embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings, may be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example configuration of an on-demand information network  100 , arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted, on-demand information network  100  includes, at least, a client device  104  with an instance of a client application  106  hosted thereon, a cloud-based platform  108 , and multiple subscribing devices  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. A user  102  is illustrated as an entity who exercises ownership or control of client device  104 . 
     User  102  may be a person who desires to receive real-time data, information, and/or media files from subscribers to a service hosted by cloud-based platform  108 . Alternatively, user  102  may represent organizations, entities, or communities that represent a common interest, therefore leading to a solicitation for one or more bids for services, as described herein. Such examples are not intended to be limiting, and even further alternatives may be contemplated within the spirit and context of this description. 
     More particularly, utilizing the infrastructure of configuration  100 , user  102  may solicit bids for, and subsequently receive services that may include, as examples only, on-demand data, information, and/or media files. Non-limiting examples of the data, information, and/or media files pertaining to the requested services, as referenced throughout the present description, may include descriptive texts, photographs, and/or videos of, e.g., street views of a particular address; restaurant reviews, including real-time information regarding current capacity, daily specials, etc., crowd views; weather at a particular location; etc. The menu of such potential requested services may be myriad, and may delve into the categorization of on-demand journalism, customized reporting, tailored data retrieval, etc. Regardless of the requested service, user  102  and a service provider of cloud-based platform  108 , either singularly or in combination, may utilize on-demand information network  100  to facilitate a bidding system to procure on-demand, real-time data, information, and/or media files that are to be captured on terms specified by and for user  102 . 
     Client device  104  may refer to a processor-based electronic device on which an instance of client application  106  may be hosted to implement at least portions of an on-demand information network. Further, client device  104  may be configured to transmit and receive data, information, and/or media files over a radio link to cloud-based platform  108  by further connecting to a mobile communications network provided by a wireless service provider (not shown). Client device  104  may be implemented as a portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a mobile phone, cell phone, smartphone, personal data assistant (PDA), a personal media player device, an application specific device, or a hybrid device that includes any of the above functions. Client device  104  may also be implemented as a personal computer including tablet, laptop computer, and non-laptop computer configurations, which may be connected to the aforementioned mobile communications network or, alternatively, to a wired network. 
     The aforementioned wireless service provider for implementing communications for client device  104  may also be known as a mobile network carrier, wireless carrier, or even cellular company. Regardless of the alternate reference, the wireless service provider may provide services for mobile communications subscribers. Client device  104  may be configured to communicate with any of cloud-based platform  108  and/or subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N, who may similarly communicate with each other and/or cloud-based platform  108 . Further, client device  104  may be configured to communicate with any of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N directly in a peer-to-peer networking environment. 
     Client application  106  may be hosted on, or otherwise associated with, client device  104 . Client application  106  may facilitate user interaction with at least cloud-based platform  108  or another data center within the infrastructure of on-demand information network  100  for client device  104 . 
     More particularly, client application  106 , in coordination with cloud-based platform  108 , may submit or configure conditions, preferences, or settings entered by user  102  for soliciting competing bids from multiple ones of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N for a requested service, i.e., data, information, and/or media files. The conditions for the solicitation of bids for the requested services may include, as non-limiting examples, a requested form of data, information, and/or media files; a location in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; a time frame in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; other forms of context for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a price range willing to be paid for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a time frame within which the solicited bids will be accepted, etc. 
     Cloud-based platform  108  may be regarded as a cloud-based storage and dissemination platform owned and/or operated by a third-party service provider. Cloud-based platform may include a framework of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof, to which digital data and information, including media files, may be stored or from which they may be shared with subscribers to the hosted service. More particularly, cloud-based platform  108  may be implemented as a web-based storage and sharing service to which user  102 , as well as subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N (i.e., the people to which the respective devices belong) register prior to use. Such registration may include pre-configuration of user preferences or settings for soliciting or contributing data, information, and/or media files on digital storage platform  108 . The registration, including pre-configuration of user conditions, preferences, or settings, may be performed in coordination with the instance of client application  106  hosted on client device  104 . 
     Subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may refer to a processor-based electronic device configured to transmit and receive data, information, and/or media files over a radio link to cloud-based platform  108  by further connecting to a mobile communications network provided by a wireless service provider (not shown). Similar to client device  104 , subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may be implemented as a portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a mobile phone, cell phone, smartphone, personal data assistant (PDA), a personal media player device, an application specific device, or a hybrid device that includes any of the above functions. Further, since subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may be utilized to provide requested services, e.g., data, information, and/or media files to client device  104  via cloud-based platform  108 , subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may further be configured to include a camera, video recorder, and/or audio recorder. Alternatively, subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may be configured with a port to have a separate camera, video recorder, and/or audio recorder communicatively coupled thereto. Non-limiting examples of such ports may include a USB port, HDMI port, etc. Further still, one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may also be implemented as a personal computer including tablet, laptop computer and non-laptop computer configurations, which may be connected to the aforementioned mobile communications network or, alternatively, to a wired network. 
     Subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may also be configured to transmit/receive data or information or otherwise share information utilizing non-cellular technologies such as conventional analog AM or FM radio, Wi-Fi™, wireless local area network (WLAN or IEEE 802.11), WiMAX™ (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), Bluetooth™, hard-wired connections, e.g., cable, phone lines, and other analog and digital wireless voice and data transmission technologies. Further still, client device  104  may be configured to communicate with any of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N directly in a peer-to-peer networking environment. 
     Communication link  112  may refer to a communication link enabled by a protocol utilized to transmit data, information, and/or media files between client application  106 , via client device  104 , and cloud-based platform  108 . Such protocol may include any mobile communications technology, e.g., GSM, CDMA, etc., depending upon the technologies supported by a particular wireless service provider to whose service client device  104  is assigned or subscribed. Further, communication link  112  may be implemented utilizing non-cellular technologies such as conventional analog AM or FM radio, Wi-Fi™, wireless local area network (WLAN or IEEE 802.11), WiMAX™, Bluetooth™, hard-wired connections, e.g., cable, phone lines, and other analog and digital wireless voice and data transmission technologies. 
     Communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N may respectively refer to a communication link enabled by a protocol utilized to transmit data, information, and/or media files between cloud-based platform  108  and subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N, respectively. Further, communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N may be implemented utilizing one or more of the protocols described above regarding communication link  112 . 
     Communication links  116 A and  116 B may refer respectively to a communication link enabled by protocol utilized to transmit data, information, and/or media files between client application  106 , via client device  104 , and subscribers  110 A and  110 N, respectively.  FIG. 1  does not depict connection between client application  106 , via client device  104 , and subscriber  110 N in order to illustrate that the connection between client application  106 , via client device  104 , may be a peer-to-peer connection, and that a peer-to-peer network may be exclusive to some degree. Regardless, communication links  116 A and  116 N may be implemented utilizing one or more of the protocols described above regarding communication link  112  and communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N. 
     Thus,  FIG. 1  shows example embodiments of components and communications there between of on-demand information network  100 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an example configuration  200  of a client device application  106  relative to an on-demand information network, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted, an example configuration of client device application  106 , hosted on client device  104 , includes a user interface (UI)  202 , a transmitting component  204 , a queuing component  206 , and a receiving component  208 . In  FIG. 2 , client device  104  is depicted relative to cloud-based platform  108  and subscribing devices  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N, as in  FIG. 1 ; however, this configuration is an example only, and is not intended to be limiting in any manner. 
     User interface (UI)  202  may refer to a graphical component of client application  106 . UI  202  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed to receive, from user  102 , conditions for soliciting competing bids from one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Accordingly, in the current context, subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may be alternatively regarded as “bidders.” Further, the conditions for the solicitation of bids for the requested services may include, as non-limiting examples, a requested form of data, information, and/or media files; a location in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; a time frame in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; other forms of context for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a price range willing to be paid for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a time frame within which the solicited bids will be accepted, etc. 
     UI  202  may further be configured, designed, and/or programmed to display bids for providing the requested services, as received from one or more of cloud-based platform  108  or subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. More particularly, bids responding to the solicitation from client application  106  via client device  104  may be filtered at cloud-based platform  108 ; subsequently, bids determined to meet or substantially meet the conditions set forth in the solicitation may be transmitted to client device  104  and displayed to user  102  via UI  202  corresponding to client application  106 . Such communications may be facilitated by communication link  112 . Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer network environment, client device  104  may receive solicited bids directly from one or more of subscribers  110 A and  110 B, which may then be displayed to user  102  via UI  202  corresponding to client application  106 . Such communications may be facilitated by either of communication links  116 A and  116 B, with regard to the respective ones of subscribers  110 A and  110 B. 
     UI  202  may further be configured, designed, and/or programmed to display data, information, and/or media files, received in accordance with the aforementioned bidding process from one or more of cloud-based platform  108  or subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. More particularly, after a bid from one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 B has been selected by user  102  or client application  106  to provide the requested service, the winning bidder may submit the requested data, information, and/or media files to cloud-based platform  108 . Such communications may be facilitated by any of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N, with regard to respective ones of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Subsequently, at least previews of the submitted data, information, and/or media files may be transmitted from cloud-based platform  108  to client device  104  and displayed to user via UI  202  corresponding to client application  106 . Such communications may be facilitated by communication link  112 . Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer network environment, client device  104  may receive at least previews of the requested data, information, and/or media files directly from one or more of subscribers  110 A and  110 B, which may then be displayed to user  102  via UI  202  corresponding to client application  106 . Such communications may be facilitated by either of communication links  116 A and  116 B, with regard to the respective ones of subscribers  110 A and  110 B. 
     As referenced above, the previews of the requested data, information, and/or media files may include portions of written text, thumbnails of photos, video screenshots, portions of an audio, etc. 
     UI  202  may be still further configured, designed, and/or programmed to enter, for transmission to one or more of cloud-based platform  108  or subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N, a rating of services provided by the winning bidder who has provided the requested data, information, and/or video files. The ratings may also be stored locally on client device  104  for future use by client application  106 . Among multiple purposes, the ratings may be utilized by a filtering component on cloud-based platform  108  or by queuing component on client application  106  to filter future bids from any currently participating bidder. 
     UI  202  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed as a software module that resides, at least in part, in a memory of client device  104  and which may be executed by one or more processors on client device  104 . 
     Transmitting component  204  may refer to an outbound communication component of client application  106 . Transmitting component  204  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed to transmit to cloud-based platform  108  one or more solicitations for competing bids for the requested services from one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N based on the input conditions from user  102  via UI  202 . More particularly, the transmission of the solicitation for competing bids may be submitted to cloud-based platform  108  from client application  106 , via client device  104  facilitated by communication link  112 . Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer network environment, the transmission of the solicitation for bids may be transmitted directly to one or more of subscribers  110 A and  110 B facilitated by either of communication links  116 A and  116 N, with regard to the respective ones of subscribers  110 A and  110 B. 
     Transmitting component  204  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed as a software module that resides, at least in part, in the memory of client device  104  and which may be executed by one or more processors on client device  104 . 
     Queuing component  206  may refer to an interface component of client application  106  that interacts and interfaces with a storage component of client device  104 . Accordingly, queuing component  206  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed as a software module that resides, at least in part, in a memory of client device  104  and which may be executed by one or more processors on client device  104 . In particular, queuing component  206  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed to store bids from bidders in response to a solicitation for bids for a requested service. The bids may be received from cloud-based platform  108 , via communication link  112 . Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the bids may be received from one or more of subscribers  110 A and  110 B, via either of communication links  116 A and  116 B, with regard to the respective one of subscribers  110 A and  110 B. 
     Further, in at least one alternative embodiment, bids received at cloud-based platform  108  may be relayed directly to receiving component  208 , and filtering of the received bids may executed by queuing component  206  or some other component corresponding to client device  104  or client application  106  that is configured, designed, and/or programmed for that purpose. Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer networking environment, receiving component  208  may receive bids from one or both of subscribers  110 A and  110 B and, in accordance with at least some embodiments, filtering of the received bids may executed by queuing component  206  or some other component corresponding to client device  104  or client application  106  that is configured, designed, and/or programmed for that purpose. 
     Receiving component  208  may refer to an inbound communication component of client application  106 . Receiving component  208  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed to receive bids in response to a solicitation of bids for a requested service, from either of cloud-based platform  108  and either of subscribers  110 A and  110 B and may be further configured, designed, and/or programmed to receive at least a preview of the requested data, information, and/or media files as one or more manifestations of the requested service, again, from either of cloud-based platform  108  and either of subscribers  110 A and  110 B. 
     More particularly, receiving component  208  may receive, from cloud-based platform  108 , bids from one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N that have been filtered in accordance with one or more of, e.g., the respective bids&#39; compliance with the conditions, preferences, or settings of the bid solicitation, the respective bids&#39; competitiveness with each other relative to the conditions of the bid solicitation, ratings of the users respectively associated with subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N based on past transactions with user  102  or other users that are subscribed to the service hosted by cloud-based platform  108 . 
     Further, receiving component  208  may receive, from cloud-based platform  108 , manifestations of the requested service in the form of, e.g., data, information, and/or media files. However, to preserve the integrity of the transactional nature implemented by on-demand information network  100 , cloud-based platform  108  may transmit previews of the requested services in the form of portions of written text, thumbnails of photos, video screenshots, portions of an audio, etc. Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer networking environment, receiving component  208  may receive, directly from at least one of subscribers  110 A and  110 B, the aforementioned previews of the manifestations of the requested services. 
     Receiving component may be configured, designed, and/or programmed as a software module that resides, at least in part, in a memory of client device  104  and which may be executed by one or more processors on client device  104 . 
     Thus,  FIG. 2  shows an example configuration of client application  106 , an instance of which is hosted on client device  104 , for which one or more embodiments of an on-demand information network may be implemented. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example configuration  300  of a cloud-based platform  108  relative to an on-demand information network, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted, an example configuration of cloud-based platform  108 , hosted on server  305 , includes a filtering component  302 , a transceiving component  304 , and a transactional component  306 . In  FIG. 3 , cloud-based platform  108  hosted on server  305  is depicted relative to client device application  106  hosted on client device  104  as well as subscribing devices  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N, as in  FIG. 1 ; however, this configuration is an example only, and is not intended to be limiting in any manner. 
     Cloud-based platform  108 , as described with reference to  FIG. 1 , may be regarded as a cloud-based storage and dissemination platform that may include a framework of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof, to which digital data and information, including media files, may be stored or from which they may be shared. Further, cloud-based platform  108  may be implemented by a third-party service provider for realizing a bidding process for the exchange of real-time information. 
     Cloud-based platform  108  may receive, from client application  106  via client device  104 , conditions, preferences or settings entered by user  102  for soliciting competing bids from multiple ones of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N for a requested service. The conditions for the solicitation of bids for the requested services may include, as non-limiting examples, a requested form of data, information, and/or media files; a location in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; a time frame in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; other forms of context for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a price range willing to be paid for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a time frame within which the solicited bids will be accepted, etc. The reception of such data by cloud-based platform  108  may be facilitated by communication link  112 . 
     Filtering component  302  may refer to a component of cloud-based platform  108  that is configured, designed, and/or programmed to filter the respective bids&#39; compliance with the conditions, preferences, or settings of the solicitation of bids; the respective bids&#39; relative competitiveness relative to the conditions, preferences, or settings of the solicitation of bids; or ratings of the users respectively associated with subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N based on past transactions with user  102  or any other user subscribed to the service hosted by cloud-based platform  108 . 
     Filtering component  302  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed as a software module that resides, at least in part, a memory of server  305  and which may be executed by one or more processors on server  305 . 
     Transceiving component  304  may refer to an inbound and outbound communication component of cloud-based platform  108 . Transceiving component  304  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed to receive, from client application  106  via client device  104 , conditions, preferences, and/or settings for soliciting competing bids from multiples ones of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. This reception of data may be facilitated by communication link  112 . Further, transceiving component  304  may disseminate the solicitation of bids to one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N; and, in response, transceiving component  304  may receive, from one or more of the aforementioned subscribers, at least a preview of data, information, and/or media files as manifestations of the requested service from either of cloud-based platform  108  and any of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Such communications may be facilitated by any one of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N, with regard to the respective ones of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. 
     Transceiving component  304  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed as a software module that resides, at least in part, on the memory of server  305  and which may be executed by one or more processors on server  305 . 
     Transactional component  306  may refer to a payment facilitating component of cloud-based platform  108 . Transactional component  306  may be configured, designed, and/or programmed to implement payment to an appropriate one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N that has provided an accepted bid and an accepted manifestation of at least previews the requested services to client application  106  via client device  104 . Approval of the manifestation of the requested services may be communicated to transactional component  306  via communication link  112 ; and approval of payment, which may include providing direct payment or authorization for payment to a third-party payment service, may be communicated via any one of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N, with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. 
     Transactional component  306  may be implemented as a software module that resides, at least in part, on the memory of server  305  and which may be executed by one or more processors on server  305 . 
     Thus,  FIG. 3  shows an example configuration of cloud-based platform  108  through which one or more embodiments of bid solicitation, on-demand dissemination of media files, etc. may be implemented. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example configuration of a processing flow  400  of operations implemented by a client device application relative to an on-demand information network, in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Processing flow  400  includes sub-processes executed by various components that are part of client device application  106  hosted on client device  104 . However, processing flow  400  is not limited to such components, as obvious modifications may be made by re-ordering two or more of the sub-processes described here, eliminating at least one of the sub-processes, adding further sub-processes, substituting components, or even having various components assuming sub-processing roles accorded to other components in the following description. Processing flow  400  may include various operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408 , and/or  410 . Processing may begin at block  402 . 
     Block  402  (Submit Settings for Bid Solicitation) may refer to transmitting component  204 , in coordination with cloud-based platform  108 , submitting or configuring conditions, preferences, or settings entered by user  102  for soliciting competing bids from multiple ones of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N for a requested service. The conditions for the solicitation of bids for the requested services may include, as non-limiting examples, a requested form of data, information, and/or media files; a location in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; a time frame in which to capture the data, information, and/or media files; other forms of context for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a price range willing to be paid for the requested data, information, and/or media files; a time frame within which the solicited bids will be accepted, etc. Such communication may be facilitated by communication link  112 . Processing may continue from block  402  to block  404 . 
     Block  404  (Submit Financial Terms for Bid Solicitation) may refer to transmitting component  204 , in coordination with cloud-based platform  108 , submitting or configuring financial parameters for a bid to be deemed successful, in response to the aforementioned solicitation of bids, by any one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N for the requested service. Operations associated with block  404  may be combined with those of block  402 , although implementation of either may be a matter of customization or preference in accordance with settings of client application  106 . Such communication may be facilitated by communication link  112 . Processing may continue from block  404  to block  406 . 
     Block  406  (Filter Through Received Bids) may refer to receiving component  208  receiving received bids that have been filtered at cloud-based platform  108 ; alternatively, in a peer-to-peer networking environment, block  406  may refer to receiving component  208  receiving bids directly from one or both of subscribers  110 A and  110 B and filtering those received bids locally. 
     In at least one embodiment, upon the dissemination of the solicitation of bids from cloud-based platform  108 , one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N may submit bids back to cloud-based platform  108 . Such communication may be facilitated by one or more of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Accordingly, filtering component  302  may filter the received bids in accordance with the conditions, preferences, or settings submitted with regard to block  402 . Alternative embodiments may include filtering component  302  further filtering the received bids in accordance with ratings of the users respectively associated with subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N based on past transactions with user  102 , client application  106 , or other users that are subscribed to the service hosted by cloud-based platform  108 . The filtering based on ratings may compliment filtering based on the conditions, preferences, or settings of the bid solicitation; or the filtering based on ratings may replace filtering based on the conditions, preferences, or settings of the bid solicitation. Such communication may be facilitated by communication link  112 . 
     In at least one alternative embodiment, the bids received at cloud-based platform  108  may be relayed directly to client application  106  via client device  104 , and filtering of the received bids may be executed by queuing component  206  or some other component corresponding to client device  104  or client application  106  in the same manner described above with regard to filtering component  302 . Such communication may be facilitated by communication link  112 . Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer networking environment, client application via client device  104  may receive bids from one or both of subscribers  110 A and  110 B and, filtering of the received bids may executed by queuing component  206  or some other component corresponding to client device  104  or client application  106 . Such communication may be facilitated by one or more of communication links  116 A and  116 B, with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A and  110 B. Processing may continue from block  406  to block  408 . 
     Block  408  (Order Requested Data from Winning Bidder) may refer to transmitting component  204  transmitting a preference for one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N that have been filtered as having best accommodated the conditions, preferences, or settings provided in the solicitation of bids. Dissemination of the order to the winning or preferred bidder may be facilitated by one or more of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the dissemination of the order to the winning or preferred bidder may facilitated by one or more of communication links  116 A and  116 B, with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A and  110 B. Processing may continue from block  408  to block  410 . 
     Block  410  (Approve Payment to Winning Bidder) may refer to transmitting component  204 , in coordination with cloud-based platform  108 , communicating approval of the received manifestation of the requested services and approving payment therefore based on the financial terms set forth in the solicitation of bids. Such communication may be facilitated by communication link  112 . Alternatively, in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the acceptance of the received manifestation of the requested services may be facilitated by one or more of communication links  116 A and  116 B with regard to a respective one of subscriber  110 A and  110 B, though payment may be facilitated via a third-party payment service. 
     Thus,  FIG. 4  shows an example processing flow implemented by client application  106 , an instance of which is hosted on client device  104 , for implementing one or more embodiments of an on-demand information network. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example processing flow  500  of operations implemented by a cloud-based platform relative to an on-demand information network, in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Processing flow  500  includes sub-processes executed by various components that are part of cloud-based platform  108  hosted on server  305 . However, processing flow  500  is not limited to such components, as obvious modifications may be made by re-ordering two or more of the sub-processes described here, eliminating at least one of the sub-processes, adding further sub-processes, substituting components, or even having various components assuming sub-processing roles accorded to other components in the following description. Processing flow  500  may include various operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 ,  510 ,  512 , and/or  514 . Processing may begin at block  502 . 
     Block  502  (Solicit Bids) may refer to transceiving component  304  disseminating a solicitation for bids to provide services requested by client application  106  via client device  104  to one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Such communication may be facilitated by one or more of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Processing may continue from block  502  to block  504 . 
     Block  504  (Receive Bids) may refer to transceiving component  304  receiving the solicited bids from one or more of one or more of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Such communication may be facilitated by one or more of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Processing may continue from block  504  to block  506 . 
     Block  506  (Filter Received Bids) may refer to filtering component  302  filtering through the received bids&#39; compliance with the conditions, preferences, or settings of the solicitation of bids; the respective bids&#39; competitiveness relative to each other; and/or ratings of the users respectively associated with subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N based on past transactions with user  102  or other user subscribed to the service hosted by cloud-based platform  108 . In at least on alternative embodiment, though, cloud-based platform  108  may directly relay the received bids to client application  106  via client device  104 , facilitated by communication link  112 . In those alternative embodiments, block  506  may be bypassed. Processing may continue from block  506  to block  508 . 
     Block  508  (Relay Filtered Bids to Client) may refer to transceiving component  304  transmitting the filtered bids to client application  106  via client device  104 , facilitated by communication link  112 . Processing may continue from block  508  to block  510 . 
     Block  510  (Commission Winning Bids) may refer to transceiving component  304 , upon receiving an appropriate communication from client application  106  via client device  104 , disseminating the order to the winning or preferred bidder, facilitated by one or more of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. Processing may continue from block  510  to block  512 . 
     Block  512  (Transmit Preview(s) to Client) may refer to transceiving component  304  transmitting to client application  106  via client device  104 , facilitated by communication link  112 , at least previews of the requested data, information, and/or media files received from the one or more winning or preferred bidders. As referenced above, the previews of the requested data, information, and/or media files may include portions of written text, thumbnails of photos, video screenshots, portions of an audio, etc. Processing may proceed from block  512  to block  514 . 
     Block  514  (Transmit Approval/Payment) may refer to transactional component  306 , upon receiving approval from client application  106  via client device  104 , implementing payment to the winning or preferred bidder that has provided at least the preview of the manifestation of the requested services. Approval of the manifestation of the requested services may be communicated to transactional component  306  via communication link  112 ; and approval of payment, which may include providing direct payment or authorization for payment to a third-party payment service, may be communicated via any one of communication links  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N, in with regard to a respective one of subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N. 
     Thus,  FIG. 5  shows an example processing flow implemented by cloud-based platform  108  for implementing one or more embodiments of an on-demand information network. 
       FIG. 6  shows a block diagram illustrating an example computing device  600  by which various example solutions described herein may be implemented, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. 
     More particularly,  FIG. 6  shows an illustrative computing embodiment, in which any of the processes and sub-processes described herein may be implemented as computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable instructions may, for example, be executed by a processor of client device  104 , subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N, or server  305  having a network element and/or any other computing device corresponding thereto, particularly as applicable to the applications and/or programs described above corresponding to the configuration  100  for implementing one or more embodiments of an on-demand information network. 
     In a very basic configuration, a computing device  600  may typically include one or more processors  604  and a system memory  606 . A memory bus  608  may be used for communicating between processor  604  and system memory  606 . 
     Depending on the desired configuration, processor  604  may be of any type including but not limited to a microprocessor (μP), a microcontroller (μC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof. Processor  604  may include one or more levels of caching (such as a level  1  cache  610  and a level  2  cache  612 ), a processor core  614 , and registers  616 . Processor core  614  may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), or a digital signal processor. A memory controller  618  may be coupled to processor core  604  and memory bus  608 . 
     Depending on the desired configuration, system memory  606  may be of any type including but not limited to volatile memory (such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or any combination thereof. System memory  606  may include an operating system  620 , one or more applications  622 , and program data  624 . 
     Application  622  may be configured to transmit or receive identification information pertaining to client device  104 , subscribers  110 A,  110 B, . . . ,  110 N, or server  305 ; verify or validate such identifying data; and transmit such information as described previously with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . Program data  624  may include a table  650 , which may be useful for implementing actuation of appropriate components or modules as described herein. 
     System memory  606  is an example of computer storage media. Computer storage media may include, but not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to store the desired information and which may be accessed by computing device  600 . Any such computer storage media may be part of computing device  600 . 
     The network communication links  112 ,  114 A,  114 B, . . . ,  114 N,  116 A, and  116 B may be one example of a communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media. A “modulated data signal” may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave, infrared (IR) and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both storage media and communication media. 
     There is little distinction left between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. There are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein may be implemented, e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware, and that the preferred vehicle may vary with the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. 
     The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes for system configuration  100  via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers, e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems, as one or more programs running on one or more processors, e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors, as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and/or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link, etc.). 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the art to describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such described devices and/or processes into data processing systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a typical data processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatile and non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and/or control systems including feedback loops and control motors, e.g., feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/or adjusting components and/or quantities. A typical data processing system may be implemented utilizing any suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems. 
     The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely examples, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components. 
     Lastly, with respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims, e.g., bodies of the appended claims, are generally intended as “open” terms, e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an,” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number, e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations. Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Technology Category: g