GB2566458A

GB2566458A - Methods and systems for providing services using autonomous economic agents

Info

Publication number: GB2566458A
Application number: GB1714695.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Munir Sheikh Humayun; William Simpson Toby
Original assignee: Uvue Ltd
Current assignee: Uvue Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-13
Filing date: 2017-09-13
Publication date: 2019-03-20
Also published as: GB201714695D0

Abstract

A method of providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents comprises generating 310 a service request using a client economic agent which may be considered autonomous. Service bids are received 320 using at least two service provider autonomous economic agents, each service provider is associated with a confidence on an open ledger. The confidences associated with each of the autonomous economic agents (AEAs) on the ledger are compared 330 to determine a service provider AEA associated with a higher confidence relative to confidences stored in the ledger. The determined service provider autonomous economic agent associated with the higher confidence is then selected 340 for providing the service. The confidences may include historical information of services provided using the service provider AEA. The ledger may be a distributed ledger employing a blockchain data structure.

Description

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING SERVICES USING AUTONOMOUS ECONOMIC AGENTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for providing services using one or more autonomous economic agents. The methods and systems are relevant to service industries.

BACKGROUND

Recently, modern technology has enabled human life to be increasingly faster in pace and, in certain respects, simpler. Furthermore, people have started to rely increasingly on advanced technologies, such as virtual assistants, artificially intelligent robots and so forth, for many of their daily activities. For example, day-to-day activities like cleaning, cooking and communicating may be achieved using such technologies. Moreover, service providers may be used to procure services to perform such activities.

Conventionally, when a given user wants to procure such services, the given user may have to invest a significant amount of time and effort. Firstly, the user is required to find service providers that are capable of providing the services required thereby. Secondly, only a limited number of service providers may be available in the user's location, within the user's budget, in the user's required time frame and so forth. In such an instance, the user is required to compare available service providers in terms of location of their operation, their cost, their availability, their reliability and so forth. It will be appreciated that such a practice is associated with various drawbacks, namely technical problems. Therefore, finding a service provider for acquiring services may potentially be complex, inconvenient and time-consuming for the user.

Furthermore, the user may hire services of an intermediary to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, namely technical problems. In such instance, the intermediary may assist the user in selecting the service provider. However, the user may hire a service provider suggested by the intermediary, without verifying reliability of the service provider. Moreover, one or more service providers may have paid the intermediary to provide inaccurate details thereof, to enable the service provider to acquire more users. In such an instance, the user does not possess reliable means to check an accuracy of the information furnished by the service providers, to ensure that a highest quality of service is provided. Additionally, in a case of an unsuccessful service provided by the service provider, the user may incur loss of payment given to the intermediary and the hired service provider.

Therefore, in light of the foregoing technical problems, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned problems associated with providing services to users.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure seeks to provide a method of providing an improved service using one or more autonomous economic agents.

The present disclosure also seeks to provide an improved system for providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, characterized in that the method includes:

(i) generating a service request using a client autonomous economic agent;

(ii) receiving at least two services bids using at least two service provider autonomous economic agents, wherein each of the two or more service provider autonomous economic agents is associated with a confidence, and wherein the confidence is stored on an open economic ledger;

(iii) comparing the confidences associated with each of two or more service provider autonomous economic agents on the open economic ledger to determine a service provider autonomous economic agent associated with a higher confidence relative to confidences of other of the service provider autonomous economic agents;

(iv) selecting the determined service provider autonomous economic agent associated with the higher confidence for providing the service.

Optionally, the confidence includes at least one of:

historical information of services provided using the service provider autonomous economic agent;

number of services provided using the service provider autonomous economic agent.

Optionally, the service request includes at least one of: a time needed for providing the service; a price associated with the service; a quality associated with the service; at least one preference associated with the service.

Optionally, each of the client autonomous economic agent and the service provider autonomous economic agents is connected to a data processing arrangement.

Optionally, the selected service provider autonomous economic agent at (iv) is remunerated by a digital token for the provided service.

Optionally, the open economic ledger is implemented using a distributed ledger.

Optionally, at least one of the two or more service bids comprises a collaboration between a plurality of service provider autonomous economic agents associated with a plurality of service providers.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a system for providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, characterized in that the system includes:

a client device for generating a service request, wherein the client device is associated with a client autonomous economic agent;

at least two service components, wherein each of the two or more service components is associated with a service provider autonomous economic agent, for generating at least two service bids in response to the generated service request;

- an open economic framework implemented on a decentralised computing network including the client device and the at least two service components, wherein the open economic framework includes confidence associated with each of two or more service provider autonomous economic agents stored on an open economic ledger, characterized in that the open economic framework is configured to:

compare the confidences associated with each of the two or more service provider autonomous economic agents on the open economic ledger to determine a service provider autonomous economic agent associated with a higher confidence; and select the determined service provider autonomous economic agent associated with the higher confidence for providing the service.

Optionally, the two or more service components are associated with a drone.

Optionally, the at least two service components include at least one of: a drone frame; a camera module; a mission planning module; a sensor module; a communication module.

Optionally, the confidence includes at least one of:

Optionally, each of the client autonomous economic agents and the service provider autonomous economic agents is connected to a data processing arrangement.

Optionally, the selected service provider autonomous economic agent is remunerated by a digital token for the provided service.

Optionally, the open economic ledger is implemented using distributed ledger.

Optionally, at least one of the two or more service bids comprise a collaboration between a plurality of service provider autonomous economic agents associated with a plurality of service providers.

The present disclosure seeks to provide the method and system for providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents; the method and system enable to select the service provider autonomous economic agent associated with higher confidence based on comparison of confidences; such selection of the service provider autonomous economic agent associated with higher confidence enables to acquire successful services from trustworthy and reliable service providers, thereby, saving time, money and effort for a user.

Optionally, the system and the method for providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents may be implemented with a single autonomous economic agent service provider, in which case the service provider autonomous economic agent associated with the higher confidence for providing the service is, by definition, pre-determined.

Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.

It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of two or more service components of FIG. 1 associated with a drone, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is an illustration of steps of a method of providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In overview, embodiments of the present disclosure are concerned with methods of providing a service. Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure are concerned with systems for providing a service.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a system 100 for providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The term autonomous economic agents (referred to herein later as AEAs} as used herein, relates to software modules that are configured to execute one or more tasks. Such tasks may include communication of the AEAs with each other, processing of information and so forth. In an example, the AEAs are configured to employ artificial intelligence (Al) algorithms and machine learning for execution of the one or more tasks. In another example, the AEAs are associated with a digital environment (referred to herein later as Open Economic Framework or OEF}. The OEF is a computing framework that enables execution of tasks associated with various AEAs within the OEF. Furthermore, the OEF is configured to provide various tools, security protocols, rules and suchlike for the execution of tasks including, but not limited to, communication, processing of information and so forth, between different AEAs associated with the OEF. For example, the OEF is configured to allow access to one or more AEAs to operate within the OEF based on a set of rules and/or security protocols. Similarly, the OEF may deny access to one or more AEAs to operate within the OEF upon determining that the AEAs do not comply with the set of rules and/or security protocols. In one example, the OEF is implemented by one or more AEAs that are configured to enable communication between other AEAs within the OEF, process information associated with interaction between other AEAs within the OEF, provide (or deny) access to one or more AEAs to the OEF and so forth. Moreover, the OEF enables to provide a decentralized economic market for enabling various services to be provided and/or procured by the AEAs. Such a decentralized economic market may be representative of a real world environment, such as a real world market where one or more services are provided and/or procured.

The system 100 includes a client device 110 for generating a service request, wherein the client device 110 is associated with a client autonomous economic agent (referred to herein later as client AEA}.

For example, the client device 110 is associated with a user that wants to obtain a service using the system 100. In such an instance, the user uses the client device 110 to generate the service request corresponding to the service required by the user. Furthermore, the service request generated by the user using the client device 110 is provided to the client AEA associated with the client device 110.

In one example, each user of the system 100 is provided with an individual client AEA. Such a client AEA is configured, namely operable, to provide the user with maximum value when using the system 100 to obtain a service. For example, such a value is associated with an economic value associated with the service (such as, enabling the user to obtain most economical service), a time associated with the service (such as, enabling the user to obtain fastest service), a quality associated with the service (such as, enabling the user to obtain a highest quality of service) and/or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the client device 110 includes a portable communication device. For example, the client device 100 is at least one of a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer and so forth. In such an instance, the service request may be generated by the user by using a graphical user interface (GUI) provided on the client device 100.

In one embodiment, the service request is generated automatically by the client device 110. For example, the service request is generated using the client AEA associated with the client device 110. Such an automatic generation of the service request using the client AEA may be based on obtaining the maximum value for the user, a schedule that is pre-defined by the user and so forth. In one example, the client device 110 includes an electrical vehicle and the service request includes a request for charging an electrical battery of the electrical vehicle. In such an instance, a client AEA associated with the electrical vehicle is configured, namely operable, to determine a price associated with charging the electrical battery. Furthermore, the client AEA is configured, namely operable, to generate the service request to initiate charging of the electrical battery upon determination of minimum price associated with charging the electrical battery, thereby, providing the maximum economic value to the user. In another example, the client AEA is configured, namely operable, to generate the service request at a specific time during a day based on a charging schedule that is predefined by the user of the electrical vehicle.

In an embodiment, the service request includes at least one of a time needed for providing the service, a price associated with the service, a quality associated with the service, and/or at least one preference associated with the service. For example, the user specifies a parameter (such as, using the graphical user interface associated with the client device 110) including at least one of the time, the price, the quality and/or at least one preference that is required by the user in the provided service. In such an instance, the parameter is provided to the client AEA with the generated service request. Furthermore, the client AEA is configured, namely operable, to use the parameter to provide the maximum value to the user. In one example, the service request includes the price associated with the service, such as a minimum and maximum price associated with the service. In such instance, the client AEA enables the user to obtain the service at a price within the minimum and maximum prices specified by the user. Preferably, the client AEA enables the user to obtain the service associated with the minimum price, thereby, enabling maximum value to be provided to the user. In another example, the service request includes a preference associated with the service, such as, to obtain an eco-friendly service. In such an instance, the client AEA enables the user to obtain the service from a service provider that utilizes eco-friendly sources of energy (and/or materials) for providing the service.

The system 100 includes at least two service components 120, 130, wherein each of the at least two service components 120, 130 is associated with a service provider autonomous economic agent (referred to herein later as service provider AEA”}, for generating at least two service bids in response to the generated service request. However, it will be appreciated that the service provider AEAs and the client AEA are operable to perform interchangeable functions i.e. the service provider may simultaneously be a client AEA that may be acquiring services from one or more other service provider AEA. Similarly, the client AEA may be service provider AEA providing services to one or more other client AEAs. The term service component as used herein, relates to an arrangement that is independently capable of providing a service. Furthermore, such an arrangement may include one or more hardware devices and/or one or more software modules (other than AEAs). In one example, the service components 120, 130 are associated with spatially separated hardware modules, wherein each of the spatially separated hardware modules is associated with a service provider AEA. In such an instance, the two service components 120, 130 include two taxis (such as, autonomous cars (namely, autonomous vehicles)) associated with two different service providers. Furthermore, when the generated service request includes a request by a user to journey from a current location thereof to another location, the service provider AEAs associated with the two taxis are configured, namely operable, to generate service bids. It will be appreciated that the service bids generated using the two service provider AEAs may be different from one another, namely the service bids may be mutually different. For example, a price and/or time quoted using the service provider AEAs for the journey are different from each other. Furthermore, the service provider AEAs provide a maximum value to service providers associated with the two service components 120, 130. For example, the service provider AEAs are configured, namely operable, to generate the service bids for the journey that is associated with highest price for service, a shortest journey and so forth, thereby, enabling to provide maximum economic value to the service providers associated with the service components 120, 130.

In another example, the service components 120, 130 are associated with a single service provider AEA. For example, a service request is generated that is associated with charging an electrical battery of an electrical vehicle (such as the client device 110) associated with a user. In such an instance, the two service components 120, 130 are associated with charging terminals located at a charging station. Furthermore, the service provider AEA associated with the two service components 120, 130 is configured, namely operable, to generate two service bids for providing the charging service at each of the two charging terminals respectively. Moreover, the two service bids may be different from each other based on an availability of the charging terminals for providing the charging service.

In one embodiment, the service provider autonomous economic agents enable the optimisation, for example the maximisation of the utilization of two or more service components 120, 130. For example, when the at least two service components 120, 130 are associated with charging terminals capable of charging electrical batteries of electrical vehicles, the service provider AEAs are configured, namely operable, to generate the service bids to occupy an empty time slot for providing the service when the charging terminals are not required to be in operation. It will be appreciated that such service bids associated with occupying the empty time slot enables the increased value to service providers associated with the service components by optimizing, for example maximizing, the utilization of the service components 120, 130. In one example, two or more service components 120, 130 are associated with a load factor, such as, a ratio of actual utilization to optimal, for example maximum, possible utilization of two or more service components 120, 130. In such an instance, the service provider AEAs can optimize, for example maximize, the load factors associated with each of two or more service components 120, 130.

The system 100 includes a decentralized computing network 140 for implementing the open economic framework. The term decentralised computing network as used herein, relates to an arrangement of a plurality of computing devices that are communicably coupled with one another. In operation, each of the plurality of computing devices can perform as either a client device or a service component. Optionally, each of the plurality of computing devices can simultaneously perform as the client device and the service component. Furthermore, the decentralized computing network is a decentralized structured P2P (peer-to-peer) network of devices. Specifically, the decentralized structured P2P network represents a decentralized computing environment within a P2P network.

Moreover, the decentralized computing network includes wired and/or wireless communication means comprising a software component, a hardware component, a network adapter component and a combination thereof. Furthermore, the communication network may be an individual network, or a collection of individual networks, interconnected with each other and functioning as a single large network. Such individual networks may be wired, wireless, or a combination thereof. In an example, the communication network includes Bluetooth®, Internet of things (IoT), Visible Light Communication (VLC), Near Field

Communication (NFC), Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area

Networks (WANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), Wireless LANs (WLANs), Wireless WANs (WWANs), Wireless MANs (WMANs), the Internet, telecommunication networks, radio networks, and so forth.

As shown, the decentralized computing network 140 includes the client device 110 and two or more service components 120, 130. For example, the decentralized computing network 140 is communicably coupled to the client device 110 and two or more service components 120, 130 using a communication network (not shown), including, but not limited to, Bluetooth®, Internet of things (IoT), Visible Light Communication (VLC), Near Field Communication (NFC), Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), Wireless LANs (WLANs), Wireless WANs (WWANs), Wireless MANs (WMANs), the Internet, telecommunication networks, radio networks, and so forth.

The open economic framework 140 includes confidence associated with each of two or more service provider autonomous economic agents stored on an open economic ledger. The term confidence as used herein, relates to a likelihood of providing a successful service using a service provider AEA. The confidence stored on the open economic framework 140 includes information associated with services provided using each of two or more service provider AEAs. In an embodiment, the confidence includes at least one of historical information of services provided using the service provider autonomous economic agent, and/or a number of services provided using the service provider autonomous economic agent. In one example, the confidence includes historical information of services provided using a service provider AEA. Such an historical information is associated with services provided using the service provider AEA to one or more users prior to the user of the client device 110. In such an instance, the historical information includes a user satisfaction rating provided by the user as a feedback subsequent to receiving the service, a success rating (such as, based on a time taken for providing the service as compared to time allotted therefor) that is automatically provided using the client AEA subsequent to completion of one or more tasks associated with the service and so forth. In another example, the confidence includes the number of services provided using a service provider AEA. Such confidence including the number of services provided using the service provider AEA enables to determine a reliability of the service provider AEA. For example, a service provider AEA associated with a large number of services provided may be more reliable than a service provider AEA associated with a smaller number of services provided.

Furthermore, the confidence associated with each of the two or more service provider AEAs is stored on the open economic ledger (referred to herein later OEL). The term Open Economic Ledger or OEL as used herein, relates to a decentralized and distributed digital ledger that records peer-to-peer digital transactions. Furthermore, the OEL is a cryptographically protected digital ledger that is capable of operating within the OEF. Optionally, the OEL is a data structure that includes a series of time-stamped blocks, wherein each block includes data corresponding to one or more transactions performed by the AEAs. Such storage of the confidence associated with each of two or more service provider AEAs on the OEL provides the transparency of confidence associated with services provided using each of two or more service provider AEAs. In one embodiment, the open economic ledger is implemented using a distributed ledger. For example, the distributed ledger employs a blockchain data structure. It will be appreciated that providing the confidence on the distributed ledger enables to provide a relatively higher security for users of the system 100, as tampering with the distributed ledger to furnish inaccurate confidence will be computationally expensive and therefore, unprofitable for service providers.

In an embodiment, the open economic framework 140 includes confidence associated with a plurality of client AEAs stored on the OEL. For example, the confidence associated with the plurality of client AEAs includes an historical information of services obtained using the client AEAs and/or a number of services obtained using the client AEAs. In such an instance, a service provider AEA is configured, namely operable, to analyze the confidence associated with a client AEA prior to generating the service bid. In one example, the service bid generated for a client associated with positive confidence (such as, high satisfaction ratings provided for services obtained from one or more service provider AEAs) is associated with a lower price and/or time required for providing the service as compared to service bid generated for a client AEA associated with negative confidence.

Furthermore, the open economic framework 140 is configured, namely operable, to compare the confidences associated with each of two or more service provider autonomous economic agents to determine a service provider autonomous economic agent associated with a higher confidence. Therefore, a service provider AEA associated with the higher confidence will be more likely to provide a successful service as compared to a service provider AEA associated with a lower confidence. Moreover, the open economic framework 140 is operable to compare characteristics of confidence (such as historical information of services provided, number of services provided, user satisfaction rating, service rating and so forth) associated with each of the two or more service provider AEAs associated with generation of service bids. In one example, the open economic framework 140 is operable to compare service ratings and the number of services provided using the two or more service providers AEAs. In such an instance, the open economic framework 140 is operable to determine the service provider AEA associated with an average of comparatively higher service rating and a comparatively higher number of services provided. Furthermore, the service provider AEA associated with the higher average of the service rating and the number of services provided is deemed to be associated with a higher confidence by the open economic framework 140. It will be appreciated that such a higher confidence is further associated with a higher likelihood of providing a successful service and subsequently, receiving a positive user satisfaction rating for the service provided as compared to another service provider AEA associated with lower confidence.

In one embodiment, the open economic framework 140 is operable to employ zero-knowledge protocol to compare the confidences associated with each of two or more service provider autonomous economic agents. For example, the open economic framework 140 is operable to acquire services provided by one or more other service provider AEAs (such as service provider AEAs that are not associated with generation of service bids and/or client AEAs that not associated with generation of the service request) to obtain verifiable information associated with characteristics of confidence (such as historical information of services provided, number of services provided, user satisfaction rating, service rating and so forth) for each of the two or more service provider AEAs associated with generation of service bids. In such an instance, the verifiable information associated with characteristics of confidence is provided to the open economic framework 140 without disclosing identifiable information (for example, an identity of service providers or service components) of the one or more other service provider AEAs thereto. In one example, the service bids are generated by service provider AEAs associated with travel agencies, in response to generation of a service request for acquiring cheapest travel services between two locations. In such an instance, the open economic framework 140 is operable to acquire prices associated with past travel services provided by various service provider AEAs associated with the travel agencies (having generated service bids), wherein the past services were provided to client AEAs for travelling between the two locations. Furthermore, the open economic framework 140 is operable to employ zero-knowledge protocol to acquire such prices and to verify that the services were provided to the client AEAs by the service provider AEAs, without acquiring identifiable information associated with the client AEAs (such as, information of client device and/or personally identifiable information associated with user of the client device).

Moreover, the open economic framework 140 is configured, namely operable, to select the determined service provider autonomous economic agent associated with the higher confidence for providing the service. For example, the selection of the determined service provider AEA is associated with assignment of the service request to the service provider AEA. According to an embodiment, an agreement (such as a contract) is generated by the open economic framework 140, wherein the agreement includes information related to the service to be provided. For example, the agreement is a smart contract that is generated by the open economic framework 140 for the service to be provided to a given user using the client AEA, by the service provider using the selected service provider AEA. The term smart contract as used herein, relates to a contract that is implemented using computer protocols and is capable of performing activities such as tracking, negotiating, verifying, enforcing and fulfilling terms of a contract based on interactions between two or more AEAs. For example, the smart contract is self-negotiating, self-verifying, self-enforcing, self-fulfilling and suchlike. Optionally, the smart contract is implemented using an application programming interface (API). Additionally, the smart contract is automatically generated based on interactions between service provider AEAs and client AEAs, such as, by the OEF. For example, generation of the smart contract may include communication of one or more messages between a client AEA, a service provider AEA and the OEF. Subsequently, such agreement is shared with the client AEA and the selected service provider AEA. In one example, the agreement includes information such as a price agreed by the service provider AEA (and the client AEA) for providing the service, a time frame requested by the user for obtaining the service, one or more parameters specified by the given user (as aforementioned) and so forth. Moreover, the agreement is stored on the OEL with the confidence associated with the service provider AEA. Subsequently, the service is provided using the service component associated with the selected service provider AEA.

In an embodiment, the selected service provider autonomous economic agent is remunerated by a digital token for the provided service. For example, the digital token (referred to herein later as the Open Economic Token or OET) is a cryptocurrency. In such an instance, the cryptocurrency is used by the client AEA for remunerating the selected service provider AEA for the service provided and/or by the service provider AEA for acquiring one or more services using other service provider AEAs. It will be appreciated that such an implementation of the digital token as the cryptocurrency enables secure and digital transaction between the AEAs. In one embodiment, information associated with the remuneration is stored on the OEL. For example, transaction information associated with exchange of OETs from the client AEA to the service provider AEA is stored on the OEL along with confidence associated with the provided service. Such storage of the transaction information on the OEL enables easier and more reliable verification of the confidence associated with the service provider AEA, for example, based on prices imposed on the client AEA by the service provider AEA for providing the service.

In one embodiment, the digital token is stored in a digital wallet. For example, the digital wallet is implemented as a software application that is installed on a portable communication device (such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer and so forth) associated with a service provider. Such digital wallet enables the service provider to receive (and withdraw) the OMTs provided to the service provider AEA associated therewith for providing services and/or to add OMTs for obtaining services using other service provider AEAs, to compensate client AEAs for failure to provide a service (such as a fine or as part of an insurance claim) and so forth.

In one example, a client AEA is associated with a travel agency that wants to ship a package from a first location to a second location. In such an instance, a service request is generated using the client AEA for obtaining the shipping services. Furthermore, the selected service provider AEA is associated with a shipping company that provides shipping services between the first location and the second location at a low price. Moreover, a second client AEA associated with an individual wants to travel from a home location to an office location thereof. In such an instance, a service request is generated using a second client AEA for obtaining the travel services. Furthermore, the selected service provider AEA is associated with the travel agency. Therefore, it will be appreciated that a client AEA (such as the AEA associated with the travel agency) can simultaneously be a service provider AEA and vice versa.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a schematic illustration of the at least two service components 120, 130 of FIG. 1 associated with a drone 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the two or more service components include at least one of a drone frame 210, a camera module 220, a mission planning module 230, a sensor module 240, and/or a communication module 250. In one example, the service request includes a request to perform aerial photography associated with a location, such as, for aerial inspection. Furthermore, the service request includes one or more parameters, such as a price associated with the service, a time associated with the service, and so forth. In such an instance, the selected service provider AEA is the service provider AEA associated with the camera module 250. However, the service provider AEA associated with the camera module 250 will be required to negotiate with a service provider AEA associated with the drone frame 210 for carrying the camera module 250 to the location. Furthermore, the service provider AEA associated with the drone frame 210 will be required to negotiate with a service provider AEA associated with the mission planning module 230 for generating a flight plan for journey of the drone 200 from a current location thereof to the location. Moreover, the service provider AEA associated with the mission planning module 230 will be required to negotiate with a service provider AEA associated with an insurance provider (external to the drone 200, not shown) to obtain an insurance for the flight. In such an instance, the service provider AEAs associated with various service components of the drone 200 are configured, namely operable, to generate respective service requests and accept service bids generated by the respective service provider AEAs.

In an embodiment, each of the client autonomous economic agents and the service provider autonomous economic agents is connected to a data processing arrangement. In one example, the client AEA is connected to a data processing arrangement provided on a portable communication device associated with the user. In another example, the each of the service provider AEAs are connected to individual data processing arrangements that are further coupled to the service components 210-250. In such an instance, providing the service provider AEAs on the respective data processing arrangements enables communication of the various service provider AEAs for collaboration therebetween, for generation of the service bid.

In one embodiment, a service provider AEA is configured, namely operable, to allow revision of one or more characteristics associated with the generated service request. In one example, the service provider AEA associated with the sensor module 240 is the selected service provider AEA for a second service request, such as, a service request associated with surveying a location adjacent to the location of aerial inspection by the camera module 250. In such an instance, the sensor module 240 negotiates with the service provider AEA associated with the mission planning module 230 for revising the flight plan. In such an instance, a portion of remuneration for providing the service by the sensor module 240 is provided to the mission planning module 230 and the camera module 250 respectively. In such an instance, as a higher value is provided for the mission planning module 230 (associated with an increase in remuneration), the camera module 250 (associated with an increase in remuneration) and the sensor module 240 (that may be required to compensate only for deviation from an original flight plan associated with the aerial inspection), the revision is accommodated into the flight plan. Optionally, the revision is accommodated into the flight plan only if the revised flight plan complies with one or more parameters (such as a price associated with the service, a time associated with the service and so forth) provided with the service request.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the two or more service bids comprises a collaboration between a plurality of service provider autonomous economic agents associated with a plurality of service providers. In one example, the drone frame 210, the camera module 220, the mission planning module 230, the sensor module 240, and/or the communication module 250 may be associated with different service providers respectively. In such an instance, for generating the service bid for performing aerial inspection of a location, the service provider AEAs associated with the drone frame 210, the camera module 220, and the mission planning module 230 may collaborate with each other to generate the service bid. It will be appreciated that in such an instance, the at least two service components, such as, the camera module 220, the mission planning module 230, the sensor module 240 and the communication module 250 are physically associated with the drone frame 210 (and may be further electrically connected to each other).

However, the two or more service components may potentially not be physically associated with each other. For example, the two or more service components include a taxi, a bus and a ferry. Furthermore, each of the taxi, the bus and the ferry are associated with a service provider AEA. Moreover, when a service request generated by a user is associated with travelling from a first location to a second location that may require use of the taxi, the bus and the ferry, the service is provided using the service provider AEAs associated with each of the taxi, the bus and the ferry. In such an instance, the service provider AEAs associated with the taxi, the bus and the ferry are configured, namely operable, to collaborate to generate a single service bid to enable the user's journey from the first location to the second location.

According to an embodiment, OETs are provided to a service provider AEA prior to providing the service associated with the generated service request. For example, the client AEA provides OETs to one or more service provider AEAs for locating a service provider AEA capable of providing a service required by a user (such as, based on a preference of the user). In another example, the client AEA provides OETs to a service provider AEA for allowing access to use one or more service provider AEAs. In yet another example, the client AEA provides OETs to one or more service provider AEAs associated with premium capabilities, including, but not limited to, service provider AEAs capable of providing faster services, service provider AEAs capable of providing eco-friendly services, service provider AEAs associated with high service ratings, and so forth. In yet another example, a service provider AEA provides OETs to a client AEA for allowing revision of service request generated by the client AEA.

Referring to FIG. 3, there are illustrated steps of a method 300 of providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. At a step 310, a service request is generated using a client autonomous economic agent. At a step 320, at least two services bids are received using two or more service provider autonomous economic agents, wherein each of the two or more service provider autonomous economic agents is associated with a confidence, and wherein the confidence is stored on a OEL. At a step 330, the confidence associated with each of the two or more service provider autonomous economic agents is compared on the OEL to determine a service provider autonomous economic agent associated with a higher confidence relative to other of the service provider autonomous economic agents. At a step 340, the determined service provider autonomous economic agent associated with the higher confidence is selected for providing the service.

The steps 310 to 340 are only illustrative and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein. In an example, the service request includes one or more parameters e.g. a time needed for providing the service, a price associated with the service, a quality associated with the service, and/or at least one preference associated with the service. In another example, each of the client autonomous economic agents and the service provider autonomous economic agents is connected to a data processing arrangement. In yet another example, the selected service provider autonomous economic agent is remunerated by a digital token (i.e. OETs) for the provided service. In one example, information associated with the remuneration is stored on the OEL. In another example, the digital token is stored in a digital wallet. In yet another example, at least one of the two or more service bids comprises a collaboration between a plurality of service provider autonomous economic agents associated with a plurality of service providers.

The method and system of the present disclosure enables the generation of the service request using the client AEA. The service request generated using the client AEA enables the definition of the requirements associated with the provided service. It will be appreciated that providing such service request enables the user to identify service providers that are capable of providing the service as per the requirements, thereby, reducing the user's effort for identifying capable service providers. Furthermore, at least two service bids are generated in response to the generated service request. Such service bids generated in response to the service request ensures that the service providers are capable of providing the service as required by the user, thereby saving time and money for the user and enabling the service providers to provide services as per their capabilities. Moreover, generation of at least two service bids provides the user with different options with respect to the service providers that are capable of providing the service. Furthermore, each of service provider AEAs are associated with confidence, wherein the confidence is stored on the OEL. It will be appreciated that providing such confidence endorses ability of the service providers to deliver the service (such as, via the service components), thereby further saving time and money for the user. Moreover, providing the confidence on the OEL provides transparency of information associated with services provided by the service provider. Furthermore, the confidence associated with the service provider AEAs is compared to determine the higher confidence. Such determination of the higher confidence ensures reliability of the service provider AEA and further, increases the likelihood of obtaining successful service by the service provider. Additionally, the service provider AEA associated with the higher confidence is selected for providing the service. Such selection of the service provider AEA ensures that the service provider that is capable of successfully providing the highest quality of service to the user, according to the user's requirements, is chosen for providing the service. It will be appreciated that the method and system of the present disclosure saves time and money for the user by providing highly reliable and successful services using the one or more autonomous economic agents.

Modifications to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as including, comprising, incorporating, consisting of, have, is used to describe and claim the present invention are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. Numerals included within parentheses in the accompanying claims are intended to assist understanding of the claims and should not be construed in any way to limit subject matter claimed by these claims.

Claims

1. A method of providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, characterized in that the method includes:

(i) generating a service request using a client autonomous economic agent;

(iii) comparing the confidences associated with each of the two or more service provider autonomous economic agents on the open economic ledger to determine a service provider autonomous economic agent associated with a higher confidence;

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the confidence includes at least one of:

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the service request includes at least one of: a time needed for providing the service; a price associated with the service; a quality associated with the service; at least one preference associated with the service.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the client autonomous economic agent and the service provider autonomous economic agents is connected to a data processing arrangement.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selected service provider autonomous economic agent at (iv) is remunerated by a digital token for the provided service.

6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the open economic ledger is implemented using a distributed ledger.

7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more of the two or more service bids comprises a collaboration between a plurality of service provider autonomous economic agents associated with a plurality of service providers.

8. A system for providing a service using one or more autonomous economic agents, characterized in that the system includes:

an open economic framework implemented on a decentralised computing network including the client device and the at least two service components, wherein the open economic framework includes confidence associated with each of the two or more service provider autonomous economic agents stored on an open economic ledger, characterized in that the open economic framework is configured to:

compare the confidence associated with each of the two or more service provider autonomous economic agents on the open economic ledger to determine a service provider autonomous economic agent associated with a higher confidence; and select the determined service provider autonomous economic agent associated with the higher confidence for providing the service.

9. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least two service components are associated with a drone.

10. A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least two service components include at least one of: a drone frame; a camera module; a mission planning module; a sensor module; a communication module.

11. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that the confidence includes at least one of:

12. A system according to any one of the claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the service request includes at least one of: a time needed for providing the service; a price associated with the service; a quality associated with the service; at least one preference associated with the service.

13. A system according to any one of the claims 8 to 12, characterized in that each of the client autonomous economic agent and the service provider autonomous economic agents is connected to a data processing arrangement.

14. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that the selected service provider autonomous economic agent is remunerated by a digital token for the provided service.

15. A system according to claim 14, characterized in that the open economic ledger is implemented using a distributed ledger.

16. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the two or more service bids comprise a collaboration between a plurality of service provider autonomous economic agents associated with a plurality of service providers.