Incentivized auction style messaging

Abstract

A system for incentivization of communications, comprising an incentivization engine and an auction service, and a method for using such a system for providing incentivization of user communications and user competition for incentives.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for ordering electronic communications for a plurality of user devices based on incentives, comprising:
 an incentivization server comprising at least a processor, a memory, and a first plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor, wherein the programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the processor to:   receive one or more electronic communications from one or more transmitting user devices intended for transmission to one or more receiving user devices, each electronic communication comprising content and one or more incentives to engage with the content;   create a queue of electronic communications for each receiving user device, the queue comprising a hierarchical order of the electronic communications intended for transmission to that receiving user device, the hierarchical order based on the one or more incentives to engage with the content in the electronic communications;   transmit to each receiving device the queue of electronic communications for that receiving user device;   determine a level of user engagement with each electronic communication in the queue of each receiving user device, the level of user engagement being based on the amount of time a user of that receiving device engages with the content of that electronic communication;   determine which of the one or more incentives in each electronic communication have been fulfilled based on the level of user engagement with the content of that electronic communication; and   remit to the transmitting user device the incentive or incentives for each electronic communication that have been determined to have been fulfilled.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a valuation engine comprising a second plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor of the incentivization server, wherein the programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the processor to:
 assign implicit valuations of the time of the user of each receiving device based on the value of incentives determined to have been fulfilled.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the valuation engine further adjusts the implicit valuations based on the type of content in each electronic communication. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the valuation engine further adjusts the implicit valuations based on the transmitting user device that sent each electronic communication. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an auction engine, comprising a third plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor of the incentivization server, wherein the programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the processor to:
 increase the one or more incentives for a given electronic communication based on one or more parameters indicating a value of engagement with the content of that electronic communication to a user of the transmitting user device transmitting that electronic communication.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more incentives for a given electronic communication are further increased based on the value of incentives offered by other users of transmitting devices. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a valuation repository, comprising a fourth plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor of the incentivization server, wherein the programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the processor to:
 open and close digital valuation accounts at the request of users of transmitting user devices and receiving user devices; and   store digital valuations deposited by those users; and   remit incentives by transferring digital valuations from the account of one user to the account of another user.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the valuation repository further has online access to bank accounts, and can withdraw and deposit money to those accounts electronically, either directly or through digital valuation accounts. 
     
     
         9 . A method for ordering electronic communications for a plurality of user devices based on incentives, comprising the steps of:
 receiving one or more electronic communications from one or more transmitting user devices intended for transmission to one or more receiving user devices, each electronic communication comprising content and one or more incentives to engage with the content;   creating a queue of electronic communications for each receiving user device, the queue comprising a hierarchical order of the electronic communications intended for transmission to that receiving user device, the hierarchical order based on the one or more incentives to engage with the content in the electronic communications;   transmitting to each receiving device the queue of electronic communications for that receiving user device;   determining a level of user engagement with each electronic communication in the queue of each receiving user device, the level of user engagement being based on the amount of time a user of that receiving device engages with the content of that electronic communication;   determining which of the one or more incentives in each electronic communication have been fulfilled based on the level of user engagement with the content of that electronic communication; and   remitting to the transmitting user device the incentive or incentives for each electronic communication that have been determined to have been fulfilled.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of assigning implicit valuations of the time of the user of each receiving device based on the value of incentives determined to have been fulfilled. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of further adjusting the implicit valuations based on the type of content in each electronic communication. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of further adjusting the implicit valuations based on the transmitting user device that sent each electronic communication. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of increasing the one or more incentives for a given electronic communication based on one or more parameters indicating a value of engagement with the content of that electronic communication to a user of the transmitting user device transmitting that electronic communication. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of further increasing the one or more incentives for a given electronic communication based on the value of incentives offered by other users of transmitting devices. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 opening and closing digital valuation accounts at the request of users of transmitting user devices and receiving user devices;   storing digital valuations deposited by those users; and   remitting incentives by transferring digital valuations from the account of one user to the account of another user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of providing online access to bank accounts, and withdrawing and depositing money to those accounts electronically, either directly or through digital valuation accounts.