System, method and product for task allocation

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a stream of tasks in a system, wherein the tasks are to be performed by agents, wherein the agents choose whether or not to perform a task, wherein a quality of each agent affects contributions of performing tasks by the agent;

calculating, by a processor, for each agent, an average quality of tasks in the system that were completed in the past by the agent;

allocating, by the processor, the tasks to the agents, wherein said allocating comprises selecting an agent to perform a task, wherein said selecting is based on the average quality of the agent, wherein said allocating comprises applying a probabilistic regret minimization algorithm to select agents to perform the tasks, wherein a probability to select agent i by the probability regret minimization algorithm is based on the following formula:

p

i

=

(

1

-

γ

)

·

ⅇ

q

i

∑

j

=

1

n

⁢

ⅇ

q

j

+

γ

·

1

n

,

wherein γ is a value between zero and one, wherein q i is the average quality associated with agent i, wherein n is a number of agents from which the probability minimization algorithm is configured to select;

obtaining an indication that the agent has completed the task;

in response to the indication, computing, by the processor, a reward for the agent, wherein the reward is calculated according to a total contribution of the agent to the system by completing the task;

outputting the reward to be provided to the user;

whereby biasing said allocating to prefer allocating tasks to a first agent over a second agent, if a quality of the first agent is greater than a quality of the second agent, wherein said biasing is not dependent on prior knowledge of the qualities.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said allocating comprises a probabilistic selection of an agent to perform the task, wherein the probabilistic selection is based on a set of probabilities, each of which is associated with an agent and based on an average quality of the agent.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the average quality of tasks in the system that were completed in the past by the agent is calculated by dividing a summation of contributions to the system of tasks completed in the past by the agent, by a number of tasks in the system that were performed in the past by the agent.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the system is a multi-tasks system that employs crowd-sourcing methodology to complete the tasks.

5. A computerized apparatus having a processor, the processor being adapted to perform the steps of:

obtaining a stream of tasks in a system, wherein the tasks are to be performed by agents, wherein the agents choose whether or not to perform a task, wherein a quality of each agent affects contributions of performing tasks by the agent;

calculating for each agent, an average quality of tasks in the system that were completed in the past by the agent;

allocating the tasks to the agents, wherein said allocating comprises selecting an agent to perform a task, wherein said selecting is based on the average quality of the agent, wherein said allocating comprises applying a probabilistic regret minimization algorithm to select agents to perform the tasks, wherein a probability to select agent i by the probability regret minimization algorithm is based on the following formula:

p

i

=

(

1

-

γ

)

·

ⅇ

q

i

∑

j

=

1

n

⁢

ⅇ

q

j

+

γ

·

1

n

,

wherein γ is a value between zero and one, wherein q i is the average quality associated with agent i, wherein n is a number of agents from which the probability minimization algorithm is configured to select;

obtaining an indication that the agent has completed the task;

in response to the indication, computing a reward for the agent, wherein the reward is calculated according to a total contribution of the agent to the system by completing the task;

outputting the reward to be provided to the user;

whereby biasing said allocating to prefer allocating tasks to a first agent over a second agent, if a quality of the first agent is greater than a quality of the second agent, wherein said biasing is not dependent on prior knowledge of the qualities.

6. The computerized apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said allocating comprises a probabilistic selection of an agent to perform the task, wherein the probabilistic selection is based on a set of probabilities, each of which is associated with an agent and based on an average quality of the agent.

7. The computerized apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the average quality of tasks in the system that were completed in the past by the agent is calculated by dividing a summation of contributions to the system of tasks completed in the past by the agent, by a number of tasks in the system that were performed in the past by the agent.

8. The computerized apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the system is a multi-tasks system that employs crowd-sourcing methodology to complete the tasks.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which program instructions when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a stream of tasks in a system, wherein the tasks are to be performed by agents, wherein the agents choose whether or not to perform a task, wherein a quality of each agent affects contributions of performing tasks by the agent;

calculating for each agent, an average quality of tasks in the system that were completed in the past by the agent;

allocating the tasks to the agents, wherein said allocating comprises selecting an agent to perform a task, wherein said selecting is based on the average quality of the agent, wherein said allocating comprises applying a probabilistic regret minimization algorithm to select agents to perform the tasks, wherein a probability to select agent i by the probability regret minimization algorithm is based on the following formula:

p

i

=

(

1

-

γ

)

·

ⅇ

q

i

∑

j

=

1

n

⁢

ⅇ

q

j

+

γ

·

1

n

,

wherein γ is a value between zero and one, wherein q i is the average quality associated with agent i, wherein n is a number of agents from which the probability minimization algorithm is configured to select;

obtaining an indication that the agent has completed the task;

in response to the indication, computing a reward for the agent, wherein the reward is calculated according to a total contribution of the agent to the system by completing the task;

outputting the reward to be provided to the user;

whereby biasing said allocating to prefer allocating tasks to a first agent over a second agent, if a quality of the first agent is greater than a quality of the second agent, wherein said biasing is not dependent on prior knowledge of the qualities.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein said allocating comprises a probabilistic selection of an agent to perform the task, wherein the probabilistic selection is based on a set of probabilities, each of which is associated with an agent and based on an average quality of the agent.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the average quality of tasks in the system that were completed in the past by the agent is calculated by dividing a summation of contributions to the system of tasks completed in the past by the agent, by a number of tasks in the system that were performed in the past by the agent.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the system is a multi-tasks system that employs crowd-sourcing methodology to complete the tasks.