System and methods for enabling disintermediated communication associated with search operations

• US 10,503,800 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2018
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coupa Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Coupa Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Saporito, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Farhan M
• Application Number:
  US16/234,040
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9536 Search customisation based on social or collaborative filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for network communication disintermediation, including providing a search platform where the query terms employed by one party become a searchable medium which is usable by a second party, therefore disintermediating traditional search engines. Further, the system and methods provide for activatable communication channels which may be used to open lines of communication between different users when their interests, e.g. search query terms, etc., align. The system'"'"'s servers generate searchable compilations of users'"'"' query terms, which other users may access. In some cases, the users may establish communication channels with other users based on the content of their query terms. The disclosed systems and methods provide for a number of additional functionalities, including the generation of alerts and search results.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at one or more servers, a first user identifier and at least one query term from a first device, wherein the first device is configurable to;

transmit the first user identifier and the at least one query term to the one or more servers;

generating a first compilation at the one or more servers, the first compilation including at least the first user identifier and the at least one query term;

receiving, at one or more servers, a second user identifier and a compilation request from a second user device, wherein the second user device is configurable to;

transmit the second user identifier and the compilation request to the one or more servers;

generating, in response to the compilation request, a compilation response, wherein the compilation response comprises at least a portion of the first compilation;

transmitting the compilation response to the second user device;

receiving, at the one or more servers, one or more connecting terms from the second user device;

generating a second compilation at the one or more servers, the second compilation including at least the second user identifier and the one or more connecting terms;

comparing the at least one query term to at least a portion of the second compilation;

determining an at least partial match between the at least one query term and the at least a portion of the second compilation;

generating, in response to the at least partial match between the at least one query term and the at least a portion of the second compilation;

a result comprising the second user identifier; and

an alert, wherein the alert comprises an option to activate an activatable communication channel between the first user device and the second user device;

transmitting the result to the first device; and

transmitting the alert to the second user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user device is further configurable to:

receive the alert from the one or more servers;

activate the activatable communication channel; and

transmit, using the activated communication channel, a message to the first user device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the compilation response further comprises an option to activate the activatable communication channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second user device is further configurable to:

receive the compilation response from the one or more servers;

activate the activatable communication channel; and

transmit, using the activated communication channel, a message to the first user device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message comprises an instant message.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the message comprises an email.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the message comprises a text message.

8. A system comprising one or more servers, the one or more servers comprising:

at least one memory comprising server instructions; and

at least one processing device configured for executing the server instructions, wherein the server instructions cause the at least one processing device to perform operations of;

receiving, at one or more servers, a first user identifier and at least one query term from a first device, wherein the first device is configurable to;

transmit the first user identifier and the at least one query term to the one or more servers;

generating a first compilation at the one or more servers, the first compilation including at least the first user identifier and the at least one query term;

receiving, at one or more servers, a second user identifier and a compilation request from a second user device, wherein the second user device is configurable to;

transmit the second user identifier and the compilation request to the one or more servers;

generating, in response to the compilation request, a compilation response, wherein the compilation response comprises at least a portion of the second compilation;

transmitting the compilation response to the second user device;

receiving, at the one or more servers, one or more connecting terms from the second user device;

generating a second compilation at the one or more servers, the second compilation including at least the second user identifier and the one or more connecting terms;

comparing the at least one query term to at least a portion of the second compilation;

determining an at least partial match between the at least one query term and the at least a portion of the second compilation;

generating, in response to the at least partial match between the at least one query term and the at least a portion of the second compilation;

a result, wherein the result comprises the second user identifier; and

an alert, wherein the alert comprises an activatable communication option for communicating between the first user device and the second user device;

transmitting the result to the first device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first user device is further configurable to:

receive the alert;

activate the activatable communication option; and

transmit using the activated communication option, a message to the second user device.