Method of searching for persons using communication means

• US 20020013814A1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yugenkaisha Kotoh Jimusho
• Original Assignee: Yugenkaisha Kotoh Jimusho
• Inventors: Koto, Akira
• Application Number:
  US09/858,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013814A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method of searching for persons is provided, wherein an unspecified number of participants can search for persons who have given the most similar answers or entirely opposite answer in the process of answering several questionnaires using a system wherein an unspecified number of participants are able to answer several questionnaires using the terminals widely distributed among general public as convenient tools such as portable phone, personal computer, etc., and communicate with each other at their request. Said method comprises a connecting step wherein a plurality of participants connect the terminals with the server to place them under mutually communicable conditions, an inputting step wherein each of said participants inputs his personal information to said terminal, a providing step wherein said server provides a questionnaire which has been previously prepared in said server to each participant via said terminal, an answering step wherein said participants answer said questionnaire provided from said server via said terminals, a detecting step wherein said server detect other participants among a plurality of said participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or other participants among a plurality of participants who have given an opposite answer, and a providing step wherein said server provides an introductory information produced based on said personal information between said other participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or said other participants who have given an opposite answer and said participant in said detection step.

Claims

1. A method of searching for persons using a communication means comprising a plurality of the following steps:

(A) a step whereby a plurality of participants connect their terminals with a server in a condition enabling their mutual communication via a communication means,

(B) a step whereby each of said participants inputs personal information thereof into said server from said terminals,

(C) a step whereby said server provides a questionnaire that has been stored therein to each of said participants via said terminals,

(D) a step whereby said participants answer to said questionnaire provided by said server using terminals,

(E) a step whereby said server detects other participants among a plurality of said participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or other participants among a plurality of said participants who have given an opposite answer, and

(F) a step whereby an introductory information prepared based on said mutual personal information is provided via said terminals between said participant and other participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or who have given an opposite answer detected by said detection.

2. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 1, wherein a common deadline for answering said questionnaire by a plurality of participants has been previously set.

3. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises other step after the said step (F) which enables communications between both said participant and said another participant or among more than 3 participants.

4. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises other step, after said step (E) and prior to said step (F), for confirming whether said participants desire mutual introductions or not.

5. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 1, wherein the server has prepared a plurality of various questionnaires at said step (c) beforehand, and the server detects other participants among a plurality of participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or other participants among a plurality of participants who have given an opposite answer at said step (E), and said steps (C) through (E) are repeated until the detection result reaches a predetermined number of people.

6. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 5, wherein said server detects other participants among a plurality of participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or other participants among a plurality of participants who have given an opposite answer at said step (E), and said steps (C) through (E) are repeated until the detection result reaches the predetermined number of people,

wherein, in the case where said detection result becomes less than the predetermined number of people, the server goes back to the detection results of a questionnaire one prior to that questionnaire, and transmits a message to said terminal to direct the particular participant to prioritize other participants to be mutually introduced, and wherein, in the case where other participants to whom mutual introduction is desired are present based on said order of priority, the server proceeds to said step (F).

7. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 5, wherein said method comprises steps whereby, while steps (C) through (E) are repeated, the server detects other participants among a plurality of participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or other participants among a plurality of participants who have given an opposite answer, and notifies each participant of the detection results each time via said terminals.

8. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 6, wherein said method comprises steps whereby, while steps (C) through (E) are repeated, the server detects other participants among a plurality of participants who have given the same or a similar answer and/or other participants among a plurality of participants who have given an opposite answer, and notifies each participant of the detection results each time via said terminals.

9. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 1, wherein said method adapts a system of selecting one answer out of a plurality of answers of participant'"'"'s own will, which have been previously prepared for said questionnaires.

10. The method of searching for persons using a communication means according to claim 1, wherein said server sets up a system by which, a participant out of said participant or other participants who expresses the desire to be introduced to the other participant would pay the fee for said communication means after confirming his desire to be introduced to a partner.

11. A server having the following constructions, comprising:

connecting means for connecting said server with a plurality of terminals enabling them to mutually communicate via a communication means,

a first memory means for storing information on a plurality of questionnaires,

controlling means for controlling the appropriate extraction of information on questionnaires from said memory means, transfer of said extracted information on questionnaires to a plurality of said terminals via said connecting means, receiving of information on answers given based on said questionnaire information by operation of terminals via said connecting means, and storing said information in a second memory means,

statistical treatment means for performing a statistical treatment based on answer information received from each terminal which has been stored in said second memory means, and

comparing means for comparing results processed by said statistical treatment means with a pre-set predetermined value, and

controlling, so that, when said comparing means judges that the result treated with said statistical treatment means coincides with said pre-set predetermined value, said controlling means controls so as to inform each of said terminals that the result coincides with the predetermined value via said connecting means, and when the result does not reach the predetermined value, said controlling means controls so as to transfer said information on answers to each of said terminals, again.