Systems and methods for travel networking
First Claim
1. A method for initiating contact between a first member of a social community residing at a first geographic location and a second member of the social community residing at a second geographic location based upon common travel-related interests, using a member database comprising identities of members and geographic data related to respective members, the geographic data comprising residence locations of the respective members and travel destinations of interest to the respective members, the method comprising:
- identifying a travel destination of interest to the first member, the identified travel destination being different from at least one of the first and second destinations;
submitting a search request to the member database for members having an association with the identified travel destination;
receiving a list comprising a group of members having an association with the identified travel destination, the group including the second member; and
sending a message to the second member, the message comprising information related to the identified travel destination.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for facilitating communication between members of online communities based upon shared travel-related interests are provided. A member database includes identities of members and geographic data related to respective members, e.g., residence locations, travel destinations of interest, and/or specific travel plans. Members may search the member database for other members having associations with selected travel destinations. For example, a member may search for members planning to travel to a destination at the same time as the searching member, for members who reside at a travel destination to which the searching member plans to travel, or for members traveling to the searching member'"'"'s hometown. Messages may then be conveyed between the members related to their common travel-related plans and interests. If the members belong to different online communities, the member database may include surrogate identities of members by which members are exclusively identified to provide “blind” communication between members.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for initiating contact between a first member of a social community residing at a first geographic location and a second member of the social community residing at a second geographic location based upon common travel-related interests, using a member database comprising identities of members and geographic data related to respective members, the geographic data comprising residence locations of the respective members and travel destinations of interest to the respective members, the method comprising:
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identifying a travel destination of interest to the first member, the identified travel destination being different from at least one of the first and second destinations;
submitting a search request to the member database for members having an association with the identified travel destination;
receiving a list comprising a group of members having an association with the identified travel destination, the group including the second member; and
sending a message to the second member, the message comprising information related to the identified travel destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32)
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12. A system for facilitating contact between members of a social community residing at different geographic locations, based upon shared travel-related interests, comprising:
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a member database comprising identities of members and geographic data related to respective members, the geographic data comprising residence locations of the respective members and travel destinations of interest to the respective members;
a search engine for searching the member database for members satisfying submitted search requests;
an interface for receiving a search request from a first member searching for other members having an association with a travel destination, the interface configured for submitting a list comprising a group of identities of members having an association with the travel destination, the group including a second member; and
a message server for conveying a message from the first member to the second member.
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17. A method for facilitating contact between members of a social community residing at different geographic locations based upon shared travel-related interests, the method comprising:
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providing access to a member database comprising identities of members and geographic data related to respective members, the geographic data comprising residence locations of the respective members and travel destinations of interest to the respective members;
receiving a search request from a first member searching for other members having an association with a travel destination;
searching the member database for members satisfying the search request;
sending a list to the first member, the list comprising a group of identities of members having an association with the travel destination, the group including a second member;
receiving a message from the first member intended for the second member; and
sending the message to the second member.
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29. A method for facilitating contact between members of a social community residing at different geographic locations based upon shared travel-related interests, the method comprising:
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providing access to a member database comprising surrogate identities of members, and geographic data related to respective members, the geographic data comprising residence locations of the respective members and travel destinations of interest to the respective members;
receiving a search request from a first member requesting other members having an association with a travel destination;
searching the member database for members satisfying the search request;
sending a list to the first member, the list comprising a group of surrogate identities of members having an association with the travel destination, the group including a second member;
receiving a message from the first member addressed to the surrogate identity of the second member; and
determining a true identity of the second member based upon the surrogate identity; and
sending the message to the second member.
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33. A method for initiating contact between members of a social community residing at different geographic locations based upon shared travel-related interests, the method comprising:
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providing a member database comprising identities of members and geographic data related to respective members, the geographic data comprising intended travel destinations of the respective members and dates of intended travel to respective travel destinations;
receiving a search request from a first member comprising an identified travel destination and a date restriction;
searching the member database for members intending to travel to the identified travel destination at a time within the date restriction; and
sending a list to the first member, the list comprising a group of identities of members intending to travel to the identified travel destination at a time within the date restriction. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification