Method and system to connect and match users in an electronic dating service

• US 20030191673A1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morgan Cohen
• Original Assignee: Morgan Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Morgan
• Granted Patent: US 7,203,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Described herein is a method and system for connecting and matching users in an electronic dating service. In one embodiment of the invention, subscribers, or users, of the dating service are connected for a brief duration of time. During that time the users have a date, or more specifically, a real-time conversation. After the real-time conversation, the users are disconnected from each other and separately asked if they enjoyed the date, or in other words if they felt a mutual attraction, and if they would like to have further contact with each other. If both users respond affirmatively then they are allowed further contact with each other.

Claims

1. In an electronic dating service, a method comprising:

establishing an electronic connection between a first and second user to allow the first and second user to have a real-time communication, for a predefined duration;

ending said electronic connection between said first and second user after the predefined duration;

prompting the first and second users to indicate whether they had interest in each other; and

determining a two-way match if both first and second user indicate an interest in each other.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising apprising the first and second user whether a two-way match occurs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the electronic connection includes utilizing a telephony server to establish a telephone connection between the first and second user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the electronic connection includes utilizing a telephony server to receive a telephone call from the first and second user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the electronic connection includes utilizing a telephony server to place a telephone call to the first and second user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the electronic connection includes utilizing a telephony server to place a telephone call to the first user and receive a telephone call from the second user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic connection includes any one of an audio, video, or audio-video connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the users have not spoken to each other previously.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, maintaining profile information about the first and second user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing profile information of the first and second user to each other.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said profile information includes contact information, and further comprising providing contact information about one user to the other only if a two-way match occurs.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising informing the first and second user of time remaining in the predefined duration.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the first and second user to rate each other'"'"'s comportment during the real-time communication.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the first and second user to indicate if they would like to extend the date, only if a two-way match occurs.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising re-establishing the electronic connection between said first and second user, only if both first and second user indicate that they would like to extend the date.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining an account for the first and second user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said account can receive credit card payment.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

monitoring the duration of the real-time communication between the users; and

deducting from the account an amount corresponding to the real-time communication duration.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

monitoring the duration between establishing the real time connection and reception of the users'"'"' matching responses; and

deducting from the account an amount based upon said duration.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

monitoring whether the user disconnects during the real time communication; and

deducting from the user'"'"'s account an amount based upon the predefined duration that the electronic connection was expected to sustain.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining whether the first or second user has sufficient credit in the account to meet the predefined duration that the electronic connection is expected to sustain; and

prompting said user to credit the account, if said credit is insufficient.

22. In an electronic dating service, a method comprising:

presenting to a user an interface wherein the user may choose to go on any one of an immediate date or an invited date;

prompting the user to enter search criteria relating to a plurality of users'"'"' profile attributes; and

executing a search algorithm that meets the user'"'"'s search criteria.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising presenting to the user an interface wherein the user can specify whether a particular attribute is a mandatory or desirable search criterion;

24. The method of claim 23, wherein presenting to the user an interface wherein the user can specify whether a particular attribute is a mandatory or desirable search criterion includes allowing the user to rank certain desirable search criteria above others.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

detecting the current geographic location of the user; and

prompting the user to use said geographic location as the search criterion for the geographic location of the plurality of users.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein executing a search algorithm that meets the user'"'"'s search criteria includes:

(a) determining which plurality of users are also taking part in an immediate date; and

(b) determining if specified search criteria, from the user and the plurality of users, are met in both directions.

(c) determining if the user and the plurality of users, have previously been on a date.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining if specified search criteria, from the user and the plurality of users, are met in both directions includes:

(a) scoring the plurality of users based on how close the desirable criteria matched in both directions; and

(b) selecting from the plurality of users those users obtaining the highest score.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

performing a validation to ensure that there are sufficient credits in a user account for at least one date, based on the estimated time for a complete date; and

prompting the user to purchase more credits if there are not enough.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein if the user selects an immediate date, then further comprising:

compiling a list of compatible users, from the plurality of users, that matched the search criteria of the user; and

immediately establishing an electronic connection between the user and a compatible user.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

compiling a list of compatible users, from the plurality of users, that matched the search criteria of the user;

allowing the user to view profile information of the compatible users; and

allowing the user to select one of the compatible users for a date.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

establishing an electronic connection between the user and one of the compatible users to allow the user and the one of the compatible users to have a real-time communication, for a predefined duration;

ending said electronic connection between said the user and the one of the compatible users after the predefined duration;

prompting the user and the one of the compatible users to indicate whether they had interest in each other; and

determining a two-way match if both the user and the one of the compatible users indicate an interest in each other.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein if the user selected an invited date, then the establishing of the electronic connection is scheduled for a later date/time, and the one of the compatible users is an invited user.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

prompting the user to enter a first and second preference of the date/time;

prompting the user to enter an optional message;

electronically notifiying the invited user of the invited date; and

allowing the invited user to respond to the invitation.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein allowing the invited user to respond to the invitation includes prompting the invited user to agree to the first or second preference of the date/time, declining the invitation, or counter-inviting with a new date/time.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

performing a validation to ensure that there are sufficient credits in the user'"'"'s account for at least one invited date, based on the estimated time for a complete date;

reserving credits for the invited date, if there are sufficient credits in the account.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein if the invited user counter-invites:

performing a validation to ensure that there are sufficient credits in the invited user'"'"'s account for at least one invited date, based on the estimated time for a complete date;

unreserving credits for the invited date from the user'"'"'s account; and

reserving credits for the invited date from the invited user'"'"'s account.

37. The method of claim 30, further comprising presenting the user and the at least one of the plurality of users with the choice of going on another date.

38. In an electronic dating service, a method comprising:

presenting to a user an interface wherein the user may choose to go on a group date;

presenting to the user a list of upcoming group-date events;

determining if there is space available in the group-date event for the user;

determining if the user meets specified criteria for the group-date event; and

allowing the user to select the event.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising:

validating that the group-date event does not conflict with another existing group-date event or with an invited date.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

performing a validation to ensure that there are sufficient credits in the user'"'"'s account for at least one group-date event, based on the estimated time for a complete group-date event; and

reserving credits for the group-date event, if there are sufficient credits in the account; and

prompting the user to credit the account if there are insufficient credits in the account.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

tracking the number of sexually compatible users who have joined the event;

canceling the event, if an insufficient number of sexually compatible users have not signed up for the event within a predefined interval before the event; and

informing the signed up users electronically of the cancellation.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising

pairing sexually compatible users in the group-date event who have not previously had a date;

and

allowing the paired users to have an electronic date.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein an electronic date comprises:

establishing an electronic connection between the paired sexually compatible users to allow the paired sexually compatible users to have a real-time communication, for a predefined duration;

ending said electronic connection between said paired sexually compatible users after the predefined duration;

prompting the paired sexually compatible users to indicate whether they had interest in each other; and

determining a two-way match if both the paired sexually compatible users indicate an interest in each other.

44. In an electronic dating service, a method of scheduling a date, the method comprising:

displaying to a user a list of persons, said persons previously matched with said user;

allowing the user to select a person from the list; and

initiating a date between the user and the person.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein initiating a date between the user and the person further comprises:

informing the person of the user'"'"'s identity;

prompting the person to accept or reject the date; and

establishing an electronic connection between the user and the person if the person accepts the date.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the user and person are previously matched by a method comprising:

establishing an electronic connection between the user and the person to allow the user and the person to have a real-time communication, for a predefined duration;

ending said electronic connection between the user and the person after the predefined duration;

prompting the user and the person to indicate whether they had interest in each other; and

determining a match if both the user and the person indicate an interest in each other.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the list of persons displays information including any one of identity, age, geographic location, and date/time of matching.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising, maintaining profile information about the user and the person, said profile information including one or more identity attributes.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising displaying one or more attributes of the person'"'"'s profile information to the user.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the profile information includes the time range when the person will accept a date and further comprising determining whether the date is being initiated within the time range.

51. The method of claim 44, further comprising, allowing the user to remove a person from the list.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising displaying a list of removed matches.

53. The method of claim 44, wherein the user and the person are connected to any one of the Internet, a wireless network, or a telephone network.

54. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

detecting the current geographic location of the user and the persons on the list; and

filtering the list of persons to display only those persons who are in the geographic vicinity of the user.

55. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

monitoring a user account during the date; and

prompting the users to credit the account if credits run out during the date.

56. A system for an electronic dating service comprising:

a plurality of client devices, utilized by a plurality of users, connected to each other via a network; and

a controller to

(a) establish an electronic connection between the plurality of client devices to allow the plurality of users to have a real-time communication;

(b) disconnect the plurality of client devices after a predefined duration of time;

prompt the plurality of users to produce a negative or affirmative response whether they felt a mutual attraction for each other; and

(c) determine a two-way match if the plurality of users indicate affirmative responses.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the controller is to:

display to a first user of the plurality of users a list of other users, said other users previously matched with said first user;

allow the first user to select a second user from the list;

inform the second user of the first user'"'"'s identity; and

prompt the second user to accept or reject a date from the first user.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the controller is to establish an electronic connection between the first and second users if the second user accepts the date.