Methods and apparatuses for facilitating online communications between parties
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating online communications between parties, the method comprising:
- (A) allowing at least one message author to compose a message and a description of the purpose for sending the message;
(B) defining at least one message type according to the message purpose description;
(C) allowing at least one potential message recipient to enter a profile, the profile comprising an indication of the type of message the potential message recipient desires to receive;
(D) storing the potential message recipient profile into at least one database;
(E) allowing the message author to compose a criteria for determining the potential message recipient to receive the message author'"'"'s message purpose description;
(F) processing the criteria with the potential message recipient profile stored in the database;
(G) sending the message purpose description to at least one potential message recipient that meets the criteria;
(H) allowing the message author to compose at least one question and set at least one acceptable answer that corresponds to the question;
(I) inviting the potential message recipient that meets the criteria to answer at least one question;
(J) allowing the potential message recipient to answer at least one question;
(K) evaluating the potential message recipient'"'"'s answer based on the acceptable answer; and
(L) allowing the potential message recipient to access the message depending on the success of the potential message recipient in answering the question.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating online communications are described. One method comprises allowing at least one message author to compose a message; allowing the message author to provide a description of the message; defining a plurality of message types, each type distinguishable by its message description; associating the author'"'"'s message with a message type from the plurality of defined message types; allowing at least one potential message recipient to enter a profile, the profile comprising an indication of the type of message the potential message recipient desires to receive; and, associating the author'"'"'s message with at least one potential message recipient profile based on the message type. Another method comprises publishing a first message on at least one website; allowing an online subscriber to respond to the first message; posing a question to the online subscriber; allowing the online subscriber to answer the question; evaluating the online subscriber'"'"'s answer; and allowing the online subscriber to see a second message depending on the success of the subscriber'"'"'s answer.
34 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating online communications between parties, the method comprising:
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(A) allowing at least one message author to compose a message and a description of the purpose for sending the message;
(B) defining at least one message type according to the message purpose description;
(C) allowing at least one potential message recipient to enter a profile, the profile comprising an indication of the type of message the potential message recipient desires to receive;
(D) storing the potential message recipient profile into at least one database;
(E) allowing the message author to compose a criteria for determining the potential message recipient to receive the message author'"'"'s message purpose description;
(F) processing the criteria with the potential message recipient profile stored in the database;
(G) sending the message purpose description to at least one potential message recipient that meets the criteria;
(H) allowing the message author to compose at least one question and set at least one acceptable answer that corresponds to the question;
(I) inviting the potential message recipient that meets the criteria to answer at least one question;
(J) allowing the potential message recipient to answer at least one question;
(K) evaluating the potential message recipient'"'"'s answer based on the acceptable answer; and
(L) allowing the potential message recipient to access the message depending on the success of the potential message recipient in answering the question. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for facilitating online communications between parties, the method comprising:
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(A) allowing at least one message author to compose a message;
(B) allowing the message author to provide a description of the purpose for sending the message;
(C) defining a plurality of message types;
(D) categorizing each message according to the predefined message types;
(E) associating the author'"'"'s message with a message type;
(F) allowing at least one potential message recipient to enter a profile;
the potential message recipient being prompted to include in the profile an indication of the type of message the potential message recipient desires to receive, the message type indication being derived from the plurality of predefined message types; and
(G) matching the author with the potential message recipient based on the author'"'"'s message and the potential message recipient'"'"'s profile. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for facilitating an online search, the method comprising:
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(A) allowing at least one potential message recipient to enter a profile, the profile comprising at least one potential message recipient trait;
(B) compiling the potential message recipient profile;
(C) storing the potential message recipient profile into a database;
(D) allowing a author to compose a criteria for picking at least one potential message recipient from the database;
(E) processing the profile in the database with the criteria;
(F) allowing the author to compose at least one question and set at least one acceptable answer that corresponds to the question;
(G) inviting the potential message recipient that meets the criteria to answer at least one question;
(H) allowing the potential message recipient to answer at least one question; and
(I) evaluating the potential message recipient'"'"'s answer based on the acceptable answer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A search system comprising:
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(A) a network, (B) at least one computer connected to the network, the computer being configured to gather a user profile, the user profile comprising at least one trait of the user; and
(C) a storage device connected to the computer configured to gather the user profile, the storage device configured to store the user profile;
(D) at least one processor connected to the network, the computer, and the storage device, the processor being configured to allow a author to establish a criteria for picking a user based on the user profile, process the criteria with the user profile from the storage device, invite a qualified user that meets the criteria to a challenge session, and allow the author to pose at least one question to the qualified user. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for conducting an online chat session, the method comprising:
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(A) providing a network;
(B) allowing at least two parties to transmit data through the network; and
(C) providing at least one message template to at least one of the two parties, wherein the party having access to the message template may select the template to create a message and transmit the message created from the template to the other party. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A chat system comprising:
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(A) a network, (B) at least one server connected to the network; and
(C) a plurality of computers connected to the network and the server, each computer comprising;
(a) at least one input device, the input device being configured to allow a user to enter a message;
(b) at least one display device, the display device configured to display a dialog from at least two users, the dialog comprising at least one message from an author and at least one message from a recipient, the display device further being configured to display a plurality of templates, each template being usable by a user to carry on the dialog and wherein the templates are configured to save the user from having to formulate an original message to use during the dialog. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for facilitating online communications between parties, the method comprising:
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(A) publishing a first message on at least one website;
(B) allowing an online subscriber to respond to the first message;
(C) posing a question to the online subscriber;
(D) allowing the online subscriber to answer the question;
(E) evaluating the online subscriber'"'"'s answer; and
(F) allowing the online subscriber to see a second message depending on the success of the subscriber'"'"'s answer. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A conferencing device comprising;
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(A) a network, (B) at least one server connected to the network;
(C) a first computer connected to the network and the server, the first computer being configured to be used by a first user, the first computer comprising a first input device being configured to allow the first user to enter a message;
(D) a second computer connected to the network and the server, the second computer being configured to be used by a second user, the second computer comprising a second input device being configured to allow the second user to enter a message;
(E) at least one real time messenger program connected to the network and usable by the first and the second user, the real time messenger program being configured to allow the first user and the second user to have a dialog between each other; and
(F) a third computer connected to the network and the server, the third computer being configured to be used by a third user, the third computer comprising a third input device being configured to allow the third user to enter a message, wherein the first, second, and third user may have a dialog between each other and wherein the server is configured to allow two of the three users to have a dialog that is private from the remaining user while maintaining live communication lines between all three users. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method of facilitating online communications, the method comprising:
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(A) allowing a message initiator to compose a message, the message comprising information that may inform or may be of benefit to a potential message recipient;
(B) storing the message;
(C) associating the stored message with an indicia;
(D) displaying the indicia on a website, the indicia being configured to be activated by an internet subscriber when the internet subscriber selects the indicia;
(E) allowing the subscriber to activate the indicia;
(F) screening for at least one qualified subscriber; and
(G) selecting at least one subscriber to receive the message. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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Specification