System and method for providing a search feature in a network environment

• US 20070073710A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Match Group, LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Match.com LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirby, Todd, Terrill, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a feature in a network environment is provided that includes a central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users. The central web site is operable to populate a queue of a first end user with a profile of a second end user. The central web site includes a search component that, once the first end user has reviewed the profile, allows the first end user to search for one or more other end users using specified criteria.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a feature in a network environment, comprising:

a central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users, wherein the central web site is operable to populate a queue of a first end user with a profile of a second end user, and wherein the central web site includes a search component that, once the first end user has reviewed the profile, allows the first end user to search for one or more other end users using specified criteria.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the criteria are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the questions are in a drop down selection format, a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein selections of the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the queue of the first end user comprises a separate segment that includes profiles of individuals that have identified the first end user through the search component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein results of the search are delivered to the first end user such that the first end user can evaluate the results.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an ability to perform additional searches by the first end user is limited by the central website.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein results from the search are displayed to the first end user and the first end user is offered a limited ability to contact one or more of the end users retrieved by the search.

11. A method for providing a feature in a network environment, comprising:

interfacing with one or more end users;

managing information related to one or more of the end users; and

providing a search component that, once the first end user has reviewed the profile, allows the first end user to search for one or more other end users using specified criteria.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the criteria are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the questions are in a drop down selection format, a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein selections of the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the search is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the search is configured to facilitate an on-line dating operation such that one or more of the end users are capable of interacting in order to find candidates that match their interests.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein results of the search are delivered to the first end user such that the first end user can evaluate the results.

19. A system for providing a feature in a network environment, comprising:

means for interfacing with one or more end users;

means for managing information related to one or more of the end users; and

means for providing a search component that, once the first end user has reviewed the profile, allows the first end user to search for one or more other end users using specified criteria.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the criteria are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the questions are in a drop down selection format, a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein selections of the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the search is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the search is configured to facilitate an on-line dating operation such that one or more of the end users are capable of interacting in order to find candidates that match their interests.

26. Software for providing a feature in a network environment, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

interface with one or more end users;

manage information related to one or more of the end users; and

provide a search component that, once the first end user has reviewed the profile, allows the first end user to search for one or more other end users using specified criteria.

27. The medium of claim 26, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein the criteria are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

29. The medium of claim 27, wherein the questions are in a drop down selection format, a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

30. The medium of claim 27, wherein selections of the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

31. The medium of claim 27, wherein the search is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.