System and method for providing a pre-date component in a network environment

• US 20070073711A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Match Group, LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Match.com LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirby, Todd, Terrill, Chris
• Application Number:
  US11/237,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073711A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

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 includes a pre-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between a first end user and a second end user. The preferences are used to offer suggestions for the meeting for the first and second end users.

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 includes a pre-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between a first end user and a second end user, and wherein the preferences are used to offer suggestions for the meeting for the first and second end users.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the questions relate to scheduling for the first end user and the second end user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the questions relate to cuisine that is of interest to the first end user and the second end user.

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

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the answers are compiled and aggregated by the central web site in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site 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 central web site 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.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information is provided in a profile, which includes relevant characteristics of corresponding end users.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the questions relate to proximity or location data associated with the first end user and the second end user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end user selects options to the questions from a plurality of options that are offered by the central web site.

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;

providing a pre-date component that includes a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between a first end user and a second end user; and

using the preferences to offer suggestions for the meeting for the first and second end users.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the questions relate to scheduling for the first end user and the second end user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the questions relate to cuisine that is of interest to the first end user and the second end user.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the questions are in a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein answers to the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the questions are 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 first end user selects options to the questions from a plurality of options that are offered to the first end user.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the questions relate to proximity or location data associated with the first end user and the second end user.

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;

means for providing a pre-date component that includes a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between a first end user and a second end user; and

means for processing the preferences to offer suggestions for the meeting for the first and second end users.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the questions relate to scheduling for the first end user and the second end user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the questions relate to cuisine that is of interest to the first end user and the second end user.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the questions are in a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein answers to the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the questions are 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 19, wherein the first end user selects options to the questions from a plurality of options that are offered to the first end user.

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;

provide a pre-date component that includes a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between a first end user and a second end user; and

use the preferences to offer suggestions for the meeting for the first and second end users.

27. The medium of claim 26, wherein the questions relate to scheduling for the first end user and the second end user.

28. The medium of claim 26, wherein the questions relate to cuisine that is of interest to the first end user and the second end user.

29. The medium of claim 26, wherein the questions are in a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

30. The medium of claim 26, wherein answers to the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

31. The medium of claim 26, wherein the questions are 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.

32. The medium of claim 26, wherein the first end user selects options to the questions from a plurality of options that are offered to the first end user.

33. The medium of claim 26, wherein the questions relate to proximity or location data associated with the first end user and the second end user.