INITIAL IMPRESSION ANALYSIS TOOL FOR AN ONLINE DATING SERVICE

• US 20080120277A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Match Group, LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pettinati, Lucas Visvikis, Carey, Hillary A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

A system and method are directed towards managing a display of initial impression attributes to bring the most relevant information into quick view. The view can be customized by the user. Within a search context, a search may be performed based on a set of search criteria. The user may establish a set of initial impression attributes to be displayed, or employ a default set of initial impression attributes. The default set may be determined based on statistical analysis. When a result of the search is displayed, the initial impression attributes may also be displayed such that the user may review the initial impression attributes and make a decision based, in part, on the initial impression attributes. Initial impression attributes may also be employed within threaded online conversations or browsing through inventory. The search or browse contexts may include online dating searches, merchandises searches, groups, real estate, even employment searches.

Claims

1. A method for use in managing an online comparison, comprising:

determining a user'"'"'s criteria for an online candidate;

determining at least one attribute from the user'"'"'s criteria;

displaying at least one candidate profile using the user'"'"'s criteria; and

selectively displaying the at least one attribute with the displayed at least one candidate profile such that the user is enabled to assess the candidate based, in part, on the at least one attribute.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one attribute further comprises providing a default set of attributes based on an analysis of other user'"'"'s selections of attributes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one attribute further comprises providing a default attribute based, in part, on the user specifying at least one of a must have user'"'"'s criteria, or a preferred user'"'"'s criteria.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one attribute further comprises providing a default set of attributes based on analysis of the user'"'"'s communication and browsing behavior.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively displaying the at least one attribute further comprises providing a user selection mechanism with the displayed at least one candidate profile.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the user to modify the at least one attribute by, in part, enabling the user to select another attribute from the user'"'"'s criteria for display, or to deselect at least one attribute currently selected for display.

7. A modulated data signal configured to include program instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the candidate profile is further associated with at least one of an online search result, or a webpage browsing.

9. A client device that is configured for use in displaying search results, comprising:

a display; and

a processor in communication with the display and that includes instructions that causes the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

enabling a user to provide search criteria for a candidate for an online search;

enabling the user to select at least one attribute from the search criteria;

initiating a search for a list of candidates employing the search criteria;

displaying at least one candidate profile for the candidate from the list of candidates; and

selectively displaying the at least one attribute with the displayed at least one candidate profile such that the user is enabled to assess the candidate based, in part, on the at least one attribute.

10. The client device of claim 9, wherein displaying the at least one candidate profile further comprises displaying the at least one candidate profile within an email.

11. The client device of claim 9, wherein the candidate further comprises a candidate from an online dating service, a product, an interest or community group, real estate or an employment position.

12. The client device of claim 9, wherein selectively displaying the at least one attribute further comprises at least one of displaying the at least one attribute for each candidate profile, providing a selection mechanism for selectively displaying the at least one attribute for the at least one candidate profile, or displaying the at least one attribute based on a search result for each candidate in the list of candidates exceeding a predefined relevancy rating.

13. The client device of claim 9, wherein displaying at least one candidate profile from the list of candidates further comprises displaying the at least one candidate profile within a threaded conversation, and wherein selectively displaying the at least one attribute further comprises enabling the user to display the at least one attribute with the at least one candidate profile within the threaded conversation.

14. A server device that is configured for use in managing online search results, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving and sending information to another computing device;

a processor in communication with the transceiver; and

a memory in communication with the processor for storing data and machine instructions that cause the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

determining at least one initial impression attribute from a search criteria;

performing a search for a list of candidates employing the search criteria;

displaying a candidate profile for a candidate within the list of candidates; and

selectively displaying the at least one initial impression attribute with the displayed candidate profile such that the user is enabled to evaluate the candidate based, in part, on the at least one initial impression attribute.

15. The server device of claim 14, wherein displaying the candidate profile further comprises displaying the candidate profile within at least one of a threaded conversation, a one or a plurality of candidate profiles within the list of candidates, or an email.

16. The server device of claim 14, wherein selectively displaying the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises displaying a side by side display of the at least one initial impression attribute, wherein the side by side display comprises at least one result of the candidate profile, and one search criteria associated with the candidate of the candidate profile.

17. The server device of claim 14, wherein determining the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises:

if the user is unrecognized, providing a default initial impression attribute, wherein the default initial impression attribute is selected based on at least one of a predetermined set of initial impression attributes, a dynamically changing set of initial impression attributes, a set of initial impression attributes determined from behavioral analysis of the user, or a set of initial impression attributes determined from an analysis of other users.

18. The server device of claim 14, wherein determining the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises receiving a request from the user to modify the at least one initial impression attribute.

19. The server device of claim 14, wherein selectively displaying the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises providing a selection mechanism that enables the user to determine whether to display the at least one initial impression attribute.

20. A system for managing an online comparison, comprising:

a server device configured to perform actions, including;

determining at least one initial impression attribute;

providing a candidate profile for a candidate from a webpage browsing or an online search; and

a client device configured to perform actions, including;

performing at least one of the webpage browsing or the online search;

providing, in part, the analysis criteria;

displaying the candidate profile; and

selectively displaying the at least one initial impression attribute with the displayed candidate profile such that the user is enabled to evaluate the candidate based, in part, on the at least one initial impression attribute.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein determining the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises at least one of determining a default initial impression attribute from the search criteria, or receiving a selection of the at least one initial impression attribute from the client device.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein selectively displaying the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises enabling the user to select whether to display the at least one initial impression attribute from within a threaded conversation, an email, or a display of a list of candidate profiles.