Mediated social network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- indicating via a user interface at least one of;
a) a plurality of characteristics of a first user; and
b) a plurality of preferences of a first user;
indicating a first geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user;
indicating a first time associated with the first geographic location;
indicating whether the first user'"'"'s physical presence is associated with the first geographic location at the first time; and
facilitating communication of the plurality of the first user'"'"'s characteristics and/or the plurality of the first user'"'"'s preferences, the first geographic location, and the first time to a matching module, the matching module being configured to compare;
the first geographic location, the first time, and at least one of;
a) the first user'"'"'s preferences; and
b) the first user'"'"'s characteristics toa second geographic location of a second user, a second time associated with the second geographic location, and at least one of preferences and characteristics of a second user,in order to determine whether a match exists between the first user and the second user.
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Abstract
An extension of electronically-defined social networks to include geographic location information of the user is provided. The geographic location information is integrated with user preferences to enable user-to-user contacts and/or the provision of general or specific user information mediated by the social network. In some embodiments, users may create a “virtual presence” to discover matches with other users.
117 Citations
63 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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indicating via a user interface at least one of;
a) a plurality of characteristics of a first user; and
b) a plurality of preferences of a first user;indicating a first geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user; indicating a first time associated with the first geographic location; indicating whether the first user'"'"'s physical presence is associated with the first geographic location at the first time; and facilitating communication of the plurality of the first user'"'"'s characteristics and/or the plurality of the first user'"'"'s preferences, the first geographic location, and the first time to a matching module, the matching module being configured to compare; the first geographic location, the first time, and at least one of;
a) the first user'"'"'s preferences; and
b) the first user'"'"'s characteristics toa second geographic location of a second user, a second time associated with the second geographic location, and at least one of preferences and characteristics of a second user, in order to determine whether a match exists between the first user and the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electronic social network system comprising:
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a preferences module configured to receive preferences of a first user; a characteristics module configured to receive characteristics of a second user; a locations module configured to receive, from the first user, a first geographic location associated with the preferences of the first user, and a first time associated with the first geographic location; the locations module configured to further receive, from the second user, a second geographic location associated with the characteristics of the second user, a second time associated with a the second geographic location, and an indication as to the second user'"'"'s actual physical presence at the second geographic location at the second time; and a matching module configured to determine whether a match exists between the first user and the second user, wherein the determination includes comparing the preferences of the first user to the characteristics of the second user, and comparing the first geographic location and the first time to the second geographic location and the second time. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method comprising:
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indicating via a user interface at least one of;
a) a plurality of characteristics of a first user; and
b) a plurality of preferences of the first user;indicating a first geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user; indicating a first time associated with the first geographic location; indicating a second geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user, the second geographic location being different from the first geographic location; indicating a second time associated with the second geographic location, the second time overlapping with the first time; and facilitating one or more communications to a matching module, the one or more communications comprising the characteristics of the first user and/or the preferences of the first user, the first geographic location, the first time, the second geographic location, and the second time;
whereinthe matching module is configured to compare the first geographic location, the first time, the second geographic location, the second time, and the characteristics and/or the preferences of the first user to characteristics and/or preferences of a second user, a third geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the second user, and a third time associated with the third geographic location; and the matching module is configured to simultaneously maintain the first geographic location and the first time, and the second geographic location and the second time as actively available for comparison to at least the third geographic location and the third time. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An electronic social network system comprising:
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a receiving module configured to receive indications of; at least one of;
a) a plurality of characteristics of a first user; and
b) a plurality of preferences of the first user;a first geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user; a first time associated with the first geographic location; a second geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user, the second geographic location being different from the first geographic location; and a second time associated with the second geographic location, the second time overlapping with the first time; a matching module configured to compare; the first geographic location, the first time, the second geographic location, the second time, and the characteristics and/or the preferences of the first user to characteristics and/or preferences of a second user, a third geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the second user, and a third time associated with the third geographic location; wherein the matching module is configured to simultaneously maintain the first geographic location and the first time, and the second geographic location and the second time as actively available for comparison to at least the third geographic location and the third time.
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51. A method comprising:
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indicating via a user interface at least one of;
a) a plurality of characteristics of a first user; and
b) a plurality of preferences of a first user;indicating a first geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user; indicating that, in a case where a match is determined to exist between the first user and a second user, a communication should not be sent to the second user regarding the first user; and in a case where a match is determined between the first user and the second user, receiving a communication regarding the second user;
whereina match comprises a positive result of an analysis of the first geographic location, the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user, a second geographic location of the second user, and the characteristics and/or preferences of the second user.
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52. An electronic social network system comprising:
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a receiving module configured to receive; an indication of at least one of;
a) a plurality of characteristics of a first user; and
b) a plurality of preferences of a first user;an indication of a first geographic location associated with the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user; an indication that in a case where a match is determined to exist between the first user and a second user, a communication should not be sent to the second user regarding the first user; an analysis module to be used as part of determining whether a match exists, the analysis module configured to analyze the first geographic location, the characteristics and/or preferences of the first user, a second geographic location of the second user, and the characteristics and/or preferences of the second user; and a communication module configured to send a communication regarding the second user to the first user in a case where a match is determined between the first user and the second user.
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53. A portable system for use as part of a social network system, the portable system comprising:
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a location positioning device, used as a part of positioning system, to provide the location of the location positioning device to a main server; a communication device configured to communicate with the main server; and an interface with the communication device configured to receive indications of; a first geographic location associated with characteristics and/or preferences of a first user; a first time associated with the first geographic location; and whether the first user'"'"'s physical presence is associated with the first geographic location at the first time. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A portable system for use as part of a social network system, the social network system including a main server that is configured to determine whether a match exists between various users based on the locations of the users, the portable system comprising:
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a location positioning device, used as a part of positioning system, to provide the location of the location positioning device to a main server; a user interface configured to receive an indication that in a case where a match is determined to exist between the first user and a second user, a communication should not be sent to the second user regarding the first user; and a communication device configured to send the indication to the main server and further configured to receive a communication from the main server in the case of a match being determined to exist between the first user and a second user. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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Specification