METHOD FOR A PLURALITY OF USERS TO BE SIMULTANEOUSLY MATCHED TO INTERACT ONE ON ONE IN A LIVE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT

• US 20090307610A1
• Filed: 08/10/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Melonie Elizabeth Ryan
• Original Assignee: Melonie Elizabeth Ryan
• Inventors: Ryan, Melonie Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US12/189,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307610A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/756
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

An electronic Meeting system that utilizes unique methods and processes to create consecutive successions of audio video Meeting Sessions that occur in set blocks of time continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, world-wide across all time zones. The system provides for a plurality of Members to be simultaneously matched real-time to other Members, using varied matching preferences, for a series of short Meetings to interact one on one for a fixed period of time in a controlled environment. The use of a live Countdown Clock Display allows for a spontaneous use of the system by visually communicating to Members that a Check-in Process for Meetings is always available.

Claims

1. A method for a plurality of users to be simultaneously matched to interact one on one in a live controlled environment comprising the steps of:

providing a Public area and Members area;

providing a Matching Process to identify candidate matches for Members based on their Matching Details;

providing a Meeting Interface that works with the Communication Platform to allow Audio Video interaction between Members;

said Meeting Interface consists of hardware and software working together to allow electronic Meeting capability on a system-enabled electronic device using a variety of methods.

presenting to Members a Meeting Console providing an interactive control panel for Meeting via the Meeting Interface;

conducting a Meeting Session on a communication platform that provides means for audio video interaction capabilities;

managing and ensuring a continuous succession of Meeting Sessions synchronized via a Timer Device;

providing a Countdown Clock Display, governed by said timer device, in both the public and member areas communicating the continuous succession of Meeting Sessions and time duration within Meeting Sessions;

conducting each Meeting Session on a communication platform that provides means for audio video interaction capabilities; and

executing the live controlled environment as an electronic environment on a plurality of system-enabled electronic devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, when using the Countdown Clock Display, Members can initiate a Check-in Process to make themselves available for Meeting further comprising the steps of:

accessing the Members Area to initiate the Check-in Process;

displaying a series of timed activation alerts that are synchronized to the Countdown Clock Display;

visually transitioning alerts from one to another at specific times to indicate the urgency of limited Check-in time remaining to join a next Meeting Session; and

communicating the continuous succession of Meeting Sessions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein,

communicating to visitors and Members, via the Countdown Clock Display, a continuous count down cycle that runs real-time every few minutes to indicate exactly when a Meeting Session will start and end, unifying Meeting Session times across multiple time zones;

and

repeating the cycle when the Countdown Clock Display has finished counting down the time remaining, the Check-in is closed for the upcoming Meeting Session and the Check-in Activation Alerts cycle starts all over again for the next Meeting Session.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein, the Timer Device allows the Countdown Clock Display, to count down each stage of the Meeting Session.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein, the Timer Device is also used to calculate various statistics that can be displayed using Interactive Statistics Displays, which appear in the Public Area, and Members Area.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein, the transitions between these visual alerts are indicated by change of color, form, or animation to indicate the urgency of limited time remaining to join the next Meeting Session.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising the additional step of:

specifying Matching Details by submitting Matching Preferences,

selecting the Number of Meeting Sessions; and

viewing Matching Strength Meters.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, matching is performed by:

using a very small number of specifics in order to achieve a greater aggregate of candidate matches;

specifying attributes and desirables sought in candidate matches and presenting character analysis methods and business intelligence in order to achieve closer matches;

specifying specific themed interests rather than only specific attributes and desirables in order to achieve closer matches;

or

Dynamic Hotlist Matching wherein Members publish their planned Meeting information in advance to attract attention from prospective candidate matches.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein, the Dynamic Hotlist Matching further comprises:

a personal electronic calendar implementation allows publishing Members to select imminent calendar dates from a system personal electronic day/week/year calendar;

selecting particular calendar dates to specify any times for that day or night to indicate when a member is available for Meeting;

providing information about the member'"'"'s location;

defining which type of Members they would like to share their times with;

showing information to prospective compatible Members when they are looking up imminent calendar dates from a personal electronic day/week/year calendar;

presenting a list showing compatible publishing Members available for Meeting at desired times;

creating lists showing publishing Members corresponding to these times;

communicating an interest for Meeting to publishing Members;

presenting publishing Members with an increasing list of prospective compatible Members who may be available and who have expressed interest in Meeting with them at their available times; and

filtering Members lists to create a list of the Members they may be interested in Meeting.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein, the Check-in Process requires members to select the consecutive Number of Meeting Sessions they would like to participate in;

communicates to Members how long it would take to complete their chosen Number of Meeting Sessions; and

providing one or more Matching Strength Meters that update real-time as a visual indicator displayed in any shape or form with the intention of communicating how selections or changes made to a Members matching preferences affect their matching potential.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein, the matching process further comprising the additional steps of:

a Check-in Process,

a Ranking Process requiring that Members be ranked according to certain criteria to formulate a list of checked-in Members,

a Matching Preferences Check requiring that a Member at the top of the list is selected and is attempted to be matched to the next on the list,

a Matched Previously Check providing that two Members of a possible match are checked if they have been matched previously on a Meeting,

a Successful Match producing a Meeting Session for the two Members;

an Unsuccessful Match resulting in the Member having to Skip a Session and wait for the next session, conducting a Meeting Session, and

a Check-Out process whereby once a Meeting session is over, and if a Member has checked in for more sessions, the Matching Process for this Member is started again at the Ranking Process, or once all sessions that the Member has checked-in for is complete, the Member is checked out of the Matching Process.

12. A Meeting system recorded on computer-readable medium and capable of execution by a system enabled device comprising:

a Controller that may consist of a software application which is deployed on the system or application server;

a software application which is running on a softswitch, a voice server or a telephony server;

or a combination of such devices;

a Network that enables a Controller to communicate with one or more Clients via a Communication Platform;

said client governed by the controller and further consisting of a Meeting Interface, a Countdown Clock Display, a Meeting Console, a Public Area, a Members Area and an Interactive Statistics Display;

said Controller houses systems for the major processes including the Matching Process, Timer Device, and statistics Feeds;

the Meeting Interface interacts and communicates with a node in the Communication Platform, which acts as the medium for sending video and audio content to Meeting Members;

the Communication Platform, accessible by the client, sends and receives video and audio content from another node in the Network;

a Check-in Process for establishing availability of a plurality of Members;

a Matching Process wherein Members are matched for Meeting Sessions;

a Meeting Console including an Audio Video Window enabling the Members to interact with each other and a Countdown Clock Display that counts down the time remaining for each Meeting Session to finish;

a Meeting in the form of a one on one Audio Video connection between the system and two Members found to be compatible by the Matching Process;

a Check-Out Process;

a Review and Confirm Process, and

a Members Results Area.

13. The Meeting system of claim 12 where, the Meeting Console is further comprised of a Dynamic Console Heading providing the additional steps of:

prompting a Member of their progress at each stage of the Meeting Sessions;

prompting a Member to get ready and indicate the urgency of limited time remaining for a Meeting Session to commence or conclude; and

prompting a Member to get ready and indicate the urgency of limited time remaining for certain stages within the Meeting Sessions to commence or conclude; and

the Meeting Console displays the following in a Meeting, Voting Interval, and Review and Confirm Process;

a Members Nickname Display, a Dynamic Console Heading, a Countdown Clock Display, an Audio Video Window, a Dynamic Meeting Progress Panel and a Current Meeting Partner'"'"'s Visible Profile, ID Validation Seal, Friendly History, and Compatibility Indicator in a Meeting;

a Members Nickname Display, a Dynamic Console Heading, a Countdown Clock Display, a Dynamic Voting Panel and a Previous Meeting Partner'"'"'s Visible Profile, ID Validation Seal, Friendly History, and Compatibility Indicator in a Voting Interval; and

a Members Nickname Display, a Dynamic Console Heading and a Dynamic Review and Confirm Process Panel in a Review and Confirm Process.

14. The Meeting system of claim 12 wherein,

if a Successful Match is found, a Meeting Session is divided into two parts, a Meeting followed by a Voting Interval, both occurring for a controlled period of time;

the Meeting starts, a Countdown Clock Display counts down the time remaining for the Meeting to finish;

after a Meeting is complete, there is a Voting Interval for Members to submit a response about the most recently completed Meeting;

the Voting Interval starts, a Countdown Clock Display counts down the time remaining for the Voting interval to finish and the next Meeting Session to start;

during the Voting Interval, a Member is required to choose between a YES or NO Vote;

the system generates only two types of Results from matched Meeting Partners;

Successful and Unsuccessful, requiring both Meeting Partners to submit a YES Vote in order for the Meeting to be successful, and if successful, they will find each other'"'"'s details listed in their Members Results Area;

Unsuccessful Meeting Partners are those between whom at least one Member has either voted NO, or where at least one Member has not completed a YES or NO Vote for the other Member;

during the Voting Interval, it is mandatory for each Member to rate the friendliness of every Meeting Partner by giving them Friendly Feedback,

all Friendly Feedback from Meeting Partners are then used to determine a Member'"'"'s Friendly History;

a Member'"'"'s Friendly History is calculated as a computation on the average of all their Friendly Feedback ratings to date;

during the Voting Interval, a Member can Create Reminder Notes about the Meeting Partner, and if the Meeting result is successful, the Reminder Notes can be accessed along with the successful Meeting Partner'"'"'s details in the Members Results Area;

once a Member has submitted their Voting Interval response, they will be prompted to wait for the next consecutive Meeting Session; and

if a Member did not finish submitting their response in time before the next Meeting starts, they will still get a chance to complete requirements of the Voting Interval during the Review and Confirm Process.

15. The Meeting system of claim 14 wherein,

once all Meeting Sessions are finished, a Member is Checked-Out, making them no longer available to be matched for Meetings, and the Review and Confirm Process commences;

once the Review and Confirm Process is complete the Member can choose to Continue participating in new Meeting Sessions, and activate the Check-in Process again, or End the current Meeting Process and proceed to review their Results in the member'"'"'s area.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, the Review and Confirm Process further comprising of the additional Steps of:

viewing the Friendly Feedback that Members submitted for their Meeting Partners;

presenting a Profile Display Area to show matched Meeting Partners for the completed Number of Meeting Sessions;

allowing Members to Change a YES or NO Vote;

accessing and adding to Reminder Notes; and

allowing members to report abuse.

17. The Meeting system of claim 16 wherein,

the Review and Confirm Process introduces the option for Members to Create P.S. Notes for any Meeting Partners they have submitted a ‘

YES’

Vote for; and

a P.S. Note is in the form of text, audio, or a video message.

18. The Meeting system of claim 12, further comprising:

Interactive Statistics Displays synchronized to the Timer Device and any major processes of the system necessary in order to capture, calculate, and present statistics to Members;

Interactive Statistic Displays presented on shared and private statistics areas of the system that allow Members to add and plot engaging information to it;

said Timer Device determines the current local time for the Member who is interacting with the Interactive Statistics Displays and converts time-based statistics for target locations to the Member'"'"'s equivalent local time;

the Interactive Statistics Display, presented in the Members Area as an Interactive Map allowing Members to visually check the number of Members currently logged in to a Member'"'"'s target locations; and

said Interactive Statistics Display further comprised of;

an Interactive Map where Members can interact with Locations on a world map;

an Interactive Map Statistics Display Area that presents statistics on the location being interacted with; and

an Interactive Map Statistics Display Area that presents statistics on the Most Popular Times of Usage for a location being interacted with, converted to a Member'"'"'s equivalent local time; and

an Interactive Map Statistics Display Area that presents statistics on the Most Popular Times of Usage of the system converted to Member'"'"'s equivalent local time;

a Feeds area that presents additional live information and statistics, and other syndicated and aggregated content and advertisements; and

an Interactive Statistics Processor utilizing the Timer Device and a Service Database for Processing of Usage Information to generate information that is used to populate the Interactive Statistics Displays.

19. The Meeting system of claim 12 further comprising a Compatibility Indicator displayed as a visual indicator in any shape or form with the intention of communicating to Members a measure of how closely a Meeting Partner'"'"'s desirables, attributes and Matching Preferences match the Member'"'"'s own.

20. The Meeting system of claim 12, wherein the Members Results Area provides a Members Results Area Panel for Members to view and interact with their Successful Meeting Results, comprising the steps of:

presenting a Results Pending Indicator in order to visually communicate if some Results are still awaiting confirmation;

presenting a Profile Display Area showing selective information on successful Meeting Partners;

allowing Members to view any Interactive P.S Notes sent to them by a successful Meeting partner;

allowing Members to access and add to Reminder Notes;

allowing Members to add and invite successful Meeting Partners as a contact, allowing them to communicate outside the system;

allowing Members to send internal messages to successful Meeting Partners;

allowing Members to send external messages to successful Meeting Partners on electronic devices;

allowing Members to block and unblock successful Meeting partners; and

allowing Members to delete successful Meeting partners from the Members Results Area.