METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USER ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNICATION IN A WIDE AREA NETWORK ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A system for providing user association in a computer environment, comprising the operations of:
- a central server having a subscriber database, the subscriber database storing a plurality of subscriber data entries, each subscriber data entry including characteristics of a related subscriber; and
a plurality of user association and communication devices, each user association and communication device being associated with a user database, each user database storing calling criteria data indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers,wherein the central server facilitates a calling connection between at least two user association and communication devices based on the calling criteria data stored in a user database and characteristics stored in the subscriber database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An invention is provided for allowing user association in a computer environment. The invention includes a central server having a subscriber database, the subscriber database storing a plurality of subscriber data entries, each subscriber data entry including characteristics of a related subscriber. The system also includes a plurality of user association and communication devices. Each user association and communication device is associated with a user database that stores calling criteria data indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers. In use, the central server facilitates a calling connection between at least two user association and communication devices based on the calling criteria data stored in a user database and characteristics stored in the subscriber database.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for providing user association in a computer environment, comprising the operations of:
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a central server having a subscriber database, the subscriber database storing a plurality of subscriber data entries, each subscriber data entry including characteristics of a related subscriber; and a plurality of user association and communication devices, each user association and communication device being associated with a user database, each user database storing calling criteria data indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers, wherein the central server facilitates a calling connection between at least two user association and communication devices based on the calling criteria data stored in a user database and characteristics stored in the subscriber database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A user association and communication device, comprising:
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a processor; a video camera in communication with the processor; a video output module in communication with the processor, the video output module capable of providing video image data generated via the video camera to a monitor; an audio output module in communication with the processor, the audio output module capable of providing audio data to an audio device; and a network adaptor in communication with the processor, the network adaptor capable of facilitating a network connection, wherein the user association and communication device is associated with a user database storing calling criteria data indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for associating individuals via a network medium, comprising:
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storing a plurality of subscriber data indicating characteristics of individual subscribers; storing a plurality of calling criteria data sets indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers, each calling criteria data set being associated with a requesting user; selecting an individual subscriber having characteristics at least partially matching a calling criteria data set associated with the requesting user; facilitating a calling connection between the selected individual subscriber and the requesting user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification