Socially- And Context-Aware People-Matching Systems and Methods Relating Thereto

• US 20110191352A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Jones, Quentin, Mayer, Julia, Motahari, Sara Gatmir
• Application Number:
  US12/959,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/749
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and methods for recommending matches of individuals is provided. A matching server is in communication with a plurality of computer systems operated by a plurality of users of the matching server, via a network (e.g., the Internet). Attribute information is received about a plurality of individuals, as well as a search query for an individual matching at least one desired characteristic specified by a user of the matching server. An affinity score is calculated based upon the attribute information and the search query, and local user context information and social relevance information corresponding to the plurality of individuals is received. An overall match score is calculated by adjusting the affinity score based upon the local user context information and the social relevance information. If the overall match score exceeds a pre-determined threshold, an alert is transmitted to the user of the matching server which identifies potential matches in the plurality of individuals.

Claims

1. A method for matching individuals, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a matching server attribute information about a plurality of individuals;

receiving at the matching server a search query for an individual matching at least one desired characteristic specified by a user of the matching server;

calculating using the matching server an affinity score based upon the attribute information and the search query;

receiving at the matching server local user context information and social relevance information corresponding to the plurality of individuals;

calculating an overall match score at the matching server by adjusting the affinity score based upon the local user context information and the social relevance information;

determining whether the overall match score exceeds a pre-determined threshold; and

if the overall match score exceeds the pre-determined threshold, electronically transmitting an alert to the user of the matching server identifying potential matches in the plurality of individuals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the alert to the user on a local computer system operated by the user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying the alert to the user on a mobile device operated by the user.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising allowing the user to communicate with at least one of the potential matches.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute information comprises information relating to at least one of a user'"'"'s interests, user demographics, geo-temporal patterns, a user'"'"'s personality, a user'"'"'s needs, a user'"'"'s preferences, or social ties between at least two users.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the local user context information comprises information relating to at least one of proximity, location, time, temperature, weather, mood, current task, or current activity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the social relevance information comprises information relating to at least one of match rarity or match prevalence.

8. A system for matching individuals, comprising:

a matching server in communication with a plurality of computer systems operated by a plurality of users of the matching server, the matching server receiving attribute information about a plurality of individuals;

means for receiving a search query for an individual matching at least one desired characteristic specified by a user of the matching server;

means for calculating an affinity score based upon the attribute information and the search query;

means for receiving local user context information and social relevance information corresponding to the plurality of individuals;

means for calculating an overall match score by adjusting the affinity score based upon the local user context information and the social relevance information;

means for determining whether the overall match score exceeds a pre-determined threshold; and

means for transmitting an alert to the user of the matching server identifying potential matches in the plurality of individuals, if the overall match score exceeds the pre-determined threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a user interface at each of the plurality of computer systems operated by the users of the matching server for displaying the alert.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface is displayed on a mobile device operated by at least one of the users.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface allows a user to communicate with at least one of the potential matches.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the attribute information comprises information relating to at least one of a user'"'"'s interests, user demographics, geo-temporal patterns, a user'"'"'s personality, a user'"'"'s needs, a user'"'"'s preferences, or social ties between at least two users.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the local user context information comprises information relating to at least one of proximity, location, time, temperature, weather, mood, current task, or current activity.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the social relevance information comprises information relating to at least one of match rarity or match prevalence.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer system, causes the computer system to execute the steps of:

receiving attribute information about a plurality of individuals;

receiving a search query for an individual matching at least one desired characteristic specified by a user of the matching server;

calculating an affinity score based upon the attribute information and the search query;

receiving local user context information and social relevance information corresponding to the plurality of individuals;

calculating an overall match score by adjusting the affinity score based upon the local user context information and the social relevance information;

determining whether the overall match score exceeds a pre-determined threshold; and

if the overall match score exceeds the pre-determined threshold, electronically transmitting an alert to the user of the matching server identifying potential matches in the plurality of individuals.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising computer-readable instructions which cause the computer system to execute the step of displaying the alert to the user on a local computer system operated by the user.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising computer-readable instructions which cause the computer system to execute the step of allowing the user to communicate with at least one of the potential matches.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the attribute information comprises information relating to at least one of a user'"'"'s interests, user demographics, geo-temporal patterns, a user'"'"'s personality, a user'"'"'s needs, a user'"'"'s preferences, or social ties between at least two users.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the local user context information comprises information relating to at least one of proximity, location, time, temperature, weather, mood, current task, or current activity.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the social relevance information comprises information relating to at least one of match rarity of match prevalence.