Method And System for User Connections and Advertising Using Geographic Index of Affinity

• US 20130091017A1
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dugaduga.Com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dugaduga.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Mullin, Brian, Ivey, Jessie
• Application Number:
  US13/633,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A system for managing a geographic index of affinity (GIA), defined as a distance a user is willing to find/connect with other users, specific to a particular shared interest. The GIA includes a degree of distance (Affinity) based on their geographic location and can be used in conjunction with free online Web services to deliver a steady and relevant pool of meaningful connections based on interest-specific GIAs. This provides an advantage of capitalizing on blind spots and shortfalls in current social networking platforms by building sites where users build communities of trust, and, in the process, make themselves open to relevant local advertising. As desired, user demographic databases are built that include specific interests, approximate location, age and gender of the users using the GIA.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving user input from a user device, the user input comprising and intersection, an interest, and an interest radius for a first user;

calculating a geographic index of affinity by using the intersection, interest, and interest radius;

calculating a zone corresponding to the interest by using the geographic index of affinity;

locating a second user in the zone corresponding to the interest;

displaying information related to the second user to the user device; and

providing for communication between the first user and the second user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving and displaying advertising content to the user device based on the geographic index of affinity and available services.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the interest radius represents a distance from the intersection associated with the interest.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising storing a blog URL for the interest.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising converting the intersection to longitude and latitude coordinates.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein calculating the zone uses a Haversine formula.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input further comprises a birth month, a birth year, a gender, a picture, and a zip code for the first user.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform:

receiving user input from a user device, the user input comprising and intersection, an interest, and an interest radius for a first user;

calculating a geographic index of affinity by using the intersection, interest, and interest radius;

calculating a zone corresponding to the interest by using the geographic index of affinity;

locating a second user in the zone corresponding to the interest;

displaying information related to the second user to the user device; and

providing for communication between the first user and the second user.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further causing the processor to perform retrieving and displaying advertising content to the user device based on the geographic index of affinity and available services.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the interest radius represents a distance from the intersection associated with the interest.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further causing the processor to perform storing a blog URL for the interest.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further causing the processor to perform converting the intersection to longitude and latitude coordinates.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein calculating the zone uses a Haversine formula.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the user input further comprises a birth month, a birth year, a gender, a picture, and a zip code for the first user.

15. A system, comprising:

a server in communication with a network; and

software instructions stored on the server and executable by the server, the software instructions for;

receiving user input from a user device, the user input comprising and intersection, an interest, and an interest radius for a first user;

calculating a geographic index of affinity by using the intersection, interest, and interest radius;

calculating a zone corresponding to the interest by using the geographic index of affinity;

locating a second user in the zone corresponding to the interest;

displaying information related to the second user to the user device; and

providing for communication between the first user and the second user.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising retrieving and displaying advertising content to the user device based on the geographic index of affinity and available services.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the interest radius represents a distance from the intersection associated with the interest.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising storing a blog URL for the interest.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising converting the intersection to longitude and latitude coordinates.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein calculating the zone uses a Haversine formula.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the user input further comprises a birth month, a birth year, a gender, a picture, and a zip code for the first user.