Multi-dimensional Matching System and Method

• US 20140280096A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joao Gonzaga
• Original Assignee: Joao Gonzaga
• Inventors: Gonzaga, Joao
• Application Number:
  US14/207,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20140280096A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The functions and operations of a matching system and method are disclosed. The component features may include a multi-dimensional matching procedure utilizing both linear and non-linear weighting carried out by a positive feedback loop. Practical uses include social networking and social discovery, as well as automatic searching of people, places, deals, and other items which the system and method determine could be of interest to users, based upon user interests, preferences, and other attributes and characteristics.

Claims

1. A method of processing information from a data-storage repository, comprising:

collecting information from a previously existing database or other data-storage repository;

operating a multi-dimensional positive feedback loop wherein a specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure which comprises a map-reduce procedure is used to match portions of said collected information with other portions of said collected information;

calculating the degree to which said matched information is matched to other information within the feedback loop'"'"'s matching procedure; and

returning and distributing calculated, context-sensitive results which are determined by the aforesaid degree to which said matched information is matched to other information within the feedback loop'"'"'s matching procedure.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the collected information comprises items, informational terms and/or informational entries, each of which in turn comprises common interests or tastes, personal characteristics, features or characteristics of places or locations, attributes of deals, discounts, or sale specials, attributes or characteristics of one or more users;

attributes of a user combined with attributes of a place, location, business enterprise, or other establishment;

or attributes of a user combined with such informational constructs as deals, discounts or sale specials and/or supplemental user-entered information that becomes associated with existing items, informational terms and/or informational entries.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure includes a number of linear and/or non-linear matching procedures, wherein said linear matching procedures calculate a value and/or number as measured in points, or another weighting intermediary, by beginning at a predetermined number of points and decreasing the points awarded in a linear manner based upon a predetermined gap in points, or other dissimilarities, between the two inputted attributes, with a zero-point minimum and also wherein a result or results obtained from the specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure are returned in an order determined by a function both of geographical distance of said result or results from a user, and of the number of points resulting from a match.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein the collected information, prior to being processed by said positive feedback loop, are first parsed by a number of pre-processing steps, and are eliminated if information designating the item'"'"'s status indicates that the item is not within a predetermined radius of a designated user;

or, if information associated with an item indicates that a visibility preference is set to hide the entity'"'"'s visibility to other users;

or, information associated with an item indicates that the item has active status, and/or lacks the status of being inactive, deleted, and/or disabled.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein portions of the collected information in said database or other data-storage repository are associated with multiple hierarchical layers or tiers of broader upper categories and narrower sub-categories, and wherein said broader and narrower categories in an associated can be associated with attributes, items, or characteristics following a hierarchical model by creating a “

parent/child relationship”

between attributes, items, or characteristics with the upper and narrower categories, and wherein the matching procedure implemented by or within the positive feedback loop assigns more weight to matched informational items within the same narrower “

child”

category than it assigns to matched informational items within the same broader “

parent”

category, and also wherein collected information can be designated to be given an increased value and/or an increased number of points when matched by said specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein collected information which are deemed to be equivalent to each other are capable of being associated with information which identifies them as being equivalent to each other, and are capable of being processed identically by said specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure, and also wherein collected information deemed to be related to each other are capable of being associated with information which identifies them as being related to each other, and are capable of being processed in analogous ways by said specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein collected information are capable of being added to a profile, and wherein an opportunity is provided to associate additional information with said collected information.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein items, informational terms and/or informational entries are capable of being associated with aggregate data collected from multiple users or multiple items, and wherein said aggregate data is compiled into percentages or numbers of users with similar characteristics, and wherein said aggregate data is associated with positions of users, prior positions of users, previous position of users, and/or specific time periods, and also wherein said aggregate data, after being compiled, is represented and/or returned to a user or users through a visual representation or another user-decipherable form.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein information capable of specifically identifying a user or users is not disclosed to other users, and wherein previously undisclosed user information is shared with other users in response to user instructions, queries, establishment of a specialized connection relationship, or other affirmative steps.

10. A method as in claim 9, comprising the additional step of sending a communication to a receiving point when or after said specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure determines a match whose weighted value surpasses a predetermined threshold, whose distance from a user is within a certain radius, and/or whose designation matches specific predetermined status.

11. A system for processing information from a data-storage repository, comprising:

a database or other data storage which contains information, and which contains associations and/or connections between said information and related information; and

a multi-dimensional positive feedback loop wherein information collected is matched with other information collected according to a specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure which comprises a map-reduce procedure.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein said information comprises collected information, each of which in turn comprises common interests or tastes, personal characteristics, features or characteristics of places or locations, attributes of deals, discounts, or sale specials, attributes or characteristics of one or more users;

attributes of a user combined with attributes of a place, location, business enterprise, or other establishment;

or attributes of a user combined with such informational constructs as deals, discounts or sale specials and/or supplemental user-entered information that becomes associated with existing informational entries.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure includes a number of linear and/or non-linear matching procedures, wherein said linear matching procedures calculate a value and/or number as measured in points, or another weighting intermediary, by beginning at a predetermined number of points and decreasing the points awarded in a linear manner based upon a predetermined gap in points, or other dissimilarities, between the two inputted attributes, with a zero-point minimum.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein a result or results obtained from the specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure are returned in an order determined by a function both of geographical distance of said result or results from a user, and of the number of points resulting from a match.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein items, informational terms and/or or other informational entries, prior to being processed by said positive feedback loop, are first parsed by a number of pre-processing steps, and are eliminated if information designating the item'"'"'s status indicates that the item is not within a predetermined radius of a designated user;

or, if information associated with an item indicates that a visibility preference is set to hide the entity'"'"'s visibility to other users;

or, information associated with an item indicates that the item has active status, and/or lacks the status of being inactive, deleted, and/or disabled.

16. A system as in claim 15, wherein portions of the information in said database or other data storage repository are associated with multiple hierarchical layers or tiers of broader upper categories and narrower sub-categories, and wherein said broader and narrower categories in an associated can be associated with attributes, items, or characteristics following a hierarchical model by creating a “

parent/child relationship”

between attributes, items, or characteristics with the upper and narrower categories, and wherein the matching procedure implemented by or within the positive feedback loop assigns more weight to matched informational items within the same narrower “

child”

category than it assigns to matched informational items within the same broader “

parent”

category, and also wherein collected information can be designated to be given an increased value and/or an increased number of points when matched by said specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein collected information are capable of being added to a profile, and wherein an opportunity is provided to associate additional information with said collected information.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein collected information are capable of being associated with aggregate data collected from multiple users or multiple items, and wherein said aggregate data is compiled into percentages or numbers of users with similar characteristics, and wherein said aggregate data is associated with positions of users, prior positions of users, previous position of users, and/or specific time periods, and also wherein said aggregate data, after being compiled, is capable of being represented and/or returned to a user or users through a visual representation or another user-decipherable form.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein information capable of specifically identifying a user or users is not disclosed to other users, and wherein previously undisclosed user information is shared with other users in response to user instructions, queries, establishment of a specialized connection relationship, or other affirmative steps.

20. A system as in claim 19, further comprising a communication system wherein a communication is capable of being sent to a receiving point when or after said specialized, context-sensitive matching procedure determines a match whose weighted value surpasses a predetermined threshold, whose distance from a user is within a certain radius, and/or whose designation matches specific predetermined status.