SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING AMONG MUTUALLY-INTERESTED USERS

• US 20150326682A1
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rufus Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rufus Armor, LLC
• Inventors: Grifoni, Gabriel
• Granted Patent: US 9,826,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

The present invention provides computer-implemented systems and methods directed to facilitating communication between users in close proximity who have indicated a mutual interest in one another. The exemplary method generally comprises the following steps: affiliating a first and a second user with an interactive network. The system then receives and stores user selected profiles and associates those profiles with each user. Users can browse these profiles and select profiles in which they are interested. If the system receives data indicating that two users have mutually selected each other'"'"'s profiles, the system pairs these users. The system receives geo positioning data from each mobile device and utilizes this data to determine if users are in close proximity. If the system determines that users are in close proximity, then the system determines if the users have mutually selected the other'"'"'s profile as a profile of interest, e.g., matched users.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating communication among mutually-interested users, comprising:

receiving geo positioning data or proximity based data via an interactive communications network from mobile devices of a plurality of users;

determining whether a first and a second user are in geographic proximity to each other;

determining whether the first and second users have previously mutually selected each other;

upon this determination, temporarily suspending the availability of the first and second users for matching purposes with other users;

transmitting a first notification to the first and second user to indicate that a match is nearby;

the first notification prompting each user to confirm that contact with the anonymous, pre-approved, matched user is desired;

upon receiving a first mutual confirmation from both the first and second users with the users, sending a second notification to each of the first and second users;

the second notification revealing the profiles of the previously anonymous matched first and second users and further prompting each user to confirm that contact with the now known matched user is desired; and

upon receiving a second mutual confirmation from both the first and second users, opening up a channel of communication between the first and second users;

2. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein a priority ranking is utilized when multiple matched users are nearby.

3. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein the temporary suspension of the devices'"'"' availability remains in effect until the first and/or second user(s) fail to confirm that contact is desirable.

4. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 3, wherein the temporary suspension of the devices'"'"' availability remains in effect for a predetermined duration upon receiving the second mutual confirmation.

5. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein upon determination that there is not a first mutual confirmation, determining which of the first and/or second users did not confirm, and continuing the temporarily suspension of the availability of the non-confirming user(s) for matching purposes, and turning back on the availability of the confirming user.

6. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 5, wherein upon determination that there is not a second mutual confirmation from the first and second users, determining which of the first and/or second users did not confirm, and continuing the temporarily suspension of the availability of the non-confirming user(s) for matching purposes with other users affiliated with the system, and turning back on the availability of the confirming user.

7. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein the channel of communication is via text message.

8. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 7, wherein the first and second users are limited to sending a predetermined limited amount of messages.

9. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein the channel of communication is means for disclosing the first and second users'"'"' location to each other.

10. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 9, wherein the user display is a compass-like indicator that points in the direction of the other user and displays a distance measurement.

11. A computer-implemented method for facilitating communication among mutually-interested users, comprising:

affiliating a plurality of users via an interactive communications network with a system; and

receiving geo positioning data from affiliated users of the users in order to determine whether the first and second users are in geographic proximity to each other; and

determining whether the first and second users have previously mutually selected each other; and

upon this determination, temporarily suspending the availability of the first and second users for matching purposes with other users affiliated with the system;

generating and sending a first notification to the first and second user to indicate that a match is nearby;

the first notification prompting each user to confirm that contact with the anonymous, pre-approved, matched user is desired;

upon receiving a first mutual confirmation from both the first and second users, determining the gender of each user;

sending a second notification to user determined to be female;

the second notification revealing the profile/identity of the male user to the female user and further prompting the female user to confirm that contact with the now identified matched male user is desired;

upon receiving a confirmation from the female user, sending the second notification to the male user revealing the identity/profile of the female user to the male user and further prompting the male user to confirm that contact with the now identified matched female user is desired;

upon receiving a confirmation from the male user and the female user, opening up a channel of communication between the first and second users.

12. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 11, wherein a priority module is utilized when multiple matched users are nearby.

13. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 11, wherein the temporary suspension of the devices'"'"' availability remains in effect until the first and/or second user(s) fail to confirm that contact is desirable.

14. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 13, wherein the temporary suspension of the devices'"'"' availability remains in effect for a predetermined duration upon receiving the second mutual confirmation.

15. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 11, wherein upon determination that there is not a first mutual confirmation, determining which of the first and/or second users did not confirm, and continuing the temporarily suspension of the availability of the non-confirming user(s) for matching purposes, and turning back on the availability of the confirming user.

16. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 15, wherein upon determination that there is not a second mutual confirmation from the first and second users, determining which of the first and/or second users did not confirm, and continuing the temporarily suspension of the availability of the non-confirming user(s) for matching purposes with other users affiliated with the system, and turning back on the availability of the confirming user.

17. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 11, wherein the channel of communication is via text message.

18. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 17, wherein the first and second users are limited to sending a predetermined limited amount of messages.

19. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 11, wherein the channel of communication is means for disclosing the first and second users'"'"' location to each other.

20. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 19, wherein the user display is a compass-like indicator that points in the direction of the other user and displays a distance measurement.