On-line dating service for locating and matching people based on user-selected search criteria
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented system for matching people with each other, the system comprising:
- a) a main computer server connectable to the Internet;
b) a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and
c) a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers,wherein each of the local servers and the main computer server comprises;
means for a particular user to update and read at least a portion of the database so as to match the particular user with at least one other user of the system,wherein the main computer server provides means to update and read the database via a user computer connected to the Internet to access a server page; and
wherein the local servers provide means to update and read the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to update and read the database via a telephone comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, said system implementing, in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, wherein the users access the database by at least one of a telephone and a computer, wherein the subscriber information includes a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, the method comprising, by computer;
(A) repeatedly(a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and(b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found, wherein the required number of matching records is never less than one;
(B) reporting the matching records to the user, including(a) reporting a degree of match for each reported record; and
(b) indicating, for each reported record, a degree of match of each of the search criteria,(C) reordering the matching entries according to at least one of;
(a) a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and(b) a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber,wherein when the entries are reordered according to the date of last payment, the matching entries having a more recent date of the last payment are reported before others of the matching entries; and
when the entries are reordered according to the date of last updating, the matching entries having a more recent data of last updating are reported before others of the matching entries, andwherein the search criteria include at least one of;
a gender preference;
a geographic location preference;
an age preference;
appearance preferences;
religious belief preferences;
educational level preferences; and
a goal preference; and
wherein the goal preference is one of "romance";
"friendship" or "a walk on the wild side"; and
wherein the geographic location preference is at least one of;
a postal code, a country a city, a suburb, a block, or a street; and
wherein the gender preference search criterion is never relaxed, andwherein the geographic location preference search criterion is only relaxed after other search criteria have been relaxed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented system for matching people with each other includes a main computer server connectable to a network such as the Internet; a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers. Each of the local servers and the main computer server has means for a particular user to update and read at least a portion of the database so as to match the particular user with at least one other user of the system. The main computer server provides means to update and read the database via a user computer connected to the Internet to access a server page. The local servers provide means to update and read the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network.
448 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented system for matching people with each other, the system comprising:
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a) a main computer server connectable to the Internet; b) a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and c) a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers, wherein each of the local servers and the main computer server comprises;
means for a particular user to update and read at least a portion of the database so as to match the particular user with at least one other user of the system,wherein the main computer server provides means to update and read the database via a user computer connected to the Internet to access a server page; and wherein the local servers provide means to update and read the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to update and read the database via a telephone comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, said system implementing, in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, wherein the users access the database by at least one of a telephone and a computer, wherein the subscriber information includes a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, the method comprising, by computer; (A) repeatedly (a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and (b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found, wherein the required number of matching records is never less than one; (B) reporting the matching records to the user, including (a) reporting a degree of match for each reported record; and (b) indicating, for each reported record, a degree of match of each of the search criteria, (C) reordering the matching entries according to at least one of; (a) a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and (b) a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, wherein when the entries are reordered according to the date of last payment, the matching entries having a more recent date of the last payment are reported before others of the matching entries; and when the entries are reordered according to the date of last updating, the matching entries having a more recent data of last updating are reported before others of the matching entries, and wherein the search criteria include at least one of;
a gender preference;
a geographic location preference;
an age preference;
appearance preferences;
religious belief preferences;
educational level preferences; and
a goal preference; andwherein the goal preference is one of "romance";
"friendship" or "a walk on the wild side"; andwherein the geographic location preference is at least one of;
a postal code, a country a city, a suburb, a block, or a street; andwherein the gender preference search criterion is never relaxed, and wherein the geographic location preference search criterion is only relaxed after other search criteria have been relaxed. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A computer-implemented system for matching people with each other, the system comprising:
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a main computer server connectable to a computer network; a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers, wherein each of the local servers and the main computer server comprises; means for a particular user to access at least a portion of the database so as to match the particular user with at least one other user of the system, wherein the local servers provide means to access the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to access the database comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, said system implementing, in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, wherein the users access the database by at least one of a telephone and a computer, wherein the subscriber information includes a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, the method comprising, by computer; (A) repeatedly (a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and (b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found, wherein the required number of matching records is never less than one; (B) reporting the matching records to the user, including (a) reporting a degree of match for each reported record; and (b) indicating, for each reported record, a degree of match of each of the search criteria, (C) a reordering the matching entries according to at least one of; (a) a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and (b) date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, wherein when the entries are reordered according to the date of last payment, the matching entries having a more recent date of the last payment are reported before others of the matching entries; and when the entries are reordered according to the date of last updating, the matching entries having a more recent data of last updating are reported before others of the matching entries, and wherein the search criteria include at least one of;
a gender preference;
a geographic location preference;
an age preference;
appearance preferences;
religious belief preferences;
educational level preferences; and
a goal preference; andwherein the goal preference is one of "romance";
"friendship" or "a walk on the wild side"; andwherein the geographic location preference is at least one of;
a postal code, a country, a city, a suburb, a block, or a street; andwherein the gender preference search criterion is never relaxed, and wherein the geographic location preference search criterion is only relaxed after other search criteria have been relaxed. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A graphical user interface for accessing a computer-implemented people-matching system via a computer connected to a computer network, the system comprising a main computer server connectable to the computer network;
- a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and
a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers, wherein each of the local servers provides means to access the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to access the database comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, the interface comprising;means for providing search criteria to the system; means for displaying results of a search conducted on a database according to the provided search criteria; means for selecting a particular result from the displayed results and for obtaining further information about the particular result, said system implementing in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, wherein the users access the database by at least one of a telephone and a computer, wherein the subscriber information includes a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, the method comprising, by computer; (A) repeatedly (a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and (b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found, wherein the required number of matching records is never less than one; (B) reporting the matching records to the user, including (a) reporting a degree of match for each reported record; and (b) indicating, for each reported record, a degree of match of each of the search criteria, (C) reordering the matching entries according to at least one of; (a) a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and (b) date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, wherein when the entries are reordered according to the date of last payment, the matching entries having a more recent date of the last payment are reported before others of the matching entries; and when the entries are reordered according to the date of last updating, the matching entries having a more recent data of last updating are reported before others of the matching entries, and wherein the search criteria include at least one of;
a gender preference;
a geographic location preference;
an age preference;
appearance preferences;
religious belief preferences;
educational level preferences; and
a goal preference; andwherein the goal preference is one of "romance";
"friendship" or "a walk on the wild side"; andwherein the geographic location preference is at least one of;
a postal code, a country, a city, a suburb, a block, or a street; andwherein the gender preference search criterion is never relaxed, and wherein the geographic location preference search criterion is only relaxed after other search criteria have been relaxed.
- a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and
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11. A computer-implemented system for matching people with each other, the system comprising:
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(a) a main computer server connectable to the Internet; (b) a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and (c) a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers, wherein each of the local servers and the main computer server comprises;
means for a particular user to update and read at least a portion of the database so as to match the particular user with at least one other user of the system,wherein the main computer server provides means to update and read the database via a user computer connected to the Internet to access a server page; and wherein the local servers provide means to update and read the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to update and read the database via a telephone comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, said system implementing, in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, the method comprising, by computer; repeatedly (a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and (b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found.
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12. A computer-implemented system for matching people with each other, the system comprising:
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a main computer server connectable to a computer network; a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers, wherein each of the local servers and the main computer server comprises; means for a particular user to access at least a portion of the database so as to match the particular user with at least one other user of the system, wherein the local servers provide means to access the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to access the database comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, said system implementing, in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, the method comprising, by computer; repeatedly (a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and (b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found.
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13. A graphical user interface for accessing a computer-implemented people-matching system via a computer connected to a computer network, the system comprising a main computer server connectable to the computer network;
- a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and
a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers, wherein each of the local servers provides means to access the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to access the database comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, the interface comprising;means for providing search criteria to the system; means for displaying results of a search conducted on a database according to the provided search criteria; means for selecting a particular result from the displayed results and for obtaining further information about the particular result, said system implementing, in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, the method comprising, by computer; repeatedly (a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and (b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found.
- a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; and
Specification