Method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship

• US 7,454,357 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: eHarmony Incorporated (ParshipMeet Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: eHarmony Incorporated (ParshipMeet Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Carter, Steven R., Buckwalter, J. Galen, Warren, Neil Clark, Parsons, Thomas D., Forgatch, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US10/779,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/346
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

The functions and operations of a matching service are disclosed. This includes approximating the satisfaction that a user of the matching service has in the relationships that the user forms with others and identifying candidates for a relationship with the user based on the approximated satisfaction. This also includes approximating the satisfaction that the user will have in a relationship with a particular candidate. The matching service also identifies two parties for a relationship. The matching service makes available a plurality of communication levels at which the parties can communicate. Each communication level allows the parties to exchange information in a different format. The parties are permitted to exchange information at one of the communication levels.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a computer, for operating a matching service, said method comprising:

obtaining first survey data from non-candidate survey participants, said first survey data being responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to personal relationships with other people;

using the first survey data to determine a set of one or more factors associated with predicting satisfaction in a personal relationship, including determining for each of the set of factors a corresponding function of one or more variables;

maintaining a database of match candidates;

gathering second survey data from a user candidate, said second survey data being responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to the formation of personal relationships with other people; and

automatically identifying, based at least upon said set of factors and said second survey data, at least one of said match candidates for a personal relationship with said user candidate.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining step obtains said first survey data from individuals in an existing relationship.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining step obtains said first survey data from previously existing couples.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first survey data includes data relevant to existing relationships.

5. A method, performed by a computer, for operating a matching service, said method comprising:

obtaining first survey data from people in currently existing personal relationships, said first survey data being responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to personal relationships with other people;

using the first survey data to determine a set of one or more factors associated with predicting satisfaction in a personal relationship, including determining for each of the set of factors a corresponding function of one or more variables;

maintaining a database of match candidates;

gathering second survey data from a user candidate, said second survey data being responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to the formation of personal relationships with other people; and

automatically identifying, based at least upon said set of factors and said second survey data, at least one of said match candidates for a personal relationship with said user candidate.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said obtaining step obtains said first survey data from married individuals.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said obtaining step obtains said first survey data from married couples.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said first survey data includes data relevant to said currently existing relationships.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein said obtaining step obtains said first survey data from non-candidate survey participants.

10. A method, performed by a computer, for operating a matching service, said method comprising:

processing first survey data from people in currently existing personal relationships to identify a set of one or more factors associated with predicting satisfaction in a personal relationship, including determining for each of the set of factors a corresponding function of one or more variables;

gathering second survey data from a user candidate, said second survey data being responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to the formation of personal relationships with other people; and

automatically estimating, in response to the set of one or more factors and said second survey data, personal relationship satisfaction between said user candidate and one or more match candidates.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said processing step processes first survey data obtained from married individuals.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said processing step processes first survey data obtained from married couples.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said first survey data is responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to the formation of relationships with other people.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein said obtaining step obtains said first survey data from non-candidate survey participants.

15. A system for operating a matching service, comprising:

a database configured to maintain match candidates; and

a processor configured to;

obtain first survey data from non-candidate survey participants, said first survey data being responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to personal relationships with other people;

use the first survey data to determine a set of one or more factors associated with predicting satisfaction in a personal relationship, including determining for each of the set of factors a corresponding function of one or more variables;

gather second survey data from a user candidate, said second survey data being responsive to inquiries into matters that are relevant to the formation of personal relationships with other people; and

automatically identifying, based at least upon said set of factors and said second survey data, at least one of said match candidates for a personal relationship with said user candidate.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to process said first survey data to identify criteria related to successful relationships.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to process said first survey data, including identifying criteria related to successful current relationships.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to process said first survey data, including identifying criteria related to successful past relationships.

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to obtain by obtaining said first survey data from individuals in an existing relationship.

20. A system according to claim 15, wherein said first survey data includes data relevant to previously existing relationships.

21. A system according to claim 15, wherein said second survey data includes data relevant to a previous relationship of said user candidate.

22. A system for selecting matches for a user, comprising:

a database configured to store;

information associated with one or more people who are potential matches; and

information associated with personal relationships obtained from one or more survey participants, including at least one survey participant who is not one of the people who are potential matches and who is not a user being matched; and

a processor configured to;

using the information obtained from the one or more survey participants to determine a set of one or more factors associated with predicting satisfaction in a personal relationship, including determining for each of the set of factors a corresponding function of one or more variables; and

automatically selecting matches, if any, for a personal relationship with the user being matched from the people who are potential matches based at least in part on the set of factors.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein:

the processor is further configured to processes the information associated with relationships to obtain criteria associated with successful relationships; and

the information associated with relationships used by the processor to select matches includes the criteria associated with successful relationships.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein:

the processor is further configured to obtain information associated with relationships from the user being matched; and

the processor is configured to select matches based further in part on the information obtained from the user being matched.

25. A system according to claim 22, wherein:

the processor is further configured to obtain information associated with relationships from the user being matched, including information about past relationships the user being matched has been in; and

the processor is configured to select matches based further in part on the information obtained from the user being matched.