Computer-based networking service and method and system for performing the same

• US 7,483,946 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: TTB Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Boyd, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Application Number:
  US10/886,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-205, 709217-227
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems for assisting individuals (101) arrange meetings such as networking meeting with other individuals (101) at a specified time (or within a specified time range) and/or at a specified place (or within a specified geographic region). More specifically, methods and systems for allowing individuals (110) to post an invitation to for a meeting on an on-line network and for allowing one or more other individuals (101) to accept such invitation.

Claims

1. An on-line networking method for facilitating an arrangement for a meeting between two or more users including a first user and a second user comprising:

(a) allowing said first user and/or said second user to register to the use of said on-line networking method;

(b) receiving a proposed invitation from said first user, said proposed invitation comprising proposed invitation information including a time and a place for a proposed meeting; and

(c) providing said proposed invitation information to, or at a location accessible by, said second user,

wherein (i) said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said first user providing said proposed invitation;

(ii) said proposed invitation does not include a specified invited individual;

or (iii) said first user and/or said second user are anonymous, and

wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user and/or said second user register as anonymous users.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (a)-(c) a plurality of times to arrange a plurality of said meetings, wherein said plurality of meetings includes at least 1000 meetings.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an acceptance or a counter invitation from said second user to, or at location accessible by, said first user.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising allowing said first user to approve or decline said acceptance or counter invitation and communicating said decision to approve or decline to said second user.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said acceptance by said second user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user is charged a fee for providing said proposed invitation.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said second user is charged a fee for accepting said invitation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user and/or said second user are charged a fee in step (a).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user and said second user are allowed to remain anonymous after said meeting.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user and said second user each provide a personal profile during step (a).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying targeted advertisements to said first user and/or said second user based on said personal profiles.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said personal profile includes private information and public information.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing targeted advertisements based on said proposed invitation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said [advertisement displays] advertisements are targeted based on a location specified in said proposed invitation.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming to said first user and said second user said time and place of said meeting between said first user and said second user.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the invitation to expire after an appropriate time period.

18. A system for performing the method of claim 1, comprising one or more computer devices:

(a) [means] for allowing said first user and said second user to register to the use of said method;

(b) [means] for receiving said proposed invitation from said first user, said proposed invitation comprising proposed invitation information including said time and said place for said proposed meeting; and

(c) [means] for providing said proposed invitation information to, or at a location accessible by, said second user;

wherein said system is capable of arranging said meeting between said first user and said second user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said proposed invitation does not include a specified invited individual.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user and/or said second user are anonymous.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an acceptance from said second user to, or at location accessible by, said first user.

22. The method of claim 21, further allowing said first user to approve or deny said acceptance and communicating same to said second user.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing or displaying said invitation at a location accessible by other users.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user and second user are required to register by providing an email address.

25. A computer-based method for arranging a meeting between a first individual and a second individual comprising:

(a) allowing said first individual to generate an electronic invitation for a proposed meeting, said electronic invitation comprising proposed invitation information including a time or time range and a location for said proposed meeting;

(b) providing said proposed invitation information to, or at a location accessible by, said second individual; and

(c) allowing said second individual to accept said electronic invitation;

Wherein (i) said first individual and said second individual do not know each other prior to said first individual generating said electronic invitation;

(ii) said electronic invitation does not include a specified invited individual;

or (iii) said first individual and/or said second individual are anonymous; and

Wherein said steps (a), (b), and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising communicating to said first individual an indication that said second individual has accepted the invitation.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said first individual pays a fee to generate said electronic invitation.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising notifying a third individual of said electronic invitation after it is generated.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing said first individual to approve or deny said second individual'"'"'s acceptance of said invitation.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting to said second individual an indication that said first individual has approved or denied said second individual'"'"'s acceptance.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing or displaying said electronic invitation at a location accessible by other individuals.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said method arranges a meeting between two or more individuals who do not know each others identity prior to said providing or displaying said electronic invitation at a location accessible by other individuals.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual and said second individual do not know each other prior to said first individual generating said electronic invitation using said computer-based method.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic invitation does not include a specified invited individual.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual and/or said second individual are anonymous.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein said method arranges a meeting between two or more anonymous individuals.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual and said second individual do not know each other prior to said acceptance.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual and said second individual do not know each other prior to said approval or denial of said acceptance.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual and said second individual do not know each other prior to said meeting.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual pays a fee to generate said electronic invitation.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein said second individual pays a fee to accept said electronic invitation.

42. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual is required to register prior to generating said electronic invitation.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said first individual provides personal information including email, residence and/or other identifying information to register.

44. The method of claim 25, wherein said first individual is required to register prior to generating said electronic invitation by providing an email address.

45. The method of claim 25, wherein said second individual is required to register prior to accepting said electronic invitation.

46. The method of claim 25, wherein said second individual is required to register prior to accepting said electronic invitation by providing an email address.

47. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic invitation includes a time for said proposed meeting.

48. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic invitation includes a specific location for the proposed meeting and/or the city, neighborhood, or zip code for the proposed meeting.

49. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic invitation includes a location and a time for said proposed meeting.

50. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic invitation includes a description of who said first individual would like to meet.

51. The method of claim 25, wherein said proposed meeting includes a meal and said electronic invitation includes a food preference.

52. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing said first individual to create a user profile comprising public information.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said public information includes one or more of the following:

profession;

employer;

city of employer;

city of residence;

place of birth;

country of origin;

education, college;

graduate school;

hobbies;

age;

favorite foods;

or favorite cuisines.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein said public information is disclosed to other individuals.

55. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing said first individual to create a user profile comprising private information.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said private information includes one or more of the following:

full name, home address, business address, telephone number, email address, and credit card number.

57. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing said first individual to create a user profile comprising public information and private information.

58. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing said second individual to create a user profile comprising public information and private information.

59. The method of claim 25, further allowing said first individual and said second individual to communicate anonymously.

60. The method of claim 25, further comprising notifying a third individual of said invitation after it is generated.

61. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing one or more additional individuals to accept said invitation.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising allowing said first individual to accept or deny said acceptances from said one or more additional individuals.

63. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing a plurality of individuals to generate a plurality of electronic invitations.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising monitoring said plurality of electronic invitations and notifying one or more other individuals when one or more of said plurality of electronic invitations is posted.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein said plurality of electronic invitations includes at least 1000 electronic invitations.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein said plurality of electronic invitations is stored in a database and is searchable by one or more other individuals.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said plurality of electronic invitations are categorized by location of proposed meeting, type of proposed meeting, any preference/criteria, type of meeting place, type of golf course or combinations thereof.

68. The method of claim 63, wherein said plurality of electronic invitations are displayed on an electronic bulletin board which lists the electronic invitations and provides invitation information including one or more of the following:

date posted, location of proposed meeting, proposed meeting time, deadline for accepting, how many invited to attend, whether a minimum number of acceptances are desired, whether there are any acceptances, remaining openings, and invitee preference/criteria.

69. The method of claim 25, further comprising notifying said first individual when said electronic invitation is generated to confirm receipt.

70. The method of claim 25, further comprising creating and sending a confirmation message to each participant of said proposed meeting for confirmation.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein said confirmation message includes the date and time of the meeting.

72. The method of claim 25, wherein said invitation information includes a maximum number of acceptances.

73. The method of claim 25, further comprising retrieving a matching available user from a database including available users for selected electronic invitations.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said available users designate themselves as being available for selected electronic invitations.

75. The method of claim 74, further comprising automatically generating an acceptance of said electronic invitation for said available user to transmit, provide or display to said first individual and allowing said first individual to approve or deny said automatically generated acceptance.

76. The method of claim 25, further receiving a travel itinerary from a user and allowing another user to provide said user with information based on said travel itinerary.

77. The method of claim 25, further comprising displaying one or more advertisements to said first individual or said second individual and recording any post-impression transactional activity by said first individual or second individual.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said post-impression transactional activity includes ordering products and/or services related to the displayed one or more advertisements.

79. The method of claim 25, comprising further providing said first individual with a personal page that displays scheduled meetings, prior meeting history, invitations posted by the first individual, and/or any invitations accepted by the first individual.

80. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining the location of a third individual using an advanced positioning system in combination with a cellular communication network.

81. The method of claim 80, further comprising providing said third individual with information based on said location of said third individual.

82. The method of claim 81, comprising notifying said third individual of electronic invitations based on said location.

83. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a directory of users that includes user information and allowing users to contact other users for meetings using said directory.

84. The method of claim 25, wherein said steps (a),(b) and (c) are performed using one or more wireless computer devices.

85. A system for performing an on-line networking method for facilitating an arrangement for a meeting between two or more users including a first user and a second user, the system comprising (a) means for allowing said first user and said second user to register to the use of said system;

(b) means for receiving a proposed invitation from said first user, said proposed invitation comprising proposed invitation information including a time and a place for said proposed meeting; and

(c) means for providing said proposed invitation information to, or at a location accessible by, said second user;

wherein said system is capable of arranging said meeting between said first user and said second user; and

wherein (i) said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said first user providing said proposed invitation;

(ii) said proposed invitation does not include a specified intended invited individual;

or (iii) wherein said first user and/or said second user are anonymous.

Wherein said steps (a), (b), and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein said system is capable of allowing said second user to register as an anonymous user.

87. The system of claim 85, wherein said system is capable of providing an acceptance from said second user to, or at location accessible by, said first user.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein said system allows said first user to approve or decline said acceptance.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein said system communicates the first user decision to approve or decline to said second user.

90. The system of claim 87, wherein said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said acceptance by said second user.

91. The system of claim 85, wherein said system requires said first user to pay a fee for providing said proposed invitation.

92. The system of claim 85, wherein said system allows said first user and said second user to each provide a user profile.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein said user profile includes private information and public information.

94. The system of claim 85, wherein said proposed invitation does not include a specified invited individual.

95. The system of claim 85, wherein said system is capable of providing or displaying said proposed invitation at a location accessible by other users.

96. The system of claim 85, wherein said system is capable of notifying a third individual of said proposed invitation after it is generated.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein said system is capable of allowing said third user to accept said proposed invitation.

98. The system of claim 96, wherein said system is capable of determining the location of said third user.

99. The systcm of claim 98, wherein said third user is notified of said proposed invitation based on said location.

100. The system of claim 99, wherein said location of said third user is determined using an advanced positioning system in combination with a cellular communication network.

101. The system of claim 85, wherein said first user and said second user are required to provide an email address to register.

102. A computer-based method for arranging a meeting between a first individual and a second individual comprising:

(a) allowing said first individual to generate an electronic invitation for a proposed meeting, wherein said electronic invitation comprises proposed invitation information including a time or time range and a location for said proposed meeting;

(b) providing said electronic invitation to, or at a location accessible by, said second individual; and

(c) allowing said second individual to accept said electronic invitation;

wherein (i) said first individual and said second individual do not know each other prior to said first individual generating said electronic invitation;

(ii) said electronic invitation does not include a specified invited individual;

or (iii) said first individual and/or said second individual arc anonymous; and

wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices and wherein said first individual pays a fee to generate said electronic invitation and wherein said second individual is required to register prior to accepting said electronic invitation by providing an email address.

103. A computer-based method for arranging a meeting between a first individual and a second individual comprising:

(a) allowing said first individual to generate an electronic invitation for a proposed meeting, wherein said first individual is required to register prior to generating said electronic invitation and wherein said electronic invitation comprises proposed invitation information including a time or time range and a location for said proposed meeting;

(b) providing said electronic invitation to, or at a location accessible by, said second individual; and

(c) allowing said second individual to accept said electronic invitation and create a user profile comprising public information and private information;

wherein (i) said first individual and said second individual do not know each other prior to said first individual generating said electronic invitation;

(ii) said electronic invitation does not include a specified invited individual;

or (iii) said first individual and/or said second individual are anonymous; and

wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices and further comprising notifying a third individual of said electronic invitation after it is generated and allowing said third individual to accept said electronic invitation.