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Method and apparatus for targeted event networking

  • US 7,966,194 B2
  • Filed: 10/28/2005
  • Issued: 06/21/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method for targeted networking amongst event attendees, comprising the steps of:

  • an event manager accessing an event management module comprising a processor, memory, and a network interface for accessing a network event management module is coupled with a plurality of clients via said network, wherein said plurality of clients comprises plurality of potential attendees and an event host, wherein said management module is further configured with management tools and attendee toolssaid event host registering into an event networking system using said management tools;

    said event host establishing an event networking web-space using said management tools;

    said event host configuring said event networking webspace with said attendee tools for allowing attendees the ability to individually register directly for said event networking web-space;

    said event host preloading a plurality of attendee information directly into said event networking system via said event networking web-space, wherein said preloaded information is previously stored in said memory;

    said event host saving any of professional and personal information into profiles for registered attendees, wherein said profiles are saved in said event networking system; and

    said event host creating a login account with a username and a password for each registered attendee;

    said event host providing said username and said password to each registered attendee; and

    said event host creating an individual attendee web-space for each registered attendee to display a profile selected from among any of, a professional profile and a personal profile, for said attendees with said attendee'"'"'s respective professional and personal information currently available in said event networking system;

    said attendees registering with a web-space to access at least some information about other registered attendees to allow targeted networking between registered attendees at any of before, during, or after said event;

    said event host offering priority features to said attendees in a sub-navigation area of said individual attendee web-space;

    said attendees storing in a sub-navigation area of said individual attendee web-space invitations to other users and introductions by other users and profiles sent along with said invitations and introductions;

    said attendees storing in a sub-navigation area of said individual attendee web-space invitations and introductions received and corresponding replies and profiles as sent with each received invitation or introduction;

    said attendees inviting other individuals, viewing accepted and rejected invitations, and viewing other individuals profile in any of said attendee'"'"'s professional and personal network;

    said attendee exchanging messages between network members;

    said attendees storing references from any of professional and personal contactssaid attendees controlling the content of said profile for input, storage, analysis, retrieval, or display to specific chosen authorized users or groups;

    said attendees controlling multi-level privacy settings, said multi-levels comprising horizontal and vertical levels, said horizontal levels comprising any, many, or all fields in said individual'"'"'s profile with corresponding privacy selection options to control display of each field content specifically to vertical levels, said vertical levels comprising access and privacy levels, said horizontal level comprising profile field-level settings, said vertical levels comprising groups, wherein said user controls access to said user profile content at both a profile level and a field level, with multiple horizontal and vertical privacy levels for each field and for an entire profile, wherein access permission is provided by said individual to any, multiple, or all horizontal and vertical privacy levels to read a defined group of records, but not necessarily all fields in each record;

    said attendee creating sub-networks where professional networking and personal networking are separate from each other;

    said event host hosting an event in physical space;

    said event host making said event available virtually via said network to virtual users via said networking web-space, further comprising;

    said virtual users accessing said event in real-time;

    said virtual users participating in said event via chat rooms or discussion boards;

    said virtual users receiving any of video and audio-streams of said event during or after said event; and

    said virtual users engage in professional networking from a location remote from the event with any of event attendees who are physically present at said event and virtual event attendees;

    said attendee and said virtual users invite others to attend and network at said event using the said event networking system;

    said event networking system proprietor monetizing said event management module by performing any of;

    retaining, by said event networking system proprietor, a percentage of revenues generated by said event;

    allowing event hosts to subscribe to event networking services using a flat fee contract model;

    allowing event hosts to provide an event networking system which is partly or entirely paid by the sponsors or sponsored by companies in return for placement of their hyperlinks or advertisements in the event networking system;

    establishing partnerships between said event networking system proprietor and online ticketing providers;

    establishing revenue sharing partnerships between event networking system proprietor with service providers including, but not limited to, online registrations and event services;

    providing either of fee-based, free, or advertising driven directory services and local listings with information concerning any of events, event attendees, and related services; and

    providing a win-n-redeem points program, wherein points are allotted to attendees based on attendee actions.

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