System and method for providing a system that includes on-line and off-line features in a network environment

• US 8,051,013 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Match Group, LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Match.com LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirby, Todd W., Terrill, Chris S.
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/237,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,226 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/319
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing

Abstract

An apparatus for coordinating a relationship in a network environment is provided that includes a central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users. The central web site includes an on-line component and an off-line component such that one or more of the end users can communicate and gather information about each other at the central web site and the central web site can facilitate a meeting in person between two of the end users.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a server configured to;

interface with one or more end users; and

manage information related to one or more of the end users, wherein the server includes;

a pre-date component that comprises a set of questions for a first end user and a second end user to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between the first end user and the second end user, and wherein the preferences include at least a time characteristic and a location characteristic for the meeting, wherein the preferences are used as a basis to offer suggestions for the meeting, and wherein at least some of the suggestions are ratified by the first and second end users; and

a post-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide answers associated with the meeting that took place between the first end user and the second end user, wherein at least one of the post-date questions queries both of the end users as to whether they would like to meet again, and wherein at least some of the answers provided by the first end user are communicated to the second end user, and at least some of the answers provided by the first end user are filtered by a third party entity and edited before being communicated to the second end user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the questions are in a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the answers are compiled and aggregated by the server in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to offer an option to the first end user to have his feedback information displayed to selected end users.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to facilitate an on-line dating operation such that one or more of the end users are capable of interacting in order to find candidates that match their interests.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server includes an interest rating component that allows one or more of the end users to indicate a level of interest in one or more of the other end users.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server automatically generates a query to the first end user to confirm whether or not the meeting occurred.

9. A non-transitory method for providing a feature in a network environment in which a processor is involved in exchanging internet protocol (IP) packets, comprising:

interfacing with one or more end users;

managing information related to one or more of the end users; and

providing;

a pre-date component that comprises a set of questions for a first end user and a second end user to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between the first end user and the second end user, and wherein the preferences include at least a time characteristic and a location characteristic for the meeting, wherein the preferences are used as a basis to offer suggestions for the meeting, and wherein at least some the suggestions are ratified by the first and second end users; and

a post-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide answers associated with the meeting that took place between the first end user and the second end user, wherein at least one of the post-date questions queries both of the end users as to whether they would like to meet again, and wherein at least some of the answers provided by the first end user are communicated to the second end user, and at least some of the answers provided by the first end user are filtered by a third party entity and edited before being communicated to the second end user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the questions are in a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format, and wherein the answers are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the meeting is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein an option is offered to the first end user to have his feedback information displayed to selected end users.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing a central configured to facilitate an on-line dating operation such that one or more of the end users are capable of interacting in order to find candidates that match their interests.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing an interest rating component that allows one or more of the end users to indicate a level of interest in one or more of the other end users.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a query for the first end user to confirm whether or not the meeting occurred.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the information in a profile for one or more of the end users such that the end users can access the profile and review the information.