Connection system

• US 8,346,622 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Shetty, Naresh
• Primary Examiner(s): HAQ, NAEEM U
• Application Number:
  US12/427,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/26.2, 705/26.25, 705/26.3, 705/26.35, 705/26.4, 705 2641- 2644, 705/26.5, 705 2661- 2664, 705/26.7, 705/26.8, 705/26.81, 705/26.82, 705/26.9, 705/27.1, 705/27.2
• US Class Current: 705/26.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Various embodiments include systems and methods for providing communication among a plurality of users with complementary requirements in an electronic network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a matchmaking system, from a first user a first description of a first product for sale and from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;

comparing, by a processor of the matchmaking system, the first description to the second description;

determining, by the processor, that the first description matches the second description by determining that a first word in the first description is the same as a second word in the second description, determining a first geographic region based on the first description, determining a second geographic region based on the second description, and determining that the first geographic region and the second geographic region are within a specified geographical reach;

presenting a result of the first description matching the second description to the first user, the result including a user chat identifier for the second user and a selectable indicator corresponding to an availability of the second user on a chat service external to the matchmaking system;

receiving, from the first user, a selection of the selectable indicator corresponding to the first user desiring to chat with the second user;

sending, via the external chat service, a signal to second user indicating that the first user wishes to communicate with the second user;

receiving permission from the second user to put the first user in communication with the second user; and

transmitting a message from the first user using a chat service internal to the matchmaking system to the second user via the external chat service.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the user chat identifier from the second user, the user chat identifier serving to identify the second user on the external chat service; and

determining the availability of the second user onto the external chat service by checking the status of the user chat identifier with the external chat service.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an alias from the second user, in which the alias is different from the user chat identifier; and

causing the alias to be displayed to the first user.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the message from the second user via the internal chat service, wherein the internal chat service is different than the external chat service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale;

determining that the second description matches the third description;

determining a first geographic region based on the first description;

determining a second geographic region based on the second description;

determining a third geographic region based on the third description;

determining a first distance based on the first geographic region and the second geographic region;

determining a second distance based on the second geographic region and the third geographic region;

determining that the first distance is less than the second distance; and

causing to be displayed, for the first user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first distance is less than the second distance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first description matches the second description comprises determining that a first word in the first description matches a second word in the second description, the method further comprising:

receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale;

determining that a third word in the second description matches a fourth word in the third description, in which the third word is different from the second word;

determining a first category associated with the second word;

determining a second category associated with the third word;

determining a first priority associated with the first category;

determining a second priority associated with the second category;

determining that the first priority is higher than the second priority; and

displaying, for the first user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first priority is higher than the second priority.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first category is geography and the second category is product age.

8. A method comprising:

receiving from a first user a first description of a first product;

receiving from the first user a first address to be used for sending communications to the first user, the first address being an alias on an external chat service;

receiving front the first user a rule for sending communications;

receiving from a second user a second description of a second product;

determining, by a processor, that the first description matches the second description; and

transmitting to the first user a first message describing the second product, the first message being sent to the first address via the external chat service, and the first message being sent in accordance with the rule.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rule specifies a frequency with which to send communications.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the rule specifies one of a plurality of addresses to be used for sending communications to the first user, the method further comprising:

receiving from the first user a second address to be used for sending communications to the first user;

receiving from a third user a third description of a third product;

determining that the first description matches the third description;

transmitting to the first user a second message describing the third product, the second message being sent to the second address, and the second message being sent in accordance with the rule.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first address is a wireless device identifier and wherein the first message is sent to a corresponding wireless device via Short Message Service.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a matchmaking system, from a first user a first description of a first product for sale and from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;

comparing, by a processor of the matchmaking system, the first description to the second description;

determining, by the processor, that the first description matches the second description by determining that a first word in the first description is the same as a second word in the second description;

presenting a result of the first description matching the second description to the first user, the result including a user chat identifier for the second user and a selectable indicator corresponding to an availability of the second user on a chat service external to the matchmaking system;

detecting the availability of the second user on the external chat service;

receiving, from the first user, a selection of the selectable indicator corresponding to the first user desiring to chat with the second user;

sending, via the external chat service, a signal to the second user indicating that the first user wishes to communicate with the second user;

receiving permission from the second user to put the first user in communication with the second user; and

transmitting a message from the first user using a chat service internal to the matchmaking system to the second user via the external chat service, and based on the second user being offline on the external chat service, transmitting an offline message from the first user to the second user using a communications channel designated by the second user, the communications channel comprising one of electronic mail, a wireless device communication, and the external chat service.

13. A system comprising:

a processor;

an input module, implemented by the processor, configured to receive from a first user a first description of a first product for sale and from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;

a matching engine, implemented by the processor, configured to;

compare the first description to the second description; and

determine that the first description matches the second description by determining that a first word in the first description is the same as a second word in the second description;

an output module, implemented by the processor, configured to present a result of the first description matching the second description to the first user, the result including a user chat identifier for the second user and a selectable indicator corresponding to an availability of the second user on a chat service external to the matchmaking system; and

a chat engine, implemented by the processor, configured to;

detect the availability of the second user on the external chat service;

receive, from the first user, a selection of the selectable indicator corresponding to the first user desiring to chat with the second user;

send, via the external chat service, a signal to the second user indicating that the first user wishes to communicate with the second user;

receive permission from the second user to put the first user in communication with the second user; and

transmit a message from the first user using a chat service internal to the matchmaking system to the second user via the external chat service, and based on the second user being offline on the external chat service, transmit an offline message from the first user to the second user using a communications channel designated by the second user, the communications channel comprising one of electronic mail, a wireless device communication, and the external chat service.