Networking in a virtual space

• US 8,416,083 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 66 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Light, Elliott D., Roberts, Jon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US12/578,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20100037292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a matching system in a virtual space to facilitate the exchange of protected information and protected content. Subscriber computing devices each operated by a subscriber are associated with a subscriber identifier. Each computing device is connected to the network. In an embodiment, the sharing of protected information and content by one party with another party is regulated through permissions that determine whether a sharing party is authorized to disclose the protected content, whether a potential receiving party is authorized to receive protected content, and whether the protected content meets conditions established by the potential reviewing party for review by the potential reviewing party. Matching instructions may reveal whether a potential recipient is qualified to view the protected information or content and whether the subscriber also possesses any required supplemental information.

Claims

1. A method for sharing user information comprising:

monitoring access by a plurality of users of a virtual space;

comparing a first profile associated with a first user accessing the virtual space to a second profile associated with a second user accessing the virtual space, the first profile and the second profile containing status related information;

determining if a match exists between the first profile and the second profile according to at least one matching criterion;

in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion, notifying the first user and the second user;

displaying a first match indicator to the first user, the first match indicator providing a link to information of the second user and indicating a status of the second user; and

displaying a second match indicator to the second user, the second match indicator providing a link to information of the first user and indicating a status of the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting graphic representations of the first user and the second user within the virtual space.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising linking the graphic representations of the first user and the second user within the virtual space in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising assigning a common attribute to the graphic representations of the first user and the second user in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location associated with the first user; and

presenting a graphic representation of the first user at a first location within the virtual space, the first location based on the location associated with the first user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a location associated with the second user; and

displaying a graphic representation of the second user at a second location within the virtual space, the second location being determined relative to the first location.

7. A system for sharing user information comprising:

means for monitoring access by a plurality of users of a virtual space;

means for comparing a first profile associated with a first user accessing the virtual space to a second profile associated with a second user accessing the virtual space, the first profile and the second profile containing status related information;

means for determining if a match exists between the first profile and the second profile according to at least one matching criterion;

means for notifying the first user and the second user, in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion;

means for displaying a first match indicator to the first user, the first match indicator providing a link to information of the second user and indicating a status of the second user; and

means for displaying a second match indicator to the second user, the second match indicator providing a link to information of the first user and indicating a status of the first user.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for presenting graphic representations of the first user and a second user within the virtual space.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for linking the graphic representations of the first user and the second user within the virtual space in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for presenting graphic representations of the first user and the second user within the virtual space include means for assigning a common attribute to the graphic presentation of the first user and the graphic presentation of the second user in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for determining a location associated with the first user; and

means for displaying a graphic representation of the first user at a first location within the virtual space, the first location based on the location associated with the first user.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining a location associated with the second user; and

means for displaying a graphic representation of the second user at a second location within the virtual space, the second location being determined relative to the first location.

13. An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, that due to execution by a computing device cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

monitoring access by a plurality of users of a virtual space;

comparing a first profile associated with a first user accessing the virtual space to a second profile associated with a second user accessing the virtual space, the first profile and the second profile containing status related information;

determining if a match exists between the first profile and the second profile according to at least one matching criterion;

in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion, notifying the first user and the second user;

displaying a first match indicator to the first user, the first match indicator providing a link to information of the second user and indicating a status of the second user; and

displaying a second match indicator to the second user, the second match indicator providing a link to information of the first user and indicating a status of the first user.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise presenting graphic representations of the first user and the second user within the virtual space.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise linking the graphic representations of the first user and the second user within the virtual space in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise assigning a common attribute to the graphic representations of the first user and the second user in response to determining the match exists according to the at least one matching criterion.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a location associated with the first user; and

presenting a graphic representation of the first user at a first location within the virtual space, the first location based on the location associated with the first user.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a location associated with the second user; and

displaying a graphic representation of the second user at a second location within the virtual space, the second location being determined relative to the first location.