Search-based people matching system and method

• US 8,458,120 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manyworlds Incorporated
• Inventors: Flinn, Steven Dennis, Moneypenny, Naomi Felina
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US13/212,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/603
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17306 Intercommunication techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/335 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles filtering in web context G06F16/9535, G06F16/9536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90 Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/046 Forward inferencing; Production systems
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A people matching system and method matches people in response to a search request. The computer-generated suggested matches may be based on inferences of mutual interests, as well as on factors such as proximity and environmental conditions. The inferences of mutual interest may be based on behaviors such as subscriptions and physiological responses. Explanations for the suggested matches may be delivered to users, including behavioral information on which the suggested matches are based.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented people matching method comprising:

performing a computer-implemented search request, wherein the search request includes a search term that is provided by a performer of the search request; and

receiving on a mobile processor-based device in response to the search request a recommendation of another person, wherein the recommendation is based, at least in part, on an inference of a mutual interest between the other person and the performer of the search request, and wherein the inference is based, at least in part, on a plurality of behaviors and an expertise level.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the recommendation, wherein the recommendation is based, at least in part, on a proximity of the other person and the performer of the search request.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the recommendation, wherein the recommendation is based, at least in part, on an environmental condition.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the recommendation, wherein the inference of mutual interest is based, at least in part, on a tagging behavior.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the recommendation, wherein the inference of mutual interest is based, at least in part, on a subscription behavior.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the recommendation, wherein the inference of mutual interest is based, at least in part, on a physiological response.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an explanation for the recommendation, wherein the explanation comprises the expertise level.

8. A computer-implemented people matching system comprising one or more processor-based devices configured to execute:

a computer-implemented search request function that accepts a search request from a first user, wherein the search request comprises a search term provided by the first user; and

a computer-implemented search response function that responds to the search request with a recommendation of a second user, wherein the recommendation is based, at least in part, on an inference of a mutual interest between the first user and the second user, and wherein the inference is based, at least in part, on a plurality of behaviors and an expertise level.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a computer-implemented function that assesses a proximity of the first user and the second user, and generates the recommendation in accordance with the proximity.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a computer-implemented function that assesses an environmental condition and generates the recommendation in accordance with the environmental condition.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a computer-implemented search response function that generates the inference based, at least in part, on a tagging behavior.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a computer-implemented search response function that generates the inference based, at least in part, on a subscription behavior.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a computer-implemented search response function that generates the inference based, at least in part, on a physiological response.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a computer-implemented explanatory function that provides the first user with an explanation for the recommendation, wherein the explanation comprises the expertise level.

15. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a computer-implemented function that enables the second user to restrict a behavior from being used to infer mutual interest.

16. A computer-implemented people matching system comprising one or more processor-based devices configured to execute:

a computer-implemented people matching function that generates a suggested match between two users in response to a search request, wherein the suggested match is generated in accordance with an inference of a preference based, at least in part, on a plurality of behaviors and an automatically-determined expertise level; and

a computer-implemented explanatory function that delivers an explanation for the suggested match, wherein the explanation comprises a reference to at least one of the plurality of behaviors and the expertise level.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a computer-implemented explanatory function that delivers the explanation for the suggested match, wherein the explanation includes proximity information.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a computer-implemented explanatory function that delivers the explanation for the suggested match, wherein the explanation includes an environmental condition.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a computer-implemented explanatory function that delivers the explanation for the suggested match, wherein the explanation includes a physiological response.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a computer-implemented explanatory function that delivers additional information upon request by a user.