Proximity-based people matching system and method

• US 8,478,716 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• 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:
  US13/212,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 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 accordance with inferences of mutual interests, location, and/or proximity. Suggested matches may also be based on factors such as mobility inferences and environmental conditions. Inferences of mutual interests may be based on behavioral information. 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:

determining a current location of a first person through the first person'"'"'s use of a mobile location-aware processor-based device;

accessing a computer-implemented map that comprises location information associated with a plurality of non-human physical objects;

determining from the location information associated with the plurality of non-human physical objects a first physical object of the plurality of non-human physical objects that is proximal to the current location of the first person;

determining a current location of a second person; and

receiving on the mobile location-aware processor-based device a suggested match between the first person and the second person, wherein the suggested match is based, at least in part, on an inference of mutual interest that is based on the current location of the first person, the current location of the second person, and the first physical object.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the suggested match, wherein the suggested match is further based, at least in part, on an inferred direction of movement of the second person.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the suggested match, wherein the suggested match is further based, at least in part, on an environmental condition associated with the current location of the first user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the suggested match, wherein the inference of mutual interest is further based, at least in part, on a plurality of non-location-based behaviors.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a computer-generated explanation for the suggested match.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving the computer-generated explanation, wherein the computer-generated explanation includes a behavior on which the inference of mutual interest is based.

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

a computer-implemented function that accesses information representing a current location of a first person, wherein the information representing the location of the first person is generated by a location-aware device;

a computer-implemented map that comprises location information associated with a plurality of non-human physical objects;

a computer-implemented function that determines from the location information associated with the plurality of non-human physical objects a first physical object of the plurality of non-human physical objects that is proximal to the current location of the first person;

a computer-implemented function that accesses information representing a current location of a second person; and

a people matching function executed on a processor-based device that generates a suggested match between the first person and the second person, wherein the suggested match is based, at least in part, on an inference of mutual interest that is based on the current location of the first person, the current location of the second person, and the first physical object.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a people matching function that generates the suggested match in accordance with an inferred direction of movement of the second person.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a people matching function that generates the suggested match in accordance with a proximity of the second person and the first physical object.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a people matching function that generates the suggested match in accordance with a mobility inference of the second person, wherein the mobility inference comprises an inference of the speed of movement of the second person.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a people matching function that generates the suggested match in accordance with an environmental condition associated with the current location of the second person.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

an inference function that infers the mutual interest, wherein the mutual interest is further inferred from a plurality of non-location-based behaviors.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

an explanation function that delivers an explanation for the suggested match.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

an explanation function that delivers the explanation for the suggested match, wherein the explanation includes a behavior on which the inference of mutual interest is based.

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

a relationship management function, wherein the relationship management function accesses a computer-implemented relationship that is explicitly established by a first user, wherein the computer-implemented relationship is between the first user and a second user;

a people matching function executed on a processor-based device that generates a suggested match between the first user and the second user based, at least in part, on an inference of mutual interest between the first user and the second user, the computer-implemented relationship, and a current locational proximity of the first user and the second user; and

a computer-implemented explanatory function that delivers an explanation for the suggested match to the first user, wherein the explanation comprises the current locational proximity.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

the people matching function that generates the suggested match, wherein the suggested match is generated in accordance with the current locational proximity of the first user and the second user and a current locational proximity of the first user and a non-human physical object.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

the people matching function that generates the suggested match, wherein the suggested match is generated in accordance with a mobility inference, wherein the mobility inference is the inferred current direction of the first user.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

the people matching function that generates the suggested match, wherein the suggested match is generated in accordance with an environmental condition associated with the current locational proximity of the first user and the second user.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

the computer-implemented explanatory function that delivers the explanation for the suggested match, wherein the explanation further includes a mobility inference.