System, method, and apparatus for connecting users online based on familiarity or invitation

• US 8,612,360 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uri Singer
• Original Assignee: Uri Singer
• Inventors: Singer, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): Kirlin, Amanda
• Application Number:
  US13/675,966
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 705/319
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

A system and method enables registering entities to allow people to leave anonymous feedback without requiring an actual connection to be made or requested by one another, i.e., anonymously. Such system and method, and database, enables registered entities to receive anonymous feedback from a target audience.

Claims

1. A method performed by an automated system, the method enabling a registrant to receive comments from at least one person anonymously in a group of people known to the registrant, including the at least one person known to the registrant, the system including an internet connected server comprising a processor and the system also having a database connected to the processor, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving via the internet, by the processor, a registrant'"'"'s answers to multiple questions about the registrant and storing, by the processor, the registrant'"'"'s answers in the database;

(a1) receiving via the internet, by the processor, an identifier associated with the registrant from a person other than the registrant, wherein the registrant and the person are previously known to each other, and the person uses the system anonymously;

(a2) validating, by the processor, the identifier;

(b) after the identifier has been validated, prompting, by the processor, the person over the internet, the person being previously known to the registrant and wanting to provide an anonymous comment to the registrant, to answer questions about the registrant that have been previously answered by the registrant;

(c) determining, by the processor, a level of closeness between the anonymous person and the registrant from a plurality of closeness levels by comparing the person'"'"'s answers to the registrant'"'"'s stored answers, the plurality of closeness levels being tiered by the person'"'"'s knowledge of the registrant, each according to a percentage of questions answered correctly by the person, and enabling the person previously known to the registrant to communicate anonymously with the registrant depending upon the comparison of the person'"'"'s answers to the registrant'"'"'s stored answers;

(d) communicating, by the processor and via the internet, comments of the person anonymously to the registrant in conjunction with the determined level of closeness;

(e) sending to the registrant, via the internet, anonymous feedback by persons known to the registrant; and

(f) enabling utilization of the level of closeness, by the registrant, to determine a significance of the anonymous feedback provided by persons known to the registrant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of the registrant setting a threshold of correct answers, and the step of comparing enables the person to communicate in response to the threshold being met.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the multiple questions about the registrant are created by and specifically tailored to the registrant.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

normalizing the person'"'"'s answer to a question about the registrant; and

confirming the normalizing of the person'"'"'s answer with the person, wherein the step of normalizing is performed by the system converting the person'"'"'s answer from one form to another.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein normalizing the person'"'"'s answer includes determining an alternate version of the person'"'"'s answer, and wherein confirming the normalizing of the person'"'"'s answer with the person includes displaying the alternate version and receiving user input to accept the alternate version instead of the person'"'"'s answer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein comparing the person'"'"'s answers to the registrant'"'"'s stored answers includes calculating an accuracy level of each of the person'"'"'s answers to the corresponding stored answer, the method further comprising determining that each of the person'"'"'s answers that exceeds the accuracy level is correct.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating an accuracy level of each of the person'"'"'s answers to the corresponding stored answer includes the use of at least one of a spell checker, pattern matching, and a linguistic dictionary.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating an accuracy level of each of the person'"'"'s answers to the corresponding stored answer includes the use of each of a spell checker, pattern matching, and a linguistic dictionary.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

the system receiving a bypass code from the registrant; and

the system presenting the person with an option to provide the bypass code to avoid having to answer questions before leaving anonymous feedback.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the levels of closeness include a first level that is not permitted to leave feedback, and a second level that is permitted to leave feedback.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first level corresponds to zero percent of questions being answered correctly.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second level corresponds to a one-hundred percent of questions being answered correctly.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the questions include the last name of a third party known by the registrant.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the questions include at least one of a question about the registrant'"'"'s friends, a question about the registrant'"'"'s family, a question about the registrant'"'"'s co-workers, and a question about the registrant'"'"'s employment.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the anonymous person with the ability to send an anonymous request to the registrant to permit the anonymous person with the ability to provide anonymous feedback through the system despite having provided at least one incorrect answer to the questions.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending the registrant an email detailing the anonymous person'"'"'s answers to the questions.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

enabling the user to determine whether the system permits provision of anonymous feedback from the anonymous person via the system despite the anonymous person'"'"'s having answered at least one of the questions incorrectly.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the registrant is a business that provides services to customers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the questions include at least one question related to service that was provided to the anonymous person by the business.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the business is at least one of a restaurant and a hotel.

21. A system that enables a registrant to receive comments from at least one person anonymously in a group of people known to the registrant, including the at least one person known to the registrant, the system including an internet connected server comprising a processor and the system also having a database connected to the processor, and the system including a registration module, a rating module and a comment module connected to the server, the processor being configured to:

(a) receive via the internet a registrant'"'"'s answers to multiple questions about the registrant and storing, by the processor, the registrant'"'"'s answers in a database;

(a1) receive via the internet an identifier associated with the registrant from an anonymous person other than the registrant, wherein the registrant and the anonymous person are previously known to each other;

(a2) validate the identifier;

(b) after the identifier has been validated, prompt the person over the internet, the person being previously known to the registrant and wanting to provide an anonymous comment to the registrant, to answer questions about the registrant that have been previously answered by the registrant;

(c) determine a level of closeness between the anonymous person and the registrant from a plurality of closeness levels by comparing the anonymous person'"'"'s answers to the registrant'"'"'s stored answers, the plurality of closeness levels being tiered by the person'"'"'s knowledge of the registrant, each according to a percentage of questions answered correctly by the person and enabling the anonymous person to communicate with the registrant depending upon the comparison of the anonymous person'"'"'s answers to the registrant'"'"'s stored answers;

(d) anonymously communicate, via the internet, a comment of the anonymous person to the registrant in conjunction with the determined level of closeness;

(e) send to the registrant, via the internet, anonymous feedback by the person known to the registrant; and

(f) enable utilization of the level of closeness, by the registrant, to determine a significance of the anonymous feedback provided by persons known to the registrant.