Dynamic resource matching system
First Claim
1. A resource matching apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface to communicate with one or more wireless devices;
a storage device configured to store wireless device user preferences and a plurality of application-specific matching algorithms, wherein each of a plurality of applications is associated with one of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms for a particular user, wherein each of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms is associated with a weight for one or more of the user preferences, wherein the weight indicates a level of importance of the one or more user preferences in matching in accordance with the associated application-specific matching algorithm; and
a processing unit coupled to an input interface and the storage device, the processing unit to implement a matching engine configured to;
obtain user preferences and an application-specific matching algorithm for a wireless device user from the storage device,weight the obtained user preferences based on the obtained application-specific matching algorithm,match the wireless device user with one or more resources based on the weighted user preferences to obtain one or more matches,send the one or more matches to the wireless device user via the communication interface,receive a match selection from the wireless device user in response to the one or more matches,compare the match selection to the one or more matches sent to the wireless device user, andadjust weights of the obtained user preferences in the matching engine based on the wireless device user selection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing resource and/or location-based matching services between a wireless terminal (e.g., mobile phone) user and one or more resources. A novel infrastructure supports resource and/or location based matching services over a wireless network. A back-end system includes a database, server, and match engine that are configured match a user with one or more resources based on the user'"'"'s characteristics, preferences, and/or location. Such resources include (1) other users, (2) targeted advertising, (3) businesses/networking opportunities, and/or (4) locate a nearby service or store. A flexible database architecture supports application-specific resources which facilitate the deployment of various matching services. Application developers are thus able to implement different resource-matching applications for wireless devices through a common back-end infrastructure. Additionally, the match engine may include a feedback mechanism that permits the match engine to learn a user'"'"'s preferences.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A resource matching apparatus comprising:
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a communication interface to communicate with one or more wireless devices; a storage device configured to store wireless device user preferences and a plurality of application-specific matching algorithms, wherein each of a plurality of applications is associated with one of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms for a particular user, wherein each of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms is associated with a weight for one or more of the user preferences, wherein the weight indicates a level of importance of the one or more user preferences in matching in accordance with the associated application-specific matching algorithm; and a processing unit coupled to an input interface and the storage device, the processing unit to implement a matching engine configured to; obtain user preferences and an application-specific matching algorithm for a wireless device user from the storage device, weight the obtained user preferences based on the obtained application-specific matching algorithm, match the wireless device user with one or more resources based on the weighted user preferences to obtain one or more matches, send the one or more matches to the wireless device user via the communication interface, receive a match selection from the wireless device user in response to the one or more matches, compare the match selection to the one or more matches sent to the wireless device user, and adjust weights of the obtained user preferences in the matching engine based on the wireless device user selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A resource matching apparatus comprising:
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a communication interface to communicate with one or more wireless devices; a storage device configured to store wireless device user preferences and a plurality of application-specific matching algorithms, wherein each of a plurality of applications is associated with one of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms for a particular user, wherein each of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms is associated with a weight for one or more of the user preferences, wherein the weight indicates a level of importance of the one or more user preferences in matching in accordance with the associated application-specific matching algorithm; and a processing unit coupled to an input interface and the storage device, the processing unit configured to; receive an indication that a wireless device user is ready to receive a match; receive an indication of a type of matching service the wireless device user desires; receive one or more match criteria from the wireless device user; notify a match engine of the one or more match criteria, the processing unit further configured to implement a matching engine configured to; obtain user preferences and an application-specific matching algorithm for the wireless device user from the storage device, weight the obtained user preferences based on the obtained application-specific matching algorithm, match the wireless device user with one or more resources based on the weighted user preferences to obtain one or more matches, and send the one or more matches to the wireless device user via the communication interface.
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9. A resource matching device comprising:
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means for communicating with one or more wireless devices employed by one or more users; means for storing wireless device user preferences and a plurality of application-specific matching algorithms, wherein each of a plurality of applications is associated with one of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms for a particular user, wherein each of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms is associated with a weight for one or more of the user preferences, wherein the weight indicates a level of importance of the one or more user preferences in matching in accordance with the associated application-specific matching algorithm; and means for processing resource-based matches configured to; obtain user preferences and an application-specific matching algorithm for a wireless device user from the means for storing, weight the obtained user preferences based on the obtained application-specific matching algorithm, match the wireless device user with one or more advertisements based on the user preferences; and send the matched one or more advertisements to the wireless device user via the communication interface; receive a match selection from the wireless device user in response to the one or more matched advertisements; compare the match selection to the one or more matched advertisements sent to the wireless device user; and adjust weights of the obtained user preferences in the obtained application-specific matching algorithm based on the wireless device user selection.
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10. A resource matching method comprising:
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determining one or more resource matches for a wireless device user based on user preferences and one of a plurality of application-specific matching algorithms, wherein each of a plurality of applications is associated with one of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms for a particular user, wherein each of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms is associated with a weight for one or more of the user preferences, wherein the weight indicates a level of importance of the one or more user preferences in matching in accordance with the associated application-specific matching algorithm; receiving one or more match criteria from a wireless device associated with the wireless device user; receiving an indication as to a type of matching service the wireless device user desires; sending the one or more resource matches to the wireless device user; receiving a match selection from the user in response to the one or more resource matches; comparing the match selection to the one or more resource matches sent to the user; and automatically adjusting weights of at least one user preference in the application-specific matching algorithm used by the determining step based on the user selection. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A processing unit comprising:
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an input interface to receive user preferences and current location information for a wireless device user; a processing circuit communicatively coupled to the input interface and configured to determine one or more matches for the wireless device user based on the user preferences, current location, and one of a plurality of application-specific matching algorithms, wherein each of a plurality of applications is associated with one of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms for a particular user, wherein each of the plurality of application-specific matching algorithms is associated with a weight for one or more of the user preferences, wherein the weight indicates a level of importance of the one or more user preferences in matching in accordance with the associated application-specific matching algorithm; and an output interface communicatively coupled to the processing circuit to transmit the one or more matches to the wireless device user, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive a match selection from the wireless device user in response to the one or more matches, to compare the match selection to the one or more matches sent to the wireless device user and to adjust weights of at least one user preference in the application-specific matching algorithm used to determine the one or more matches based on the received match selection, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive information about a type of matching service the wireless device user desires, and receive one or more match criteria from the wireless device user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with one or more computer executable instructions for resource matching, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
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obtain one or more resource matching criteria for a wireless communication device user, wherein the criteria includes user match preferences and a current location information of the wireless communication device user; receive an indication that the wireless communication device user is ready to receive a match; receive an indication as to a type of matching service the wireless communication device user desires; receive one or more match criteria from the wireless communication device user; notify a matching engine of the one or more match criteria; match one or more resources to the wireless communication device user based on the user match preferences and the current location information, wherein a configurable matching engine is employed to perform the match, the configurable matching engine utilizes one or more configurable rules to perform the match, at least one of the one or more configurable rules specifying one of a plurality of matching algorithms to employ to perform the match, each of the plurality of matching algorithms associated with at least one of a plurality of applications and each of the plurality of matching algorithms indicating different sets of weights for the user match preferences that are used to determine matches for a particular application from the plurality of applications; send the one or more resource matches to the wireless communication device user; receive a match selection from the wireless communication device user in response to the one or more resource matches; compare the match selection to the one or more resource matches sent to the wireless communication device user; and adjust weights for the user match preferences of the matching algorithm used to determine the one or more resource matches based on the wireless communication device user selection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification