Computerized matching and introduction systems and methods

• US 8,700,644 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carolyn Allen
• Original Assignee: Sure To Meet LLC
• Inventors: Allen, Christopher J., Allen, Clifford W., Allen, Carolyn S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jalil, Neveen Abel
• Assistant Examiner(s): BISKEBORN, KRISTOFER M
• Application Number:
  US13/323,800
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/754
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods relating to an automated or semi-automated arrangement of modules that helps gather, process, display, and coordinate meetings among matches based on a set of predetermined and crowd-sourced traits, values, interests, preferences and activities. Such systems of integrated modules in certain embodiments may be used to rank matches in a variety of applications and situations where participants are identified through tailored criteria that organizers, participants and sponsors determine to be most valuable. Embodiments of the present invention may offer advantages and improvements over prior computer and traditional networking and matching systems because they may provide interactive modules that automatically or semi-automatically combine human expertise with automated data management based on the expertise of an event organizer'"'"'s event-management strategies with real-time and automated data management.

Claims

1. A method for providing, across a computer network to a mobile display device associated with a person, a prioritized list of potential matches for said person to meet at an event, comprising the steps of:

collecting event configuration data associated with said event prior to the commencement of said event;

collecting user profile information from a plurality of users associated with said event prior to the commencement of said event;

collecting user data associated with a portion of said event configuration data from said plurality of users across a computer network prior to the commencement of said event;

collecting one or more updates to said user data across a computer network during said event;

generating a prioritized list of potential matches associated with said person, based on said collecting of said event configuration data, on said collecting of said user data, and on said collecting of said updates to said user data; and

transmitting said prioritized list via a computer network to a mobile display device associated with said person during said event, wherein said step of collecting event configuration data comprises;

searching a master library for a first set of one or more matching questions that meet a set of search criteria of an organizer of said event;

copying said first set of matching questions from said master library to said organizer'"'"'s library;

copying a second set of matching questions from said organizer'"'"'s library to an event library; and

receiving an indication of said organizer'"'"'s weight of importance for each matching question in said second set of matching questions, to be used in the calculation of a compiled matching score for each pair of users associated with said event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting a set of matching questions from an organizer of said event and analyzing the popularity of one or more of the questions in said set of matching questions after the completion of said event, based on said collecting of said event configuration data, on said collecting of said user data, and on said collecting of said updates to said user data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an event organizer'"'"'s interface for editing said second set of matching questions that accepts said organizer'"'"'s selection of a portion of said second set of matching questions and saves said portion of said second set of matching questions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying real-time statistics associated with said event on additional displays during said event, based on said collecting of said event configuration data, on said collecting of said user data, and on said collecting of said updates to said user data.

5. A method for providing, across a computer network to a mobile display device associated with a person, a prioritized list of potential matches for said person to meet at an event, comprising the steps of:

collecting event configuration data associated with said event prior to the commencement of said event;

collecting user profile information from a plurality of users associated with said event prior to the commencement of said event;

collecting user data associated with a portion of said event configuration data from said plurality of users across a computer network during said event;

generating a prioritized list of potential matches associated with said person, based on said collecting of said event configuration data and on said collecting of said user data; and

transmitting said prioritized list via a computer network to a mobile display device associated with said person during said event, wherein said step of collecting event configuration data comprises;

searching a master library for a first set of one or more matching questions that meet a set of search criteria of an organizer of said event;

copying said first set of matching questions from said master library to said organizer'"'"'s library;

copying a second set of matching questions from said organizer'"'"'s library to an event library; and

receiving an indication of said organizer'"'"'s weight of importance for each matching question in said second set of matching questions, to be used in the calculation of a compiled matching score for each pair of users associated with said event.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising collecting a third set of matching questions from said organizer and analyzing the popularity of one or more of the questions in said third set of matching questions after the completion of said event, based on said collecting of said event configuration data and on said collecting of said user data.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing an event organizer'"'"'s interface for editing said second set of matching questions that accepts said organizer'"'"'s selection of a portion of said second set of matching questions and saves said portion of said second set of matching questions.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying real-time statistics associated with said event on additional displays during said event, based on said collecting of said event configuration data and on said collecting of said user data.

9. A method for providing, across a computer network to a mobile display device associated with a person, a prioritized list of potential matches for said person to meet at an event, comprising the steps of:

collecting event configuration data associated with said event prior to the commencement of said event;

collecting user profile information from a plurality of users associated with said event prior to the commencement of said event;

collecting user data associated with a portion of said event configuration data from said plurality of users across a computer network during said event;

collecting one or more updates to said event configuration data across a computer network during said event;

generating a prioritized list of potential matches associated with said person, based on said collecting of said event configuration data, on said collecting of said user data, and on said collecting of said updates to said event configuration data; and

transmitting said prioritized list via a computer network to a mobile display device associated with said person during said event, wherein said step of collecting event configuration data comprises;

searching a master library for a first set of one or more matching questions that meet a set of search criteria of an organizer of said event;

copying said first set of matching questions from said master library to said organizer'"'"'s library;

copying a second set of matching questions from said organizer'"'"'s library to an event library; and

receiving an indication of said organizer'"'"'s weight of importance for each matching question in said second set of matching questions, to be used in the calculation of a compiled matching score for each pair of users associated with said event.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing an event organizer'"'"'s interface for editing said second set of matching questions that accepts said organizer'"'"'s selection of a portion of said second set of matching questions and saves said portion of said second set of matching questions.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying real-time statistics associated with said event on additional displays during said event, based on said collecting of said event configuration data and on said collecting of said user data.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said event configuration data comprises a set of matching questions and a set of typing criteria, wherein a weight is associated with each said matching question and with each said typing criterion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of said weights is adjustable.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each of said weights is adjustable by an organizer of said event.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein each of said weights is adjustable based on said collecting of said event configuration data, on said collecting of said user data, and on said collecting of said updates to said event configuration data.