Platform for pseudo-anonymous video chat with intelligent matching of chat partners

• US 8,780,163 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airtime Media, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airtime Media, Inc.
• Inventors: Cahill, Matt, Fanning, Shawn D., Jen, Mark, Liaw, Joey, Parker, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US13/403,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20120236103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 709/204
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system of providing live video chats in a network are described. The method may include: providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile; generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of the user profile; providing a second interface for the user to select a chat partner on the list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners, and initiate a video call to the chat partner; establishing a video chat session between said user and said chat partner; providing a third interface for the user and the chat partner to add to and/or modify their respective profiles while the video chat session is in progress; and providing a fourth interface for the user and said chat partner to rate each other during the video chat session and/or after the video chat session.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing video chats in a network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user to modify and/or add to said user profile;

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile;

providing a second interface for said user to select and initiate a video call to a chat partner on said list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners;

establishing a video chat session between said user and said chat partner if said chat partner accepts said video call;

providing a third interface for said user and said chat partner to add to and/or modify their respective profiles, wherein said profiles include one or more interest(s) and/or topic(s), and said third interface is configured to allow said user and/or said chat partner to drag and drop the said interest(s) and/or said topics from other'"'"'s profile and/or manually add a new interest and/or topic in said user'"'"'s profiles, while said video chat session is in progress; and

providing a fourth interface for said user to rate said chat partner and said chat partner to rate said user during said video chat session and/or after said video chat session.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first interface is configured to allow said user to connect said user profile with said user'"'"'s Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s Google®

account, and said first interface is configured to automatically update said user profile with updates in said user'"'"'s connected Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s connected Google®

account.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said matching algorithm is configured to allow said user to manually select search criteria for pseudo-anonymous chat partners.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said matching algorithm includes a scoring algorithm, said method further comprising:

monitoring said user'"'"'s chat behavior and said user'"'"'s profile, assigning an affinity score to said user according to at least said user'"'"'s conversation length with its chat partners; and

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners, each of said pseudo-anonymous chat partners having the same affinity score or a similar affinity score as that of said user.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said matching algorithm is based on one or more factors including:

user'"'"'s ranking, interests in common, related interests in common, giving a favorable rating to the same pseudo-anonymous chat partner(s) in the past, thumb-up to the same videos in the past, or having no friends in common on Facebook®

or other social media.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said matching algorithm is dynamically constructed or expanded using machine learning algorithm.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising logging an action of said user to text log, text log of said action associated with an undo link, said undo link configured to allow said user to undo said action.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said third interface is configured to highlight common interest(s) and/or common topic(s) between said user and said chat partner.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the icon size of said interest(s) and/or said topic(s) in said user'"'"'s profile is indicative of the frequency of their appearance as common interest(s) and/or common topic(s) in said user'"'"'s live chat sessions.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said interest(s) and/or topic(s) are categorized according to their characteristics.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

examining said user'"'"'s profile to select one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user according to at least a subset of said user'"'"'s profile; and

displaying, on one or more said interface(s), the selected one or more advertisements to said user.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location information and status information from said user'"'"'s device, said location information representing a geolocation of said user.

13. An apparatus for managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

one or more processors, and

instructions encoded in one or more computer readable media;

wherein said instructions when executed in a platform featuring said one or more processors, cause said platform to perform operations comprising;

providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user to modify and/or add to said user profile;

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile;

providing a second interface for said user to select and initiate a video call to a chat partner on said list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners;

establishing a video chat between said user and said chat partner if said chat partner accepts said video call;

providing a third interface for said user and said chat partner to add to and/or modify their respective profiles while said video chat session is in progress, wherein said profiles include one or more interest(s) and/or topic(s), and said third interface is configured to allow said user and/or said chat partner to drag and drop the said interest(s) and/or said topics from other'"'"'s profile and/or manually add a new interest and/or topic in said user'"'"'s profiles, while said video chat session is in progress; and

providing a fourth interface for said user to rate said chat partner and said chat partner to rate said user during said video chat session and/or after said video chat session.

14. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said first interface is configured to allow said user to connect said user profile with said user'"'"'s Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s Google®

account, and said first interface is configured to automatically update said user profile with updates in said user'"'"'s connected Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s connected Google®

account.

15. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said matching algorithm is configured to allow said user to manually select search criteria for pseudo-anonymous chat partners.

16. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said matching algorithm includes a scoring algorithm, and said method further comprises:

monitoring said user'"'"'s chat behavior and said user'"'"'s profile, assigning an affinity score to said user according to at least said user'"'"'s conversation length with its chat partners; and

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners, each of said pseudo-anonymous chat partners having the same affinity score or a similar affinity score as that of said user.

17. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said matching algorithm is based on one or more factors including:

user'"'"'s ranking, interests in common, related interests in common, giving a favorable rating to the same pseudo-anonymous chat partner(s) in the past, thumb-up to the same videos in the past, or having no friends in common on Facebook®

or other social media.

18. An apparatus recited in claim 17, wherein said matching algorithm is dynamically constructed or expanded using machine learning algorithm.

19. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said operations further comprises:

logging an action of said user to text log, text log of said action associated with an undo link, said undo link configured to allow said user to undo said action.

20. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said third interface is configured to highlight common interest(s) and/or common topic(s) between said user and said chat partner.

21. An apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein the icon size of said interest(s) and/or said topic(s) in said user'"'"'s profile is indicative of the frequency of their appearance as common interest(s) and/or common topic(s) in said user'"'"'s live chat sessions.

22. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said interest(s) and/or topic(s) are categorized according to their characteristics.

23. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said operations further comprises:

examining said user'"'"'s profile to select one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user according to at least a subset of said user'"'"'s profile; and

displaying, on one or more said interface(s), the selected one or more advertisements to said user.

24. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said operations further comprises:

receiving location information and status information from said user'"'"'s device, said location information representing a geolocation of said user.

25. A computer-implemented method of managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user and a chat partner to modify and/or add to their respective profile, wherein said profiles include one or more interest(s) and/or topic(s), and said first interface is configured to allow said user and/or said chat partner to drag and drop the said interest(s) and/or said topics from other'"'"'s profile and/or manually add a new interest and/or topic in said user'"'"'s profiles, while a video chat session is in progress;

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said pseudo-anonymous chat partners are not on said user'"'"'s contact list;

providing a second interface for said user to create and/or modify a contact list, said contact list including one or more said pseudo-anonymous chat partners that said user has given a favorable rating in the past; and

providing a third interface for said user to prioritize incoming calls from contacts on said contact list and pseudo-anonymous chat partners not on said contact list.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said first interface is configured to allow said user to connect said user profile with said user'"'"'s Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s Google®

account, and said first interface is configured to automatically update said user profile with updates in said user'"'"'s connected Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s connected Google®

account.

27. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said matching algorithm is configured to allow said user to manually select search criteria for pseudo-anonymous chat partners.

28. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said matching algorithm includes a scoring algorithm, said method further comprising:

monitoring said user'"'"'s chat behavior and said user'"'"'s profile, assigning an affinity score to said user according to at least said user'"'"'s conversation length with its chat partners; and

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners, each of said pseudo-anonymous chat partners having the same affinity score or a similar affinity score as that of said user.

29. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said matching algorithm is based on one or more factors including:

user'"'"'s ranking, interests in common, related interests in common, giving a favorable rating to the same pseudo-anonymous chat partner(s) in the past, thumb-up to the same videos in the past, or having no friends in common on Facebook®

or other social media.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein said matching algorithm is dynamically constructed or expanded using machine learning algorithm.

31. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising logging an action of said user to text log, text log of said action associated with an undo link, said undo link configured to allow said user to undo said action.

32. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

examining said user'"'"'s profile to select one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user according to at least a subset of said user'"'"'s profile; and

displaying, on one or more said interface(s), the selected one or more advertisements to said user.

33. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

receiving location information and status information from said user'"'"'s device, said location information representing a geolocation of said user.

34. A method as recited in claim 25, where said third interface is configured to provide audio notification and a popup box to said user when an incoming call is a high priority call.

35. A method as recited in claim 25, where said third interface is configured to show said user a list of missed call(s) and provide said user at least the information including missed caller(s)'"'"' name(s), portrait, and a close button associated with each portrait.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, where said third interface is configured to allow said user to call or block said caller(s) by selecting a call option or a block option associated with each said portrait.

37. An apparatus for managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

one or more processors, and

instructions encoded in one or more computer readable media;

wherein said instructions when executed in a platform featuring said one or more processors, cause said platform to perform operations comprising;

providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user and a chat partner to modify and/or add to their respective profile, wherein said profiles include one or more interest(s) and/or topic(s), and said first interface is configured to allow said user and/or said chat partner to drag and drop the said interest(s) and/or said topics from other'"'"'s profile and/or manually add a new interest and/or topic in said user'"'"'s profiles, while a video chat session is in progress;

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said pseudo-anonymous chat partners are not on said user'"'"'s contact list;

providing a second interface for said user to create and/or modify a contact list, said contact list including one or more said pseudo-anonymous chat partners that said user has given a favorable rating in the past; and

providing a third interface for said user to prioritize incoming calls from contacts on said contact list and pseudo-anonymous chat partners not on said contact list.

38. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said first interface is configured to allow said user to connect said user profile with said user'"'"'s Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s Google®

account, and said first interface is configured to automatically update said user profile with updates in said user'"'"'s connected Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s connected Google®

account.

39. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said matching algorithm is configured to allow said user to manually select search criteria for pseudo-anonymous chat partners.

40. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said matching algorithm includes a scoring algorithm, and said operations further comprises:

monitoring said user'"'"'s chat behavior and said user'"'"'s profile, assigning an affinity score to said user according to at least said user'"'"'s conversation length with its chat partners; and

generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners, each of said pseudo-anonymous chat partners having the same affinity score or a similar affinity score as that of said user.

41. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said matching algorithm is based on one or more factors including:

user'"'"'s ranking, interests in common, related interests in common, giving a favorable rating to the same pseudo-anonymous chat partner(s) in the past, thumb-up to the same videos in the past, or having no friends in common on Facebook®

or other social media.

42. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said matching algorithm is dynamically constructed or expanded using machine learning algorithm.

43. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said operations further comprises:

logging an action of said user to text log, text log of said action associated with an undo link, said undo link configured to allow said user to undo said action.

44. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said operations further comprises:

examining said user'"'"'s profile to select one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user according to at least a subset of said user'"'"'s profile; and

displaying, on one or more said interface(s), the selected one or more advertisements to said user.

45. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said operations further comprises:

receiving location information and status information from said user'"'"'s device, said location information representing a geolocation of said user.

46. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, where said third interface is configured to provide audio notification and a popup box to said user when an incoming call is a high priority call.

47. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, where said third interface is configured to show said user a list of missed call(s), and provide said user at least the information including missed caller(s)'"'"' name(s), portrait(s), and a close button associated with each portrait.

48. An apparatus as recited in claim 47, where said third interface is configured to allow said user to call or block said caller(s) by selecting a call option or a block option associated with each said portrait.

49. A computer-implemented method of sharing digital content in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user and a chat partner to modify and/or add to their respective profile, wherein said profiles include one or more interest(s) and/or topic(s), and said first interface is configured to allow said user and/or said chat partner to drag and drop the said interest(s) and/or said topics from other'"'"'s profile and/or manually add a new interest and/or topic in said user'"'"'s profiles, while a video chat session is in progress;

generating a list of potential chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said potential chat partners are not on said user'"'"'s contact list;

providing a second interface for a user to share video(s) with a chat partner on said list of potential chat partners, and view video(s) from said chat partner while a video chat session between said user and said chat partner is in progress; and

providing a third interface for said user to rate video(s) shared by other users, and create a library with video(s) that said user has given a favorable rating and/or shared with other users in the past.

50. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein said first interface is configured to allow said user to connect said user profile with said user'"'"'s Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s Google®

account, and said first interface is configured to automatically update said user profile with updates in said user'"'"'s connected Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s connected Google®

account.

51. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein said matching algorithm is configured to allow said user to manually select search criteria for said potential chat partners.

52. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein said matching algorithm includes a scoring algorithm, said method further comprising:

monitoring said user'"'"'s chat behavior and said user'"'"'s profile, assigning an affinity score to said user according to at least said user'"'"'s conversation length with its chat partners; and

generating a list of potential chat partners, each of said potential chat partners having the same affinity score or a similar affinity score as that of said user.

53. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein said matching algorithm is based on one or more factors including:

user'"'"'s ranking, interests in common, related interests in common, giving a favorable rating to the same pseudo-anonymous chat partner(s) in the past, thumb-up to the same videos in the past, or having no friends in common on Facebook®

or other social media.

54. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein said matching algorithm is dynamically constructed or expanded using machine learning algorithm.

55. A method as recited in claim 49, further comprising logging an action of said user to text log, text log of said action associated with an undo link, said undo link configured to allow said user to undo said action.

56. A method as recited in claim 49, further comprising:

examining said user'"'"'s profile to select one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user according to at least a subset of said user'"'"'s profile; and

displaying, on one or more said interface(s), the selected one or more advertisements to said user.

57. A method as recited in claim 49, further comprising:

receiving location information and status information from said user'"'"'s device, said location information representing a geolocation of said user.

58. A method as recited in claim 49, where said second interface is configured to synchronize all playbacks of said video(s) across both said user and said chat partner, and provide independent volume control of said playbacks for both said user and said chat partner.

59. A method as recited in claim 49, where said second interface is configured to allow said user and said chat partner to share different videos simultaneously with each other.

60. A method as recited in claim 49, where said second interface is configured to provide a push to talk button for said user to engage said user'"'"'s audio without letting the echo go through said video(s) being played.

61. An apparatus for managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

one or more processors, and

instructions encoded in one or more computer readable media;

wherein said instructions when executed in a platform featuring said one or more processors, cause said platform to perform operations comprising;

providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user and a chat partner to modify and/or add to their respective profile, wherein said profiles include one or more interest(s) and/or topic(s), and said first interface is configured to allow said user and/or said chat partner to drag and drop the said interest(s) and/or said topics from other'"'"'s profile and/or manually add a new interest and/or topic in said user'"'"'s profiles, while a video chat session is in progress;

generating a list of potential chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said potential chat partners are not on said user'"'"'s contact list;

providing a second interface for a user to share video(s) with a chat partner on said list of potential chat partners, and view video(s) from said chat partner while a video chat session between said user and said chat partner is in progress; and

providing a third interface for said user to rate video(s) shared by other users, and create a library with video(s) that said user has given a favorable rating and/or shared with other users in the past.

62. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said first interface is configured to allow said user to connect said user profile with said user'"'"'s Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s Google®

account, and said first interface is configured to automatically update said user profile with updates in said user'"'"'s connected Facebook®

account and/or said user'"'"'s connected Google®

account.

63. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said matching algorithm is configured to allow said user to manually select search criteria for said potential chat partners.

64. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said matching algorithm includes a scoring algorithm, and said operations further comprises:

monitoring said user'"'"'s chat behavior and said user'"'"'s profile, assigning an affinity score to said user according to at least said user'"'"'s conversation length with its chat partners; and

generating a list of potential chat partners, each of said potential chat partners having the same affinity score or a similar affinity score as that of said user.

65. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said matching algorithm is based on one or more factors including:

user'"'"'s ranking, interests in common, related interests in common, giving a favorable rating to the same pseudo-anonymous chat partner(s) in the past, thumb-up to the same videos in the past, or having no friends in common on Facebook®

or other social media.

66. A method as recited in claim 65, wherein said matching algorithm is dynamically constructed or expanded using machine learning algorithm.

67. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said operations further comprises:

logging an action of said user to text log, text log of said action associated with an undo link, said undo link configured to allow said user to undo said action.

68. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said operations further comprises:

examining said user'"'"'s profile to select one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user according to at least a subset of said user'"'"'s profile; and

displaying, on one or more said interface(s), the selected one or more advertisements to said user.

69. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said operations further comprises:

receiving location information and status information from said user'"'"'s device, said location information representing a geolocation of said user.

70. A method as recited in claim 61, where said second interface is configured to synchronize all playbacks of said video(s) across both said user and said chat partner, and provide independent volume control of said playbacks for both said user and said chat partner.

71. A method as recited in claim 61, where said second interface is configured to allow said user and said chat partner to share different videos simultaneously with each other.

72. A method as recited in claim 61, where said second interface is configured to provide a push to talk button for said user to engage said user'"'"'s audio without letting the echo go through said video(s) being played.

73. A computer-implemented method of managing video chats in a network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

providing an interface for a user and a chat partner to add to and/or modify their respective profiles, wherein said profiles include one or more interest(s) and/or topic(s), and said interface is configured to allow said user and said chat partner to copy, drag/drop, delete, hide and/or reveal one or more said interest(s) and/or said topics from other'"'"'s profile and/or manually add a new interest and/or topic in said user'"'"'s profiles, while a video chat session is in progress, and wherein remote hidden interests and/or topics can be dimmed with hidden text and cannot be clicked or dragged.