Matching process system and method

• US 9,733,811 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Match Group, LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tinder, Inc. (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, James C., Carrico, Todd M., Rad, Sean, Badeen, Jonathan, Hoskins, Kenneth B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Yuk Ting
• Application Number:
  US14/059,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

A method for profile matching includes receiving a plurality of user profiles, each user profile comprising traits of a respective user. The method includes receiving a preference indication for a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles. The method also includes determining a potential match user profile of the plurality of user profiles based on the preference indication for the first user profile. The method also includes presenting the potential match user profile to a second user.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of profile matching, comprising:

electronically receiving a plurality of user online-dating profiles, each profile comprising traits of a respective user and associated with a social networking platform;

electronically receiving a first request for matching, the first request electronically submitted by a first user using a first electronic device;

determining a set of potential matches from the plurality of user online-dating profiles for the first user in response to receiving the first request;

causing the display of a graphical representation of a first potential match of the set of potential matches to the first user on a graphical user interface of the first electronic device, the first potential match corresponding to a second user;

determining that the first user expressed a positive preference indication regarding the first potential match at least by determining that the first user performed a first swiping gesture associated with the graphical representation of the first potential match on the graphical user interface;

in response to determining that the first user expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first potential match, automatically causing the graphical user interface to display a graphical representation of a second potential match of the set of potential matches instead of the graphical representation of the first potential match;

determining that the second user has expressed a positive preference indication regarding the first user after determining that the first user expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first potential match;

determining to enable communication between the first user and the second user in response to determining that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user;

in response to determining to enable communication between the first user and the second user, causing the graphical user interface to display to the first user both the graphical representation of the first potential match;

determining that the first user expressed a negative preference indication regarding a second potential match of the set of potential matches at least by determining that the first user performed a second swiping gesture associated with a graphical representation of the second potential match on the graphical user interface, the second swiping gesture different than the first swiping gesture, the second potential match corresponding to a third user;

determining to prevent communication between the first user and the third user in response to determining that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user;

determining that the first user expressed a positive preference indication regarding a third potential match of the set of potential matches at least by determining that the first user performed the first swiping gesture associated with a graphical representation of the third potential match on the graphical user interface, the third potential match corresponding to a fourth user; and

determining to prevent communication between the first user and the fourth user in response to determining that the fourth user has expressed a negative preference indication regarding the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user, causing the display of a graphical notification, on the graphical user interface of the first electronic device, that a match exists between the first user and the second user, the graphical notification comprising a user interface control enabling the text area to be presented to the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of potential matches for the first user comprises one or more potential matches that are each associated with a geographic location within a threshold distance of a geographic location associated with the first user, the threshold distance being a stored value.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, are configured to:

electronically receive a plurality of user online-dating profiles, each profile comprising traits of a respective user and associated with a social networking platform;

electronically receive a first request for matching, the first request electronically submitted by a first user using a first electronic device;

determine a set of potential matches from the plurality of user online-dating profiles for the first user in response to receiving the first request;

cause the display of a graphical representation of a first potential match of the set of potential matches to the first user on a graphical user interface of the first electronic device, the first potential match corresponding to a second user;

determine that the first user expressed a positive preference indication regarding the first potential match at least by determining that the first user performed a first swiping gesture associated with the graphical representation of the first potential match on the graphical user interface;

in response to the determination that the first user expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first potential match, automatically cause the graphical user interface to display a graphical representation of a second potential match of the set of potential matches instead of the graphical representation of the first potential match;

determine that the second user has expressed a positive preference indication regarding the first user after determining that the first user expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first potential match;

determine to enable communication between the first user and the second user in response to the determination that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user;

in response to the determination to enable communication between the first user and the second user, cause the graphical user interface to display to the first user both the graphical representation of the first potential match;

determine that the first user expressed a negative preference indication regarding a second potential match of the set of potential matches at least by determining that the first user performed a second swiping gesture associated with a graphical representation of the second potential match on the graphical user interface, the second swiping gesture different than the first swiping gesture, the second potential match corresponding to a third user;

determine to prevent communication between the first user and the third user in response to determining that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user;

determine that the first user expressed a positive preference indication regarding a third potential match of the set of potential matches at least by determining that the first user performed the first swiping gesture associated with a graphical representation of the third potential match on the graphical user interface, the third potential match corresponding to a fourth user; and

determine to prevent communication between the first user and the fourth user in response to determining that the fourth user has expressed a negative preference indication regarding the first user.

5. The medium of claim 4, further comprising instructions configured to, in response to the determination that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user, cause the display of a graphical notification, on the graphical user interface of the first electronic device, that a match exists between the first user and the, second user, the graphical notification comprising a user interface control enabling the text area to be presented to the first user.

6. The medium of claim 4, wherein the set of potential matches for the first user comprises one or more potential matches that are each associated with a geographic location within a threshold distance of a geographic location associated with the first user, the threshold distance being a stored value.

7. A system for profile matching, comprising:

an interface operable to;

electronically receive a plurality of user online-dating profiles, each profile comprising traits of a respective user and associated with a social networking platform;

electronically receive a plurality of user online-dating profiles, each profile comprising traits of a respective user and associated with a social networking platform;

electronically receive a first request for matching, the first request electronically submitted by a first user using a first electronic device; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to;

determine a set of potential matches from the plurality of user online-dating profiles for the first user in response to receiving the first request;

cause the interface to display a graphical representation of a first potential match of the set of potential matches to the first user on a graphical user interface of the first electronic device, the first potential match corresponding to a second user;

determine that the interface has received a positive preference indication from the first user regarding the first potential match at least by determining that the first user performed a first swiping gesture associated with the graphical representation of the first potential match on the graphical user interface;

automatically cause the interface to remove the presentation of the first potential match from the graphical user interface in response to detecting the gesture and cause the interface to present, on the graphical user interface, a second potential match of the set of potential matches to the first user;

determine that the second user has expressed a positive preference indication regarding the first user after determining that the first user expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first potential match; and

determine to enable communication between the first user and the second user in response to the determination that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user;

in response to the determination to enable communication between the first user and the second user, cause the graphical user interface to display to the first user both the graphical representation of the first potential match;

determine that the first user expressed a negative preference indication regarding a second potential match of the set of potential matches at least by determining that the first user performed a second swiping gesture associated with a graphical representation of the second potential match on the graphical user interface, the second swiping gesture different than the first swiping gesture, the second potential match corresponding to a third user;

determine to prevent communication between the first user and the third user in response to determining that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user;

determine that the first user expressed a positive preference indication regarding a third potential match of the set of potential matches at least by determining that the first user performed the first swiping gesture associated with a graphical representation of the third potential match on the graphical user interface, the third potential match corresponding to a fourth user; and

determine to prevent communication between the first user and the fourth user in response to determining that the fourth user has expressed a negative preference indication regarding the first user.

8. The system of claim 7, the processor further operable to, in response to the determination that both the first user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the second user and the second user has expressed the positive preference indication regarding the first user, cause the display of a graphical notification, on the graphical user interface of the first electronic device, that a match exists between the first user and the second user, the graphical notification comprising a user interface control enabling the text area to be presented to the first user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the set of potential matches for the first user comprises one or more potential matches that are each associated with a geographic location within a threshold distance of a geographic location associated with the first user, the threshold distance being a stored value.