Secure online dating support system and method

• US 20040128152A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Better Dating Bureau
• Original Assignee: Better Dating Bureau
• Inventors: Austin, Warren, Coppen, Otto
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263

Abstract

A secure online dating support system and method requires potential members to submit personal information regarding themselves as a predicate to becoming a member of the dating system. This personal information is provided in a manner, either in-person at an information receiving center, or submitted to an information collector, or submitted directly to an online dating service, that permits its verification. Preferably, authorization is also provided by the potential member for further investigation, resulting in an investigator conducting an investigation, and communicating the results to the online dating service, so that the information revealed by the investigation can be displayed to members of the online dating service and/or to individuals outside of the dating service who have been given access by the participating member.

Claims

1. An online dating support system comprising, in combination:

an online dating service;

at least one potential member in communication with said online dating service;

at least one member in communication with said online dating service;

a personal information and authorization receiving center in communication with said online dating service; and

an investigator in communication with said online dating service.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said personal information and authorization receiving center has means for obtaining a digital photograph of said potential member.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said personal information and authorization-receiving center has means for scanning an image of at least one document provided by said potential member.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of said members and wherein said plurality of members are organized into at least two levels of membership.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said at least two levels of membership are differentiated based on the level of disclosure required from said plurality of members.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said at least two levels of members are differentiated based on the frequency of disclosure required from said plurality of members.

7. A method of online dating comprising the steps of:

providing an online dating service;

providing at least one potential member of said online dating service;

providing at least one member of said online dating service;

providing a personal information and authorization receiving center in communication with said online dating service;

providing an investigator in communication with said online dating service;

said at least one potential member visiting said personal information and authorization receiving center;

said at least one potential member providing personal information to said information and authorization receiving center;

said information and authorization receiving center communicating said personal information to said online dating service;

said online dating service accepting said potential member as a member; and

said online dating service posting at least some of said personal information concerning said potential member on a web site.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said personal information includes at least one photograph of said potential member, wherein said at least one photograph is taken at said information and authorization receiving center.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said personal information further includes height and weight information concerning said potential member, wherein said height and weight information is obtained at said information and authorization receiving center.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said personal information further includes at least one of the following:

a birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, and property ownership information.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of said potential member providing to said information and receiving center written authorization to obtain additional information concerning said potential member.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of said potential member providing to said investigator written authorization to obtain additional information concerning said potential member.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of said investigator investigating said potential member.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing at least two levels of membership for said online dating service.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said at least two levels of membership are differentiated based on an amount of said personal information provided.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein an accessing member'"'"'s access to said personal information concerning other said members is restricted based on said accessing member'"'"'s membership level.

17. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of said online dating service providing a complaint forum.

18. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing at least one of personality and psychological testing to at least one of said potential member and said member.

19. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of said member providing an access code to an individual, said access code allows said individual to access a pre-determined amount of said personal information about said member.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said individual accesses said pre-determined amount of information about said member through said web-site.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

said member requesting said online dating service to provide an individual with a pre-determined amount of said personal information about said member; and

said online dating service communicating to said individual said pre-determined amount of personal information about said member.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of said online dating service emailing to said individual said pre-determined amount of personal information about said member in response to a request from said member.

23. A method of online dating comprising the steps of:

providing an online dating service;

providing at least one potential member of said online dating service;

providing at least one member of said online dating service;

providing a personal information and authorization receiving center in communication with said online dating service;

providing an investigator in communication with said online dating service;

said at least one potential member visiting said personal information and authorization receiving center;

said at least one potential member providing personal information to said information and authorization receiving center, said personal information includes at least one of the following;

at least one photograph of said potential member, wherein said at least one photograph is taken at said information and authorization receiving center, height and weight information concerning said potential member, wherein said height and weight information is obtained at said information and authorization receiving center, birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, and property ownership information;

said potential member providing to said information and receiving center written authorization to obtain additional information concerning said potential member;

providing an investigator in communication with said online dating service;

said investigator investigating said potential member;

providing at least two levels of membership for said online dating service, wherein said at least two levels of membership are differentiated based on an amount of said personal information provided;

said information and authorization receiving center communicating said personal information to said online dating service;

said online dating service accepting said potential member as a member; and

said online dating service posting at least some of said personal information concerning said potential member on a web-site, wherein an accessing member'"'"'s access to said personal information concerning other of said members is restricted based on said accessing member'"'"'s membership level.

24. A method of personal information verification for dating comprising the steps of:

providing a personal information and authorization receiving center;

a person providing personal information to said information and authorization receiving center, wherein said personal information further includes at least one of the following;

at least one photograph of said person, wherein said at least one photograph is taken at said information and authorization receiving center, height and weight information concerning said person, wherein said height and weight information is obtained at said information and authorization receiving center, birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, and property ownership information;

said personal information and authorization receiving center verifying said personal information; and

said personal information and authorization receiving center providing said person with a certification of said personal information after all information submitted by said user has been verified.

25. A method of online dating comprising the steps of:

providing an online dating service;

providing at least one potential member of said online dating service;

providing at least one member of said online dating service;

providing an information collector in communication with said online dating service;

said information collector visiting said at least one potential member;

said at least one potential member providing personal information to said information collector;

said information collector communicating said personal information to said online dating service;

said online dating service accepting said potential member as a member; and

said online dating service posting at least some of said personal information concerning said potential member on a web-site.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of said information collector photographing said at least one potential member.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of said information collector measuring height and weight of said potential member.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of said potential member submitting to said information collector at least one of the following:

a birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, property ownership information, and written authorization to obtain additional information concerning said potential member.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of:

providing a screening service;

said screening service receiving personal information of said potential member from one of said information collector and said online dating service; and

said screening service verifying said personal information of said potential member.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of said screening service communicating a verification of said personal information of said potential member to said online dating service.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of said screening service posting said verification of said personal information concerning said potential member on a web-site.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of providing at least two levels of membership for said online dating service.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said at least two levels of membership are differentiated based on an amount of said personal information provided.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein an accessing member'"'"'s access to said personal information concerning other said members is restricted based on said accessing member'"'"'s membership level.

35. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of said member providing an access code to an individual, said access code allows said individual to access a pre-determined amount of information about said member.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of providing said members with more than one access code wherein each of said more than one access code provides access to a different amount of personal information about said member.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said individual is not a member of said online dating service.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein said individual is a member of said online dating service.

39. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of said member providing an access code to an individual, said access code allows said individual to access a pre-determined amount of said personal information about said member.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein said individual accesses said pre-determined amount of information about said member through said web-site.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising the steps of:

said member requesting said online dating service to provide an individual with a pre-determined amount of said personal information about said member; and

said online dating service communicating to said individual said pre-determined amount of personal information about said member.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of said online dating service emailing to said individual said pre-determined amount of personal information about said member in response to a request from said member.

43. A method of online dating comprising the steps of:

providing an online dating service;

providing at least one potential member of said online dating service;

providing at least one member of said online dating service;

taking a photograph of said at least one potential member, said photograph having a date tag;

providing said photograph to said online dating service;

said online dating service accepting said potential member as a member; and

said online dating service posting said photograph on a web-site.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps:

providing a screening service; and

said potential member submitting personal information to one of said online dating service and said screening service.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said personal information being at least one of the following:

a birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, property ownership information, and written authorization to obtain additional information concerning said potential member.

46. The method of claim 44 further comprising the steps of:

said screening service receiving said personal information of said potential member from one of said potential member and said online dating service; and

said screening service verifying said personal information of said potential member.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of said screening service communicating a verification of said personal information of said potential member to said online dating service.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of one of said screening service and said online dating service posting said verification of said personal information concerning said potential member on a web-site.

49. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

providing a photographer;

said photographer taking a photograph of said potential member; and

one of said photographer and said potential member providing said photograph to one of said online dating service and a screening service.

50. The method of claim 43 wherein said photograph is taken by said potential member.

51. The method of claim 43 wherein said date tag being imprinted on said photograph.

52. The method of claim 43 wherein said date tag being a dated object included in said photograph.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said dated object being one of a newspaper and a magazine.

54. The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of said member providing an access code to an individual, said access code allows said individual to access a pre-determined amount of said personal information about said member.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising the step of providing said members with more than one access code wherein each of said more than one access code provides access to a different amount of personal information about said member.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein said individual is not a member of said online dating service.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein said individual is a member of said online dating service.

58. The method of claim 54 wherein said individual accesses said pre-determined amount of information about said member through said web-site.

59. The method of claim 44 further comprising the steps of:

said member requesting said online dating service to provide an individual with a pre-determined amount of said personal information about said member; and

said online dating service communicating to said individual said pre-determined amount of personal information about said member.

60. The method of claim 59 further comprising the step of said online dating service emailing to said individual said pre-determined amount of personal information about said member in response to a request from said member.

61. A method of online dating comprising the steps of:

providing an online dating service;

providing at least one potential member of said online dating service;

providing at least one member of said online dating service;

said at least one potential member obtaining a credit report;

said at least one potential member sending said credit report to said online dating service;

said online dating service accepting said potential member as a member; and

said online dating service posting at least some information from said credit report concerning said potential member on a web-site.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising the steps of:

providing a screening service; and

said at least one potential member sending said credit report to one of said online dating service and said screening service.

63. A method of online dating comprising the steps of:

providing an online dating service;

providing at least one potential member of said online dating service;

providing at least one member of said online dating service;

a person providing personal information to said online dating service, wherein said personal information further includes at least one of the following;

at least one photograph of said person, height and weight information concerning said person, birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, and property ownership information;

said online dating service verifying said personal information;

said online dating service accepting said potential member as a member; and

said online dating service posting at least some of said personal information concerning said potential member on a web-site.