User event matching system and method

• US 20050165762A1
• Filed: 01/22/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thinkbig Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Thinkbig Incorporated
• Inventors: Bishop, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/041,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165762A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A user event matching system comprises a server configured to perform searches of potentially compatible users and events associated therewith. The event search results are ranked based on event attributes and at least one user attendance record. The system also comprises at least one client adapted to communicate with the server. Each client may be utilized for creation of user events and advertisement of the created events to potential attendees.

Claims

1. A user event matching system, comprising;

at least one server configured to perform searches of potentially compatible users and events associated therewith, said event search results being ranked based on event attributes and at least one user attendance record; and

at least one client adapted to communicate with said at least one server, said at least one client being utilized for creation of user events and advertisement of the created events to potential attendees.

2. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user attendance record includes users who are going to attend the advertised event.

3. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user attendance record includes users who are expected to attend the advertised event, the advertised event being created by at least one host.

4. The user event matching system of claim 3, wherein the number of users who are expected to attend the advertised event is determined by the use of click-through technology.

5. The user event matching system of claim 3, wherein the number of users who are expected to attend the advertised event is determined by the use of past attendance reply information for users who attended similar events.

6. The user event matching system of claim 3, wherein the number of users who are expected to attend the advertised event is determined by the use of past attendance reply information for users that attended events created by said at least one host.

7. The user event matching system of claim 4, wherein the number of users who are expected to attend the advertised event is further determined via user-to-user similarity comparisons.

8. The user event matching system of claim 5, wherein the number of users who are expected to attend the advertised event is further determined via user-to-user similarity comparisons.

9. The user event matching system of claim 6, wherein the number of users who are expected to attend the advertised event is further determined via user-to-user similarity comparisons.

10. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one client has LBS (Location Based Service) capability.

11. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one server is configured via application software to perform searches of potentially compatible users and events associated therewith.

12. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one server is configured via application software to rank event search results based on event attributes and at least one user attendance record.

13. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one server is operatively coupled to at least one database.

14. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one server is configured via application software to allow the creation of a user account.

15. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one server is configured via application software to allow the creation of a user profile.

16. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one server is configured via application software to allow the creation of a user search agent.

17. The user event matching system of claim 16, wherein said at least one server is adapted to utilize said created search agent to rank other users on a potentially compatible basis.

18. The user event matching system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the created events includes a ride share activity.

19. The user event matching system of claim 3, wherein said at least one host defines the location of the created event.

20. The user event matching system of claim 19, wherein the defined location is fixed.

21. The user event matching system of claim 19, wherein the defined location is dynamic, said dynamic location being based on LBS (Location Based Service) data.

22. The user event matching system of claim 19, wherein the defined location is dynamic, said dynamic location being based on GPS (Global Positioning System) data.

23. The user event matching system of claim 3, wherein said at least one host defines the start and end positions of the created event.

24. The user event matching system of claim 23, wherein the defined start and end positions are associated with a ride share activity.

25. The user event matching system of claim 21, wherein at least one of said event search results is based on proximity to LBS data.

26. The user event matching system of claim 3, wherein said at least one host is compensated monetarily for hosting an event.

27. The user event matching system of claim 26, wherein said host compensation is a fixed monetary amount per event.

28. The user event matching system of claim 26, wherein said host compensation is an incremental monetary amount.

29. The user event matching system of claim 28, wherein said incremental monetary amount is based on time and distance traveled during a ride share activity.

30. The user event matching system of claim 28, wherein said incremental monetary amount is based on time spent during a ride share activity.

31. The user event matching system of claim 28, wherein said incremental monetary amount is based on distance traveled during a ride share activity.

32. The user event matching system of claim 26, wherein said at least one server is adapted to accept payments from users via said at least one client.

33. The user event matching system of claim 26, wherein said at least one server is adapted to arrange compensation for said at least one host via said at least one client by common banking methods.

34. The user event matching system of claim 17, wherein the more compatible a user is to an event guest, the higher the ranking of the event in said event search results.

35. A user event matching method, comprising the steps of:

creating a user account;

creating a user profile;

creating a user search agent;

utilizing said search agent to rank other users on a potentially compatible basis;

creating an event;

conducting an event search; and

ranking the event search results based on event attributes and at least one attendance record of the potentially compatible users.

36. The user event matching method of claim 35, wherein the more compatible a user is to an event guest, the higher the ranking of the event in the event search results.

37. The user event matching method of claim 36, wherein at least one host defines the location of a created event.

38. The user event matching method of claim 37, wherein the define location is fixed.

39. The user event matching method of claim 37, wherein the defined location is dynamic, said dynamic location being based on LBS (Location Based Service) data.

40. The user event matching method of claim 37, wherein the define location is dynamic, said dynamic location being based on GPS (Global Positioning System) data.

41. Computer readable media having instructions stored thereon, which instructions when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the steps of:

creating a user account;

creating a user profile;

creating a user search agent;

utilizing said search agent to rank other users on a potentially compatible basis;

creating an event;

conducting an event search; and

ranking the event search results based on event attributes and at least one attendance record of the potentially compatible users.

42. The computer readable media of claim 41, wherein the more compatible a user is to an event guest, the higher the ranking of the event in the event search results.

43. The computer readable media of claim 42, wherein at least one host defines the location of a created event.

44. The user event matching method of claim 43, wherein the defined location is fixed.

45. The user event matching method of claim 44, wherein the defined location is dynamic, said dynamic location being based on LBS (Location Based Service) data.

46. The user event matching method of claim 44, wherein the define location is dynamic, said dynamic location being based on GPS (Global Positioning System) data.