System and method for providing a system that includes on-line and off-line features in a network environment

• US 20070073548A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Match Group, LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Match.com LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirby, Todd, Terrill, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,051,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing

Abstract

An apparatus for coordinating a relationship in a network environment is provided that includes a central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users. The central web site includes an on-line component and an off-line component such that one or more of the end users can communicate and gather information about each other at the central web site and the central web site can facilitate a meeting in person between two of the end users.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coordinating a relationship in a network environment, comprising:

a central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users, wherein the central web site includes an on-line component and an off-line component such that one or more of the end users can communicate and gather information about each other at the central web site and the central web site can facilitate a meeting in person between two of the end users.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site includes a pre-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between a first end user and a second end user, and wherein the preferences are used to offer suggestions for the meeting for the first and second end users.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site includes a post-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide answers associated with a meeting that took place between a first end user and a second end user.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the questions are in a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the answers are compiled and aggregated by the central web site in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site is configured to offer an option to the first end user to have his feedback information displayed to selected end users.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site is configured to facilitate an on-line dating operation such that one or more of the end users are capable of interacting in order to find candidates that match their interests.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site includes an interest rating component that allows one or more of the end users to indicate a level of interest in one or more of the other end users.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central web site automatically generates a query to the first end user to confirm whether or not the meeting occurred.

11. A method for providing a feature in a network environment, comprising:

interfacing with one or more end users;

managing information related to one or more of the end users; and

providing an on-line component and an off-line component such that one or more of the end users can communicate and gather information about each other at the central web site and the central web site can facilitate a meeting in person between two of the end users.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a pre-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide preferences for a meeting between a first end user and a second end user, and wherein the preferences are used to offer suggestions for the meeting for the first and second end users.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a post-date component that comprises a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete in order to provide answers associated with a meeting that took place between a first end user and a second end user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the questions are in a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format, and wherein the answers are compiled and aggregated by the central web site in order to identify trends for or tendencies of one or more of the end users.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the central web site is associated with a job seeking service, a person finder service, an athletic service, a real estate service, an academic service, a real estate finding service, or an escort service.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the central web site is configured to offer an option to the first end user to have his feedback information displayed to selected end users.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the central web site is configured to facilitate an on-line dating operation such that one or more of the end users are capable of interacting in order to find candidates that match their interests.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing an interest rating component that allows one or more of the end users to indicate a level of interest in one or more of the other end users.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a query for the first end user to confirm whether or not the meeting occurred.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing the information in a profile for one or more of the end users such that the end users can access the profile and review the information.