Dynamic resource matching system

• US 20070093258A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Liren, Gantman, Alexander, Steenstra, Jack, Taylor, Kirk
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing resource and/or location-based matching services between a wireless terminal (e.g., mobile phone) user and one or more resources. A novel infrastructure supports resource and/or location based matching services over a wireless network. A back-end system includes a database, server, and match engine that are configured match a user with one or more resources based on the user'"'"'s characteristics, preferences, and/or location. Such resources include (1) other users, (2) targeted advertising, (3) businesses/networking opportunities, and/or (4) locate a nearby service or store. A flexible database architecture supports application-specific resources which facilitate the deployment of various matching services. Application developers are thus able to implement different resource-matching applications for wireless devices through a common back-end infrastructure. Additionally, the match engine may include a feedback mechanism that permits the match engine to learn a user'"'"'s preferences.

Claims

1. A resource matching apparatus comprising:

a communication interface to communicate with one or more wireless devices;

a storage device configured to implement one or more databases for storing wireless device user preferences and application-specific user criteria; and

a processing unit coupled to the input interface and the storage device, the processing unit to implement a matching engine configured to

obtain user preferences and application-specific user criteria for a wireless device user from the storage device,

match the wireless device user with one or more resources based on the user preferences and application-specific user criteria, and

send the matches to the wireless device user via the communication interface.

2. The apparatus of 1 wherein the processing unit is further configured to

receive an indication that the wireless device user is ready to receive a match;

receive an indication of the type of matching service the wireless device user desires;

receive one or more match criteria from the wireless device user; and

notify the match engine of the one or more match criteria.

3. The apparatus of 1 wherein the processing unit is further configured to

receive a match selection from the wireless device user in response to the one or more matches;

compare the match selection to the one or more matches sent to the wireless device user; and

adjust weights of the user preferences in the matching engine based on the wireless device user selection.

4. The apparatus of 1 wherein the processing unit is further configured to

obtain current location information for the one or more wireless device users;

and

match the one or more resources to the wireless device user based on the current location of the wireless device user.

5. The apparatus of 4 wherein the one or more resource matches are businesses in the vicinity of the wireless device user'"'"'s current location.

6. The apparatus of 1 wherein the processing unit is further configured to

provide the wireless device user with a map or directions to the one or more resource matches.

7. The apparatus of 1 wherein the processing unit is further configured to

provide the wireless device user with current location information of a second wireless device user.

8. The apparatus of 1 wherein the storage device is configurable to store a plurality of databases to support one or more match-enabled applications.

9. The apparatus of 1 wherein the storage device is configured to implement one or more databases for storing advertisements and the processing unit is further configured to match the wireless device user with one or more advertisements and send the matched advertisements to the wireless device user.

10. A resource matching device comprising:

means for communicating with one or more wireless device users;

means for storing one or more databases for storing wireless device user preferences and application-specific user criteria; and

means for processing resource-based matches configured to

obtain user preferences and application-specific user criteria for a wireless device user from the means for storing,

match the wireless device user with one or more resources based on the user preferences and application-specific user criteria, and

send the matches to the wireless device user via the communication interface.

11. A resource matching method comprising:

determining one or more matches for a wireless device user based on application-specific user criteria; and

sending one or more resource matches to the user based on the application-specific user criteria.

12. The method of 11 further comprising:

receiving one or more match criteria from a wireless device associated with the wireless device user;

receiving an indication as to the type of matching service the wireless device user desires.

13. The method of 11 further comprising:

receiving a match selection from the user in response to the one or more resource matches; and

adjusting the user preferences based on the user selection.

14. The method of 11 further comprising:

matching the wireless device user with one or more advertisements; and

sending the advertisements to the user.

15. The method of 11 further comprising:

obtaining current location information for the wireless device user; and

matching the one or more resources to the wireless device user based on the current location of the wireless device user.

16. A processing unit comprising:

an input interface to receive preferences and current location information for a wireless device user;

a processing circuit communicatively coupled to the input interface and configured to determine one or more matches for the user based on the user preferences and current location and application-specific information; and

an output interface communicatively coupled to the circuit to provide the one or more matches for the wireless device user.

17. The processing unit of 16 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

receive information about the type of matching service the wireless device user desires;

and

receive one or more match criteria from the wireless device user.

18. The processing unit of 16 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

receive a match selection from the wireless device user in response to the one or more matches;

and

adjust the user preferences based on the user selection.

19. The processing unit of 16 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

match the user with one or more advertisements;

and

transmit the one or more advertisements to the user.

20. A machine-readable medium having one or more instructions for resource matching, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

obtain one or more resource matching criteria for a wireless communication device user; and

provide one or more resource matches to the user based on the user match preferences and current location.

21. The machine-readable medium of 20 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive an indication that the wireless communication device user is ready to receive a match;

receive an indication as to the type of matching service the user desires;

receive one or more match criteria from the wireless communication device user; and

notify a matching engine of the one or more match criteria.

22. The machine-readable medium of 20 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive a match selection from the wireless communication device user in response to the one or more resource matches.

23. The machine-readable medium of 22 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

compare the match selection to the one or more matches sent to the wireless communication device user; and

adjust the user preferences based on the wireless communication device user selection.

24. The machine-readable medium of 20 wherein the one or more resource matches are one or more other registered users.

25. The machine-readable medium of 20 wherein the one or more resource matches are targeted advertising.

26. The machine-readable medium of 20 wherein the one or more resource matches are businesses in the vicinity of the user'"'"'s current location.

27. The machine-readable medium of 20 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

provide the wireless communication device user with current location information of a second wireless communication device user.

28. The machine-readable medium of 20 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

provide the wireless communication device user with a map or directions to the one or more resource matches.

29. The machine-readable medium of 20 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

provide a configurable resource structure to support multiple types of resource matches.