System and Method For Facilitating The Introduction of Compatible Individuals Using Third Party Collaborative Tools

• US 20090094048A1
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spark Networks USA LLC (Affinitas Phantom Share GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Engage
• Inventors: Wallace, Karen, Wadhwa, Suneet, Pickholtz, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/098,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094048A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating an online collaborative community for individuals to meet each other, make suggestions to members in their network of other individuals as potential matches, and introduce members to each other. A number of features are provided that promote collaboration among members of the online community with regard to suggested matches of potentially compatible individuals. A first feature enables a user to initiate a multi-party discussion concerning suggested matches for particular individuals. The user has the ability to attach a profile of the suggested match to the discussion, which may be retrieved and viewed by the invited parties to the discussion. Invited parties may be non-members as well as members of the online community. A “social feed” is provided to a user to inform the user of activities happening on the site that are related to the user or any friends to whom he/she is connected. A points system is provided to award points to users for participation in various categories of activities and actions that promote the advancement of the introduction and matching network. Various games modules are provided to encourage matchmaking activities by enhancing the entertainment value of site participation. A scoreboard is also provided, which lists the top-scoring users of the site.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for introducing compatible individuals to each other, comprising:

a database storing information pertaining to individuals who are interested in being matched to other individuals;

a computer-executable application that enables a first user to search said database to identify a potentially compatible first individual for a particular second individual;

a computer-executable application that enables said first user to communicate identification of said potentially compatible first individual to a preselected plurality of other users; and

a computer-executable application that enables said first user and plurality of preselected other users to communicate with each other concerning the compatibility of said identified first individual with said second individual in a private environment.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein notifications of new communications in said private environment are sent to said plurality of preselected users through e-mail communication.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said preselected users review new communications by logging-in to a website.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said preselected users are members of said website.

5. The computer-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said preselected users are non-members of said website.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said preselected users review communications in said private environment by logging-in to a website.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 6, wherein said website presents a personalized page to a logged-in user, containing a display representing a plurality of profiles of selected individuals in said database.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, wherein said display representing a plurality of profiles is divided into categorized profiles according to categories of individuals targeted as potential matches for said profiles.

9. The computer-implemented system of claim 8, wherein said categories include potential matches for predetermined friends of the first user, potential matches for said first user, and preselected new members of said website based on one or more parameters associated with said first user.

10. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, wherein said display further includes paired profiles of suggested individual matches.

11. The computer-implemented system of claim 10, wherein paired profile display further includes a mechanism enabling said first user to vote on said suggested match.

12. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, wherein said display further includes a scrolling mechanism that enables said first user to scroll through multiple pluralities of displayed profiles.

13. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, wherein said display representation comprises thumbnail views of individual profiles, and wherein said display further includes a mechanism that enables said first user to view a detailed profile of each individual by selecting and actuating a thumbnail view.

14. The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein actuating a thumbnail profile comprises placing a mouse pointer over said thumbnail view.

15. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, wherein said personalized page includes a social feed identifying events or occurrences of potential interest to the logged-in user.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, further comprising a mechanism enabling said first user to indicate a displayed profile as a match suggestion.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising an activity-related points system whereby users are awarded a number of points for engaging in predetermined activities, and further including a points ranking display showing points leaders.

34. The computer-implemented system of claim 17, further comprising a game module enabling a user to review match suggestions and vote on a suggested match as part of a game, and to accumulate points for participating in said game.

35. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein a user can subscribe to said system as a paid member, wherein said subscription entitles said user to designate a predetermined plurality of individuals as members of said system.

18. A computer-implemented system for introducing compatible individuals to each other, comprising:

a database storing information pertaining to individuals who are interested in being matched to other individuals;

a computer-executable application that enables a first user to search said database to identify a potentially compatible first individual for a particular second individual;

a computer-executable application that enables said first user to communicate identification of said potentially compatible first individual to said system as a suggested match; and

a computer-executable application that enables preselected other users to view said suggested match.

19. The computer-implemented system of claim 18, wherein said preselected users view suggested matches by logging-in to a website.

20. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein said preselected users are members of said website.

21. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein said preselected users are non-members of said website.

22. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein said website presents a personalized page to a logged-in user, containing a display representing a plurality of profiles of selected individuals in said database.

23. The computer-implemented system of claim 22, wherein said display representing a plurality of profiles is divided into categorized profiles according to categories of individuals targeted as potential matches for said profiles.

24. The computer-implemented system of claim 23, wherein said categories include potential matches for predetermined friends of the first user, potential matches for said first user, and preselected new members of said website based on one or more parameters associated with said first user.

25. The computer-implemented system of claim 22, wherein said display further includes paired profiles of suggested individual matches.

26. The computer-implemented system of claim 25, wherein paired profile display further includes a mechanism enabling said first user to vote on said suggested match.

27. The computer-implemented system of claim 22, wherein said display further includes a scrolling mechanism that enables said first user to scroll through multiple pluralities of displayed profiles.

28. The computer-implemented system of claim 22, wherein said display representation comprises thumbnail views of individual profiles, and wherein said display further includes a mechanism that enables said first user to view a detailed profile of each individual by selecting and actuating a thumbnail view.

29. The computer-implemented system of claim 28, wherein actuating a thumbnail profile comprises placing a mouse pointer over said thumbnail view.

30. The computer-implemented system of claim 22, wherein said personalized page includes a social feed identifying events or occurrences of potential interest to the logged-in user.

31. The computer-implemented system of claim 22, further comprising a mechanism enabling said first user to indicate a displayed profile as a match suggestion.

32. The computer-implemented system of claim 18, further comprising an activity-related points system whereby users are awarded a number of points for engaging in predetermined activities, and further including a points ranking display showing points leaders.

33. The computer-implemented system of claim 32, further comprising a game module enabling a user to review match suggestions and vote on a suggested match as part of a game, and to accumulate points for participating in said game.

36. The computer-implemented system of claim 18, wherein a user can subscribe to said system as a paid member, wherein said subscription entitles said user to designate a predetermined plurality of individuals as members of said system.