System and method for providing a search feature in a network environment

• US 7,613,706 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• 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 W., Terrill, Chris S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B
• Application Number:
  US11/237,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 709/217, 709/219, 715/752, 715/753, 715/757, 715/758
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a feature 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 is operable to populate a queue of a first end user with a profile of a second end user. The central web site includes a search component that, once the first end user has reviewed the profile, allows the first end user to search for one or more other end users using specified criteria.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a feature in a network environment, comprising:

a central web site that includes a processor and software, the 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 is operable to populate a queue of a first end user with a profile of a second end user, and wherein the central web site includes a search component that executes a generic search, based on preliminary information provided by the first end user, such that generic matches to other end users are automatically provided and displayed for the first end user in the queue for the first end user, the search component further operable to execute a limited search, based on additional information that is different from the preliminary information and that is provided by the first end user, and wherein usage of the limited search is restricted by the central web site and includes usage terms that are different from usage terms of the generic search, the limited search retrieving additional matches that are different from the generic matches, whereby the generic matches and the additional matches are displayed separately and concurrently for the end user in the queue of the first end user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein criteria for the limited search are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

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

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein selections of the questions are complied and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search component 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 queue of the first end user comprises a separate segment that includes profiles of individuals that have identified the first end user through the search component

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein results of the search component are delivered to the first end user such that the first end user can evaluate the results.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein results from the search component are displayed to the first end user and the first end user is offered a limited ability to contact one or more of the end users retrieved by the search.

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

interfacing with one or more end users in an electronic processing environment in which software is employed;

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

providing a search component that executes a generic search, based on preliminary information provided by the first end user, such that generic matches to other end users are automatically provided and displayed for the first end user in the queue for the first end user, the search component further operable to execute a limited search, based on additional information that is different from the preliminary information and that is provided by the first end user, and wherein usage of the limited search is restricted by the central web site and includes usage terms that are different from usage terms of the generic search, the limited search retrieving additional matches that are different from the generic matches, whereby the generic matches and the additional matches are displayed separately and concurrently for the end user in the queue of the first end user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein criteria for the limited search are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein questions for the criteria are in a drop down selection format, a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein selections of the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the search component 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 10, wherein the search component 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.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein results of the limited search are delivered to the first end user such that the first end user can evaluate the results.

18. A system for providing a feature in a computer network environment, comprising:

means for interfacing with one or more end users in an electronic processing environment in which software is employed;

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

means for providing a search component that executes a generic search, based on preliminary information provided by the first end user, such that generic matches to other end users are automatically provided and displayed for the first end user in the queue for the first end user, the search component further operable to execute a limited search, based on additional information that is different from the preliminary information and that is provided by the first end user, and wherein usage of the limited search is restricted by the central web site and includes usage terms that are different from usage terms of the generic search, the limited search retrieving additional matches that are different from the generic matches, whereby the generic matches and the additional matches are displayed separately and concurrently for the end user in the queue of the first end user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein criteria for the limited search are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein questions for the limited search are in a drop down selection format, a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein selections of the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the search component 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.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the search component is configured to facilitate an online dating operation such that one or more of the end users are capable of interacting in order to find candidates that match their interests.

25. Software for providing a feature in a network environment, the software being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer code such that when executed by a processor is operable to:

interface with one or more end users;

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

provide a search component that executes a generic search, based on preliminary information provided by the first end user, such that generic matches to other end users are automatically provided and displayed for the first end user in the queue for the first end user, the search component further operable to execute a limited search, based on additional information that is different from the preliminary information and that is provided by the first end user, and wherein usage of the limited search is restricted by the central web site and includes usage terms that are different from usage terms of the generic search, the limited search retrieving additional matches that are different from the generic matches, whereby the generic matches and the additional matches are displayed separately and concurrently for the end user in the queue of the first end user.

26. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein the search component is provided as a graphical illustration that includes one or more pre-configured criteria for the first end user to select.

27. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein criteria for the limited search are separated into a first section and a second section, the first section including basic search criteria and the second section including advanced search criteria.

28. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein questions for the limited search are in a drop down selection format, a multiple choice question format, a true/false format, or a yes/no format.

29. The storage medium of claim 28, wherein selections of the questions are compiled and aggregated in order to identify trends for or tendencies of the first end user.

30. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the search component 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.