Initial impression analysis tool for an online dating service

• US 7,958,117 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Match Group, LLC (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pettinati, Lucas Visvikis, Carey, Hillary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Sheree N
• Application Number:
  US11/561,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707 5- 6, 707 9- 10, 707/732, 707/733, 707/734, 709/203, 709/218, 705/1, 705/7
• US Class Current: 707/732
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

A system and method are directed towards managing a display of initial impression attributes to bring the most relevant information into quick view. The view can be customized by the user. Within a search context, a search may be performed based on a set of search criteria. The user may establish a set of initial impression attributes to be displayed, or employ a default set of initial impression attributes. The default set may be determined based on statistical analysis. When a result of the search is displayed, the initial impression attributes may also be displayed such that the user may review the initial impression attributes and make a decision based, in part, on the initial impression attributes. Initial impression attributes may also be employed within threaded online conversations or browsing through inventory. The search or browse contexts may include online dating searches, merchandises searches, groups, real estate, even employment searches.

Claims

1. A method of managing an online comparison of a plurality of candidates with at least one processor that performs actions, comprising:

determining a user'"'"'s search criteria for an online candidate;

receiving from the user at least one initial impression attribute from the user'"'"'s search criteria, the at least one initial impression attribute being selected by the user for display within each online candidate profile displayed as a result of a user'"'"'s search;

displaying at least one candidate profile using the user'"'"'s search criteria;

further displaying concurrently within the at least one candidate profile at least one result attribute based on the user selected at least one initial impression attribute such that the user is enabled to assess the candidate based, in part, on a comparison of the at least one result attribute to the at least one user selected initial impression attribute, wherein displaying the at least one result attribute further comprises displaying two sets of result attributes, wherein a first set of the result attributes represents those attribute results associated with a current displayed candidate profile and a second set of result attributes represents what the candidate for the currently displayed profile is looking for, for the at least one result attribute, and wherein the result attributes are selected for display by the user; and

receiving at least one additional initial impression attribute based on a default set of initial impression attributes based on analysis of a user'"'"'s communication and browsing behavior, the additional initial impression attribute being subsequently modified by another user selection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at least one additional initial impression attribute based on a default set of initial impression attributes determined from an analysis of other user'"'"'s selections of initial impression attributes, the additional initial impression attribute being subsequently modified by another user selection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at least one additional initial impression attribute based on a default initial impression attribute in part, determined from the user specifying at least one of a must have user'"'"'s search criteria, or a preferred user'"'"'s search criteria, the additional initial impression attribute being subsequently modified by another user selection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively displaying the at least one result attribute further comprises providing a user selection mechanism with the displayed at least one candidate profile.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the user to modify the at least one initial impression attribute by, in part, enabling the user to select another initial impression attribute from the user'"'"'s search criteria for display, or to deselect at least one initial impression attribute currently selected for display.

6. A computer-readable storage medium configured to include program instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the candidate profile is further associated with at least one of an online search result, or a webpage browsing.

8. A client device for displaying search results, comprising:

a display; and

a processor in communication with the display and that includes instructions that causes the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

enabling a user to provide search criteria for a candidate for an online search;

enabling the user to select for display at least one initial impression attribute from the search criteria;

initiating a search for a list of candidates employing the search criteria;

displaying at least one candidate profile for the candidate from the list of candidates;

further displaying with the at least one candidate profile at least one result attribute corresponding to the at least one user selected for display initial impression attribute such that the user is enabled to assess the candidate associated with the candidate profile based, in part, on the online comparison of the at least one result attribute to the at least one user selected initial impression attribute, wherein displaying the at least one result attribute further comprises displaying two sets of result attributes, wherein a first set of the result attributes represents those attribute results associated with a current displayed candidate profile and a second set of result attributes represents what the candidate for the currently displayed profile is looking for, for the at least one result attribute, and wherein the result attributes are selected for display by the user; and

receiving at least one additional initial impression attribute based on a default set of initial impression attributes based on analysis of a user'"'"'s communication and browsing behavior, the additional initial impression attribute being subsequently modified by another user selection.

9. The client device of claim 8, wherein displaying the at least one candidate profile further comprises displaying the at least one candidate profile within an email.

10. The client device of claim 8, wherein the candidate further comprises a candidate from an online dating service, a product, an interest or community group, real estate or an employment position.

11. The client device of claim 8, wherein selectively displaying the at least one result attribute further comprises at least one of displaying the at least one result attribute for each candidate profile, providing a selection mechanism for selectively displaying the at least one result attribute for the at least one candidate profile, or displaying the at least one result attribute based on a search result for each candidate in the list of candidates exceeding a predefined relevancy rating.

12. The client device of claim 8, wherein displaying at least one candidate profile from the list of candidates further comprises displaying the at least one candidate profile within a threaded conversation, and wherein selectively displaying the at least one result attribute further comprises enabling the user to display the at least one result attribute with the at least one candidate profile within the threaded conversation.

13. A server device for managing online search results, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving and sending information to another computing device;

a processor in communication with the transceiver; and

a memory in communication with the processor for storing data and machine instructions that cause the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

receiving from a user at least one user-selectable initial impression attribute from a search criteria for display within each resulting candidate profile;

performing a search for a list of candidates employing the search criteria;

displaying a candidate profile for a candidate within the list of candidates;

selectively displaying at least one result attribute from the candidate profile, wherein the at least one result attributed is associated with the at least one candidate profile and the at least one user selected initial impression attribute for display within the candidate profile, the at least one result attribute is concurrently displayed within the displayed candidate profile such that the user is enabled to evaluate the candidate based, in part, on the online comparison of the at least one result attribute to the at least one user selected initial impression attribute, and wherein selectively displaying the at least one result attribute further comprises displaying two sets of result attributes, wherein a first set of the result attributes represents those attribute results associated with a current displayed candidate profile and a second set of result attributes represents what the candidate for the currently displayed profile is looking for, for the at least one result attribute, and wherein the result attributes are selected for display by the user; and

receiving at least one additional initial impression attribute based on a default set of initial impression attributes based on analysis of a user'"'"'s communication and browsing behavior, the additional initial impression attribute being subsequently modified by another user selection.

14. The server device of claim 13, wherein displaying the candidate profile further comprises displaying the candidate profile within at least one of a threaded conversation, a one or a plurality of candidate profiles within the list of candidates, or an email.

15. The server device of claim 13, wherein receiving the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises:

if the user is unrecognized, providing a default initial impression attribute, wherein the default initial impression attribute is selected based on at least one of a predetermined set of initial impression attributes, a dynamically changing set of initial impression attributes, a set of initial impression attributes determined from behavioral analysis of the user, or a set of initial impression attributes determined from an analysis of other users, wherein the default initial impression attribute is user modifiable by a subsequent user input.

16. The server device of claim 13, wherein receiving the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises receiving a request from the user to modify the at least one initial impression attribute.

17. The server device of claim 13, wherein selectively displaying the at least one user selected initial impression attribute further comprises providing a selection mechanism that enables the user to determine whether to display the at least one initial impression attribute.

18. A system for managing an online comparison, comprising:

a server device configured to perform actions, including;

receiving from a user at least one initial impression attribute;

providing a candidate profile for a candidate from a webpage browsing or an online search; and

a client device configured to perform actions, including;

performing at least one of the webpage browsing or the online search;

providing, in part, the analysis criteria;

providing the at least one initial impression attribute as a user-selectable initial impression attribute for display with the candidate profile;

displaying the candidate profile; and

selectively displaying at least one result attribute from the candidate profile, wherein the at least one result attribute is associated with the at least one candidate profile and the at least one user selected initial impression attribute for display, the at least one result attribute is concurrently displayed within the displayed candidate profile such that the user is enabled to evaluate the candidate based, in part, on the online comparison of the at least one result attribute to the at least one user selected initial impression attribute, and wherein selectively displaying the at least one result attribute further comprises displaying two sets of result attributes, wherein a first set of the result attributes represents those attribute results associated with a current displayed candidate profile and a second set of result attributes represents what the candidate for the currently displayed profile is looking for, for the at least one result attribute, and wherein the result attributes are selected for display by the user; and

receiving at least one additional initial impression attribute based on a default set of initial impression attributes based on analysis of a user'"'"'s communication and browsing behavior, the additional initial impression attribute being subsequently modified by another user selection.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein determining the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises at least one of determining a default initial impression attribute from the analysis criteria, or receiving a selection of the at least one initial impression attribute from the client device, wherein the default initial impression attribute is subsequently modifiable by a user input.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein selectively displaying the at least one initial impression attribute further comprises enabling the user to select whether to display the at least one initial impression attribute from within a threaded conversation, an email, or a display of a list of candidate profiles.