Computer-based methods for arranging meetings and systems for performing the same

• US 8,276,081 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tangible Social, LLC
• Original Assignee: TTB Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Boyd, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuang, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US12/376,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

Methods and systems for assisting individuals arrange meetings such as networking meetings with other individuals at a specified time (or within a specified time range) and at a specified place (or within a specified geographic region). More specifically, methods and systems for allowing individuals to post an invitation to for a meeting on an on-line network.

Claims

1. A method for arranging meetings between two or more users, comprising:

receiving by a server a request from a first user over a network to create an invitation for a proposed meeting;

determining whether one or more rules associated with invitation creation apply to the request from the first user to create the invitation;

processing the request if all rules determined to be applicable are satisfied; and

denying the request if one or more rules determined to be applicable are not satisfied;

wherein;

said invitation includes general location information and specific location information for said proposed meeting;

said server allows other users to view the general location information but not the specific location information before accepting the invitation; and

said server allows the specific location information to be viewed only by users who have accepted the invitation and have been approved by the first user;

and wherein (a) said method is performed using one or more computer devices, (b) said first user and said other users do not know each other before said request is received by said server to create said invitation, and (c) said specific location of the meeting is (i) emailed by said server to said users who have accepted the invitation when approved by the first user and/or (ii) viewable via a website by said users who have accepted the invitation when approved by the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the general location information includes a city or a zip code but does not include a street address or specific venue name; and

the specific location information includes a street address, specific venue name, or both.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific location information is transmitted to said users who have accepted the invitation in a communication that notifies said users of said approval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said other users are charged for accepting said invitation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said invitation remains open until a designated number of users accept.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said invitation includes a deadline for accepting said invitation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically archiving invitations created by said first user and first user comments relating to said networking forming first user archived data;

and transmitting via email attachment or downloadable format said first user archived data relating to said first user on a scheduled basis or at a request of the first user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing said first user with a clickable button for said first user archived data.

9. A computer-based method for facilitating loaning or borrowing tangible items between two or more users, comprising:

receiving by a server a request from a first user over a network to browse for one or more computer-based invitations for proposed meetings from other users to loan or borrow said tangible items, wherein said one or more computer-based invitations comprise information including a description of said tangible items to loan or borrow and said invitation can be viewed only by users having one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not available to users not having said one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not posted on a public invitation bulletin;

determining whether one or more rules associated with computer-based invitation browsing apply to the request to browse;

processing the request if all rules determined to be applicable are satisfied;

denying the request if one or more rules determined to be applicable are not satisfied; and

providing search results to the first user in response to the request if the request is not denied,

wherein said search results include one or more of said computer-based invitations to loan or borrow said tangible items and proximate location and range said other users are willing to travel for said loan or borrow and wherein said method is performed using one or more computer devices and wherein said method results in meetings loaning or borrowing said tangible items between two or more users and wherein said two or more users do not know each other before said request is received by said server and wherein said one or more user specified profile characteristics are selected from;

(i) work in a certain industry;

(ii) graduated from a certain school;

(iii) have a specified profession;

(iv) current employer;

(v) past employer;

(vi) professional or social association;

or (vii) fraternity/sorority.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said search results are based on a location of a mobile electronic device carried by said first user and a location and time of the computer-based invitations.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing the invitation to expire after a time period.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said specified user profile characteristics are alumni characteristics and said first user and said other users are fellow alumni.

13. A computer-based method for arranging a commercial meeting relating to goods or services between one or more commercial users and one or more interested users, comprising:

(i) allowing a first commercial user to create a first commercial user account including providing an email address, wherein said first commercial user sells or otherwise commercializes said goods or services;

(ii) receiving by a server a request to create an invitation from said first commercial user for a proposed commercial meeting, wherein said invitation includes location information for said proposed commercial meeting and information including a description of said goods or services offered by said first commercial user and said invitation can be viewed only by users having one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not available to other users not having said one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not posted on a public invitation bulletin;

(iii) determining whether one or more rules associated with invitation creation apply to the request to create the invitation;

(iv) processing the request if all rules determined to be applicable are satisfied;

(v) denying the request if one or more rules determined to be applicable are not satisfied;

(vi) transmitting said invitation to interested users including potential clients via email after said processing, wherein;

said interested users are users interested in said goods or services offered by said first commercial user;

one or more of said interested users accepts said invitation for said commercial meeting;

said method results in said commercial meeting whereby said first commercial user sells or otherwise commercializes said goods or services to said one or more interested users; and

wherein said steps (i)-(vi) are performed using one or more computer devices and

wherein;

(a) said invitation includes a deadline for accepting said invite;

(b) said invitation will expire after a time period;

(c) said invitation stays open until a designated number of users accept;

(d) said commercial user is charged for said commercial meeting; and

(e) said one or more interested users are charged for accepting said invitation for said commercial meeting.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing said interested users to register by providing an email address.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said commercial user and said one or more interested users do not know each other prior to said acceptance by said one or more interested users.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said commercial user is charged a fee for said commercial meeting.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising repeating steps (i)-(vi) a plurality of times to arrange a plurality of said commercial meetings, wherein said plurality of meetings includes at least 1000 commercial meetings.

18. A method for arranging meetings between two or more users, comprising:

receiving by a server a request from a first user over a network to create an invitation for a proposed meeting;

determining whether one or more rules associated with invitation creation apply to the request from the first user to create the invitation;

processing the request if all rules determined to be applicable are satisfied; and

denying the request if one or more rules determined to be applicable are not satisfied;

wherein;

said invitation includes general location information and specific location information for said proposed meeting;

said server allows other users to view the general location information but not the specific location information before accepting the invitation; and

said server allows the specific location information to be viewed only by users who have accepted the invitation and have been approved by the first user;

and wherein (a) said method is performed using one or more computer devices, (b) said first user and said other users do not know each other before said request is received by said server to create said invitation, and (c) said specific location of the meeting is (i) emailed by said server to said users who have accepted the invitation when approved by the first user and/or (ii) viewable via a website by said users who have accepted the invitation when approved by the first user; and

wherein;

the general location information includes a city or a zip code but does not include a street address or specific venue name; and

the specific location information includes a street address, specific venue name, or both; and

wherein said specific location information is transmitted to said users who have accepted the invitation in a communication that notifies said users of said approval.

19. A method for arranging meetings between two or more users, comprising:

receiving by a server a request from a first user over a network to create an invitation for a proposed meeting;

determining whether one or more rules associated with invitation creation apply to the request from the first user to create the invitation;

processing the request if all rules determined to be applicable are satisfied; and

denying the request if one or more rules determined to be applicable are not satisfied;

wherein;

said invitation includes general location information and specific location information for said proposed meeting;

said server allows other users to view the general location information but not the specific location information before accepting the invitation; and

said server allows the specific location information to be viewed only by users who have accepted the invitation and have been approved by the first user;

and wherein (a) said method is performed using one or more computer devices, (b) said first user and said other users do not know each other before said request is received by said server to create said invitation, and (c) said specific location of the meeting is (i) emailed by said server to said users who have accepted the invitation when approved by the first user and/or (ii) viewable via a website by said users who have accepted the invitation when approved by the first user and wherein said invitation can be viewed only by other users having one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not available to users not having said one or more specified user profile characteristics.

20. A computer-based method for arranging a commercial meeting relating to goods or services between one or more commercial users and one or more interested users, comprising:

(i) allowing a first commercail user to create a first commercial user account including providing an email address, wherein said first commercial user sells or otherwise commercializes said goods or services;

(ii) receiving by a server a request to create an invitation from said first commercial user for a proposed commercial meeting, wherein said invitation includes location information for said proposed commercial meeting and information including a description of said goods or services offered by said first commercial user and said invitation can be viewed only by users having one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not available to other users not having said one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not posted on a public invitation bulletin;

(iii) determining whether one or more rules associated with invitation creation apply to the request to create the invitation;

(iv) processing the request if all rules determined to be applicable are satisfied;

(v) denying the request if one or more rules determined to be applicable are not satisfied;

(vi) transmitting said invitation to interested users including potential clients via email after said processing, wherein;

said interested users are users interested in said goods or services offered by said first commercial user;

one or more of said interested users accepts said invitation for said commercial meeting;

said method results in said commercial meeting whereby said first commercial user sells or otherwise commercializes said goods or services to said one or more interested users; and

wherein said steps (i)-(vi) are preformed using one or more computer devices and

wherein;

(a) said invitation includes a deadline for accepting said invite;

(b) said invitation will expire after a time period;

(c) said invitation stays open until a designated number of users accept;

(d) said commercial user is charged for said commercial meeting;

(e) said one or more interested users are charged for accepting said invitation for said commercial meeting;

(f) said commercial user and said one or more interested users do not know each other prior to said acceptance by said one or more interested users; and

said interested users register by providing an email address.

21. A computer-based method for arranging a commercial meeting relating to goods or services between one or more commercial users and one or more interested users, comprising:

(i) allowing a first commercial user to create a first commercial user account including providing an email address, wherein said first commercial user sells or otherwise commercializes said goods or services;

(ii) receiving by a server a request to create an invitation from said first commercial user for a proposed commercial meeting, wherein said invitation includes location information for said proposed commercial meeting and information including a description of said goods or services offered by said first commercial user and said invitation can be viewed only by users having one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not available to other users not having said one or more specified user profile characteristics and is not posted on a public invitation bulletin;

(iii) determining whether one or more rules associated with invitation creation apply to the request to create the invitation;

(iv) processing the request if all rules determined to be applicable are satisfied;

(v) denying the request if one or more rules determined to be applicable are not satisfied;

(vi) transmitting said invitation to interested users including potential clients via email after said processing, wherein;

said interested users are users interested in said goods or services offered by said first commercial user;

one or more of said interested users accepts said invitation for said commercial meeting;

said method results in said commercial meeting whereby said first commercial user sells or otherwise commercializes said goods or services to said one or more interested users; and

wherein said steps (i)-(vi) are preformed using one or more computer devices and

wherein;

(a) said invitation includes a deadline for accepting said invite;

(b) said invitation will expire after a time period;

(c) said invitation stays open until a designated number of users accepts;

(d) said commercial user is charged for said commercial meeting;

(e) said one or more interested users are charged for accepting said invitation for said commercial meeting; and

(f) one or more specified user profile characteristic are selected from;

work in a certain industry;

graduated from a certain school;

have a specified profession;

current employer;

past employer;

professional or social association;

or fraternity/sorority.